Friday, January 20th

4:05 PM:  28 additional returns were received that did not get sent during Controlled Launch.  These returns will have a status of “Transmitted” on your client list.  Once we start sending returns on Monday, these returns will be sent to the IRS.  No action is required by you.

3:09 PM:  We have turned efile off.  Thank you to everyone that participated.  This allowed us to identify some unexpected items.

1:27 PM:  We have sent 29 e-files and received 29 acks.  We are currently seeing some unexpected things with the acknowledgements from a software perspective.

• If your return was rejected, it will show on the client list as rejected, but you currently cannot see any reject details.
• The IRS Ack reports are not rendering any data (assuming the same thing is happening for accepted returns)
• The client status does not seem to be updating to appropriate status

We are researching these issues in order to get them resolved prior to opening day.

 

10:05 AM:  E-file has been turned on to transmit from the Submission page from inside the return.

—————————————————————————————————————————————

We will be turning on the ability to submit 2022 e-files for a few hours on Friday, January 20th from approximately 10am – 3pm Eastern.  Our goal is to send around 100 VITA/TCE returns during controlled launch.

Will I get an IRS acknowledgement?

Yes

Does this speed up the process of the taxpayer getting their refund any earlier?

No

What happens if I submit a return and it is not sent during Controlled Launch?

We will hold the return and submit it on Monday, January 23rd when e-file opens.

THE IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE SCREENSHOTS AND CANNOT BE CLICKED

---

We have implemented a new system for sending out VITA/TCE email notifications.  Effective 11/29/2022 at 1:00 PM EST.  Any one that subscribed to our blog post prior to this date and time will need to complete the subscription process.

Steps for signing up to receive VITA/TCE Blog email notifications, which includes Release Notes, Breaking News and a lot of informative information to help you navigate TaxSlayer and tax season.

• Scroll to the bottom of this (or any) article
• Look to the right side of the screen
  • The image below is just a screenshot and cannot be clicked
• Enter your email address and select “Sign Up”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• You will see a verification instruction dialog box

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Check your email.  Make sure you check your SPAM or JUNK folder.

NOTE:  The email will come from [email protected]

 

 

 

 

• Follow the onscreen instructions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• You will be taken to the VITA/TCE Blog homepage.

TIP:  If you want to sign up for multiple email addresses, you will need to open the blog in a different instance of your browser

This item in Office setup was removed after we created and published our training materials.  It is no longer needed due to the change made to the e-file section last year.  The third party designee is an optional question on the Return Details page in the e-file section.

You will also notice a new section titled Office Designee within the Office Setup page.  This defaults to blank.  DO NOT change the selection.

Keep in mind, that these are considered live returns and will show in your reports and counts.  If you are having your volunteers complete practice returns, we strongly recommend you have them create practice returns in the Practice Lab (remember, it is a super site in the production system).

 

We have added the following definition to Security Manager “Allow entry into Accepted Returns”.  It is enabled by default for all of the TaxSlayer assigned templates.

What is the purpose?

If you remove the checkmark, the user will not be able to open an accepted return to make modifications to it.  This feature can be used instead of using the “Hide Accepted Returns from Limited Users” definition.  The advantage is that they can still see the accepted returns in their list, but cannot open and modify them.

Ad Hoc Site Scenario:

Site has a “main” site and also has one or more “ad hoc” site .

• The main site has an EFIN and SIDN (Snnnnnnn01)
• Ad Hoc site #1 has its own SIDN (Snnnnnnn02) because the IRS wants the returns prepared at the ad hoc site to report under the correct SIDN.
• Ad Hoc Site #2 has its own SIDN (Snnnnnn03)

Instructions for Setting up in TaxSlayer Pro Online:

• Create separate Preparers for the volunteers who work at the ad hoc site.
• Enter the SIDN of the Ad hoc site in the Preparer Setup. (The SIDN on the Preparer record is the one that carries to the PTIN field on Form 1040 and is captured in the e-file for reporting purposes)
• Best Practice: Use something in the user name to indicate the site where they will be preparing returns.  For example:  KrisMain for preparing returns at the main site and then KrisAdhoc1 for preparing returns at the ad hoc site.

Note:  If a volunteer prepares returns at the main site and each ad hoc site, they will need a username for each to ensure the correct SIDN is in the e-file.  The preparer can use the same email address in this circumstance.

Click here to download a PDF of complete instructions

1/4/2023: The following practice exercises have been updated in the 2022 application and uploaded to Section 6 of the Practice Lab. Practice Exercise 4 will be updated once a software issue is resolved.

• Practice Exercise 1
• Practice Exercise 2
• Practice Exercise 3
• Practice Exercise 5
• Practice Exercise 6
• Practice Exercise 7
• Practice Exercise International
• Practice Exercise Military
• Puerto Rico Practice Exercises 1 – 7

---

1/2/2023: The Practice Lab Practice Exercises will be updated to 2022 by Friday, January 6th.

---

To help set expectations in the field, the practice exercises under Section 6 of the Practice Lab will be updated to 2022 closer to late December/early January. This article will be updated when 2022 Practice Exercises are live in the Practice Lab. We want to provide extra time for additional updates to be applied to the 2022 software before updating the exercises. This time of year both the IRS and State Departments are continually releasing and finalizing forms, schedules, and instructions to software vendors. As mentioned in a previous blog post, regular updates will be implemented into the software as information is released/provided to software vendors over the next several weeks leading into the upcoming filing season.

At this time, the practice exercises are still based on the 2021 application.

1/2/2023 – Roughly nineteen (19) State Returns are now live! Please note the information posted below when reviewing the initial state application release. The remaining states will be released for preparation over the next couple of weeks as the various approvals are received by state departments.

Note: Initial load times may be slower than normal, but this will subside as additional state returns are created, etc.

---

It is important to keep in mind when accessing 2022 state returns as they become available, some states may have been delayed in releasing final 2022 forms/instructions. As you prepare 2022 state returns in the Practice Lab, you may still see 2021 calculations and/or PDF forms. Customer Service will not be creating issues for these items until the states are closer to finalization.  As information continues to be released and finalized by the states, the Practice Lab will be updated to reflect the most recent information available.

Note: This is the same process every year and is normal behavior.