7/1 – This has been resolved.
We are aware that you are receiving an error when clicking Save & Exit return from inside the return and the e-file section.
Workaround: Select “Your Office” from the left navigation bar until this has been resolved
7/1 – This has been resolved.
We are aware that you are receiving an error when clicking Save & Exit return from inside the return and the e-file section.
Workaround: Select “Your Office” from the left navigation bar until this has been resolved
Click here to view and download the PDF. The link will launch a BrainShark video with instructions on how to view the PDF’s.
Click here to submit a suggestion
We encourage you to continue to send us suggestions throughout the summer and fall.
Three attachments:
Reminder: The suggestion box should not be used for calculation errors or software issues. You should reach out to VITA/TCE support.
Question: We have a problem with OR Amended returns. Is there any way we can test the change before it is released?
Answer: No, because individuals outside of our organization are not allowed access to our pre-production systems due to security reasons.
Follow up Question: Is there a way that we can find out when fixes are going to be released so we can make sure and check them first thing?
Answer: Yes. We deliver updates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the season. Craig creates and publishes release notes the night before on the Blog so that they are available before the release.
Question: The TaxSlayer consumer product allows the taxpayer to pull down things like the W-2 and import it into the return. Is this something that will be a future feature?
Answer: No: due to security reasons, we are not allowed to access third party data in the VITA/TCE environment.
Question: How can I access the 1099 Report you discussed earlier?
Answer: Navigate to Reports>>Management Reports. It is located in the section with the Site Production Detail Reports. If you have problems locating it, please reach out to customer support.
Question: I had a problem yesterday with my Old federal reports. They were no longer available for me to choose.
Answer: You can navigate to Configuration>>Report Customization and see if it needs to be added back. Typically the only way the reports are no longer available is if someone goes here and removes them from the reports list. If you need help with this, please reach out to VITA/TCE support and they work with you.
Question: Checking on issue #2990 where the 2023 carryforward information is not going into 2024.
Answer: Good news on that, we have found a solution and in the process of implementing the solution.
Question: If we feel that a return is not on the 1099R report and should be, what should we do.
Answer: Reach out to VITA/TCE support with the EFIN and last 4 so we can look into it.
Question: When is the next call?
Answer: April 3rd at 2:30. Your SPEC Relationship Manager will be sending you the information and TaxSlayer will post it on the blog
Question: User is having challenges getting MFA codes using a VITA Kiosk URL on Sundays a the library via email and text.
Answer: Reach out to VITA/TCE support when this is happening so we can try to troubleshoot. There are no systemic problems with generating the MFA codes.
Suggestion: Check and see if it is giving you an error message that it cannot send the code. I have had this happen and you just need to generate the code again. I have also had to reboot my phone and then all of the sudden I got all of the codes that I had generated.
Question: Are you aware of any problems with the customer portal? My tax clients are signing, but it is not coming through on my end. I also used to send a message that they have signed, but I am not seeing that either. Also, when I shared the doc with them, it did not show on my side, but it did show on their side.
Answer: Can you reach out to VITA/TCE support with a return we can look at.
Question: Can you explain the significance of the PIN for the returns
Answer: The PIN you enter for the consents is so we have an electronic signature with the return. We utilize the Practitioner PIN method since they are signing the paper docs and you are entering the PIN on their behalf. The PIN on the 8879 (Return Detail page) is the electronic signature that goes with the tax return.
Question: What is the email address for customer support?
Answer: [email protected]
Question: I am having trouble with volunteers marking returns as ready to review and also being able to review other returns.
Answer: You will need to create a custom role that will allow the user to have the ability to mark returns for review and also review returns.
Question: What is the Springboard
Answer: This is the landing page where you have the three options across the top for Practice Lab, Pro Online and the Blog
Comment: I just want to tell you how much more pleasant it is to navigate through the e-file section. It is much faster now than it was.
Answer: Thank you for the feedback.
Question: We have a few returns where when it pulls forward it changes the date of birth by one day. Have you heard of this?
Answer: It has not bubbled up to me, but please reach out to VITA/TCE support with EFIN and last 4 so we can take a look at it. Brad had this happen a few weeks back, but has not had it happen since. He was not able to replicate it to find a pattern. If you have screenshots that you can attach before you fixed it, that would be great too.
All Partner Call Notes – 3/6/2025
Comment: We are still seeing slowness moving through the e-file section (sometimes)
TaxSlayer: We have put in logging to capture this to see if we can do anything programmatically
Question: Will you be providing a report on the returns that were impacted by the 1099-R duplication of the state information
TaxSlayer: Once we have a good list of impacted returns we will provide a report
Comment: 8606 Carryforward loss from site to site has been fixed. There is no longer a need to open the 2023 return
Question: Are you aware that the Return Questions report is timing out?
TaxSlayer: We are aware and working with development on a solution. One of the challenges presented is that we are now assigning 21 questions on behalf of the IRS instead of 9
Title: TaxSlayer All Partner Calls
Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Dial-in Number: 1-202-735-3323 or 1-888-978-8818
Access Code: 5155681#
All partners are invited to join a series of conference calls during the upcoming filing season. TaxSlayer will be participating in these partner and volunteer only calls to provide updates on software, address concerns, and answer questions.
Call details will be sent separately for each call. The access code is different for each call and notate the time change for the start of the call which has been pushed back to start at 2:30PM (ET). Make sure to add this information to your calendar, so you do not the call.
Title: TaxSlayer All Partner Calls
Date: Thursday, March 06, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Dial-in Number: 1-202-735-3323 or 1-888-978-8818
Access Code: 6526359#
2/28/25 – This has been resolved.
We are getting intermittent reports of the full state menu being displayed after completing the personal page. We are looking into this. We recommend that you click Exit State Program at the bottom to move to the rest of the basic information section. DO NOT complete your state return at this point (while in basic information). You can prepare the state from the State Section of the return.
Question: How do I check on an open ticket?
TaxSlayer: You can reach out to VITA/TCE support and they can give you an update on any open ticket.
Question: Are you aware of any error messages when trying to open scanned documents?
TaxSlayer: We have an open issue with development on this. Issue #2925. This site preparers the return, uploads the scanned documents, closes the return, QA opens the return to review and gets an error when trying to open the docs that were just uploaded.
Question: I have a volunteer that cannot mark a return for review?
TaxSlayer: This is based on the role that is assigned to the preparer.
Question: Can you sort the client list on status and return tag?
TaxSlayer: Not currently. We believe we already have a requirement in to allow this.
Question: Carryforward of 5695 part 1 is out of scope, can we stop this from happening?
TaxSlayer: No, we don’t program the software to “in scope” or “Out of scope” If there is an issue where it is not carrying correctly, please reach out to VITA/TCE support.
Question: Should we complete Form 2210?
TaxSlayer: We recommend you reach out to your SPEC RM for guidance on the policies around completing the form or allowing the IRS to calculate penalties and interest after accepting the return.
Question: Is there any training on what the taxpayer sees via Customer Portal?
TaxSlayer: Yes, there are training documents and videos on the Practice Lab. You can also create a fake return and send yourself a portal link so you can experience what the customer experiences.
Question: Is there a way to determine the number of local returns prepared at a site?
TaxSlayer: No. We recommend creating a return tag so you can identify the returns and run reports on them.
Question: How do you print MFJ vs MFS?
TaxSlayer: Once you complete the comparison, there is a print icon on the menu.
Question: Is there any help for management reports?
TaxSlayer: Yes. There are user guides and training videos on the Practice Lab. There is also a section in the User Guide found on the Springboard.