Opening Comments:
- Over 1.4 million returns filed since as of 3/17/25 (jump of close to ½ million returns since our last call)
- Issue of 1099-R’s duplicating state info (where are we)
- Report on web reports via Management Report that will generate a list of the returns impacted at your site
- Recommend you hold off on doing anything until we get a blog post with what the states want to happen. Craig will be working on that tomorrow. We have most of the information in from the states (Blog post is now available)
- Last couple of calls we heard about intermittent slowness in the e-file section
- Added some logging so we could gather more information
- Implemented a solution earlier in the week
- Last call we talked about the Return Questions report timing out
- Actively adding the two questions reports to Web Reports which are located under Management Reports
- Actively reviewing and modifying the reports inside the application to make them run more efficiently
- Alternative is to run the Questions Statistical report, it will give you overall answers for each question
- Subscribe to the blog
- Good time to start submitting suggestions via the Suggestion Box.
- Brad Martin Joins us once again from United Way in Alabama to help me answer some of your questions. Craig will not be joining us today due to a prior engagement.
- Note: If you have questions and/or concerns before the next all partner call, please reach out to VITA/TCE support via phone, chat or email. [email protected] or (800) 421-6346
Questions and Answers
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.