All Partner Call Notes – 3/7/2024

• As of Monday the 4^th, 1 million returns have been transmitted
• E-filing warning related to missing 1095-A – fix will be deployed Friday
• Reject Code 8962-070 – IRS says someone on the return had marketplace health insurance
• State direct deposit and direct debit details recently added to Client Forms Listing Summary page
• Subscribe to the blog – 6,628 subscribers as of this morning
• Housekeeping reminders: One question at a time. Multiple questions get back in the queue. Keep questions general and not return/state specific

Q:  What is the status of Issue 1664?  We do everything via the portal and this is a problem when they cannot sign their return

A:  This was resolved by our IT team on Friday, March 9th

Q:  We are looking for a way to put in estimated costs in the invoice form.

A:  Go to Configuration>> Fees Setup to add in prices for forms.  This will automatically calculate the fees for you (will not be deducted from the return), but allows you to run reports and share with the taxpayer how much they saved by coming to a VITA site

Q:  Can you clarify the new warning pop up.

A:  The feature is designed to display a warning for the taxpayer’s that had 1095-A in the prior year and not on their current year if carry forward is used with the return.  It is currently displaying the warning for all accepted returns (Note:  This was resolved with Friday’s deploy)

Q:  I had a situation where a taxpayer brought in 3 separate gambling winning documents and we could not enter 3 separate items.

A:  We verified that the program allows you to enter multiple W-2Gs in the return

Q: I created a return and when it opened, we just got a blank screen.

A:  We have seen this happen occasionally and it is typically when carry forward is used and there is a deactivated return on our system with the same SSN.  At the point you get this, the only thing to do is to deactivate the return and start it fresh (do not select Reactivate)

Q:  Why would a FSA Kiosk user see a fee in their account:

A:  There are a couple of scenarios which will cause this.  (1) They did not login for the very first time this year with the correct URL.  For example:  If they went straight to www.taxslayer.com and logged in for the first time and then went to a Kiosk URL, they would be charged because when they logged into our commercial site, it set their flag as “commercial).  (2)  They did not create their account with the valid URL.  If they do not, their token does not get set.  Deactivate their tax return…start from the correct URL

Q:  When I click to print the return and I get 3 or 4 returns.

A: Reach out to support so we can try to replicate it on our end.

Q:    After we send the documents to the taxpayer via customer portal, can they save and/or print them

A:  Yes, they can open the PDF to print it and they can save it and/or print it.

Q:  Basic info page of the MI return has a place for special notes.  Do those notes get included in the e-file to Michigan.

A:  Yes those notes do get included in the Michigan e-file.

Q:  I have a specific form that keeps printing even though it is set to 0.

A:  Reach out to support so we can look at it.

Q:  How can I check on the status of suggestions that I have submitted.  I feel like the suggestion box is a black hole

A:  You can reach out to support with the tracking IDs and they can check on the status for you.  We review all of the suggestions and create requirements based on many of them each year.  There is a lot taken into consideration before a suggestion can be implemented, but for TY2023, we implemented 80+ items that came directly from the suggestion box.

Q:  Do preparer notes carry forward

A:  The “sticky” notes made do carry forward, but the notes entered under the Miscellaneous section do not because they are return specific and are attached to the e-file

Q:  Question on the portal:  Does the taxpayer see a you tube video?

A:  No, but the customer portal training on the Practice Lab is broken into a Preparer section and a taxpayer section which can be sent to the taxpayer.  However, that is a great suggestion.

Q:  3^rd party designee section:  Can enter is specific for the federal, same for IA and WI.  Cannot do that for a MN return.

A:  If it is something the state offers, then we can look at adding it.  Yes there is an option at the bottom of the first page…will use the same 3^rd party as the federal.  Can you reach back out to support with an example and ask them to forward to Kim or Craig

Q: Has the problem with excessive contributions been fixed?

A:  Need EFIN and last 4 so we can look at the return

Q:  Will you have video chat with TaxSlayer support?

A:  No, for a variety of reasons.

Q:   We are still getting rejects for prior year federal withholding.

