Tag: Updates

We will be putting the returns in maintenance mode at 5:00 am on Wednesday, January 31st for a series of updates.  These updates are scheduled to include the following:

• Add new code FF to W-2 Box 12
• W-2 Box 4 was capping the 6.2% at $118,500 for amounts in Box 3 over $118,500
• Disaster Area changes (See Disaster Area blog for screenshots)
• Cancel button on Form 8633 returns you to the Credits Menu
• Fixed an issue where utilizing print sets from the Review Returns menu was not using the correct print set when generating the PDF

Blog posted 01/30/2018

We will be putting the returns in maintenance mode at 5:00 am Eastern on Tuesday, January 23rd to perform a series of updates to include:

• Adding several additions to the zip code database to automatically generate city and state
  • 85757 – Tucson, AZ
  • 32163 – The Villages, FL
  • 85193 – Casa Grande, AZ
  • 85298 – Gilbert, AZ
  • 85147 – Sacaton, AZ
• Removing the requirement of Taxpayer/Spouse occupation from Basic Information
  • If preparing PA returns, the occupation entered in Federal Basic Information will carry to PA Basic Information

Blog Posted 01/22/2018  6:03 pm Eastern

We will be putting returns and site in maintenance mode to apply a series of updated on Thursday, January 18th at 5:00am Eastern. This round of updates is scheduled to include the below items:

• Allowing the preparer to use the (.) period on state percentages when using Internet Explorer
• Solution for Global Carry Forward Pilot program
• ACA — Resolve the dependent difference in taxable and non-taxable income not being added to Dependents MAGI
• Reactivate Return
• F2441 – Marking a Child Care Provider as tax-exempt for Hawaii no longer requires the HI 12-digit tax ID number.

We will be putting returns in maintenance mode to apply a series of updated on Wednesday, January 17th at 5:00am Eastern. This round of updates is scheduled to include the below items:

• Long-term Care Insurance Premium – Fix for a validation that is occurring when attempting to edit/review original LTC Premium entries within the Itemized Deduction menu
• Various text updates specific to 2017
• Health Insurance – A fix for an error occurring when a Household member is added within the Health Insurance menu with zero (0) months of coverage
• Health Insurance – A fix for a validation error occurring at e-file when marking a dependent as “Not a dependent” that is blocking access to the e-file menu. The program is incorrectly indicating the “Non” dependent must be included for Health Insurance
• Mortgage Insurance Premium Deduction – Due to recently expiring the PMI deduction within the Mortgage Interest menu will be removed

We will be putting the returns in maintenance mode on Friday, January 12th at 5:00 am Eastern to perform a series of updates.  This update will include:

• Phase II of the addition of the Affordability Worksheet
• Removal of Tuition and fees that expired
• Color correction on Begin/Edit buttons in the state modules
• Correction to the Healthcare exemption screen when 0 months of healthcare is indicated
• Correction to the display of the dependent information on the Household Members section of the Healthcare section
  • Existing Dependent/Household member entries prior to the fix may have to be deleted and re-added.
  • It will not be an issue for returns started today or after or for new dependents/household members added today and after on existing returns started prior to the fix.

Phase I of the new Health Insurance redesign has been released. Phase I incorporates the new flow users will see when preparing 2017 returns starting next week (this is also live in the Practice Lab). Phase II will incorporate the addition of the Affordability Worksheet which is expected to be in production prior to turning on “Start New 2017 Tax Return”. The intent behind the redesign of the flow is to first allow users to claim qualifying exemptions before presenting the option to determine affordability. Assuming the household does not qualify to claim the “Household or Gross Income below…..” exemption, did not receive a Marketplace issued exemption certificate, or does not qualify to claim a coverage exemption, then and only then will the user be presented the option to determine affordability.

The first visible change you will see will be on the “Household Income” screen. This used to be the “Dependents’ MAGI (if filing requirement)” screen. An entry field for “Premium amount paid through salary reduction agreement” has been added. This will be the first step in determining affordability as this entry will be in included in the Affordability Threshold (Line A of Affordability Worksheet).

The second change will be when a user clicks “Continue” on the “Household Income” menu. Clicking continue here is where the automatic determination of “Household or Gross Income below Filing Threshold” exemption will occur. If the return qualifies for this exemption, the exemption will be applied to the return and the Health Insurance menu will be complete. If the return does not qualify for the above mentioned exemption, the user now has the option to claim either a Marketplace issued certificate exemption or another coverage exemption for each household member. They will answer “YES” when asked “Did you qualify for an exemption due to circumstances or receive an exemption certificate from the marketplace?”.

If a user answers “NO” to the above question, “Did you qualify for an exemption…..”, the user will be then asked if they wish to complete the process to determine if the affordability exemption may apply (Phase II coming soon). More details will be released once Phase II has been rolled into production.

A production deployment is scheduled for Friday, January 5th at 5:00am ET in preparation for tax season. This deployment should be completed prior to 8:00am ET.

The below items are now live in the Practice Lab and Production Sites.

• 1040 View – Updated to reflect 2017
  • If you open an existing return and 2016 still shows on 1040 View, on your keyboard hold Ctrl and press F5. This will recycle the page and update to 2017
• Form W-7 – Under “Identification Submitted”, updated to ask for the middle name instead of just the middle initial. This is shown when the box is checked for “Applicant previously received a TIN or EIN”
• 1040-X – The “Where is this located” link within “Original Federal Return Information” menu for “Other Credits” removed the reference for 1040-EZ since credits do not apply on Form 1040-EZ
• W-2 – Box 14: The selection “MD MSRS C-MD Pickup Contribution” has been removed as it was a duplicate entry. Now, only “MD Pickup Contribution” shows
• Form 1099-K – Text has been added to the “Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions” information menu to provide guidance on where to report 1099-K income received for rental income