Below are bullet points from our opening presentation at the beginning of the All Partner call before opening up for Q&A from the field.

• Friday, January 17^th:  Turning on Start a New Return at the production site levels
  • We strongly recommend that you open each return and recheck the calculations for returns created between January 17^th and January 27^th
    • Screenshots are posted on the blog about how to do this
• Monday, January 27^th:  Turn on the ability to send federal and state e-files
  • Turn on after the mad rush of other vendors sending returns
  • Do not expect acks back within 8-15 minutes on day 1
  • If the return has an e-file block in it due to the extenders, make sure you use a return tag
  • Send state only will be turned off for a few days
• Controlled Launch:  TaxSlayer is currently participating in Controlled launch for the commercial offices.
  • Making changes as we find things during the e-file process
  • We will have a day next week where we will open e-file for a few hours so volunteers can send some returns
    • We will post information to the blog

States:

• All of the states are currently available in the Practice lab and will be available in your production sites
• All states are approved for e-file except Delaware
• If there is a “DO NOT MAIL” strip on the state form,  it is still OK to electronically file the return.
  • The strips will be removed once the state has given us print approval.
    • This is usually later than e-file approval

Blog:

• “What we Know” posts
  • List federal items that have been reported as issues that are open and those that are resolved.
  • There is also a link to a PDF of known state items
    • These are primarily issues that impact the tax calculation of the state
• Release Note posts
  • Currently and for the next couple of weeks, we are doing daily deploys so we can get updates out quicker
    • These deploys start at 5:00am ET and there is typically only a small window of time where the returns are in maintenance mode
  • We try to give you an idea of what changes are coming the night before
  • Craig updates the post with what has been delivered as soon as he walks through each one

Software Orders:

• All software orders that we have received have been processed
  • All sites that we have not received an order for have been marked as inactive.
  • All FSA Standalone links have been emailed out
  • All FSA Fusion links have been emailed out
• We recognize this leaves some sites without an active software order.
  • As soon as the IRS can send us the orders, they will be processed and marked as active
  • DO NOT be creative and add an inactive EFIN as an ERO to an active site…the returns will not pass validation and be sent to the IRS
  • Under no circumstances, should multiple EFINs be entered in ERO setup for Pro Online
• New Site Administrators
  • Review the instructions on the blog and send your requests to vita support
    • EFIN
    • Site Name
    • Site Admin Name
    • Site Admin phone number
    • Site Admin email

Groups

• All groups have been setup from the orders we have received
• AARP sites need to reach out to AARP Foundation if they are missing someone from their group.
• Relational Groups:  check your offices to ensure they are all there.  We have already assigned the required Relational consent to all sites.  If you are missing a site, they must be added prior to them starting returns because we have to add them to the group, assign the consent and the consent is  not retroactive

Virtual/Ad Hoc Site

• Review the Blog post titled “Pro Online 2019: Virtual/Ad Hoc Setup”
• The SIDN that goes in the e-file is the one assigned to the user via Preparer Setup
• Make sure you copy the Customer ID and Office Identifier to the new ERO when you are setting the Virtual/Ad Hoc sites to print on the return

FSA Fusion and FSA StandAlone

• All links have been distributed for the orders we have received
• Craig will be conducting a webinar on the TaxSlayer FSA program at 3:00 PM EST on Wednesday, January 22^nd.
  • Once we have a registration link, we will post to the blog if you wish to attend

Office Setup

• Site Administrators, we strongly recommend you go in and review the office configuration located under office setup.  We recommend the following be selected for all sites
  • Disable Third Party Designee Prefill
  • Offer 8888
  • Display Summary using 1040 View
  • Hide Preparer Name on 1040 Print
  • Always print Schedule A

Suggestion Box

• Open year around for software enhancement suggestions
• If you believe there is a defect in the software, you need to reach out to support
  • Recommend email with screen shots if applicable, detailed explanation of issue, EFIN and last 4 of the SSN
  • They will review this and put in an issue so the development team can review and resolve if applicable

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The following are questions and corresponding answers that we received on the Partner Call that was held on Thursday, January 16th. We are posting questions that are most applicable to all sites.

Q1: Our site opens Sunday the 26^th. Will TaxSlayer be open by then?

• Yes, Start New Return for 2019 will begin on January 17^th.

Q2: Can we e-file state returns attached to 1040-NR returns?

• No, state returns added to a 1040-NR return must be paper filed. The 1040-NR can be e-filed.

