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Suggestion Box: Responses through May 4th

07 May 18
Kim Manuel
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There are two spreadsheets

  • Spreadsheet #1:  Dedicated to application and federal suggestions
  • Spreadsheet #2: Dedicated to State suggestions

An example of the status column can be found by Tracking ID 269372 (Ctrl+F allows you search in the document)

Below are some of the items that we have committed to completing (We are still reviewing all requests and there will be more commitments coming your way)

  • Display AGI
  • Add the following Federal Forms
    • Form 8919
    • Form 2120
    • Form 4835
    • Preparer Explanation Forms
  • Ability to print the state from the State Summary page (already live)
  • Ability to return to the 1040 view if you link from the 1040 view (already live)

More exciting changes to come.

We are still reading through and analyzing the suggestions.  We are also beginning to update the Status column as we commit to implement a suggestions.

Click here to view PDF

The link will launch a Brainshark video with instructions on how to view the file.

Suggestion Box: Responses through April 30th

30 Apr 18
Kim Manuel
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There are two spreadsheets

  • Spreadsheet #1:  Dedicated to application and federal suggestions
  • Spreadsheet #2: Dedicated to State suggestions

An example of the status column can be found by Tracking ID 269372 (Ctrl+F allows you search in the document)

What’s Trending:

  • Enable prior year comparison
  • Easier way to add multiple interest and dividend entries

We are still reading through and analyzing the suggestions.  We are also beginning to update the Status column as we commit to implement a suggestions.

Click here to view PDF

The link will launch a Brainshark video with instructions on how to view the file.

Suggestion Box: Highlight Rejects in Red

27 Apr 18
Kim Manuel
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Suggestion from Volunteer

If you have a reject for EIN or SS Number highlighted the incorrect number in red. We have many clients that have multiple children, W-2s. and/or 1099-R.

TaxSlayer Recommendation

There are several ways in the software to make this determination.

(1) click the word Reject under the status column to display the rejected value

(2) Selecting Client Status from the tools drop down on the Client List will display the reject value and

(3) the IRS acknowledgement will display the reject value.  This is typically the last 4 digits of the rejected SSN or the EIN if it is a 1099R or W2 getting rejected.

 

Suggestion of the Day: Report Management

26 Apr 18
Kim Manuel
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Suggestion from Volunteer

Would like ability to arrange Reports Categories in the order that I use them. I use “Transmissions”, then make a PDF in “Returns Transmitted”. Later I check “IRS Acknowledgements” and make a PDF copy. Scrolling through the list to get to Returns Transmitted is annoying. Putting it after IRS acknowledgements would be helpful. Or, giving us the ability to customize the list would be nice.

TaxSlayer Recommendation

Proposal:  Allow the site administrator to manage the reports that are available for use under the Reports tab and in what order they are displayed.

Tracking ID 269580

Status:  Committed

Implementation Plans

This feature will be available at the site level only.

We will be adding an option to Security Templates that allow the site administrator to enable the ability to edit the report listing.

The user that has the option enabled will be able to limit the reports that are displayed under Reports on the Welcome page.  They can also order the reports to better fit the workflow of their sites.

This is scheduled to be delivered the week of April 30th.

Suggestion Box: 1600+ Suggestions and Going Strong!

20 Apr 18
Kim Manuel
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No Comments

This week we have split the responses into two spreadsheets.

  • Spreadsheet #1:  Dedicated to application and federal suggestions
  • Spreadsheet #2: Dedicated to State suggestions

An example of the status column can be found by Tracking ID 269372 (Ctrl+F allows you search in the document)

What’s Trending:

  • Allow advanced filter options
  • Display Federal AGI
  • Add the ability to sort transmission columns

We are still reading through and analyzing the suggestions.  We are also beginning to update the Status column as we commit to implement a suggestions.

Click here to view PDF

The link will launch a Brainshark video with instructions on how to view the file.

State Filing Updates

18 Apr 18
Kim Manuel
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  • CALIFORNIA – 4/18/18

We received the following message from California:

“Greetings,

The IRS has allowed an additional day to file and pay taxes following IRS system issues that surfaced early on the April 17 tax deadline.  Because California taxpayers must generally complete their federal return before their California return can be filed, FTB will follow federal announcement IR-2018-100, April 17, 2018.  Individuals and businesses with a filing or payment due date of April 17 will now have until midnight on Wednesday, April 18th.  Taxpayers do not need to do anything to receive this extra time.

California provides an automatic six-month extension to October 15th available to taxpayers who need additional time to file. Any tax due must still be paid by April 18th.”

  • IDAHO – 4/18/18

We received the following message from Idaho:

“BOISE, IDAHO — April 18, 2018 — The Idaho State Tax Commission is providing taxpayers an extra day to file and pay their 2017 income taxes. Taxpayers have until the end of Wednesday, April 18 to file and pay their income taxes without penalty. 

The IRS announced a one-day extension for filing federal returns due to problems with its e-filing system for much of the April 17 tax deadline. This also affected e-filing for Idaho returns. As a result, Idaho is following the extended federal deadline. The extended deadline applies to returns and payments filed by paper or electronically.”

