Only TaxSlayer verified Federal and State issues with a potentially broad impact listed

FEDERAL ITEMS

 

• Issue 4028: Site Production Summary Report not including 1040-X count
• Issue 3561: Dynamic View of Client List is using incorrect calendar format for filtering the page

 

---

STATE ITEMS

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington WFTC

West Virginia

Wisconsin

TaxSlayer Pro Online

For post filing season security, all users other than administrator, should be made inactive (or archived if users will not be returning to the site next year). This will ensure no returns are being prepared off-season when the site is closed or prior to the site opening the next filing season.

TaxSlayer Online Closeout Procedures

• Do not deactivate any returns if carryforward tax return data is wanted for the next filing season
• The TaxSlayer server will secure all data and make return carryforward data available for filing season 2027
• From the Preparer Setup in the Configuration Menu, the site administrator or any user with a role that has Add/Edit Preparers permissions has the ability to quickly activate or inactivate a preparer
• Select the volunteer preparers you wish to inactivate while the site is closed
• The “Flip Active Status” will inactivate all users except the user that is logged in at once
• Run various reports (i.e. Federal Returns Not Transmitted, Rejected Returns Report, IRS and State Ack Reports to name a few) to ensure all returns have been filed prior to closing

NOTE: Sites are strongly encouraged to make all preparers except the site administrator (the contact name on the software order) inactive before the site closes.

For additional guidance, follow the procedures outlined on the VITA/TCE Blog or in the Pro Online User Guide for making preparers Active/Inactive.

IRS All Partner Call – February 26, 2026

Question & Answer Summary

Filing California Prior Amended Returns

Volunteer: Can we file California prior amended tax returns? I am filing them but cannot figure out how to check the status to see if they are accepted or rejected.

TaxSlayer: Yes, they can be electronically filed. You can check the status by running the State Amended Return Report or by reviewing Client Status. If you continue to have issues, please reach out to VITA/TCE support.

 

Changes to Social Security / 1099 Inputs

Volunteer: What was the thinking behind the changes to Social Security/1099 entries? Now there are extra steps to add Medicare.

TaxSlayer: There is now a Medicaid premium field based on field suggestions to help itemize Medicare Part B, Part D, etc. This avoids manual calculations allowing the program to total it automatically.

 

Additional Volunteer Comment on Medicare Changes

Volunteer Statement: I like the change so we don’t manually total things, but the implementation feels aggressive. Other areas allow choosing whether to itemize or enter a single number.

 

Checking CA Prior Year Amended Return Status

Volunteer Statement: On the client list, select the Tools drop‑down → Client Status to check amended return info.

 

Displaying Direct Deposit / Debit Information

Volunteer: Could there be a form that shows direct deposit/debit information since paper checks are no longer allowed?

TaxSlayer: The Client Forms List Summary includes this information.

 

Amended Return to Add Direct Deposit Info

Volunteer: Can we amend a return to add direct deposit information for taxpayers who can’t upload documents?

Guidance from SPEC:

Guidance from our No Paper Checks POC for filing an amended return to add direct deposit information:

It is not advisable and may delay the refund further, calling if they cannot authenticate is the best solution.

If there is no response to the notice and there are no other issues with the tax return, the refund will be released as a paper check after six weeks. If the taxpayer would like it sooner, they may call the toll-free line and provide the reason for not being able to receive a DD and an employee can release a paper check.

Note: For security reasons, IRS employees cannot take direct deposit information over the phone or in person.

 

Unusual Box 14 Entries on W‑2

Volunteer: Seeing unusual numbers in Box 14 like deferred compensation. Selecting ‘Other’ triggers Schedule 1-A.

TaxSlayer: Selecting Box 14 → ‘Other’ with no Tax on Overtime Deduction creates a warning but does not add Schedule 1-A automatically.

 

Splitting Refund – Form 8888

Volunteer: How do we load Form 8888?

TaxSlayer: Enable it in Office Setup and it will appear in the e-file flow.

 

FSA/MyFreeTaxes Payment Prompt Issue

Volunteer: Uber driver return forced payment even though it was free.

TaxSlayer: This will not happen when logging into an account from a valid URL for the first time each season. They may have logged in before using the MyFreeTaxes URL. Email support to provide assistance to deactivate the return.

 

Part‑Year New Mexico and Colorado

Volunteer: Can I file both part-year returns?

TaxSlayer: Yes, supported.

 

Premium Overtime vs Overtime

Volunteer: Difference between premium overtime and overtime?