A:  We adjusted the program based on IRS guidance.  However, we will reach back out and see if they have made additional changes that could be triggering the reject.

3/1/2024 – Recycling this blog post. See below on how to handle this Federal reject related to 1095-A’s.

---

3/4/2022 – If you have a rejected Federal return at your site specific to missing Form 8962 or a binary statement not attached, you can now resubmit these returns electronically if they have not already been paper filed. For impacted returns, go back to the Health Insurance menu and on the first page, you will see two “No” options. Choose the option that is applicable to the taxpayers return. You can now resubmit the return and the appropriate statement will be included.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

This is a new reject for TY 2021

The e-file database indicates that Form 8962 or a binary attachment with description containing “ACA Explanation” must be present in the return

• It was added so returns may be corrected and avoid being kicked into error resolution, which could cause significant delays in the funding of the tax refund
• This is the IRS top reject across all software vendors
• If the return is rejected, the IRS has information that the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent has Marketplace insurance, and/or received an advance payment for marketplace insurance
• These returns should have the 8962 or PDF attachment with their “ACA Calculations”
• These taxpayers will receive a 1095-A, which providers are required to file by January 31, 2022.

Note:  The IRS has not issued guidance on the PDF attachment, or how to incorporate it into the software.  You would only need this attachment to show that the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent did not receive premium tax credit payments for TY2021.

If the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent received premium tax credit payments for medical insurance (even for 1 month), complete form 8962 using Form 1095-A

For additional information and to get help locating the documents needed to file a complete, correct tax return visit Healthcare.gov

 

 

Now that sites are beginning to prepare amended returns, we just wanted to post a reminder that through TaxSlayer Pro Online and TaxSlayer FSA, only Federal Amended Returns can be electronically filed. State amended returns must be paper filed at this time. We did mention in the Enhancement webinar presented in December 2023 that we expect to support State Amended E-file experience in the 2023 program. We do not have an ETA at this time but we will post to the blog once the State Amended E-file experience is in production.

Scenario:  I open a return or print a return and I am presented with random Spanish forms, even though I did not change the return to Spanish.

Workaround:  Select the taxpayer drop down, Select Change Language, Select the left blue box ‘Ingles’

Sometimes closing out of the return and opening back up will also render all forms in English (may have to do it a couple of times)

Solution:  The resolution is currently going through our testing process.  Once the changes have passed all testing scenarios, we will deliver it to production (No ETA yet)

 

A product deployment for TaxSlayer Pro Online will occur Monday, February 19th beginning at 5:00am ET to release the below update(s). Note that deployments may take up to 3 hours to complete. During this time, access to the program may be limited.

Form 8379

Allow negative amount for “Other income or loss” (Issue 1918)

MD

Form 502 correction: MD Form 502 Local Tax Rate (line 28) for Anne Arundel (Issue 1922)

Form 7206

Form 7206 is printing blank but not added on any menu (corrected)

1099-R

1099-R Box 2a not auto populating from Box 1 when carryforward is used (Issue 1833)

 

There is an unintended detour in the flow of accessing the Sales Tax Worksheet

• Navigate to Deductions >> Itemized Deductions
• Select Taxes you Paid
• Select the “I want to input my state and local sales tax”
• Select “Add sales tax you paid”
• You will be presented with the “State and Local Sales Tax Override” page
  • If you really want to override, enter the amount here
  • If you are looking for the “Sales Tax Worksheet”, click Continue (Detour 1)
• Select the “I want to input my state and local sales tax” (Detour 2)
• Select the “Add sales tax you paid” (Detour 3)
• You will now be presented with the Sales Tax Deduction worksheet

Currently only the Override amount will display on the Sales Tax Paid summary grid that displays.  If you are using the zip code to calculate the sales tax, it carries to the return and PDF correctly, but does not display on the summary grid.

We have entered issues to resolve both items.

