The following update to the FSA process will allow sites with an existing FSA link to be able to provide this service to their taxpayers during the time when they cannot prepare traditional returns at their site.
What the sites CAN do:
Email the site-specific FSA link to the taxpayer with information on how they can contact them (the VITA/TCE site) if they have any questions during the process of preparing their return. This also allows the site to do the following if they can do so:
- Screenshare with the taxpayer and assist them as the taxpayer prepares the return
- Talk them through the screens via telephone (since the site can create up to five accounts per email address) to walk their taxpayers through the return
- Create a quick PPT or word doc to send with the link to provide instructions for the taxpayer
Place the site-specific link behind a secured login (similar to an employee intranet site)
What the sites CANNOT do:
- Email to a random listing of taxpayers (needs to be targeted to specific taxpayers)
- Place the link on a public facing website
This can also be extended to sites that do not have a site-specific FSA link, as long as there are available licenses to fill and it goes through the ordering system. Sites should reach out to their SPEC Relationship Manager
How can my volunteers learn to use the link in order to assist the taxpayers?
The volunteer can create their own account using the link. This will allow them to walk through the process up to e-filing the return. We strongly recommend that you use 00 (zero zero) for the 4th and 5th digit of the SSN because the SSN must be unique across the platform. The volunteer will see familiarity between the application they are using via the FSA link and the application they were using while preparing the return in TaxSlayer Pro Online.