TaxSlayer® Pro Online Practice Lab

An Introduction

TaxSlayer Pro Online Practice Lab Software

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● Most internet browsers work − Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher − Google Chrome − Safari Browser 5.1

● For Practice Lab − https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining − https://www.linklearncertification.com

Log in - First Time

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Enter Universal password: TRAINPROWEB

Log in – First Time (Continued)

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Log in – First Time (Continued)

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● Enter e-mail address twice

● Create a user name – include Train or Practice or PL

● Create a password – alphanumeric with at least 15 characters, both upper and lower case, and one special character (required of all volunteers as of 1/1/18)

● Password will expire after 90 days

● Enter password twice

Log in – First Time (Continued)

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● Select “AARP Tax-Aide” from “Program

Type” drop down window

● Enter SIDN (if known – not required)

● Select security question

● Enter answer to security question

Log in - First Time (Continued)

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Log in – First Time (Continued)

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First time you log in your user name will be shown

Enter password you just created and click on Sign in

Creating Accounts for classes/Labs – Students with account

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● Three Options − Student supplies username and

password to instructor − Same as above but student changes

password to instructor supplied password by using Forgot password link

− New account created for student using dummy email

Practice Lab – Home Page

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Go to practice area

Select a training video

Practice Lab – Home Page (Continued)

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Practice Lab – Welcome Page

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Defaults to current year

Can choose a different year

Welcome Page Help Menu

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Options are shown in Left Menu Bar

Available Taxpayer Profiles

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Site/Local Coordinator can create additional Taxpayer profiles when setting up site

TaxSlayer has created 3 sample profiles. Defaults to Basic (No profile).

Start New Tax Return Screen

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Navigation/Input Rules

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● All information is entered via input screen (nothing entered directly on forms)

● Use “Tab” key to move from field to field within input screen

● Select “Continue” to save information and move from one input screen to another

Navigation/Input Rules (Cont)

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● Do not enter leading zeros when entering dates of birth:

● Six methods of inputting data: − Guide me − Enter myself − 1040 View on Calculation Summary page − Taxpayer Profile − Quick File − Form Search Box

Navigation

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● Filing Status is 1st screen you must complete after entering SSN for new return

● If opening existing return, will land on the Calculation Summary page (1040 view page).

● Filing Status Wizard available

● Personal Information screen must then be completed

● Dependent screen next (one screen for each dependent)

Navigation – Logging out of Return from Preparation Pages

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● Three methods of logging out of preparation pages:

- Use universal log out symbol next to taxpayer’s name

- Use save and exit return at bottom of drop down box under taxpayer’s name

- Select same and exit return at bottom of left menu bar

● All three will take you back to the welcome page and you will not be required to log back in.

Navigation – Logging Out of Return – Preparation Pages

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Navigation – Logging out of return – E-file pages

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● There are 2 methods for logging out of the e-file pages:

- Use the universal log out symbol in upper right hand corner of page – will log you completely out of program –must log back in

- Select main menu at top of menu bar – will log you out to welcome page

Navigation – Logging out of return – E-file Pages

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● Expanded links will take you directly to section for easier navigation

● Section you are in will be a different color

Left Navigation Bar

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Left Navigation Bar

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Filing Status Screen

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Personal Info Screen

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Personal Information Screen (Continued)

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Some screens let you go to another screen

Dependent Information Screen

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● Must complete filing status, personal and dependent information to activate tool bar

Additional Tools

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Select drop down arrow next to name

Quick exit button

Additional Tools (Continued)

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Logs you out to welcome page

Not used by Tax-Aide

Select Spanish

Add notes to return

Logs you out to welcome page

Helpful Tools

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Quick File Tool

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Calculation Summary Page (1040 View)

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● Select “Summary/Print” from left navigation bar for 1040 view screen.

● Then select any line on 1040 to link to input screen for that line

● Select green “Summary View” button for page containing return totals

● When opening existing return will land on 1040 view page

Calculation Summary Page (1040 View)

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Calculation Summary Screen

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VIEW/PRINT FORMS

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● Ability to view information on single form without printing entire PDF

● Complete form, select continue and print icon will appear.

● 15 Schedules and forms are available

● Schedule A

● Schedule B

● Schedule C

● Schedule D

● Schedule R

● W-7

● Form 1116

● Form 2441

● Form 5329

● Form 5405

● Form 8606

● Form 8863

● Form 8880

● Form 8962

● Form 8965

VIEW/PRINT FORMS

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VIEW/PRINT FORMS

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Federal Section

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Income Screen

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Edit allows you to change data

Begin allows you to input new data

Deduction Screen

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Deduction Screen – Enter Myself

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Itemized Deductions Screen

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Other Taxes

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Payments and Estimates

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Miscellaneous Forms

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Health Insurance (ACA)

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Due Diligence Screen (2016)

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● If try to go to e-file section, will be directed to due diligence

● Eliminated for 2017. Still required for prior years.

Due Diligence Screen (2016)

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● If answer questions “correctly”

Federal Return Complete (Practice Lab)

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● For 2017 practice lab, once insurance section is complete will land on Federal Return complete page where you can:

- add a state return

- skip state return and return to summary page

- return to federal section

Federal Return Complete (Practice Lab)

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Federal Return Complete (Production Site)

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● For production site zip code entered in personal information section will automatically populate both state and state of residence field

● Information in state of residence field will automatically generate a state return

● Can change or add state if necessary

State Return (Production Site)

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Last Step Prior to E-file

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● If no state return, once federal section completed will land on calculation summary page (1040 view)

● If state return, once completed will land on calculation summary page (1040 view)

● Select e-file to begin completing e-file section

Last Step Prior to E-File

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E-File Screens

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● How to complete the return so it can be e-filed is covered in lesson # 39 – Finishing the Return in TaxSlayer

● The additional steps required to actually e-file the return are covered in the ERO Transmitted Training lesson

E-File Screen

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Note different navigation bar at left

Note: cannot e-file in Practice Lab

TaxSlayer/Training

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