TaxSlayer: Overtime is 1.5× regular rate; premium is the extra 0.5×.

 

MFS Status Question

Volunteer: 13614 asks if lived apart for 6 months; TaxSlayer asks if spouse lived with primary at any time.

TaxSlayer: Question is tied to Social Security benefit calculations when MFS and not to the 13614.

 

Alert IND‑477

Volunteer: What is IND‑477?

TaxSlayer: IRS alert indicating a notice will be sent because refund by check was selected.

 

Tracking Rejects with Multiple Last Names

Volunteer: Hard to track rejects without SSN digits. Can first names be shown?

TaxSlayer: We show what IRS sends. You can filter Client List by ‘Rejected’ to see first names.

 

Left Navigation Bar Pinning

Volunteer: Requested default pinned navigation bar.

TaxSlayer: Suggestions go into backlog and are prioritized. Support can provide tracking updates.

 

5:08pm:  We are seeing normalized performance indicators, however, we are going to leave Real Time Calculations off for Saturday.  Remember you can select the View Return Summary which will take you back to the Summary/Print page where you can see your updated calculations.  Thank you for your continued service to the taxpayers.

---

 

4:07pm:  We are planning to leave Real Time Calculations off through the weekend as we monitor performance

---

 

2:22 pm:  We are bringing the backend Submission services back online.  You will soon see the returns you have submitted sent to the IRS and acknowledged.

---

 

1:26:  This process was completed and you should be experiencing the pages loading faster.  We are going to continue monitoring before we turn on other processes

---

 

You may see a small blip or kick out over the next 15 minutes as move over our processing nodes (sorry for the techno language).

---

 

We are seeing some slow areas, so we are going to hold your e-files to the appropriate agency later in the afternoon.  You can still send them to us, but you will not see returns acknowledged in their customary 8-10 minutes.

---

 

We are in the process of turning off real time calculations.  Remember, you can click View Return Summary at any time to see your updated calculations.

Update 6:25pm:  Real time calcs have been turned back on.  Thank you for the patience as we worked through bringing everything back online.

---

Update: 5:52 pm:  We are in the process of turning “Real time” calcs back on.  Otherwise, the application is running as expected.

---

 

Update 4:51pm:  We are in the process of turning off “real time” calcs (the ones that display in the right nav bar) to see if this allows enhanced performance on the application

---

 

Update 4:38 pm:  Sorry for the delayed update.  We are continuing to work to improve the performance of the application.  We are receiving e-files and they are going through the system.

---

 

Update 4:04 pm:  If you get the blank white page when opening a return, click on the left navigation bar to proceed through the program.  You can go to the personal info page and send your taxpayer a customer portal invite.  This will allow you to Quality Review or complete their return at a later date.  The calculations are loading slow.  We are continuing to communicate with the dev team on a permanent resolution

---

 

Update 3:38pm:  The site is no longer in maintenance mode, but running slower than expected.

---

 

Update 3:15pm:  We are still working on the deploy.  You are most likely experiencing server errors (or time out errors) when trying to login.  If you are inside the application, you are most likely experiencing slowness.  We are in constant communication with development to get an ETA.  We are putting the site in maintenance mode to complete the deploy

---

 

——————————-

Update 3:00 pm:  We are making an emergency deploy.  You may experience getting kicked out during this process

---

 

Update 2:45:  The returns are opening and you can create new returns, but site is running slower than expected.

---

 

 

We have opened a critical ticket to resolve the error messages when attempting to open and/or create a new return.  We will update this blog with additional information.

Question:  Will we need to add Schedule 1-A to our custom print sets?

TaxSlayer:  Yes.  We have already added them to the ones we assign on behalf of the IRS

---

Question:  If there are multiple W-2s that have the qualified overtime, should we combine the amounts

TaxSlayer:  Yes, when reporting them in the Additional Deductions menu.

---

Question:  Currently client status only shows when you print the return from the client list.  It does not show if they print it from the last page in e-file.  This would give us more visibility in who is really touching the returns and what actions they are taking.  I had a counselor mark a return complete, but couldn’t tell if they printed a copy.

TaxSlayer:  We do have some client status items on our development backlog.  We will take a look to see what they are.

---

Question:  How should I handle the situation where I have a W-2, but nothing is showing in Box 7.  The taxpayer knows the tips were reported and included in the total wages.

TaxSlayer:  If the taxpayer knows the tips are included in Box 1 wages, no additional adjustments are needed on the W-2 because the tip income is being included as income as expected. For the purposes of the No Tax on Tips deduction, the TP would need documentation from their employer so you know the appropriate tip amount to enter in the Additional Deductions menu.