Q3: Can you go over what is starting on January 17^th vs January 27^th?

• January 17^th is when sites can begin to prepare 2019 tax returns. January 27^th is when the IRS opens for e-file and we will allow sites to transmit returns. We recommend opening any tax return prepared prior to January 27^th to ensure the latest updates are applied to the return before e-file.

Q4: What is the best way to send in long requests via the Suggestion Box that may include pictures?

• We recommend not including any pictures with your suggestion as we will reach out to you via e-mail for any additional information needed.

Q5: How do you receive the FSA URL?

• FSA/Fusion orders are placed by your SPEC RM. Reach out to them if you will operate a FSA/Fusion site.

Q6: Can prior years be e-file before January 27^th?

• No, they cannot. January 27^th

Q7: Do enhancements mentioned apply to prior years as well?

• Enhancements are generally applicable to the current year and forward.

Q8: Can you deactivate returns that have not been e-filed?

• Yes, if they are “In Progress” or “Review Failed” and you have a Security Template that supports deactivating returns.

Q9: Where can I access the VITA/TCE Blog?

• https://vitablog.taxslayerpro.com

Q10: 1040-SR – Is it going to be available to include in a print set?

• 1040-SR can be added to a custom print set created at the group or site level, but will not be supported in default print sets delivered with the software.

Q11: Does Site Admins need to do anything in prep of January 17^th?

• Just make sure all of your volunteers are set up with logins so they can hit the ground running!

Q12: How to set up consents?

• Prior year consents will still be available at your site, but edits/updates can be made within Configuration > Consents menu.

 

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

 

What returns should I complete at my site?

We strongly recommend that you only complete production returns in your site (actual taxpayer returns).  The Practice Lab is a Super Site in the same production environment.  If you need to conduct training or just try out a scenario, you should continue to utilize the Practice Lab.

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Have all forms been finalized?

No.  All software vendors are still waiting to receive final forms and instructions for several forms. This includes Federal and/or state forms.

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Can I electronically file returns?

No.  We are currently scheduled to turn on electronic filing on January 27th when the IRS MeF opens.  We will have e-file stops on any applicable extenders that have not been updated in the IRS electronic system.

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What happens to the returns I have created if the IRS issues form changes or TaxSlayer issues calculation changes prior to e-file opening?

We strongly recommend that you open each return and exit through the Submission screen of E-file by clicking the Save and Exit return button. This allows the most recent forms/calculations to be saved with the return.

You can then navigate to Client Status for the return by selecting Client Status from the Tools menu on the Client List.

Compare the AGI and Refund calculated today with the last time you were in the return before sending the file electronically (January 27th).

Background:  TaxSlayer software ordering season began on October 2, 2019. All orders under the existing procurement order were fulfilled.  Due to an issue impacting the procurement of additional software licenses, TaxSlayer has to delay the processing of the remaining 2019 software orders, pending IRS approval.  The IRS is working diligently to resolve this issue.  Please continue to submit your orders.  You can reach out to your SPEC Relationship Manager to check the status of software ordering submissions.  Volunteers for the sites can continue to use the Practice Lab for training purposes.

The following question was added to both the Pro Online and Desktop software to accommodate the Crypto/Virtual Currency question on Schedule 1

 

Please refer to Page 81 of the 2019 1040 Instructions on the definition and scenarios associated with Virtual currency.  These are located on IRS.gov but are still in draft form as of December 16, 2019. 1040 Instructions 2019

You should also refer to pages 8 and 9 of the 4012 for the “out of scope” policies surrounding Crypto/Virtual currency Publication 4012

Scenario:  An existing Pro Online site from 2018 now has a new Site Admin for 2019

Question:  How does the new site admin gain access to the site if they do not already have a login?

Solution:  Send an email to vita support ([email protected]) with the following information and subject line:

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Subject Line :  New Site Admin

Body:  I am the new site admin for the following site and need the link sent that allows me to create my admin credentials

EFIN: {Enter six digit EFIN}

Site Name: {Enter Site Name}

Site Admin Name: {Enter your name as the new site administrator}

Site Admin Phone: {Enter your phone number)

Site Admin Email: {this is the email address the link will be sent to}

 

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

 

Update 10:30 am EST:  Our telephone provider has resolved the issue and calls are being transferred through to the support team.

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We are seeing disconnects on the VITA/TCE phone line.  We are currently working to resolve this.  You can always reach support via email.