(a) To load the system up with volunteer generated returns
(b) To ensure that all participants have successfully logged into the system and can successfully create returns prior to the testing date
We will have a series of 8 to 9 different scenarios that we will be asking the volunteers to complete during the testing period.
The following message was distributed by SPEC this morning:
Background: TaxSlayer software ordering season began on October 2, 2017. Due to an IRS system technology issue impacting the procurement of software; IRS has to delay the processing of the 2017 TaxSlayer software orders. We are expecting to have the issue resolved by the end of this week (December 1st). Please continue to submit your orders. We expect to start processing orders by Tuesday next week.
Until receipt of software, sites still have the ability to complete many site administrative functions, such as verifying site Information, creating security templates, adding preparers, creating/assigning custom questions, etc. VITA/TCE sites should continue to use the Practice Lab for training purposes.
Blog Posted 11/27/2017
The Primary SSN for all practice lab returns should have -00- as the 4th and 5th digit. If you are working with support on a specific return, they will need the entire Practice SSN to access the return.
During tax season, we only require EFIN and last 4 digits, however, all Practice Lab returns are created under the same EFIN and there are sometimes thousands that end with the same last 4 digits.
We strongly recommend that if you are working with a support agent on a specific Practice Lab return, you change the last name to something unique to ensure that we can access the correct return.
You should never be asked to email or give a full “real” Social Security Number to TaxSlayer support.
Blog posted 11/17/2017 2:17 pm eastern
We are temporarily making all Multi-Site and Relational Admin Accounts inactive until the Tax Year 2017 orders are processed. As we begin processing the orders and updating the groups based on this year’s orders, we will do one of the following:
Either way, an email notification will be sent once the multi-site and/or Relational Admin accounts are activated for Tax Year 2017.
Blog Posted 11/17/2017 8:02 am Eastern
The Forgot Username link associated with the Pro Online login only emails usernames that have completed the Account Update page or were created after the roll out of MFA in early September.
You will need to contact your site administrator. They can ensure that your username is still active at the site, update your user account with any changed information and provide you with the username(s) they have established for you at the site.
No. The support team does not have a listing of the users that will be volunteering at the site for the upcoming season.
You will login with your Practice Lab username and password to complete your certification test. Start New Returns for 2017 is not turned on at any other site to prevent practice returns from being intermingled with production returns. If you have forgotten your Practice Lab username, select Practice Lab from the VITA/TCE Springboard and select the Practice Lab block. Enter the generic Password (same as last year). Select the forgot username link, enter the email address that you entered when you created your Practice Lab account and click Submit
Blog posted 11/16/2017
The following feature is now live in production.
Scenario: When I click the Printer icon on the menu, it gives me a page that looks like a print of the menu. How do I fix this?
Solution: Clear your cache or press Ctrl+F5 to reload.
Scenario: I printed a single form (Schedule C as an example) and then went to immediately print the entire tax return and it is only generating a Schedule C.
Solution: You can make a change in the return on any screen to render the entire PDF or close the return and print from the client list. We are going to make a change to the configuration to eliminate this in the morning.
Feature: Give the volunteer the ability to view the information on specific forms without having to render the PDF for the entire tax return
Example: The preparer completes a Schedule C for the taxpayer and wants to quickly view the information entered for it. When the preparer clicks continue from the Schedule C summary page and returns to the Income Menu, a print icon will be available.
This will render a PDF of the Schedule C(s) in the return for review or for print.
Blog Posted 11/10/2017
The Due Diligence pages are no longer in TaxSlayer Pro Online 2017. This is now live in production.
The Non Resident Alien question has been moved to the Basic Information section. Prior to the beginning of e-file, it will disqualify the return from calculating EITC when selected for the appropriate circumstances.
Note: This change is not applicable to prior year software.
Blog Posted 11/16/2017 11:50am Eastern
Scenario: The tax return has a balance due and a federal return option for Direct Debit is used.
The direct debit information prints on the Client Form Listing Summary in the Quality Review print set. You can create a custom print set at your sites and include this form. If the return falls into this scenario, you can select the custom print set that will print the information with the return.
An alternative solution would be to generate the Quality Review PDF and print the page that displays this information and give it to the client.
Blog Posted 11/15/2017 1:02 PM Eastern