Customer Portal is a new to VITA/TCE feature that will be available for all Pro Online sites beginning with TaxSlayer 2021.  This is a feature that has been available to our commercial customers for several years.  You will hear and see it interchangeably with the terminology of “client portal”.

The purpose of the feature is to allow the tax preparer to initiate the ability for the taxpayer to create a secured customer portal to facilitate the secure sharing of documents between the taxpayer and the preparer.  Below are some high level items that can be accomplished with the use of the client portal:

• The taxpayer can upload electronic documents for the preparer to view and use during return preparation or quality review
• The preparer can make a copy of the tax return available via the client portal for the taxpayer to view to facilitate the quality review process
• The taxpayer/spouse has the ability to sign the appropriate tax forms and consents
• Taxpayer will have the ability to check the status (accepted/rejected) of the federal return without having to communicate with the VITA/TCE site
• The tax preparer has the ability to make a copy of the signed tax return available via the client portal for the taxpayer to generate a PDF and with save or print their own copies
• Facilitates a communication channel for communications between the taxpayer and tax preparer via chat within the client portal

We will be providing more information throughout the summer on this exciting new feature.  It gives the sites more tools and resources to compliment their existing virtual processes and can be used as a tool to prevent the taxpayer from having to make multiple trips to the site.

Will training be available?

Yes.  We are in the process of creating a mini guide and a training video.  This feature will also be part of the Enhancement Webinar.

When will this feature become available?

The feature will be available when we turn on “Start New Return” in January 2022.

Will this feature be available in the Practice Lab?

No.

We are super excited to announce that all TaxSlayer Pro Online sites will have access to the Scanned Document feature. Access will be controlled at the site level with the use of Security Templates. By default, the security templates assigned by TaxSlayer will have access to Scanned Documents.

• Sites must have the ability to scan documents to PDF
• Sites must have the ability to securely store the document until they upload it to the tax return
• PDF files will be automatically deleted in November of each tax year (not every 14 days)

Are there any file size limitations?

Yes, each individual file cannot exceed 5 meg and total file size per tax return is 25 meg

Does the preparer have the ability to delete the documents associated with the return?

Yes, this is based on the security template assigned to the user

The site is currently experiencing connection issues:  Our IT team is currently working to resolve the issue.

This site can’t be reached

vita.taxslayerpro.com unexpectedly closed the connection.

Update 8:44 am:  If you receive the error that the calculations are not available when opening a return in TaxSlayer 2020, close the return and open it again.  The calculations are rendering on the 2nd open of the return.  This is not impacting the ability to Start a New 2020 return.

Our engineers are continuing to work on a resolution

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We are experiencing intermittent “unexpected errors” when opening existing returns and transmitting returns.  We have opened a ticket with our engineers to resolve.  This is affecting TaxSlayer 2020, 2019 and 2018.

6/22/21 – 2:12pm ET

We are no longer seeing or hearing reports of issues accessing the state programs.

6/22/21 – 8:03am ET

We are continuing to investigate issues with accessing the state programs as additional reports were received throughout the evening.

6/21/21 – 12:30pm ET

We are no longer seeing or hearing reports of issues accessing the state programs.

6/21/21 – 11:26am ET

Our engineers are still actively investigating, however, 2020 states should be accessible at this time.

6/21/21 – 8:29am ET

We are generating intermittent errors when accessing states.  This is not impacting all states.  If you are also receiving the error after continuing through Personal Information, hit the back button on your browser, change the Resident State as of 12/31/20 to “None” and continue through Basic Information. Our engineers are working to resolve.

How can I determine which state returns were electronically filed and which state returns were marked as Paper?

We recommend running the Pro Web Returns – Detailed Return Report located under Management Reports

• Defaults to Tax Year 2020
• Enter a Start Date and End Date
• Select the checkmark next to the EFIN

You can either select Run Report or Run report for Export.  Either way, you may want to export the data so you can sort it

What information does this report give me?

• Group Name (Will be blank)
• EFIN
• Last 4
• First Name
• Last Name
• Status (status of the federal return)
• Federal Return Type (e-file, paper, direct deposit, direct debit, etc)
• Federal Refund (negative if balance due)
• State (state abbreviations…If the return had more than 1 state, the return will have multiple rows)
• State return type
  • You are looking for Paper or PR with ??
• State Refund
• Stated date (date return was started)

Note:  New for TY2020, this report also had 1040X columns

Can I filter the columns?

Yes, each column allows you to sort in Ascending or Descending order.  You can also filter by selecting a certain criteria such as Paper or PR

The filter below on the state return type column will display a list of all returns where the state was marked as paper

You can now export this filtered list so it is easier for you to work with

My site is closing for the season, what should I do with my returns?

There is no action required for returns.  DO NOT deactivate the returns because this will render them unavailable for prior year carry forward.

My site is closing for the season, what should I do with my volunteer’s user names?

We strongly recommend that you mark all user’s as inactive except for the site administrator.

Every year, I’m impressed by the accomplishments of IRS-SPEC employees and VITA/TCE partners. But your work this filing season truly leaves me in awe.

Despite many challenges – including the pandemic, tax law changes and a filing season that was over a month longer than anticipated – you found safe ways to provide free and accurate tax return preparation. Millions of people benefitted from the work of the VITA/TCE program his year. This shows that VITA/TCE is more than just a program… it is a cause.

In addition to free tax return preparation, you also educated your communities by sharing outreach messages. Thanks to your dedication, taxpayers are benefitting from tax credits and other benefits. These refunds and payments make a real difference for families across the country.

Though this filing season is over, I’m excited for the rest of the year. Our employees and partners are already developing training and resource materials. We are reviewing the best practices and suggestions we’ve received. We’re planning additional outreach to underserved communities. And partners are submitting their grant applications. All of this will help us deliver another spectacular filing season in 2022.

Thank you!

Frank Nolden

Director, Stakeholder Partnerships,

Education and Communication (SPEC)