Tag: Pro Online

VITA/TCE Suggestion Box

19 Dec 22
Kim Manuel
,
No Comments

Your ideas and suggestions are important to us. The VITA/TCE Suggestion Box is designed for you to give us your feedback and ideas that will assist you in servicing your taxpayers. Each submission is designed to be one suggestion so we can more easily track the information and provide feedback. You can submit multiple suggestions.

A link to the VITA/TCE Suggestion Box is available on the left navigation bar within the TaxSlayer Pro Online application so you have access to it when you are logged in to either your site or The Practice Lab. The Suggestion Box is how you submit all software revision/enhancement requests. If you try to submit suggestions by contacting VITA/TCE Support, they will ask that your suggestion be submitted via the Suggestion Box.

The VITA/TCE Suggestion Box allows us to easily make all suggestion/enhancements available to the entire VITA/TCE community, along with implementation feedback directly to you.


Information you will need to submit a suggestion (all required)

What is your SIDN?

  • Enter the 8 numerical digits.  This allows us track all of the suggestions submitted by your site.

What is your email address?

  • This is very important in case we need to reach out to you to ask clarifying questions.

Program Type?

  • You will choose from the drop down list.

What is your primary role at your VITA/TCE site?

  • We know that many of you perform multiple roles at the site.  However, select the role that is your primary responsibility.  You also have the option of selecting “Other” and then specifying your role.

Software Type used at your site

  • Select either Pro Online or Pro Desktop

Select the Program Area for your suggestion/enhancement

  • This helps us categorize the requests.  If you select State, you will need to enter your State Abbreviation

Provide a detailed description of your suggestion/enhancement

  • The more detail you can give us the better.  We want to understand exactly what you are looking for.

How would the above suggestion/enhancement benefit your site

  • Tell us how this suggestion/enhancement would benefit your site. For example:  45% of the taxpayers that come to my site need to file Form XXXX.  If it were implemented in the software, it would save us a considerable amount of time manually preparing that form and we could e-file more returns.

Suggestion/Enhancement Classification

  • Calculation = The change impacts the calculation of the tax return
  • Usability Improvement = The change makes it easier and more efficient to complete a tax return
  • Quality Improvement = The change enhances the quality review process and/or the overall quality of the return

What is your priority ranking?

1 = Critical to prepare an accurate return.

2 = Important

3 = Nice to have

Click here to access the VITA/TCE Suggestion box

You will need to open a new instance of the link for each new suggestion.

Note: The VITA/TCE Suggestion box is powered by Survey Monkey

 

Sneak Peek 2021: Changes to the E-file Section (Part 4)

20 Oct 21
Kim Manuel
, ,
No Comments

We are excited to begin introducing changes to the e-file section of the application. These changes are designed to increase efficiency and to produce a more quality return. As we begin seeing these changes internally, we will introduce them to you to make you aware of any changes that could impact the day to day operations of your site.

Return Type: Select your ERO

The first action you will take is to select the ERO if you are preparing and transmitting for adhoc/virtual sites that have their own unique SIDN. Note:  Check with your SPEC Relationship Manager regarding the requirements for your ad hoc/virtual sites.

Note: This does not impact how you setup your user accounts for each different SIDN.

Click here for Adhoc/Virtual instructions

Sneak Peek 2021: Changes to the E-file Section (Part 2)

19 Oct 21
Kim Manuel
, ,
No Comments

We are excited to begin introducing changes to the e-file section of the application.  These changes are designed to increase efficiency and to produce a more quality return.  As we begin seeing these changes internally, we will introduce them to you to make you aware of any changes that could impact the day to day operations of your site.

Access to Return Menu

You will now have the ability to see and more easily navigate back to the return while you are in the e-file section.

Advantages:  More efficient quality review process

Sneak Peek 2021: Changes to the E-file Section (Part 1)

19 Oct 21
Kim Manuel
, ,
No Comments

We are excited to begin introducing changes to the e-file section of the application for the upcoming filing season.  These changes are designed to increase efficiency and to produce a more quality return.  As we begin seeing these changes internally, we will introduce them to you to make you aware of any changes that could impact the day to day operations of your site.

Horizontal instead of Vertical Layout

You will access the different sections in a horizontal tabular manner rather than one long vertical page separated by accordion style folders.

Purpose:  The application saves the data each time you hit continue to move to the next or different section.  All required entries per section must be completed before saving and exiting the section.  This is consistent with how the preparer navigates the entry pages in the return.

 

Advantage:  The preparer or quality reviewer can quickly see the pages that have been completed by the indication of the checkmark associated with each heading.

  • Return Type = This is where you decide how you are filing the federal and state return
  • View Fees = This gives the sites that are tracking fees to capture “savings to the taxpayer” for reporting purposes a more in-depth look at the fees that would be associated with the return if the taxpayer went to a paid preparer.
  • Bank Account = This will display the information needed for Direct Deposit or Direct Debit.  This is where the preparer will access the information for Form 8888 if they have made this selection in Office Setup.  We strongly recommend making this selection.  If the taxpayer does not want to split their refund, simply enter the information in the first bank account and Form 8888 will not be included with the return.
  • State ID License = This will be optional or required based on the state(s) in the return
  • Taxpayer Consent = Access the consents that are assigned to the site or created by the site.  This will be where you access the Global Carryforward Consent
  • Custom QuestionsAccess the questions that are assigned to the site or created by the site.
  • Custom Credits = Access the custom credits that are assigned to the site or created by the site.
  • E-file Summary = This is equivalent to the submission page where you will have options to print the return, mark the return for review, mark the return complete, select return tags, etc.

Each section will have the ability to select Back, Continue or Save & Exit

 

Pro Online: Internet Speed Test

14 May 19
Craig Smith
,
No Comments

For sites experiencing slowness, click this link and follow the below instructions.

Click the type of Internet Connection used at your site. Examples include Cable Internet, Public WiFi, DSL, 4G, etc. This will automatically start the Internet speed test.

 

Take a screenshot of the results and e-mail to [email protected] with Subject Line “Speed Test”.

 

*For additional and more in-depth troubleshooting tips, please click here.*

Pro Online: Office Setup Recommendations

23 Feb 19
Kim Manuel
, , ,
No Comments

Question:  How should I have my Office Settings so the preparer does not print on the 8879 or on 1040 page 2?

Answer:  Select ERO Name Only from the Signature on Form 8879 drop down box and select Hide preparer Name on 1040 Print

0123 ERO Information

Question:  What does marking Disable Third Party Designee Prefill do?

Answer:  It prevents the preparer information from populating the third party designee information in the e-file section.  The section will remain available in the event a third party other than a volunteer preparer needs to be designated.

Question:  If I select Hide Preparer Name on 1040 print will it also hide the preparer name on the state return?

Answer;  Currently no, but we are working on a solution that will incorporate the use of this option at the state level.  When this feature is completed and in production the state name will not be printed on the state return if this is selected.

Pro Online 2018: New Site Administrators

17 Jan 19
Kim Manuel
,
No Comments

Scenario:  An existing Pro Online site from 2017 now has a new Site Admin for 2018

Question:  How does the new site admin gain access to the site if they do not already have a login?

Solution:  Send an email to vita support ([email protected]) with the following information and subject line:


Subject Line :  New Site Admin

Body:  I am the new site admin for the following site and need the link sent that allows me to create my admin credentials

EFIN: {Enter six digit EFIN}

Site Name: {Enter Site Name}

Site Admin Name: {Enter your name as the new site administrator}

Site Admin Phone: {Enter your phone number)

Site Admin Email: {this is the email address the link will be sent to}