Software vendors received the below message from AL DOR. AL returns can still be transmitted as normal, just note there will be a delay in receiving an acknowledgement.

“Alabama has not started sending out acknowledgments. We plan to start sending them out by the end of the week.“

The below messaging was recently shared by MN DOR.

NOTE: The described issue has been resolved and with the fix being deployed to production on Friday, January 26th at 7am ET. This information was shared via Release Notes and all stakeholders added to the issue received an automatic notification once the issue was verified as resolved.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue is aware of an issue with TaxSlayer software not calculating the Minnesota Child Tax Credit (CTC).

What is the issue?

TaxSlayer software is not calculating the CTC when there is no earned income on the Minnesota income tax return. Your clients may still qualify for this credit even if they do not have earned income. Do not turn away clients if they do not immediately appear to be eligible for a refund.

We are working with TaxSlayer to resolve this issue. They will send automatic updates to resolve this issue by Monday, January 29.

What do I need to do?

If you prepare tax returns in TaxSlayer before this issue is resolved, save client returns as incomplete. Once the issue is resolved, reopen the returns and ensure the software calculates the CTC accurately before sending.

To stay informed on the software fix, visit the TaxSlayer blog and sign up for updates.

1/2/2024 – Roughly fifteen (15) State Returns are now live! Please note the information posted below when reviewing the initial state application release. The remaining states will be released for preparation over the next couple of weeks as the various approvals are received by state departments.

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

It is important to keep in mind when accessing 2023 state returns as they become available, some states may have been delayed in releasing final 2023 forms/instructions. As you prepare 2023 state returns in the Practice Lab, you may still see 2022 calculations and/or PDF forms. Customer Support 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.

Note: This is the same process every year and is normal behavior.

Iowa’s production system is currently unavailable until November 13th for system updates. This means that acknowledgments for e-filed IA returns will not be delivered until November 13th at the earliest. Sites can still e-file IA returns during this period.

10/14/23

Maine has resumed processing returns/acknowledgements.

10/13/23 – Update from Maine with more details about the ack delays.

“Maine Revenue Services has received a lot of questions regarding the stoppage of MeF processing.  I received word late last night that this also includes paper filing as well.  Here is what I did find out last night and I will keep you updated with any new information that I receive.

1. MRS will still pull all MEF returns from the IRS daily, this includes 1040, 1120, 941P, and 1041
2. MRS will still accept paper returns
3. There is no need to change the way you would have originally filed a return
4. All returns are processed by date received – which is the date they are pulled from the IRS or received by mail
5. The stoppage is not related to MeF or paper forms, but an internal processing error on 1040 returns which we are feverishly correcting

MRS’s MeF process ties all processing of 1120, 1040, 941P, and 1041 together until the submissions have made it into the internal system which is why this is affecting all of our MeF profiles.  We are unable to individually turn of a single profile.  For the paper forms, those are sorted by tax type then processed.  All other tax types other than 1040 will continue to get processed normally if they are paper filed.

MRS sincerely apologizes for this inconvenience.”

The below message was received this afternoon from Maine Revenue Services. Maine has not indicated an ETA for when acknowledgements will resume processing.

“Maine Revenue Services executives have decided to stop all MeF processing due to internal return processing issues not related to MeF.“

Software vendors received the below message from Maine Revenue Services.

“As a reminder, Maine is performing an upgrade to our internal software which will be completed in 1 to 2 years.  As we have done in prior years for Corporate and Pass-Through, processing will be put on hold for 1040ME and 1041ME.

The last day we will pull 1040ME and 1041ME returns from the IRS will be Thursday September 14^th, 2023.  Those returns will post (if they pass our validations) on Friday September 15^th, 2023.  Any returns received at the IRS after Thursday September 14^th, 2023 will NOT be picked up from the IRS or processed until Tuesday October 10^th, 2023.  ACK’s will not be sent for those returns received after Thursday September 14^th, 2023 until we resume processing on Tuesday October 10^th, 2023.

One additional item, due to transferring from our current legacy system to our new system all other MeF services (1120, 941P) will be affected from Thursday October 5^th at 12:01am until the morning of Tuesday October 10^th.  Returns can be submitted, but will not be retrieved from the IRS until our system is back up and running on October 10^th.  

We apologize for any inconvenience and delay in processing this may cause.  If you have any questions please contact us.“

The below message was shared to software vendors from the Ohio Department of Taxation.

“As shared with our partners previously, Ohio’s Individual and School District Income Taxes are transitioning into our new NextGen system, OTS (Ohio Tax System) on 9/5/23.  In preparation for the migration to our new system, we will be shutting off the processing of MeF returns for only Individual and School District Income Tax submissions starting the very early morning hours of Monday 8/21/23 through Tuesday 9/5/23. 

What you will need to do

1. You can continue to transmit Individual and School District Income Tax submissions during this time frame but they will be held at the IRS and will not be picked up/processed (with acknowledgements sent) by Ohio until 9/5/23. 
2. We request that you please place messaging in your software to advise your users of this time frame
   1. Advise that returns submitted electronically during this timeframe will be credited with the correct submission date (i.e. IRS submission date) but the returns will not be processed and any acceptance/rejection messaging will not be sent until 9/5/23.
      1. Also, include a reminder that there is no benefit in printing and mailing the returns instead of waiting for these to be processed on 9/5/23.  Paper returns can take 8 to 10 weeks to be processed.

NOTE – this affects Individual and School District Income Tax submissions only.  This DOES NOT affect any other Ohio taxes submitted electronically (i.e. Muni, Fiduciary or Pass Through Entity).“

The below message was shared with software vendors by the Vermont Department of Revenue.

“As some of you may know, the State of Vermont was greatly impacted by substantial flooding on July 10^th.  Please see the information below regarding extensions granted by the Governor.

Taxpayers impacted by flooding and unable to meet Vermont tax deadlines between July 7, 2023, and November 15, 2023, will now have until November 15, 2023, to file and pay taxes.

The list of automatic extensions to November 15, 2023 for due dates between July 7, 2023 and November 15, 2023 includes:

• Corporate and business income tax, including estimated payments
• Sales and use tax
• Meals and rooms tax
• Payroll withholding tax
• Estimated personal income tax payments, originally due September 15, 2023
• Filing of 2022 Vermont personal income taxes with a valid federal or Vermont extension

I would note, this extension does NOT include the tax year 2022 personal income tax original payment due date, as that due date was April 18^th, and before the July 7^th qualifying period.“