TaxSlayer Changes Tax Year 2017

As of Nov 2017 Subject to change…

TaxSlayer Changes for TY2017

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● Computation Changes

● Navigation Changes

● Appearance Changes

● Capacity and Customer Service Changes

Computation Changes

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● Added Section IX – Form 5329 –Failure to take RMD – Waiver of Penalty – 2016 and 2017

● Reinstated Refund/Balance Due Monitor – 2016 and 2017

● Fixed Medicaid Waiver Payment – 2016 and 2017

Form 5329 Waiver

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Form 5329 Waiver

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Computation Changes

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● Fixed Dependent Day Care benefits treated as wages – 2016 and 2017

● Using form finder to enter Alimony received saves entries – 2016 and 2017

● Printed Form 8843 has information in correct lines – 2016 and 2017

Computation Changes

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● W-2 box 12 code H elective deferral – flows to Form 1040 line 36 – 2017

● Premiums from SSA-1099 included on summary sheet in QR print set – 2017

● Cross-site carryforward for Tax-Aide sites only – 2017

Computation Changes

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● Carryforward data includes: 1. Taxpayer’s/Spouse’s name, filing status,

SSN/ITIN, dob and phone #

2. W-2, 1099-R EIN,

3. Schedule D (Capital loss carryforward)

4. Schedule C name, business code and description

5. Schedule K-1 payer information

Computation Changes

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6. Child care providers with dependents claimed

7. Banking information for direct deposit

8. Schedule B financial institution information Form 1099-INT/DIV

9. State and local refund worksheet

● Counselor can choose which, if any, items to carryforward

Carryforward Consent – 2018 Filing Season

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● All taxpayers must agree to or deny cross-site carryforward for 2019 filing season in 2018 − Consent form will be in e-file section

− 2017 return cannot be e-filed unless consent form is completed

● Consent applies across all VITA/TCE sites – no special Tax-Aide provisions for 2019 tax season

TaxSlayer Carryforward: Normal – Extended – Global Normal Carryforward

• When: 2018 Filing Season* and future seasons

• What: Carryforward from prior-year returns prepared at the SAME Tax-Aide site

• How: Counselor automatically given option to use some or all of data.

Extended Carryforward

• When: 2018 Filing Season ONLY

• What: Carryforward from a Tax Year 2016 return prepared at ANY still active Tax-Aide site.

• How: Counselor automatically given option to use some or all of data. The IRS is giving Tax-Aide a one-year exception allowing carryforward from ANY still active Tax-Aide site. During Filing Season 2018, Tax-Aide will implement consent questions for Global Carryforward.

Global Carryforward

• When: 2019 Filing Season and future seasons

• What: Carryforward from ANY still active VITA/TCE site (including Tax-Aide sites) if taxpayer consented in prior year.

• How: Counselors will need to ask for consent** each filing season starting in Filing Season 2018. Denying permission will not impact e-filing that year or normal carryforward at the SAME site in following year.

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1. Name, Filing Status, SSN/ITIN, DOB, phone #

2. Dependents Name, DOB, SSN/ITIN, relationship

3. W-2 (employer EIN database)

4. Form 1099-R (payer EIN database)

5. Schedule D (Capital Loss carryforward)

6. Schedule C (name, business code, and description)

7. Schedule E rental information and Schedule K-1s

8. Child care providers with dependents claimed

9. Banking information for Direct Deposit

10. Schedule B financial institutions information for Form 1099-INT/DIV

11. State and local refund worksheet

12. Return Notes

Carryforward data:

Counselor can choose which,

if any, items to carryforward

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May be dropped from list.

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Computation Changes

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● Continue button saves information entered on state entry pages – 2017

● Field validations added to state entry pages – 2017

● Edit state return with 1040NR – 2017

Computation Changes

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● Age of taxpayer and dependent(s) added to Client Form Listing Summary – 2017

● Direct Debit Information added to Client Form Listing Summary – 2017

Computation Changes

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Computation Changes

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● Assign ownership – TP/SP/JT – to all income items – 2017

● Sale of Primary Residence within two years of date of death of spouse – full $500,000 exclusion allowed – 2017

Computation Changes

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Comments…

Questions?

Navigation Changes

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● Due diligence questions have been eliminated.

● Questions to determine EITC eligibility located in basic information section

● Form 8888 – “Pull Refund” enters full amount of refund in first bank field – 2016 and 2017

Navigation Changes

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● Due diligence questions eliminated

● Can create pdf of 15 forms/schedules

After rendering one of new form views, next attempt to print complete return from 1040 View page just gives that previously selected single form. Printing from Summary page or from Client Search work properly.