  • NEBRASKA – 4/18/18

We received the following message from Nebraska:

“On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it is providing taxpayers an additional day to file and pay their federal income taxes. Income tax filers with a filing or payment due date of April 17, 2018, will now have until midnight on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, to file and pay their federal individual income taxes. The Nebraska Department of Revenue is required by law to follow the federal due dates. Therefore, the deadline for Nebraska individual income tax returns and payments has also been extended to April 18, 2018″.

  • OHIO – 4/18/18

We received the following message from Ohio:

“This email is to advise you that Ohio’s error code OHIND-046 “You are attempting to file an IT1040 return after the filing deadline, but did not indicate if you are filing federal extension form 4868.” was issued yesterday in error.  Users should not have been required to answer the question until today, the day after the filing deadline.

Impacted users should resubmit their Ohio returns and provide a yes or no answer to the question to indicate if they filed a federal extension.  A “no” (or false) answer will be accepted without penalty for returns filed today, or within the 5 day perfection period for rejected returns.  After today, a yes or no answer will still be required and accepted with standard consequences for late filing.

Ohio will be following the IRS and extending the due date to file and pay from 4/17 to 4/18.  However, even with the extended deadline, the federal extension question must be answered today.

We apologize for the inconvenience, please respond to this email with any questions.”

  • SOUTH CAROLINA – 4/18/18

We received the following message from South Carolina:

“Following system outages, the IRS is allowing taxpayers an additional day (until April 18) to file federal income tax returns. The SCDOR will also allow taxpayers this additional day to file state income tax returns. As in the past, South Carolina’s electronic filing incentive gives individuals until May 1 to file state income tax returns electronically and pay any balance due without penalty.”

  • UTAH – 4/18/18

We received the following message from Utah:

“The IRS announced a one-day extension for filing federal returns due to computer problems at the IRS. Similarly, the Utah State Tax Commission announced that it will allow an additional day for taxpayers to file and pay their 2017 state income taxes. Taxpayers will have until 11:59pm on Wednesday, April 18th, to both pay and file their state returns without penalty.”

IRS News Release: IRS Provides Additional Day to File and Pay

17 Apr 18
Kim Manuel
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No Comments

IRS  Provides Additional Day to File and Pay for Taxpayers through Wednesday, April 18;

IRS processing systems back online

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service announced today that it is providing taxpayers an additional day to file and pay their taxes following system issues that surfaced early on the April 17 tax deadline. Individuals and businesses with a filing or payment due date of April 17 will now have until midnight on Wednesday, April 18. Taxpayers do not need to do anything to receive this extra time.

The IRS encountered system issues Tuesday morning. Throughout the system outage, taxpayers were still able to file their tax returns electronically through their software providers and Free File. Taxpayers using paper to file and pay their taxes at the deadline were not affected by the system issue.

“This is the busiest tax day of the year, and the IRS apologizes for the inconvenience this system issue caused for taxpayers,” said Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter. “The IRS appreciates everyone’s patience during this period. The extra time will help taxpayers affected by this situation.”

The IRS advised taxpayers to continue to file their taxes as normal Tuesday evening – whether electronically or on paper. Automatic six-month extensions are available to taxpayers who need additional time to file can visit https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return.

 

IRS MeF System Outage (Update 6:11 PM ET)

17 Apr 18
Kim Manuel
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No Comments

Update 6:11 PM ET

We are working through the backlog of e-files that we received while the IRS MeF system was in the status of non-operational.  We are processing these in First In, First Out order.

It is important to note that we utilize the electronic postmark when we submit the e-files to the IRS.

What does this mean?  It means that we use the date and time that you electronically submit the return to us.

Why is this important?  The MeF system uses the electronic postmark for processing to determine timely filed returns.

 

Update 4:53 PM ET

The IRS MeF system has concluded testing and is now Operational.  We should have all  of our systems back up and running automatically again within the next 30 minutes.  At that time we will begin sending the backlog of e-files.  Please note that this is going to take hours to process the backlog of e-files we have been holding during the IRS MeF outage.

As all vendors start working through their backlog of returns, there may be additional delays in receiving acks from the IRS due to the load on their system.

Update 3:05 pm ET

The IRS MeF system is still in the status of Non-Operational.  They are diligently working to get their systems operational.  Again, we encourage you to continue to transmit returns to us as normal throughout the day.

This outage is also impacting IRS Direct Pay

Update 1:20 pm ET

Just a reminder that the IRS MeF system is still in the status of Non-Operational.  We strongly recommend that you continue to transmit returns to us as normal throughout the day.  We will transmit the returns once the IRS MeF system has a status of “Operational”.

We anticipate that there will be a significant number of e-files transmitted to the IRS from all software vendors once their site is operational.  They will need time to process through these e-files, as well as, make the state returns available for the states to pick up for processing.

 

Update 11:00 am ET

The IRS MeF system is still Non-Operational.  This outage is also impacting the following IRS Systems:

  • Where’s my Refund
  • Transcripts

Original Blog Post

The IRS just issued a notification regarding their MeF system.  They are experiencing an outage and are diligently working to resolve it.

How does this impact you?

This will cause a delay in us having the ability to successfully send e-files to the IRS and will cause a delay in any acknowledgement that we have not received from the IRS.

Once the IRS system is back online, all vendors will be pushing e-files through the system, which may cause a potential backlog in acknowledgements.

Should I continue to send returns?

Yes, we encourage you to send returns throughout the day.  We DO NOT recommend that you hold them until the end of your business day.