Category: Training

Practice Lab: 2023 Practice Exercises

15 Jan 24
Craig Smith
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1/15/2024: All Puerto Rico Practice Exercises have been updated and uploaded to the Practice Lab. At this time, all Practice Exercises have been updated 2023.


1/8/2024: The below practice exercises are now updated to reflect current 2023 calculations. Puerto Rico Practice Exercises are expected to be updated by mid-week next week.

  • Practice Exercise 1
  • Practice Exercise 2
  • Practice Exercise 3
  • Practice Exercise 4
  • Practice Exercise 5
  • Practice Exercise 6
  • Practice Exercise 7
  • Practice Exercise International
  • Practice Exercise Military

1/3/2024: The Practice Lab Practice Exercises will be updated to 2023 by Wednesday, January 10th.


To help set expectations in the field, the practice exercises under Section 6 of the Practice Lab will be updated to 2023 in early January 2024. This article will be updated when 2023 Practice Exercises are live in the Practice Lab. We want to provide extra time for additional updates to be applied to the 2023 software before updating the exercises. This time of year both the IRS and State Departments are continually releasing and finalizing forms, schedules, and instructions to software vendors. As mentioned in a previous blog post, regular updates will be implemented into the software as information is released/provided to software vendors over the next several weeks leading into the upcoming filing season.

At this time, the practice exercises are still based on the 2022 application.

Practice Lab: Initial 2023 State Return Release

02 Jan 24
Craig Smith
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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.

OnDemand Webinar: 2023 TaxSlayer Enhancements

14 Dec 23
Craig Smith
No Comments

The 2023 OnDemand TaxSlayer Enhancement webinar for the 2024 Filing Season is now available. A direct link is available below and is also accessible under Section 6 in the Practice Lab.

OnDemand Webinar: Return Preparation Part II Now Available

29 Nov 23
Craig Smith
No Comments

The 2023 OnDemand Return Preparation Part II webinar for the 2024 Filing Season is now available. A direct link is available below and is also accessible under Section 6 in the Practice Lab.

The 2023 Enhancement Webinar (2024 Filing Season) will be presented live the week of December 10th. Please contact your SPEC Relationship Manager for additional information.

OnDemand Webinar: Return Preparation Part I Now Available

29 Nov 23
Craig Smith
No Comments

The 2023 OnDemand Return Preparation Part I webinar for the 2024 Filing Season is now available. A direct link is available below and is also accessible under Section 6 in the Practice Lab.

The 2023 Enhancement Webinar (2024 Filing Season) will be presented live the week of December 10th. Please contact your SPEC Relationship Manager for additional information.

Link And Learn Certification Platform

28 Nov 23
Craig Smith
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For any assistance needed with the IRS Link and Learn Certification platform, volunteers/sites should contact your SPEC Relationship Manager. The L&L platform is not managed by TaxSlayer and VITA/TCE Support is unable to provide assistance with any questions regarding L&L.

OnDemand Webinars: Site Administration Now Available

17 Nov 23
Craig Smith
No Comments

The 2023 Site Administration OnDemand webinar for the 2024 Filing Season are now available. The direct link is available below and also accessible under Section 6 in the Practice Lab.

Remaining OnDemand Webinars: Return Preparation 1 & 2 will be made available after Thanksgiving. Additional blog posts will be published with direct links when available. Under Section 6 of the Practice Lab, the 2022 versions are still available for viewing.

The 2023 Enhancement Webinar (2024 Filing Season) will be presented live the week of December 10th. Please contact your SPEC Relationship Manager for additional information.

OnDemand Webinars: Desktop/Contingency Software Now Available

14 Nov 23
Craig Smith
No Comments

The 2023 Desktop/Contingency Software OnDemand webinar for the 2024 Filing Season are now available. The direct link is available below and also accessible under Section 6 in the Practice Lab.

Remaining OnDemand Webinars: Site Administration webinar will be available by the end of this week (no later than Friday, November 17th) is the goal. The remaining OnDemand webinars (Return Preparation 1 & 2) will be made available after Thanksgiving. Additional blog posts will be published with direct links when available. Under Section 6 of the Practice Lab, the 2022 versions are still available for viewing.

The 2023 Enhancement Webinar (2024 Filing Season) will be presented live the week of December 10th. Please contact your SPEC Relationship Manager for additional information.