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Navigation Changes

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Former Federal ReturnTypes (Refund)

● Electronic Mailed

● Direct Deposit

● Paper Return With Direct Deposit

● Paper Return

Revised Federal Return Types (Refund)

● E-File: Paper Check

● E-file: Direct Deposit

● Paper Return with Direct Deposit

● Paper Return

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Navigation Changes

Former Federal Return Types (Balance Due)

● Mail Payment

● Direct Debit

● Paper Return with Direct Debit

● Paper Return

Revised Federal Return Types (Balance Due)

● E-file: Mail Payment

● E-file: Direct Debit

● Paper Return

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Navigation Changes

Navigation Changes

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● No 8888 – initial input of routing and bank account numbers masked – 2016 and 2017

● Verification Codes included on W-2 entry screen – 2016 and 2017

● Tax year indicator added to header menu inside return – 2016 and 2017

Navigation Changes

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● Modified left navigation bar – 2016 and 2017

● Preparer can check status of return from left navigation bar while in another return – 2016 and 2017

● Able to enter free form Box 14 entries on a W-2 – 2017

Navigation Changes

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Navigation Changes

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● EIN field for substitute Forms W-2 and 1099-R now optional – 2016 and 2017

● Prior year validation errors now visible – 2017

● Able to select tax year from a drop down window – 2016 and 2017

Navigation Changes

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● Prior method of selecting tax year.

Navigation Changes

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Navigation Changes

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Navigation Changes

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Navigation Changes

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Navigation Changes

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● Menus that are year specific: 1. Start New Return

2. Client Search

3. Review Returns

4. Reports

5. Transmissions

Navigation Changes

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● Paper as a return status is available when:

1. Federal return type is changed to paper for a return previously rejected

2. Paper is selected as return type and return is marked as “Complete” – 2016 and 2017

Navigation Changes

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● Security code removed from Login Page and Office Setup – 2017

● Security Question and Answer removed from Preparer Setup Menu – 2017

Navigation Changes

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● 15 view “print” pages are available in the practice lab − Ability to view specific forms without

having to render PDF for entire return

− When preparer selects Continue after completing form, a print icon will be available for that form

● Print form from Income Page

● And from Deductions > Adjustments page and Deductions > Credits page and Miscellaneous Forms page

Navigation Changes

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Navigation Changes

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● Last checkpoint button added to Summary/Print page – 2016 and 2017

Navigation Changes

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Navigation Changes

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Comments…

Questions?

Appearance Changes

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● Summary Pages – fresher –easier to read – 2016 and 2017

● Universal symbol for edit and delete icons – 2016 and 2017

● Color of Practice Lab – 2017

Appearance Changes

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● Thicker font – 2017

● Bold titles – 2017

● More contrast between background and text – 2017

Appearance Changes

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● Left align fields on forms – 2017

● Return prep screens modified to match Welcome page and E-files screens – 2016 and 2017

Appearance Changes

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Appearance Changes

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Comments…

Questions?

Capacity Changes

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● Increased print servers from 2 to 6

● Increased calculation servers from 16 up to 64 depending on demand

Customer Service Changes

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● Each contact to support staff assigned a case number – 2016 and 2017

● Dedicated team to monitor and mentor staff – 2016 and 2017

● Adopted new email system for a more streamlined process – 2016 and 2017

Capacity and Customer Service Changes

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Comments…

Questions?

TaxSlayer Issues

● Many reported on VITA/TCE Blog – encourage all to check site before raising questions

https://vitablog.taxslayerpro.com/

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TaxSlayer Issues

● Gambling losses entered do not carry to Schedule A, line 28

● Trying to create Schedule E for Royalties entered on Form 1099-MISC kicks user completely out of the program

● Dependent information not carrying to page 2 of Form 2441

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TaxSlayer Date Issues

● Some forms, references on data entry pages and rates and amounts not updated to 2017 − In progress

− Some IRS acceptance tests still using 2016 rates

● E-File: Direct Debit is forcing immediate debiting since today's date is after 4/15/2017

● Entering today or later 2017 date for stock transaction is not accepted

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Tests – Practice Lab 2017

● Advanced Test − Capital loss carryover doesn’t work in Practice

Lab 2017

● Advanced Test – asks for mileage amount, but software shows Schedule C-EZ (can force Schedule C in site print set)

● HSA Test – situation as presented is confusing as there are excess contributions

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Fixed Nov 30

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Stress Tests

● Goal is to stretch boundaries of the online software operating system

● Dates − Dec 6: 12:30pm – 2:00pm ET − Dec 20: 2:00pm – 3:30pm ET

● Stress test procedures and scenarios to be posted on blog

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