 

 

Notes from the February 8th All Partner Call:

• As of Monday the 5^th, 105,000 returns have been transmitted
• IRS will begin processing refunds for EITC/CTC beginning February 15th
• Prior year and state only e-filing is available. Turned on February 2nd
  • Issue #1758  2022 returns are getting stuck in the transmitted state.  Please reach out to support with your EFIN and last 4.  We will make a blog post when this is resolved.
• CO indicates they will open for e-file mid-February (around the 12^th)
• NM has indicated they will be slow to return acknowledgements over the 1^st couple weeks of e-file
• Watermarks on state return forms will be removed as forms approvals are received
• Customer portal dashboard recently released
• FSA Kiosk sites: If you have received your URL, be sure to copy and paste it into your browser instead of clicking the link in the e-mail (e-mail service provider could perceive the URL as a phishing attempt)

---

Q:  We are getting a lot of rejects indicating we need to complete form 8862 for disallowance of EITC/CTC/AOC.  The taxpayer is stating they have never been disallowed.  Is there any way for the software to detect this?

A:  No.  The IRS keeps this information on file for several years.  You will have to load and complete Form 8862.

---

Q:  It is hard to quality review dividend statements because we have to drill down into the return.  We submitted suggestion #271382 to add detailed information, where are you at on this.

A:  We have completed the requirements document for this.  It is now in the phase of being sized and prioritized by our product team.

---

Q:  It is hard to allow the taxpayer to verify their RTN and ACCT number for direct deposit when the information is masked.  Is there a way to not mask this information.

A:  This is controlled by the “View full taxpayer SSN” permission in Roles & Permissions.

---

Q:  Why do we have to complete the EIC Due Diligence worksheet, we are not paid preparers?  (Updated answer)

A:  By default, the program does require this worksheet.  The Due diligence form will always load in the Forms Completed tree.  If the volunteer clicks on it, they can just click on another form in the tree without going through and answering the questions.  Even if they answer the questions, it will not be included in the e-file since you are not paid preparers.

---

Q:  My 2022 Amended return was rejected by the IRS.

A:  The IRS  made a schema change that impacted prior year returns with a 1099-R with federal withholding.  We have a work item Issue #1762 that is in final stages of testing and should be delivered within the next few days.  Once delivered you will be able to resend those rejected returns.

---

Q:  We are having an issue with the new Alabama RS getting rejected?

A:  Issue #1819 will be deployed on Friday, February 9th.  Alabama is also making some changes on their end as well to accommodate the new form.

---

Q:  We love the customer portal and the dashboard.  However, our volunteers send the link to everyone even if the don’t need it.  Is there a way to cancel an invite?

A:  Currently no, but that is a great suggestion.

---

Q:  Why did you get rid of the pop-ups on the state returns for taxable pensions and other things for MO?

A:  This is an issue and is being worked on.

---

Q:  Is there a difference in the calculations between the Practice Lab and our production site?

A:  No, the Practice Lab is a site inside of the Production System just like your production site.

---

Q:  Other software companies allow you to download and import income documents directly into the program so we don’t have to key in the information.  Is this something we will be able to do in the future?

A:  No.  Due to security protocols, we will not allow third party APIs to access the VITA/TCE environment.

---

Q:  Why is box 2(a) no longer auto populating on the 1099-R when you complete Box 1?

A:  We did some research and found that this is an issue if the return utilized prior year data.  We have opened a high priority ticket to resolve this Issue #1833.

---

Q: Will the AZ state rebate deduction be automatically subtracted or will we need to continue to manually enter the subtraction amount?

A:  Issue #1810 has passed testing and is waiting to be deployed. It will be a manual entry.

---

Q:  Will we have to continue to enter the 4 digit code for the Ohio School District for SD withholding

A:  Yes.

---

Q:  We are noticing that the complete/incomplete in the signature column is not always correct.

A:  We have Issue #1690 to resolve this.  It has been escalated.

The “View full taxpayer SSN” permission determines whether a user can view the full SSN or view a masked SSN.

By default the majority of the roles assigned by TaxSlayer on behalf of the IRS DO NOT allow the preparer to view the Full SSN

This can be controlled at the site level with custom Roles.  If you choose to to allow the preparer to view the unmasked SSN, you should take measures to ensure the full SSN cannot be viewed by anyone other than the preparer(s).