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

E-file opening Day 2/12

• We received over 1,400 e-files during our controlled launch window
  • Transmitted and received acks for 101 returns
  • The rest will be submitted to the IRS on Friday
• We will monitor IRS volumes and turn on 2020 e-file late morning (ET) on the 12^th.
• You will have to open returns created prior to the 12^th in order to electronically file them

FSA URLs

• E-files submitted by the taxpayers will be sent to the IRS on the 12^th

Scanned Docs

• We have turned on the scanned document feature for all orders we have received
• If your site is not turned on, please reach out to your SPEC RM
• Scanned Document mini guide under VITA/TCE User guides and on the Practice Lab (section 6)
• Video on the Practice Lab

Trending Rejects

• Name/SSN Mismatch
• EIN/Company name mismatch
• EFIN not active
• Biggest is IPPIN
  • IRS opened up for anyone to apply for get an IP PIN
  • May not understand they need to give it to their preparer
  • May not understand it changes every year

Customer Service Opportunities

• Monday – Friday 8am – midnight ET
• Saturday/Sunday – 8am – 8 pm ET
• Phone
• Email
• Chat
• Phone number and email address is located on the VITA/TCE Springboard

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When will Phase II of 8915-E be implemented?

• There is not a specific ETA for Phase II, however, as additional F8915-E updates are released, they will be included in Release Notes.

Do you need to use both the 8915-E and 5329 to remove an early distribution penalty?

• No, if the early distribution is COVID-19 related, electing to use Form 8915-E will remove the early distribution penalty (up to $100,000).

Can you edit existing security templates to use scanned documents?

• Yes, if your site is using Scanned Documents, you can edit existing Security Templates to allow scanned document feature access.

What will be included in additional 8915-E updates?

• Additional updates will include, but not limited to:
  • Election to NOT spread the taxable amount over 3 years (Line 9 checkbox)
  • The option to utilize Form 8915-E for any 1099-R distribution and not just for early distributions as it is currently

Form 8915-E and withholdings: Do withholdings from the 1099-R get spread over 3 years?

• Form 8915-E instructions do not specifically mention how 1099-R withholdings should be (or could be) handled if electing to use Form 8915-E. Any 1099-R withholdings reported appear to be counted in the first year as they normally would be. We recommend consulting with your SPEC Relationship Manager for further guidance.

The site will be placed in maintenance on Wednesday, February 10th, 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 VIEW

• Correct a display issue where the $300 Charitable Deduction was included in Schedule 1 total (Issue 5277)

FORM 8915-E

• Correct an issue where Line 11 could calculate/display as a negative value

MINNESOTA

• PPP Loan entry inside application not carrying to PDF (Issue 5388)

PENNSYLVANIA

• PA Local return not being marked as disabled when checked in application (Issue 5368)
• PA Local return marking both Single and MFJ in error (Issue 5361)

RECOVERY REBATE CREDIT

• Show military checkbox when return is MFJ with ITIN entry for spouse (Issue 5184)

WISCONSIN

• Correct a display issue where Line 10 of the Unemployment Worksheet was not populating (Issue 5366)

 

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

Question: Are we able to electronically file a $0 AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) return through TaxSlayer if the return is receiving the Recovery Rebate Credit?

Answer: Yes, if the tax return has $0 in AGI (due to no income or only Social Security Income), but is receiving the Recovery Rebate Credit (non-zero value on Line 30 of F1040), this return CAN BE electronically filed to the IRS using TaxSlayer (Pro Online, Pro Desktop, and FSA).

• Note: There is NO need nor requirement to enter $1 as Interest Income or Other Income and is NOT recommended.

Additional information from IRS.gov HERE.

The site will be placed in maintenance on Monday, February 8th, 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

• Update premium assistance subsidy text from 400% to 600% (Issue 5337)

MINNESOTA

• Add the ability to remove Home Equity Interest from being deducted (Issue 5342)
• Alimony paid entry not carrying to Line 10 of M1PR (Issue 5335)

 

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

Form 8915-E for Qualified 2020 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments, is now available within the 2020 Pro Online application. For Phase I implementation, to trigger this form, the Code in Box 7 must be 1, J, or S. When a 1099-R is present with the before mentioned codes, preparers will be presented to option to utilize Form 8915-E if their clients would like. Phase II implementation will prompt the election to use Form 8915-E regardless of the code in Box 7.

The site will be placed in maintenance on Friday, February 5th, 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 8915-E

• Phase 1 of Form 8915-E implementation to be available for early distributions. Prompted after Codes 1, J, or S entered in Box 7 (2020 Update)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHIGAN

• CF-1040 missing an adjustment field for business income (Issue 5245)

MINNESOTA

• Nonresident return for Nonresident Alien filers not showing tax liability (Issue 5320)

PENNSYLVANIA

• PA Local Form not pulling phone number from Federal return (Issue 5326)

WISCONSIN

• Correct an allocation issue related to the Retirement Income Exclusion Worksheet (Issue 5324)

 

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

The site will be placed in maintenance on Wednesday, February 3rd, 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

• Correct an issue where SRP is being assessed for all household members when two household members had full coverage (Issue 5276)

CONFIGURATION

• Update Preparer Setup to allow e-mail addresses with two (2) periods after the “@” (Issue 5274)

DEPENDENT/QUALIFYING PERSON MENU

• Update income text to $4,300 (Issue 5237)

MISSISSIPPI

• Correct an issue with calculating income tax due when Married Filing Combined (Issue 5310)

NEW JERSEY

• Update Form NJ-COJ and Form NJ-HCC to 2020 (Issue 5313)

NEW YORK

• NY PDF for Nonresident return will not generate (Issue 5303)

PENNSYLVANIA

• Add Philadelphia Low Income Wage Tax Refund Petition to the PA locality menu (2020 update)

 

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

Issue Number:  VTA-2021-03 Inside This Issue:  Product Updates and New Legislation Purpose: The purpose of Volunteer Tax Alerts (VTAs) is to update, correct or clarify tax law topics. VTA messages are valuable educational tools that are highly beneficial when delivered immediately to you as our intended audience, IRS VITA and TCE partners and certified volunteers. Link(s) to latest VTA:  VTA 2021-03 Product Updates and New Legislation Key Messages for IRS VITA/TCE Partners:  Site/local coordinators are to ensure all VTAs are reviewed and discussed with all volunteers. It is recommended that you hold daily debriefings with your volunteers to review identified trends. This is also a good time to allow your volunteers the opportunity to read the alert(s), ask questions or discuss any concerns surrounding their tax preparation experience. Contact information: Partners are encouraged to direct any questions or concerns to their Relationship Manager. Back to Top You are receiving this information as a result of your partnership with IRS and the VITA and TCE programs. This content is intended for official use by IRS partners participating in the IRS free tax preparation program. Thank you for your support of the IRS free tax preparation program. This message was distributed automatically from the mailing list IRS Volunteer Tax Alert (VTA).