We have distributed the URLs for the FSA Fusion, Stand-Alone and Remote locations we have received via the IRS orders.

How do I verify the SIDN associated with my URL is correct?

Your SPEC Relationship Manager can assist you in verifying the information.

I cannot find the email with the URL?

The URL was sent to the email address submitted via the IRS Order.  It will be coming from our VITA/TCE support account.  The subject will be one of the following:

• FSA Fusion URL
• FSA Stand Alone URL
• FSA Remote URL

Make sure you check your SPAM or Junk folders.  If you can locate the URL, please reach out to VITA/TCE support via email.  They will need to know the SIDN for the FSA site

I am in charge of multiple FSA sites, will I get an email for each site

When possible, we combined the URLs into one email.  It will have the site name followed by its URL

9:00am ET: Prior year calculation issues have been resolved.

We are currently working to resolve an issue for all prior year returns that are not rendering a calculation.  If you have opened a prior year return and the calculations are spinning, click on Basic Information and then Close and Exit Return.  We will update this post when this has been resolved.

9:00am ET: Print issue has been resolved.

Printing is not currently working in TY2020.  We are completing the roll out of turning on Start New Return at the production sites.  As we progress through this process, we will update the post for printing.

The IRS will not begin taking in test returns from software vendors until March (current schedule).  During the interim, the taxpayers will need to mail in their 1040NR returns or hold them until e-file opens (most likely late March).

We will begin distributing the approved TY 2020 FSA URLs starting today, Monday, January 18th.

What the sites CAN do:

Email the site-specific FSA link to the taxpayer with information on how they can contact them (the VITA/TCE site) if they have any questions during the process of preparing their return.  This also allows the site to do the following if they can do so:

• Screenshare with the taxpayer and assist them as the taxpayer prepares the return
• Talk them through the screens via telephone (since the site can create up to five accounts per email address) to walk their taxpayers through the return
• Create a quick PPT or word doc to send with the link to provide instructions for the taxpayer

Place the site-specific link behind a secured login (similar to an employee intranet site)

What the sites CANNOT do:

• Email to a random listing of taxpayers (needs to be targeted to specific taxpayers)
• Place the link on a public facing website

Click here to download the FSA User Guide, Best Practices Guide and Chrome troubleshooting tips.

Remember:  You must always start from the URL you received from TaxSlayer.

The special lookback rule, included in the most recent Coronavirus Relief Package, allows lower income individuals to use their earned income from 2019 to determine their Earned Income Tax Credit and the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit in 2020. This provision is now included in TaxSlayer Pro Online within the Personal Information page, shown below.

This is just a reminder that tax season support hours (below) do not begin until “Start New Return” is turned on in 2020. January 18th is tentatively scheduled to be that date, however, the opening date is subject to change.

• Monday – Friday: 8am-12am ET
• Saturday – Sunday: 8am-8pm ET

Until “Start New Return” is turned on in 2020 support hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm ET.

Update 1/7/2021: When completing the practice exercises in the Practice Lab and/or any certification exams, if the scenario does not provide details related to Economic Impact Payments (EIP) being received (either 1st or 2nd rounds), in the Recovery Rebate Credit page, go ahead enter amounts as if they received payments for all eligible individuals included in the scenario. This will allow the application to make the appropriate calculations based on inclusion of those entries.

Update 12/29/2020: The Practice Exercises are now updated using the current 2020 Practice Lab calculations available in the application to date. This time of year both the IRS and State Departments are continually releasing and finalizing forms, schedules, and instructions to software vendors. Regular updates will be implemented into the software as information is released/provided to software vendors.

Update 12/22/2020: The 2020 Practice Exercises will be uploaded to the Practice Lab the week of December 28th.

To help set expectations in the field, the practice exercises under Section 6 of the Practice Lab will be updated to 2020 within the next two weeks. This article will be updated when 2020 Practice Exercises are live in the Practice Lab. We wanted to provide extra time for additional updates to be applied to the 2020 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. Regular updates will be implemented into the software as information is released/provided to software vendors.

At this time, the practice exercises are still based on the 2019 application.