2/20/2020 – Michigan has posted this banner to their “Where’s my Refund” page…”We are currently experiencing delays with e-file returns. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while the issue is being resolved.” This information is available HERE.

Software vendors received the below e-mail from Michigan on February 6th.

“Michigan is experiencing a delay in processing e-file acknowledgements for MI-1040 MeF submissions.  E-file acknowledgements are expected to start going out later today (2/6/2020) and to be current by the close of business tomorrow (2/7/2020). We apologize for any inconvenience this delay has caused and thank you for your patience.”

2/17/2020 – The HI issue described from 2/14 update below is now resolved.

2/14/2020 — Issue 4454 getting an error when trying to load the Hawaii return.  We currently have this in development

What you can do?

• Edit and calculate the returns that were impacted by Issue 4438
• Print a copy of the state return
• Can file the federal return without the State if the state requires adjustments
• Create a return tag so you know which returns you need to go back and make state adjustments.

What you cannot do?

• Edit the Hawaii return to make adjustments

2/14/2020 – Issue 4438 is now resolved.

The fix for Issue 4438 is set to be deployed tomorrow morning (Friday, the 14th) during our deployment window. This will correct the issue some sites are having with generating a PDF or showing real-time calcs when a Hawaii return has been added to the Federal return.

Software vendors have received word from the New York Department of Taxation and Finance that they are experiencing delays in sending acknowledgements. They have also indicated that acknowledgements are not processed over the weekend. If your site(s) have outstanding acknowledgements for New York returns, it is likely an acknowledgement will not be issued until next week. No action is required on your end.

Update: 2/12/2020 – Issue 4366 is now resolved.

Update: 2/10/2020 – Issue 4370 has been corrected and is now live. Returns claiming “Tuition and Fees Deduction” can now be electronically filed.

We have two issues reported that we wanted to share on the VITA/TCE Blog. Both are reported as high priority items.

• Issue 4370 – Tuition and Fees Deduction Prompting Erroneous E-file Block: For any returns where the “Tuition and Fees Deduction” is claimed, an e-file block is received requiring that an Educational Institution be added. Educational Institution information is required if claiming the “American Opportunity Credit” or “Lifetime Learning Credit”, but not for the “Tuition and Fees Deduction”. Until Issue 4370 is resolved, returns claiming “Tuition and Fees Deduction” should be held until this is blog post is updated.
• Issue 4366 – Transmission Menu Not Displaying State Return Types: When transmitting returns from the Transmission menu, the “State Type” column may reflect as “No Electronic State” even though a state return type is selected when the e-file was created. As long as an e-file return type is selected in e-file for your state(s) and saved when continuing to Submission page, the state return will be electronically filed as expected.

Wisconsin has released messaging that WI returns rejected for the below reason can be resubmitted on February 11th. This would impact any return where the “Tuition and Fees Deduction” is being claimed.

Reject Code – Category: Schema Validation

The element ‘Additions’ in namespace ‘http://www.irs.gov/efile’ has invalid child element ‘TuitionFees’ in namespace ‘http://www.irs.gov/efile’. List of possible elements expected: ‘FederalDepreciation, FederalCapitalLosses, FederalOrdinaryLosses, WisconsinCapitalGains, WisconsinOrdinaryGains, OtherAdditions’ in namespace ‘http://www.irs.gov/efile’.

2/3/2020 – This was resolved with the update this morning.

We have a high priority issue reported (Issue 4248) regarding future direct debit payment date entries in e-file reflecting as the present day when transmitted to the IRS and/or State Department. For example, if you choose Federal Direct Debit Return Type and choose 4/15/2020 as the debit date, the current date (i.e. 1/31/2020) is being transmitted. If taxpayers are coming to your site and wish to have a future direct debit listed for their return, we advise their returns not be transmitted until this post has been marked as resolved.

Georgia is currently accepting returns.  However, you will not receive return acknowledgements until Monday, February 3^rd.

We will begin sending GA returns today, but you will not receive any acknowledgements until February 3rd.

Update – 1/29/20: The fix was deployed this morning and IL returns can now be e-filed.

Update – 1/28/20: The fix for this should be deployed tomorrow, January 29th.

We have opened a High Priority issue #4196

You will NOT be able to electronically file any IL returns until this is resolved.  We strongly recommend you tag these returns so you can easily identify them to send once the issue has been resolved and we turn on “Send State Only”