The site will be placed in maintenance on Tuesday, March 23rd, beginning at 5:00am ET to release the below update(s). Note that deployments may take up to 3 hours to complete. During this time, access to the program may be limited.

CALIFORNIA

• Add back unemployment exclusion to Schedule CA (2020 Update)

COLORADO

• Add back unemployment exclusion to Other Additions due to non-conformity (2020 Update)

MARYLAND

• MD subtracting unemployment income from a non-reciprocal state in error (Issue 5785)

MINNESOTA

• Add back unemployment exclusion on the M1 and M1PR (2020 Update)

Click here to download a PDF of our Cumulative Release Notes & Program Enhancements.

The site will be placed in maintenance on Friday, March 19th, beginning at 5:00am ET to release the below update(s). Note that deployments may take up to 3 hours to complete. During this time, access to the program may be limited.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

• DC not looking at 2019 EIC look back on Federal when TP does not have qualifying children (Issue 5797)

FORM 8853

• LTC entry for the spouse creating a duplicate Section C in the PDF (Issue 5737)

NEW YORK

• Form IT-280 displaying preparer e-mail address on PDF (Issue 5795)

VERMONT

• Line P of Schedule HI-144 not pulling in TP SE income tax (Issue 5788)

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION EXCLUSION (UCE)

• The unemployment income exclusion (UCE) as part of the American Rescue Plan is now live in the software (2020 Update)

Click here to download a PDF of our Cumulative Release Notes & Program Enhancements.

The site will be placed in maintenance on Wednesday, March 17th, beginning at 5:00am ET to release the below update(s). Note that deployments may take up to 3 hours to complete. During this time, access to the program may be limited.

ARIZONA

• Add input field in the amended return menu to report the original refund received (Issue 5773)

CALIFORNIA

• Update a calc related to Form 3849, Column D, Lines 12-23 (Issue 5765)

INDIANA

• Update EIC calc to use 2020 earned income when 2019 lookback is used on Federal (Issue 5533)

MANAGEMENT REPORTS

• Adding a 1040X column within the Pro Web Returns – Detailed Return Report (Enhancement)

Click here to download a PDF of our Cumulative Release Notes & Program Enhancements.

The site will be placed in maintenance on Monday, March 15th, beginning at 5:00am ET to release the below update(s). Note that deployments may take up to 3 hours to complete. During this time, access to the program may be limited.

1040-NR

• Correct the error restricting 1040-NR e-files from being e-filed (Issue 5761)

MISSOURI

• Correct the Public Pension Exclusion calculation when income is $100,000 or greater (Issue 5732)

PENNSYLVANIA

• Update Line 1 of Local Form EET to 2020 (Issue 5689)

VERMONT

• HI-144, Line P calculation update (Issue 5701)

Click here to download a PDF of our Cumulative Release Notes & Program Enhancements.

IRS Release

Temporary Suspension of Limits on Charitable Contributions

In most cases, the amount of charitable cash contributions taxpayers can deduct on Schedule A as an itemized deduction is limited to a percentage (usually 60 percent) of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI). Qualified contributions are not subject to this limitation. Individuals may deduct qualified contributions of up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income. Contributions that exceed that amount can carry over to the next tax year. To qualify, the contribution must be:

• a cash contribution;
• made to a qualifying organization;
• made during the calendar year 2020

Contributions of non-cash property do not qualify for this relief. Taxpayers may still claim non-cash contributions as a deduction, subject to the normal limits.

How to claim this in TaxSlayer Pro Online?

It is a two-step process.

1. Report your taxpayers cash gifts to charity just as you normally would within the “Cash Gifts to Charity” page within the Itemized Deductions menu.
2. If their donations qualify to take advantage of this temporary suspension of limitations, after completing Step 1 above, go to the “Limitation on Charitable Contributions Deduction page (shown below) and enter the qualified contributions.

The site will be placed in maintenance on Friday, March 12th, beginning at 5:00am ET to release the below update(s). Note that deployments may take up to 3 hours to complete. During this time, access to the program may be limited.

FORM 8453

• Form 8453 included in PDF when not included in print set (Issue 5570)

PHONE NUMBER

• Add phone number back to the Forms Listing Summary in the PDF (Issue 5690)

Click here to download a PDF of our Cumulative Release Notes & Program Enhancements.

Below are bullet points from our opening presentation of the All Partner Call before opening up for Q&A from the field. Q&A notes are at the bottom of this post.

Updates since the Last All Partner Call:

• American Rescue Plan
  • The IRS has already started having calls with industry
  • First priority will be distributing EIP3
    • Will issue 1444 C for EIP3 amounts
    • Will be reconciled on TY2021 returns
  • IRS must interpret the updated law in regards to handling the unemployment changes
    • Committed to issue public guidance on how already filed returns with unemployment should be handled
    • We are adding a column to the Pro Web Returns – Detailed Returns report
  • The majority of all changes will be handled via the TY2021 returns
    • Reconciliation of advanced CTC payments
    • Reconciliation of EIP3
  • As the IRS releases information we will assist in distributing it via the blog and Message center
• Scanned Documents
  • We have started the process of automatically deleting the docs after 14 days
• 8915-E
  • Can now add the form to your custom print sets
• E-file volume
  • Seeing pretty significant increases in return prep and e-file volume
• Suggestion Box
  • Reminder that this is a good time to be entering software suggestions as you are preparing returns
    • What would make a process easier
    • Most of you are implementing new processes this year, so how can we help from an application level
  • FSA URLs
    • Messaging around who to contact for support has been much better since our last call
  • Volunteer Times Blog post
    • Opportunity to share your best practices for making appointments, virtual processes, hybrid processes.

IPPIN – How is the best way for a taxpayer to get one?

• Reach out to your Relationship Manager for guidance for best steps to request an IP PIN for the taxpayer.

If we send a return with a wrong RTN number, can we correct that with the IRS before they issue any refunds?

• Generally, no, TaxSlayer (nor any software vendor) can retransmit updated banking info to the IRS after an accepted ack.

8915-E – Are there any known issues still or are we good to e-file?

• All 8915-E updates at this time are live in the software.

State sometimes loading blank page?

• We have an active defect reported with development to look into this, but in the meantime, if this happens at your site, you can refresh the browser page and it will load.

Any update on extending the filing deadline past April 15^th?

• No statements or guidance has been made regarding the filing deadline at this time.

Do we need to use the EIC Checklist as volunteer sites?

• No, the checklist is for paid professionals only.

Can we e-file 2019 amended Federal returns now?

• Yes

Can we elect not to spread taxable income over 3 years with the 8915-E yet?

• Yes

We received the below message from VT when asked if they were experiencing any issues in sending acks. As additional information is provided, we will update this post.