1/5/2021 – 2020 State Returns are now live! Please note the information posted below when reviewing the initial state application release.

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

The initial release for 2020 state returns will be this week. The expectation is to have them turned on by mid-week (Wednesday). This blog post will be updated once they are live.

It is important to keep in mind when accessing 2020 state returns once live, some states may have been delayed (and are still experiencing delays) in releasing final 2020 forms/instructions due to the late passing of any legislation and impact of COVID-19.  As you prepare 2020 state returns in the Practice Lab, you may still see 2019 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.

If your clients are receiving unemployment benefits, consider sending a message to them now so they will avoid a tax bill later.  The following is an example of language you can use:

Unemployment Benefits are Taxable Benefits

If you are receiving unemployment benefits, consider having tax withheld from these payments to avoid owing taxes when you file your federal and New York State income tax return next year. New York State unemployment insurance benefits and any of the special unemployment compensation authorized under the Coronavirus Relief Act are considered taxable income. By law, the New York State Department of Labor must report these benefits to the IRS and to the New York State Tax Department.

We encourage you to review your records and, if necessary, adjust your tax withholdings. You can change your tax withholding option on the DOL website. Doing this could help you avoid a tax bill next year. To start or stop the withholding of federal or state taxes from your weekly benefits:

1. Login to labor.ny.gov/signin with your NY.gov ID
2. Click “Unemployment Benefits”
3. Click “Payment and Tax Withholding Options”
4. Click “Tax Withholding” and follow the instructions

Software vendors received the below message from GA Department of Revenue. GA returns can still be e-filed.

“We are experiencing a delay in acknowledgements being sent.  Thank you in advance for your patience as we work to resolve this issue.”

10/19 – OH has indicated they have resolved their processing issues. All outstanding OH acks should be coming in as expected at this time.

Software vendors received the below message from Ohio this morning.

Note: OH returns can still be electronically filed.

“Ohio is currently experiencing some technical issues that has delayed the processing of submissions and delivery of acknowledgments.  The issues may have started as early as October 9^th and we are currently working to resolve the issue.  We will let you know once this issue has been resolved.“

Software vendors received the below messaging from the Illinois Department of Revenue.

“Due to a server upgrade scheduled to take place this weekend both ATS and Production MEF acknowledgements for Illinois Individual Income Tax returns will be delayed starting at 5:00 pm Friday, September 25, 2020.  The upgrade is anticipated to be completed by noon on Sunday, September 27, 2020.“

Software vendors received the below messaging from New Hampshire Department of Revenue.

“Good morning,

During the annual meeting with the NACTP group on August 27^th I mentioned that New Hampshire would need to take down our MeF production services while we cutover to our new Revenue Information Management System (RIMS). Those dates will be September 25^th 2020 through October 12^th 2020. It is important to note that taxpayers will see a delay in their ACH payments being pulled from their bank account during this time period. Once the services are turned back on, all pending submissions will process as of the submission date, and confirmation emails will be sent at that time.“

Update August 4, 2020: With this mornings deploy, the issue with MO sporadically loading blank should be resolved.

Update July 31, 2020:  We are continuing to work to resolve the issue with sporadic MO returns that will not open.  Our updated resolution time frame will be the week of August 3rd.

We have received sporadic reports of some MO returns not loading within the TaxSlayer Pro Online application. We have opened Issue 4997 as a High Priority for development to investigate/resolve. We expect impacted returns to be resolved in a deployment next week.

We received the below messaging from Utah. During this period, no acknowledgements will be issued.

“Greetings from Utah,

Utah’s production MeF environment will be down for scheduled maintenance 7:00 am (MDT) Thursday, July 23 through 9:00 am (MDT) Friday, July 24. We will resume processing MeF files when maintenance has been completed.“