---

Question:  How long does the taxpayer have access to the client portal account?

TaxSlayer:  We typically cut that over in late October after the October 15^th perfection period.

---

Question:    Where do you enter a county in TaxSlayer for Form 4547?

TaxSlayer:  The county automatically pulls into the return based on the zip code entered.  If you are having issues with a certain return, please reach out to VITA/TCE support with EFIN and last 4 so we can look at it.

---

Question:  I had an old site admin setup my information and now I cannot change it.  Is there a way this can be changed?

TaxSlayer:  Reach out to VITA/TCE support with the username, EFIN, SIDN, Site name, etc and they can update the information for you.

---

Question:  Have you ever considered adding a prompt for IP PIN like you do if marketplace was used in the prior year.

TaxSlayer:  There is a prompt on the carry forward screen if there was an IP PIN in the prior year return and there is also a warning going into e-file if there was an IP PIN in the prior year and not in the current year.

---

Question:  How can I delete a return

TaxSlayer:  You cannot delete a return, but you can deactivate a return if you have the appropriate permissions (from the Tools menu).  The return has to be in the status of “in progress” or “Review Failed” to deactivate it.

---

Question:  What is the status of the Schedule C tips?

TaxSlayer:   This has always been and will remain a manual entry on the Schedule C.

---

Question:  Why does the IRS notice about IND-477 show on the IRS ack report rather than before we submit the return

TaxSlayer:  This is the notice the IRS sends back with their acceptance if the taxpayer request a paper check.  The application displays an informational message to the preparer on the Return Details page when they select to have their refund via check.  We treat IRS acks like a post office…we simply pass along what they send to the end user.

---

Question:  I have a typo on a username and cannot modify it

TaxSlayer:  That is correct, we would recommend you create a new username with the correct spelling and then you can mark the wrong one inactive

---

Question:  I am a bit confused about when you said specific forms did not go to the IRS

TaxSlayer: I was referencing when TP’s come into your site with forms like 1099-MISC/NEC. Since the amounts on these forms carry to other areas of the 1040/Schedules, the actual 1099-MISC/NEC are not included in the e-file sent to the IRS.

---

Question:  Can we use the last paystub for the premium portion of overtime if it is not designated by the employer?

TaxSlayer:  That is not really a TaxSlayer question, but we understand that it can be done and there is a formula that can be used if the premium amount is not designated.

---

Question:  You claim the 3 year look back (prior year comparison) was fixed

TaxSlayer:  We added line 13a and 13b in the total deductions field.  Tips:  Only populates if site to site carryforward was utilized and a PDF was generated.  Reach out to support if you are having issues so we can look at the specific return

---

Question:  When can we start transmitting returns with the new tip deduction

TaxSlayer:  The application is not stopping you from doing that.  This is guidance from the organization you volunteer for, not a stop within the program or at the IRS

---

Question:  There currently is not a way to prevent the senior allowance if the taxpayer/spouse has a SSN  not valid for employment.

TaxSlayer:  We have a solution in the works for this.  We will be adding a checkbox for the taxpayer and/or spouse if they do not have a SSN valid for employment.

---

Question:  When the SSN benefits are not fully taxable, should the worksheet be printing out with the return

TaxSlayer:  We believe so.  If you are not seeing this, reach out to VITA/TCE support with the EFIN and last 4 so we can look at it.

Title: TaxSlayer All Partner Calls
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time

Dial-in Number: 1-202-735-3323 or 1-888-978-8818
Access Code: 7938262#

This is a great opportunity to ask the TaxSlayer team and the IRS general questions.  If you have a return or site specific question, we encourage you to reach out to VITA/TCE support.

Reminder to click on the validation errors on the Welcome Page to correct any outstanding validation errors.

Our top validation is currently:  The element ‘IRS4547’ in namespace ‘http://www.irs.gov/efile’ has invalid child element ‘ResponsiblePrtyUSAddress’ in namespace ‘http://www.irs.gov/efile’. List of possible elements expected: ‘ResponsiblePrtyEmailAddressTxt’ in namespace ‘http://www.irs.gov/efile’.

Workaround:  Navigate to the return details page in e-file.  Enter the primary and/or secondary email addresses and resend the return.

Solution:  We issued an update on Wednesday, Feb 28th that will resolve this for newly created returns.  We also added an e-file warning that you must have an email address entered in personal information for Form 4547