Reminder: TaxSlayer 2019 will no longer be available when we roll out our early release of TaxSlayer 2025. Our tentative date is the first week of November, but we strongly recommend you finish up any outstanding work or reports by October 31st, 2025.
What does this mean? You will no longer have access to 2019 returns or 2019 reports.
Q: Can TaxSlayer support request my EFIN to be changed?
A: No
Q: Will I still have access to prior year returns and carry forward data if my EFIN changes?
A: The new EFIN must be changed in TaxSlayer’s system prior to the software order being received
Q: What happens if my old EFIN is still active with TaxSlayer and my order is placed with my new EFIN?
A: You will not have access to any prior year returns or prior year carryforward
Q: How will I know if my old EFIN has not been changed prior to my software being ordered?
A: You will receive an email notification to setup your admin user account. If you are create a new user account and do not see any of your prior year users or prior year returns, you need to reach out to your SPEC relationship Manager immediately so this can be resolved.
The FSA (Facilitated Self Assistance) Kiosk URL’s that were issued for TY2025 will expire on October 31st. The links will no longer offer free tax prep to the taxpayers nor offer access to prior year applications. As we begin receiving new orders for TY2025, new URL’s will be generated based on the order received from the IRS and emailed to the volunteer site contact in mid-January 2026.
Multi-Factor Authentication will be required for all TaxSlayer Desktop 2025 users.
Answer: Since tax return information is stored locally (either on the computer or local network), all users will be required to complete the MFA process every 24 hours.
[UPDATE] This has been resolved
We are aware that you are receiving API Errors for “ID Server not found” when creating new returns and opening existing returns in 2024, 2023, and 2022. Our IT and development teams are working this as a critical item.
Click here to view and download the PDF. The link will launch a BrainShark video with instructions on how to view the PDF’s.
Click here to submit a suggestion
We encourage you to continue to send us suggestions throughout the summer and fall.
Three attachments:
Reminder: The suggestion box should not be used for calculation errors or software issues. You should reach out to VITA/TCE support.
Original Post found HERE.
How to identify if your site(s) has impacted returns:
Log into your site and go to the “Reports” menu. Under “Other Data Reports“, click on “Management Reports“. Look for the “Site Production 1099R State Duplication Report“. Inside the “Site Production 1099R State Duplication Report“, choose Tax Year 2024 and then select your EFIN under the “EFIN Selection” tab. Click “Run Report“.
Note: ONLY impacted returns will display. If your site report is blank, your site DOES NOT have any impacted returns and there is no further action.
What is an “Impacted Return”:
Impacted returns are returns where a 1099-R was present, state withholdings were duplicated AND the return was electronically filed AND accepted. Note: TaxSlayer has already deleted duplicate state records for 1099-R returns with duplicated state information that HAVE NOT e-filed.
Next steps if your site(s) has Impacted Returns:
Find your state in the list below and follow the guidance provided. Note: If your state is NOT listed, we have not received guidance from your state and no action is needed at this time. The below list will be updated as state guidance is received. IL, ME & OH will NOT have any impacted returns due to existing state business rules to reject 1099-R returns with duplicate state withholdings.
Note: If your state indicates an amended return needs to be prepared and filed, when amending, review all 1099-R’s present in the return and delete all duplicated state details.
Alabama – Amended Alabama returns need to be prepared and filed.
Arizona – Amended Arizona returns need to be prepared and filed.
Arkansas – Arkansas is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
California – Amended California returns need to be prepared and filed.
Colorado – Amended Colorado returns need to be prepared and filed.
Connecticut – Amended Connecticut returns need to be prepared and filed.
Delaware – Delaware is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
District of Columbia – Amended DC returns need to be prepared and filed.
Georgia – Amended Georgia returns need to be prepared and filed.
Hawaii – Amended Hawaii returns need to be prepared and filed.
Idaho – Amended Idaho returns need to be prepared and filed.
Indiana – Indiana is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Iowa – Iowa is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Kansas – Kansas is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Kentucky – Amended Kentucky returns need to be prepared and filed.
Louisiana – Amended Louisiana returns need to be prepared and filed.
Maryland – Maryland is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Massachusetts – Amended Massachusetts returns need to be prepared and filed.
Michigan – Amended Michigan returns need to be prepared and filed.
Mississippi – Amended Mississippi returns need to be prepared and filed.
Missouri – Missouri is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Minnesota – Minnesota is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Montana – Amended Montana returns need to be prepared and filed.
