Blog Detail

Opening Comments by TaxSlayer

• Controlled Launch
  • The IRS MeF team conducts controlled launch with industry anywhere from 5-8 business days before e-file opens.  They do this to get e-files going through their system to validate any programmatic changes they have had to make.
  • We typically choose a day and allow VITA/TCE e-files to come through to make sure all of our processes are in place before opening day.
    • Ability to send
    • Ability to get acks
    • View reject codes in all the appropriate places
    • Run IRS Acknowledgements (which we strongly encourage)
    • Client List status changes appropriately based on where the return is in the process.
  • 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/Qualifying person did not enter a valid IP PIN
• E-file opens January 27th
  • We will turn on e-file for VITA/TCE around 11:00am ET 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)
• Disaster Designation
  • We have seen a lot of questions about this. We recommend that you go ahead and mark the Disaster box and enter the appropriate disaster code
    • Puts an indicator in the e-file for federally declared disasters
    • https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations to get the disaster code associated with the area
• TaxSlayer Application Deploy Schedule
  • Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during season
  • Craig will post release notes on the blog the night before
• Orders from the IRS
  • We are still receiving orders on Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Subscribe to the blog for notifications
  • We have approximately 6,729 subscribers that get automated notifications out of approximately 60,000 users
  • We are aware some people are still getting blank screens when they click on the Blog from the springboard
    • Reach out to support so they can walk you through gathering some data for our development team
• VITA/TCE Support Hours
  • Phone, e-mail and chat support is available Monday-Friday from 8am-11:59pm ET and Saturday and Sunday from 8am-8pm ET
• Special thanks to Brad Martin who volunteered to be a guest “Question answerer” today.

Question and Answer Session

Question: When will Alabama be approved for e-file and what do I need to do for the returns that I prepared earlier when the program still indicated the return would have to be paper filed?

Answer from TaxSlayer: We will check to see if it is approved.  Once we turn on e-file for Alabama, you will just need to open the return and change the state return type to the appropriate e-file.

Question: Will we receive a schedule of calls and the call-in number earlier next time? I did not receive mine until just a few minutes before the call.

Answer from IRS: Your SPEC Relationship Manager should be reaching out with the call in information.  If you do not have it a week prior to the call, you should reach out to them to get it.

Question: How do we find out the status of our software order and how do we get notified you have it?

Answer from TaxSlayer: Reach out to VITA/TCE support to see if we have a current year order. If we do not, then you would need to reach out to your SPEC Relationship Manager to see if there were any problems with the order. We receive orders Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You will receive 1 notification via email if you are a returning site and 2 notifications via email if you are a new site.

Question: If the return is rejected for Form 8962 and the taxpayer is adamant they did not have coverage, will the program still allow you to mark that they don’t have coverage and send the efile back?

Answer from TaxSlayer: The behavior should not have changed. Once the return is rejected, go back through the healthcare menu to mark the applicable box and resubmit.

Feedback from Brad: In Alabama I often find that they really did have marketplace insurance and did not realize it. There are times when I have to get on the phone with the marketplace and typically find that they had the insurance for a short period of time and they just didn’t realize it.

Question: When will the new 5329 tax on early distribution codes be available in TaxSlayer?

Answer from TaxSlayer: We have an open development item for this that is marked production ready so it should go out either Friday, January 24th or Monday, January 27th.

Question: Can you check on a couple of places where the EIN is not working; 8863 and the 2441?

Answer from TaxSlayer: We have an active work order to fix the EIN database on the 8863. It worked in 2023 and should be working in 2024. We will have that fixed soon. We will check on the 2441 as we thought it was working.

Question: Can you also check on the EIN database not working on the 1099-RRB?

Answer from TaxSlayer: We have an open work item on this one too. We will check on it.

Question for Guest Speaker: Do you have to be with the taxpayer when you call the marketplace?

Answer from Guest Speaker: Yes. I typically call the marketplace and put the taxpayer on the phone with them so they can get authorization for me to talk to them. The authorization is just for this specific day. The whole process takes about 10 minutes. Saturdays are the best, there is typically no hold time.

Question for Guest Speaker: How do you handle it when the taxpayer is not at the site?

Answer from Guest Speaker: Sometimes we have them come back to the site because it could impact their refund/balance due and we would need a new signature. I have done a 3 way call between me, the taxpayer and the marketplace. Then if something changes on the return, I can  make the return available to the taxpayer via customer portal.

Question: How do we get in touch with support?

Answer from TaxSlayer: Once you open the VITA/TCE Springboard, scroll to the bottom and all of the support information is listed.