For consistency purposes, Craig and I have conformed and will use the proper feature name:  Customer Portal

This is how it is referenced in the application and it will avoid confusion in the future.

The score is:  Proper Name = 1   Kim and Craig = 0

The security templates assigned by TaxSlayer will have the customer portal options enabled.  If you are a site that creates custom security templates and want to enable the Customer Portal feature, you will need to enable the following options:

• Customer Portal
• Scanned Documents

The following is optional

• Delete scanned documents

Which assigned security templates will have customer portal enabled?

• ADMINISTRATOR (TS)
• SUPERUSER
• PREPARER CURRENT YEA
• PREPARER ALL YEARS
• INTERVIEWER
• REVIEWER

What if I do not want a user to have the ability to use the customer portal feature?

You will need to create custom security templates that do not include the security templates that enable customer portal and assign it to the appropriate users.

The taxpayer that has an established client portal will be able to upload the following types of files (max of 5 meg per file) and a total of 25 meg of uploads.

• pdf
• png
• jpg
• tif
• doc
• docx
• xls
• xlsx

This allows the taxpayer to snap a photo of any necessary documents from their phone, login to their secured account and upload the document.  The goal is to make it easy for the taxpayer to provide documents needed for the volunteer to create a quality tax return.

Customer Portal is a new to VITA/TCE feature that will be available for all Pro Online sites beginning with TaxSlayer 2021.  This is a feature that has been available to our commercial customers for several years.  You will hear and see it interchangeably with the terminology of “client portal”.

The purpose of the feature is to allow the tax preparer to initiate the ability for the taxpayer to create a secured customer portal to facilitate the secure sharing of documents between the taxpayer and the preparer.  Below are some high level items that can be accomplished with the use of the client portal:

• The taxpayer can upload electronic documents for the preparer to view and use during return preparation or quality review
• The preparer can make a copy of the tax return available via the client portal for the taxpayer to view to facilitate the quality review process
• The taxpayer/spouse has the ability to sign the appropriate tax forms and consents
• Taxpayer will have the ability to check the status (accepted/rejected) of the federal return without having to communicate with the VITA/TCE site
• The tax preparer has the ability to make a copy of the signed tax return available via the client portal for the taxpayer to generate a PDF and with save or print their own copies
• Facilitates a communication channel for communications between the taxpayer and tax preparer via chat within the client portal

We will be providing more information throughout the summer on this exciting new feature.  It gives the sites more tools and resources to compliment their existing virtual processes and can be used as a tool to prevent the taxpayer from having to make multiple trips to the site.

Will training be available?

Yes.  We are in the process of creating a mini guide and a training video.  This feature will also be part of the Enhancement Webinar.

When will this feature become available?

The feature will be available when we turn on “Start New Return” in January 2022.

Will this feature be available in the Practice Lab?

No.