Nebraska – Nebraska is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
North Carolina – Amended North Carolina returns need to be prepared and filed.
North Dakota – North Dakota is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
New Jersey – Amended New Jersey returns need to be prepared and filed.
New Mexico – Amended New Mexico returns need to be prepared and filed.
New York – New York is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Oklahoma – Amended Oklahoma returns need to be prepared and filed.
Oregon – Oregon is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Pennsylvania – Amended Pennsylvania returns need to be prepared and filed.
Rhode Island – Amended Rhode Island returns need to be prepared and filed.
South Carolina – Amended South Carolina returns need to be prepared and filed.
Vermont – Amended Vermont returns need to be prepared and filed.
Virginia – Amended Virginia returns need to be prepared and filed.
West Virginia – West Virginia is automatically adjusting impacted returns. No amended return is needed.
Wisconsin – Amended Wisconsin returns need to be prepared and filed.
Question: We have a problem with OR Amended returns. Is there any way we can test the change before it is released?
Answer: No, because individuals outside of our organization are not allowed access to our pre-production systems due to security reasons.
Follow up Question: Is there a way that we can find out when fixes are going to be released so we can make sure and check them first thing?
Answer: Yes. We deliver updates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the season. Craig creates and publishes release notes the night before on the Blog so that they are available before the release.
Question: The TaxSlayer consumer product allows the taxpayer to pull down things like the W-2 and import it into the return. Is this something that will be a future feature?
Answer: No: due to security reasons, we are not allowed to access third party data in the VITA/TCE environment.
Question: How can I access the 1099 Report you discussed earlier?
Answer: Navigate to Reports>>Management Reports. It is located in the section with the Site Production Detail Reports. If you have problems locating it, please reach out to customer support.
Question: I had a problem yesterday with my Old federal reports. They were no longer available for me to choose.
Answer: You can navigate to Configuration>>Report Customization and see if it needs to be added back. Typically the only way the reports are no longer available is if someone goes here and removes them from the reports list. If you need help with this, please reach out to VITA/TCE support and they work with you.
Question: Checking on issue #2990 where the 2023 carryforward information is not going into 2024.
Answer: Good news on that, we have found a solution and in the process of implementing the solution.
Question: If we feel that a return is not on the 1099R report and should be, what should we do.
Answer: Reach out to VITA/TCE support with the EFIN and last 4 so we can look into it.
Question: When is the next call?
Answer: April 3rd at 2:30. Your SPEC Relationship Manager will be sending you the information and TaxSlayer will post it on the blog
Question: User is having challenges getting MFA codes using a VITA Kiosk URL on Sundays a the library via email and text.
Answer: Reach out to VITA/TCE support when this is happening so we can try to troubleshoot. There are no systemic problems with generating the MFA codes.
Suggestion: Check and see if it is giving you an error message that it cannot send the code. I have had this happen and you just need to generate the code again. I have also had to reboot my phone and then all of the sudden I got all of the codes that I had generated.
Question: Are you aware of any problems with the customer portal? My tax clients are signing, but it is not coming through on my end. I also used to send a message that they have signed, but I am not seeing that either. Also, when I shared the doc with them, it did not show on my side, but it did show on their side.
Answer: Can you reach out to VITA/TCE support with a return we can look at.
Question: Can you explain the significance of the PIN for the returns
Answer: The PIN you enter for the consents is so we have an electronic signature with the return. We utilize the Practitioner PIN method since they are signing the paper docs and you are entering the PIN on their behalf. The PIN on the 8879 (Return Detail page) is the electronic signature that goes with the tax return.
Question: What is the email address for customer support?
Answer: [email protected]
Question: I am having trouble with volunteers marking returns as ready to review and also being able to review other returns.
Answer: You will need to create a custom role that will allow the user to have the ability to mark returns for review and also review returns.
Question: What is the Springboard
Answer: This is the landing page where you have the three options across the top for Practice Lab, Pro Online and the Blog
Comment: I just want to tell you how much more pleasant it is to navigate through the e-file section. It is much faster now than it was.
Answer: Thank you for the feedback.
Question: We have a few returns where when it pulls forward it changes the date of birth by one day. Have you heard of this?
Answer: It has not bubbled up to me, but please reach out to VITA/TCE support with EFIN and last 4 so we can take a look at it. Brad had this happen a few weeks back, but has not had it happen since. He was not able to replicate it to find a pattern. If you have screenshots that you can attach before you fixed it, that would be great too.