• We sent around 390 e-files
  • 8% reject rate
  • Top rejects:
    • F8962-070:  E-file database indicates that someone on the return (TP, SP or Dependent) was enrolled in the ACA Marketplace
    • IND-181-01:  Primary taxpayer did not enter a valid IP PIN
    • IND-996:  Dependent/Qualifyin person did not enter a valid IP PIN
• E-file opens January 27th
  • We will turn on e-file for VITA/TCE around 11 am for current year 1040 returns
    • We will monitor rejects throughout the day
    • We will post dates on when we will turn on “State Only” and Prior year Returns (Typically towards the middle or end of the week)

During this period, we will send VITA/TCE returns to the IRS and receive acknowledgements. We strongly recommend you open and review the return before sending, especially if you created the return when we opened on the 8th. Federal and state calculations changed frequently during this time period.   You must send these returns from the Submission menu during the controlled launch period.

This date and time is subject to change or the process is subject to stop based on feedback from the IRS.

The following states are also participating in Controlled Launch:

MI, ME, NJ, WV, KY, HI, NE, WI, SC, GA, NM, OH, MD, AZ, OR, ID, UT, DC, VA, PA, IN, VT, ND, CA

Can I expect acks during controlled launch?

Yes, the IRS will be returning acknowledgements during this period.  However, the refunds will not be processed any faster by the IRS.

You will be prompted to click a box indicating that you are human if you type your password wrong two times.  This is an extra layer of security to ensure the integrity of your user account.  You may be prompted to select it a couple of times if you lock your account due to excessive login attempts during the “change password” process.

P.S.  Much better than having to pick out traffic lights in a group of squares!!

As the Professional side of TaxSlayer navigates through controlled launch, we want to share some of the things that they are seeing.

F8962-070

We are seeing a lot of IRS rejects surrounding the 8962.   As you start preparing returns for your taxpayers remember that is the IRS has on file that anyone on the return has at market place insurance at any time (even if just for a short period of time), it needs to be entered on the tax return, otherwise the return will get rejected.

Note:  If Carry Forward is used on the return and there was a 1095-A in the prior year return, a warning will be presented to the preparer prior to going into the e-file section.

IND-181-01

The Primary Taxpayer did not enter a valid Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN). Please visit www.irs.gov/getanippin for further information and resubmit your return with the correct number.

Note:  If Carry Forward is used on the return and was a PIN in the prior year and not in the current year, a warning will be presented to the preparer prior to going into the e-file section.  The IP PIN changes each year for the protection of the taxpayer.

504-02

Each ‘DependentSSN’ and the corresponding ‘DependentNameControlTxt’ that has a value in ‘DependentDetail’ in the return must match the SSN and Name Control in the e-File database.

Tip:  Review the dependents social security card to ensure the SSN and Name is entered in the application as it is displayed on the Social Security Card

When will Start New Return be available at the site level?

Live

How often is the application updated?

The application is updated on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings during the filing season

What is the start date for e-file?

The IRS announced on January 10th that e-file will begin on January 27th . Note: E-file for VITA/TCE returns will not be turned on until 12:00pm ET on January 27th.

Will I need to open each return created prior to sending e-files on the 27th?

Yes.  We strongly recommend you open and review each return created at the site prior to e-file being turned on.  Calculations are subject to change as we receive additional instructions and guidance from the IRS.

My site is no longer active?

As we receive orders from the IRS, inactive sites will be processed and automatically marked active.  All sites without an active TY2024 order are marked inactive.

Who should I check with on the status of my order?

Your SPEC Relationship Manager

I ordered a FSA Kiosk URL, when will I receive it?

We have started the process of sending out FSA Kiosk URLs.  We will only be emailing URLs to the sites that have sent us their support contact information.

All sites that we have not received a TaxSlayer 2024 order have been marked as inactive.  As we receive orders from the IRS the sites will be sent a notification that their site order has been processed and their site will be activated.

This impacts all users created at the site.  If the site is inactive because we have not received an order, then all users associated with that site will also be inactive.

Please reach out to your SPEC Relationship Manager for the status of your 2024 TaxSlayer order.

Update 12/2  8:00 AM EDT:  We have not received the first order from the IRS.  Once we do, we will update this blog post and begin processing the orders.

We are processing our first set of orders from the IRS. Below is what you can expect:

Returning Sites

• The email address submitted with the order will receive 1 email confirming that we have processed the order.

New Sites

• The email address submitted with the order will receive 2 emails
• The links are one time use only links
• You must know your SIDN in order to create your Admin account
  • TaxSlayer support WILL NOT give you this information
  • If you do not know the SIDN associated with the order, you MUST reach out to your SPEC Relationship Manager
• The default PIN = 98765
• Print Sets, Security Templates, etc will be assigned to your site within 3 business days (Monday-Friday)

Relational and Multi-Site Groups

• The goal is to have these setup and/or updated within a week of processing the order

We will receive orders weekly through the end of December.  Note that any site that we do not have a 2024 order for on 12/31 will be marked as inactive until we receive an order.  We will receive orders two times a week beginning in January.

VTA 2025-01 Changes to Form 6744, VITA/TCE Volunteer Assistor’s Test/Retest

Purpose
To inform volunteers about identified issues with the tests and to urge caution when completing certification tests using the Practice Lab.

Message to Volunteers

Volunteers should make the changes shown below to their Form 6744 to ensure accurate completion of the tests.

NOTE: The Practice Lab has not yet been updated with 2024 tax law changes. Volunteers should wait to take the 2024 VITA/TCE certification tests until the Practice Lab is updated for 2024 and the final forms and calculations are available.

Use caution when completing the following test and retest scenarios:

• Over the phone interpreter test
  • Test Question #10
  • change answer (d) to 5883
• Site Coordinator Training
  • Test Question #10
  • The answer to Test question 10 is (a) the territory office.  Prior to opening, each site must have Form 15272, VITA/TCE Security Plan approved, signed and maintained at the territory office
• Site Coordinator Retest
  • Test Question #10
  • The answer to Test question 10 is (a) True.  Form 15272, VITA/TCE Security Plan, must be approved annually by, and maintained at, the local SPEC territory office.

The 2024 certification tests on VITA/TCE Central are scheduled to be launched in mid- to late- November

If Prior Year Carryforward is used and anyone in the return had an IP PIN in the prior year and does not have one in the current year, a warning is displayed to the preparer at e-file as a warning: