Quick Start Manual. Technical Support TaxSlayer Pro Quick Start Manual.

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1 2013 Quick Start Manual Technical Support w w w. t a x s l a y e r p r o. c o m 1

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3 TaxSlayer Pro Professional Tax Preparation Software 2013 QUICK START MANUAL Table of Contents IRS Preparer Regulations...page 4 Grow Your Business with Bank Products...page 6 Pre-Season Checklist...page 7 Technical Support Options...page 9 System Requirements... page 11 Installing TaxSlayer Pro...page 12 First Time Configuration...page 14 Configuration of Workstation Computers...page 19 TaxSlayer Pro Main Menu...page 22 Toolbar Icons...page 24 Network Setup...page 26 Creating a Tax Return...page 29 Electronic Filing with TaxSlayer Pro...page 33 E-Filing a Tax Return...page 34 Receiving Acknowledgements...page 37 Printing a Tax Return...page 38 Downloading Programs and Updates...page 39 Installing Updates on Networked Workstations...page 41 Installing Updates on...page 42 Non-Networked Workstations 3

4 IRS Preparer Regulations Update on Registered Tax Return Preparer Status On January 18, 2013, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia enjoined the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from enforcing the regulatory requirements for registered tax return preparers. In accordance with this order, tax return preparers covered by this program are not required to complete competency testing. In addition to striking down the examination of tax preparers, the required 15 hours of continuing education has also been rescinded by the United States District Court. *Continuing education is still a requirement of CPA s and EA s. PTIN Requirements Anyone who prepares or assists in preparing federal tax returns for compensation must have a valid 2014 PTIN before preparing returns. All enrolled agents must also have a PTIN. To sign-up or to renew your PTIN for 2014, go to and select the Tax Pros link to login to your PTIN Account. E-File Requirements Starting January 1, 2012, any tax return preparer who anticipates preparing and filing 11 or more Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ and 1041 during a calendar year must use IRS e-file (unless the preparer or a particular return is administratively exempt from the e-file requirement or the return is filed by a preparer with an approved hardship waiver). 4

5 Members of firms must count returns in the aggregate. If the number of applicable income tax returns is 11 or more, then all members of the firm generally must e-file the returns they prepare and file. This is true even if a member expects to prepare and file fewer than 11 returns on an individual basis. EITC Due Diligence The IRS is cracking down on EITC Preparer Due Diligence. Make sure you know what is required of you before you begin preparing returns containing the Earned Income Tax Credit. Below is an excerpt of the Treasury Regulation Information posted on There are four due diligence requirements. Generally, if you prepare EITC claims, you must not only ask all the questions to get the information required on Form 8867, Paid Preparers Earned Income Credit Checklist, but you must also ask additional questions when the information your client gives you seems incorrect, inconsistent or incomplete. Prepare, submit, and keep a copy of the Form Prepare and keep all worksheets showing how the credit was computed. The table below provides more information on recordkeeping requirements. The new requirements are shown in You could be penalized $500 for each time you fail to meet all four due diligence requirements for each EITC claim. For more information, go to 5

6 Grow your Business with Bank Products! Benefits of offering bank products include Low Cost Bank Products Gone are the high RAL fees and interest rates of yesterday. Today s bank products offer a much more economical choice for your clients. No Set Up Cost Your TaxSlayer Pro software and the bank will provide you all the resources and training you need for FREE. Get Out Of The Fee Collection Business Spend your time making money, not chasing it. Your client s tax preparation fees will be deducted directly from their refund and deposited in to your bank account. Increase Your Profits By offering bank products you give yourself additional avenues for increasing revenue for your business. You can offer the same refund options as other major tax companies, allowing you to be more competitive in your local market. Did you know According to a Treasury Department study, 20 million refund-related products were processed in This is an increase from million products processed in

7 Pre-Season Checklist Are you ready for tax season? Follow this Pre-Season Checklist to get started on the right track: 1.) IRS for Tax Pros Go to and select the for Tax Pros tab at the top of the page. Here you will find a wealth of information pertaining to the tax preparer. a. e-services - Sign up or log in to e-services to update your personal information. Sign up for the IRS Quick Alert notification system. We encourage all of our TaxSlayer Pro customers to sign up for IRS Quick Alerts to keep you informed of any major IRS announcements. b. EFIN - To e-file tax returns, every ERO must have his or her own Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN). Apply for an EFIN online by creating an e-services Account. Access e-services in the getting started section of the IRS Tax Pros page. c. PTIN Preparer Tax Identification Number: All paid tax return preparers are required to obtain or renew their PTIN for the 2014 filing season. 2.) Update TaxSlayer Pro My Account You will need to update your My Account by going to. Log in with your username and password. If any banking information has changed such as routing or account numbers, please contact sales at ) Bank Products If you plan to offer bank products and you have not signed on with a bank, please contact one of our banking partners as soon as possible. Supported bank product providers can be found by visiting the TaxSlayer Pro Knowledgebase and searching keyword banks. 7

8 4.) Check your Computer, Printer, and Network Settings Make sure your computer is up and running to your satisfaction. If your computer is running slow, try adding additional RAM. This is a relatively inexpensive cost that will give you instant improved performance. Test your printer by printing a test page. Also make sure you have plenty of ink, toner, and paper. Test your office network. Make sure all of your computers are properly communicating with each other. If you experience any problems, contact your company s computer or network technician as soon as possible. 5.) Review the 2013 Tax Law Changes Review the What s New section of Publication 17 and the 1040 instructions so you are informed and prepared for the upcoming filing season. 8

9 Technical Support Options We are committed to providing you extensive information so you can find the answers to your questions in a timely manner. Our Support Website, KnowledgeBase and On Screen Help all include a wealth of knowledge about TaxSlayer Pro. Below is a description of our available Support options. Knowledge Base The Knowledge Base contains hundreds of articles pertaining to TaxSlayer Pro. If you have questions on how to perform certain tasks within the program, you will most likely find your answers here. In addition, the Knowledge Base will give you specific information about a menu you are currently viewing. For example, if you are preparing a Schedule C and you have a question, by selecting the Knowledge Base icon you will receive information specific to Schedule C. 9

10 Tutorial Videos Instructional videos are available on our support website that will demonstrate step by step procedures for using different features in TaxSlayer Pro. This is a great training tool for yourself and your staff. Video topics include: Creating a Tax Return, Printing, Electronic Filing, Amending a Return, and more. TaxSlayer Pro If you have a question that is not covered in our available resources, send our technical support staff an . Use the link located in the Help Center section of the program. Enter the required information on the form and describe your question in detail. Your will be responded to as soon as possible. TaxSlayer Pro Blog The TaxSlayer Pro Blog is your source for professional tax preparation news, tips and advice. Subscribe to the TaxSlayer Pro Blog by visiting and select the Blog tab at the top of the page. 10

11 System Requirements Recommended System Requirements: Computer 2.0GHz Dual Core Processor or higher Memory 4GB RAM Disk Space 1GB will be sufficient. More may be needed if you have a large client database and utilize the Paper Cut Program. Operating System Windows 7 / 8 Professional USB or Flash Drive for backing up data Printer HP Compatible Laser Printer Screen Resolution 1024x768 Internet Connection High Speed Connection; Ex: Cable Minimum System Requirements: Computer 2.0 GHz Memory 1GB RAM Disk Space 500MB per year of installed TaxSlayer Pro programs Operating System Windows XP SP3* Drives 12x CDROM (For Program Installation); USB Drive for backing up data Printer HP Compatible Inkjet Printer (Inkjet not recommended for check printing) Screen Resolution 1024x768 Internet Connection Dial-up Modem *Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows XP on April 8, Caution TaxSlayer Pro should not be installed on any computers running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, or Microsoft has ended all support for these operating systems and therefore the programming languages used to develop TaxSlayer Pro are no longer compatible with these versions of Windows. In addition, TaxSlayer Pro is not compatible with Mac computers. 11

12 Installing TaxSlayer Pro Note The TaxSlayer Pro CD and initial Download contain only the Federal 1040 package. The business package and all states will be available through the Updates Menu in early January. Step 1: Close all software applications. If you have anti-virus software running, you should temporarily disable it before installing TaxSlayer Pro. To disable your anti-virus right-click on the anti-virus icon this will bring up a dialog box to temporarily Disable or Exit the anti-virus software. Your anti-virus software will reactivate when you restart your computer. Step 2: Insert the TaxSlayer Pro CD into your CD Rom drive or select Install 2013 TaxSlayer Pro software if downloading from My Account. The program installation menu will appear. If the installation menu does not appear, click the Windows Start button. If you are running Windows XP, select Run and type X:\Setup (X representing your CD Rom drive) and press the Enter key. If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7/8, type X:\setup (X representing your CD Rom drive) into the Start Search box and press the Enter key. Step 3: On the program installation menu, select Continue. A short description of available features will display on the screen, click Continue. To begin the installation of TaxSlayer Pro, select the option Install 2013 TaxSlayer Pro. Click Next once the Install Shield Wizard appears. Step 4: License Agreement Please read the TaxSlayer Pro software license agreement. If you agree to the terms set forth in the license agreement, choose I accept the terms of the license agreement and click Next. The license agreement can be printed by selecting the Print button. If you do not agree to the terms set forth in the license agreement, select Cancel and do not install the software. Contact TaxSlayer Pro Sales for further information. 12

13 Step 5: Setup Type Choose where you would like to install TaxSlayer Pro. By selecting Express the program will install to your C drive. To install to a drive other than the C drive, select Custom. By selecting Custom you will be given the option to install the program to any available drive. Select Next. Tip Choosing Express is the most common way to install TaxSlayer Pro. Step 6: The program will begin the installation process which could take a few minutes depending on the speed of your computer. Once the installation is complete, you are given the option to restart your computer. We recommend restarting the computer before continuing. Step 7: After installation, a 2013 TaxSlayer Pro icon will be placed on your desktop. Double-click the icon to begin the initial configuration of TaxSlayer Pro. 13

14 First Time Configuration Step 1 Starting the Program Open the program by doubleclicking the TaxSlayer Pro Icon. You will be greeted with a TaxSlayer Pro message advising you of the information that will need to be input into the program during the initial configuration. Select OK. Step 2 A TaxSlayer Pro question will appear asking if you would like to restore the configuration from a backup disk?, Select No. Step 3 Network Setup Are you using a network? If you used TaxSlayer Pro on a network last year, your network settings will pull forward. If you did not use TaxSlayer Pro last year or you purchased new computers, refer to the Network section of this guide for network setup procedures. If you are not using a network, follow the steps below to complete your configuration. You can always come back to the network setup options from the main menu of the program by selecting Configuration and then System/Network Configuration Menu. Step 4 Transmitting Computer or Workstation You will be asked if this is the computer you will use to communicate with TaxSlayer Pro. The computer that handles all aspects of e-fling and check printing will be the Transmitting computer. You can only designate one Transmitting computer. All other computers are considered Workstations. Workstation computers are used to prepare returns, but do not communicate with TaxSlayer Pro directly. Answer Yes to this question to designate this as your transmitting computer. Answer No if this computer will not be the designated transmitting computer. 14

15 Step 5 Firm Information If TaxSlayer Pro 2012 is installed on this computer, the 2012 Firm Information will pull forward to the 2013 program. Review the information to ensure all entries are still correct. If this is a new computer or your first year with TaxSlayer Pro, you will need to fill in all of the information. Tip When entering the name and address of your firm, do not enter characters such as apostrophes, pound signs, dollar signs, commas, periods, etc. If you enter any of these characters by mistake, the program will prompt you to remove them before continuing. Step 6 Preparer Setup If TaxSlayer Pro 2012 is installed on this computer, you will be prompted with a question asking to pull Preparers from Prior Year. If you would like to pull the preparers forward, select Yes. Note Once the preparers have been pulled forward, you can edit or delete information pertaining to each preparer. If TaxSlayer Pro 2012 is not installed on this computer, you will be given the option to enter preparers. To enter a preparer, select New. You will be prompted to enter a Preparer Number. A unique preparer number must be assigned to yourself and to each of your preparers. You can use any number from 1 to 999. Next enter the preparer s SSN, the preparer s PTIN, and the preparer s first name, middle initial, and last name. Select OK to proceed to the Preparer Edit Menu. The Preparer Edit Menu will give you the option to change the Preparer Practitioner PIN, enter the preparer s power of attorney information (if the preparer is an Acceptance Agent), and set program permissions and security for the preparer. For detailed information on Program Security, visit the TaxSlayer Pro Knowledgebase and search keywords Program Security. 15

16 Step 7 Bank Setup If you will be offering bank products, we encourage you to apply with a bank as soon as possible. The following banks are affiliated with TaxSlayer Pro: Advent, Refund Advantage, Republic Bank, River City, Santa Barbara and TaxSlayer Financial Services. Choose the bank you will be using from the list and select OK. Depending on your selected bank, you may be required to answer a few questions before continuing. Step 8 Fee Setup Menu Fees entered into the Fees Table will be used to calculate the total tax return fee that will appear on the Client Invoice. If you used TaxSlayer Pro last year, or you entered your fees into the TaxSlayer Pro demo program, you will be prompted to Pull Prior Year Fees. To change a fee or to enter a new fee, select the line for the form and enter the fee. If you charge by the hour, check the box in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. Otherwise, select Exit. Step 9 Path Menu The settings defined within the Path Menu tell the program where to backup current data and where to pull prior year data. The default settings will work for most TaxSlayer Pro customers. If your prior year data is stored on a drive other than the drive the current TaxSlayer Pro program is installed, the Prior Path settings will need adjusting. To adjust the Prior Path, select the Prior Path Menu and change the location of the prior year data. If you need assistance, please call TaxSlayer Pro Technical Support. If you would like to setup a secondary backup path for your tax returns, you can select the backup path from the drop down menu for Secondary Backup Path. The Secondary Backup Path is used for backing up data to a flash drive or a secondary hard drive. Step 10 MACRO Setup A MACRO, by definition, is a shortcut to a task you do repeatedly. For purposes of tax preparation, MACROs reduce the number of keystrokes required to complete a return. If you have TaxSlayer Pro 2012 installed, you can pull forward your 16

17 prior year MACROs. If not, you can enter your MACROs now or you can re-enter the Configuration Menu and type in your MACROs at a later date. Step 11 Update Manager When the program is first opened each day, the Update Manager will automatically download and install the latest updates you have selected in the Update Manager Menu. The Federal Individual, Individual E-File, and the State you indicated in the Firm Information Setup Menu will automatically be checked. You can select up to 3 states to automatically update. We recommend that you leave the Federal Individual Update and your resident state checked. 17

18 Step 12 TaxSlayer Pro Premium If you purchased TaxSlayer Pro Premium, the program will guide you through the process of configuring premium features. If prompted for an activation code, log into your TaxSlayer Pro My Account to obtain the number. If TaxSlayer Pro Premium 2012 is configured on this computer, you will be prompted to pull forward the configuration settings. Enter your address. The method will automatically be defaulted to TaxSlayer Pro. For a description of other options, visit the TaxSlayer Pro Knowledgebase and search keywords Premium Options. Several other premium options can be configured from the Premium Configuration Menu. Visit the TaxSlayer Pro knowledgebase and search keywords Premium Options for detailed information on all of the Premium features. If you would like to upgrade to TaxSlayer Pro Premium and take advantage of the online client status, text messaging, and PaperCut, contact TaxSlayer Pro Sales at *TaxSlayer Pro Premium can be activated after the initial configuration by selecting Configuration from the main menu of TaxSlayer Pro. Next choose Configure Premium Options. To activate Paper Cut, change Use Paper Cut Paperless Office Option to Yes. To activate the Text Messaging feature, change Send Text Message to Clients to Yes. Step 13 Exit Configuration Once you have completed the initial configuration, TaxSlayer Pro will close to apply all of the new settings to the program. Before exiting, check your system date. If the date displayed is not correct, change the date by double-clicking the time display in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. 18

19 Configuration of Workstation Computers Once the transmitting computer configuration is complete, the configuration settings can be copied to your workstation computers. Workstation computers are any computers that are used to prepare tax returns. For TaxSlayer Pro purposes, you must designate only one transmitting computer. You are able to run TaxSlayer Pro on an unlimited amount of workstation computers. Whether your computers are networked together or are stand-alone (not networked) computers, will determine how to best recall the configuration settings. Configuration of Networked Workstation Computers If all of your computers in the office are networked together, the configuration can be recalled from the Transmitting computer through your network. Step 1: Install TaxSlayer Pro on the Workstation computer. Step 2: Open the TaxSlayer Pro program by double-clicking on the TaxSlayer Pro icon on the desktop. Step 3: Select OK on the TaxSlayer Pro Welcome Message. Step 4: Select Yes when asked Do you want to restore configuration from a backup disk? Step 5: TaxSlayer Pro will search your computer for drives that contain the configuration file. If the workstation computer is properly connected to the network, the network drive or mapped drive will appear. Select the drive and click OK. The configuration settings will be restored and the program will automatically adjust to workstation computer settings. If you receive a message stating The configuration could not be restored the workstation computer may not be properly mapped or networked to the transmitting computer. Contact TaxSlayer Pro Technical Support for assistance, or refer to the non-networked section of this manual for instructions on copying configuration settings. 19

20 Configuration of Stand-Alone or Non-Networked Workstation Computers You will need a flash drive or USB drive to complete the following steps. Step 1: Insert the flash drive into your transmitting computer. Step 2: From the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro, select Configuration and then Configuration Utilities. Select, Copy Configuration to Disk and select the drive letter associated with the flash drive. Select OK. The configuration file will be copied to the flash drive. Step 3: Remove the flash drive from the transmitting computer and insert the flash drive into the workstation computer. Step 4: Once TaxSlayer Pro is installed on the workstation, open the program by double-clicking on the TaxSlayer Pro icon located on the desktop. 20

21 Step 5: Select OK on the TaxSlayer Pro Welcome Message. Step 6: Select Yes when asked Do you want to restore configuration from a backup disk? Step 7: TaxSlayer Pro will search your computer for the flash drive containing the configuration file. Once found, select the drive letter and select OK. The configuration file will be copied to the workstation. Step 8: Repeat the steps above on all stand-alone workstation computers. 21

22 TaxSlayer Pro Main Menu Navigating through the TaxSlayer Pro menus is relatively easy. In the center of the screen, you will notice four icons called the Fast Access icons along with a list of 10 menu options. The Fast Access icons take you directly to the most common tasks performed within TaxSlayer Pro. The ten menu options on the right-hand side are described below: 1.) Tax Returns Start a new tax return or edit an existing return. 2.) E-File Transmit tax returns, receive acknowledgements, and print bank checks. 3.) Print Print copies of Individual Returns, Business Returns, and Extensions. Print organizers for the current year or a prior year and print blank forms. 4.) Business Start a new business return or edit an existing business return. The TaxSlayer Pro Business Package includes 1120 Corporation, 1120S Corporation, 1065 Partnership,

23 Estate and Trusts, 990 Exempt Organization, 706 Estate return, and 709 Gift return. 5.) Client Status Check the current e-file and bank status for your clients. Information in the Client Status module includes when the return was accepted or rejected, bank approval status, check status, fees paid, and basic return information. 6.) View Returns View client returns. Select a client and pick a form to view from the list of completed forms and schedules. 7.) Configuration Customize TaxSlayer Pro settings to include print setup and preferred settings, network settings, firm and preparer information, program security settings, fee setup, bank setup, etc. To view a list of all configuration settings, visit the TaxSlayer Pro Knowledgebase and search keywords Configuration Menu. 8.) Utilities Items in the Utilities Menu include the backup and recall returns utility, MFJ / MFS Comparison, the option to delete a tax return, and a coupon creator. To view a list of all items contained in the Utilities Menu, visit the TaxSlayer Pro Knowledgebase and search keywords Utilities Menu. 9.) Reports Keep track of the performance of your office by running various types of reports such as Master Reports, Client Reports, and Returns / Extensions Not Accepted Reports. To view descriptions for all reports contained in the Reports Menu, visit the TaxSlayer Pro Knowledgebase and search keyword Reports. 10.) Updates Download and install updates to the program that are released throughout tax season and the off season. If you have the Update Manager turned on, your selected updates will download and install automatically. Updates and state programs can also be downloaded manually through the Updates Menu. 23

24 Toolbar Icons The icons located at the top of each screen are called the toolbar icons. Below is a brief description of each Icon and the benefits they provide. Knowledge Base The knowledge base is a direct link to the TaxSlayer Pro database of problem solving solutions. The knowledge base is searchable using key words and phrases. The Tax Book Get instant access to The Tax Book Online. The Tax Book Online enables you to research any tax related question you may incur. State tax information for all states is also included. Calculator At any time you can select the calculator icon to display a calculator which includes a tape like feature to keep track of your entries. Client Status Check on the e-file and bank product status of a client s return no matter where you are in the program. Appointments The Appointment Calendar allows you to enter new appointments, create notes, and print reports to view a breakdown of the day s events. Messages Throughout tax season, TaxSlayer Pro will release messages to keep you informed. When the message icon turns red, you have a new message from TaxSlayer Pro. Click the icon to read your messages. Publications We have compiled the most widely used IRS Publications, Instructions and forms and made them readily available to you through the Publications icon. 24

25 IRS Reject If a client s tax return is rejected by the IRS, use the IRS Reject Utility to view the meaning of the reject code. Quick Calc. A simple data entry screen to quickly estimate a refund for a customer. Extensions Create a new individual extension or edit an existing extension. Client Retention Client Retention can be used to generate two types of reports. If you used TaxSlayer Pro in 2012, you can generate a report of all clients from 2012 that have not returned for The prior year client data is accessed by preparer number and can be password protected to prevent unauthorized access. A Call / Thank You list can also be generated to show a list of clients who have had their returns completed for the current year. Form Finder The Form Finder is a helpful tool if you cannot locate a certain form in the program. The Form Finder will allow you to search for a form by name or by form number. View Form The View Form feature allows you to review the form for the current screen. This feature is available for federal forms and schedules as well as state forms and schedules. State Tax Info Within each state program is a State Tax Info icon. The icon links to information that is relevant to the state you are working in. Information includes contact information, a where s my refund link, state forms and instructions, mailing addresses and more. 25

26 Network Setup Setting up the TaxSlayer Pro network takes only a few moments if your office network is already working properly. IMPORTANT If your office network is not set up or is not functioning properly, our TaxSlayer Pro technicians will not be able to assist you in setting up the TaxSlayer Pro network. You will need to contact your network technician for assistance. Here are a few items to consider when setting up the TaxSlayer Pro network. 1.) The TaxSlayer Pro network operates in a peer-to-peer environment. This means that the TaxSlayer Pro program must be installed on each computer. The program cannot be installed on a file server and distributed to each workstation. 2.) If you have multiple user accounts on your computers, every user must be setup on each computer. For example, if on your transmitting computer you have an account for Charles, Beth, and John you must also have a user account for Charles, Beth, and John on each workstation. 3.) Permissions Full Control or at least Modify privileges need to be set for the Everyone group on the TaxSlayer folder located on the Transmitting computer before the workstations and transmitting computer can share return information. 4.) File and Printer Sharing Make sure that File and Printer Sharing is enabled in your network settings for your operating system and within your antivirus program. Some newer anti-virus programs will block file sharing on networks. 26

27 5.) If you are not familiar with the information listed above, we suggest contacting a network or computer technician to assist with the network setup. Once the office network is setup, follow the steps below to network TaxSlayer Pro. The following steps are for the Transmitting Computer: Step 1 From the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro select Configuration, and select System/Network Configuration Menu. Make sure that Are you Using a Network and Transmitting Computer are both set to Yes. Step 2 Electronic Drive should be set to the drive where TaxSlayer Pro is installed. This Computer s Network Name will show the name that the other computers on the network use to identify this computer. Step 3 For the TaxSlayer Pro Network to work properly, you must share the TaxSlayer Pro folder. Select Share TaxSlayer Pro Folder to the Network. A box will briefly display as the drive is being shared. Note This only needs to be completed if the folder has not already been shared. The following steps are for the Workstation Computers: 27

28 Step 1 Install TaxSlayer Pro on the workstation computer and restore your configuration if you have not already done so. Once complete, from the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro, select Configuration and System / Network Configuration Menu. Make sure Are you using a Network is set to Yes and Transmitting Computer is set to No. Step 2 Select Electronic Drive. You will be prompted to select your network drive (the drive that is used to connect this computer to the transmitting computer.) If you do not see your network drive in the list, select Transmitting Computer Not Found Above. Follow the prompts to locate and connect with your network drive. Step 3 Repeat these steps beginning with Step 1 on each of your workstation computers. 28

29 Creating a Tax Return Creating a tax return in TaxSlayer Pro is simple. Follow the steps below to begin a basic tax return. Step 1 Select Tax Returns from the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro. After reviewing the IRC 7216 regulations, select Yes to print the consent form. (Note: If you do not offer bank products, a consent form will not print). Step 2 Enter the SSN of the Primary taxpayer and press the Enter key. A question will appear asking if you want to create a new return, select Yes. Step 3 Select the appropriate filing status. Step 4 Personal Information Entry Menu Enter the taxpayer s personal information. You will be prompted to enter the taxpayer s SSN for a second time to verify that it has been entered correctly. Step 5 After entering the personal information, the program takes you to a review menu to look over the personal information that you entered. From this menu you can mark the taxpayer blind, deceased, 29

30 a student, or contribute to the presidential campaign. The taxpayer s address, dependent on another return, and military information is also entered in this menu. Step 6 Dependent Information If the return you are preparing includes dependents, select Yes to begin entering the dependent information. Select New and enter the personal information of the first dependent. Select OK once finished. If the taxpayer paid qualifying dependent care expenses, enter the amount when prompted. Review the dependent information on the screen and make any necessary changes. To enter additional dependents, select New and enter the information for the next dependent. Note If you entered an amount paid for qualifying dependent care expenses, you will be prompted to enter the child care provider information. If you choose not to enter the provider information now, the program will remind you later that this information has not been entered. 30

31 Step 7 Enter your Preparer Code and press the Enter key. From the Personal Information Menu you can add, edit, or delete any information that was previously entered. If everything is correct, exit this menu. Step 8 Next you will be prompted to enter W-2s. To enter a W-2 select New. The W-2 entry menu resembles the actual W-2 form. Enter the information from the taxpayer s W-2 into the onscreen W-2. Once complete, press the Enter key to exit. Select New to enter a second W-2 or select Exit to continue. When you exit the W-2 menu, you will be directed to the Income menu. If the taxpayer has additional forms of income, select the applicable menu and enter the required information. Step 9 When all items of income have been entered, select Exit 31

32 Menu. If the taxpayer is eligible for EIC, the program will prompt you to answer due diligence questions from the EIC checklist. If the questions are answered correctly, and the taxpayer qualifies, the program will calculate EIC. Step 10 After completing the EIC checklist, you will be directed to the Client s 1040 Main Menu. The Main Menu for the taxpayer s return matches the actual 1040 form. From this menu you can select to itemize deductions, enter adjustments and credits, create a state tax return, mark the return for electronic filing, and view all forms associated with the return. Use the numbered menu options on the left side of the screen or double click on any line of the 1040 form to access the menu for that item. Step 11 When all entries have been made on the tax return, you can mark the return for electronic filing, or exit the return and complete this part at a later time. For details on electronic filing, read the electronic filing section of the Quick Start Manual following Step 12. To exit the return without marking the return for electronic filing, press enter or select the Exit button. From the receipt menu select Exit to return to the main menu of the program. Step 12 The Receipt Menu displays an overview of the calculated fees. You have the option to view and edit the invoice, enter a payment, and show the client a breakdown of their estimated first check if the client applied for a bank product. Select Exit. You will be asked Are You Ready to Mark the Return Completed? Answer No if the return is not complete. Answer Yes to mark the return complete and to exit the return and send it to the electronic transmission table. 32

33 Electronic Filing Before a return can be electronically filed, you must first mark it for electronic filing. From the main 1040 screen of the return, select Mark Return Electronic from the menu options on the left-hand side of the screen. Select the type of return to e-file by choosing a refund disbursement method. The client can choose to have their refund funded by Direct Deposit, Electronic Mailed Check, or a bank product. If there is an amount due, you can enter an electronic payment (direct debit). After selecting the Type of Return, you will be directed to the Practitioner PIN Menu. The Practitioner PIN Menu will generate Form Note - The ERO must keep Form 8879 on file for 3 years; do not mail the Form to the IRS. The taxpayer s PIN, spouse s PIN and the ERO s PIN will automatically be generated. You must verify the Signature Date. Once all information has been entered, exit the Practitioner PIN Menu. You will be given the option to print Form You MUST have the taxpayer and spouse sign Form 8879 prior to electronically filing the tax return. Review the information on the E-File Menu. If the entries are correct, exit to the client s 1040 menu and exit again to the Receipt Menu. Verify the information on the Receipt Menu and then exit the return. You will be asked Are You Ready to Mark the Return as Completed and Ready for Transmission? Select Yes and the return will be sent to the E-File Transmission Table. 33

34 E-Filing a Tax Return To E-File your returns through TaxSlayer Pro, follow the steps below: Step 1 From the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro Select E-File. The E-File Main Menu will appear on your screen. Step 2 Select Transmit Electronic Return(s). This will display thetransmission Table. Returns that have been marked for electronic filing and marked Ready to Transmit are automatically pulled onto the Transmission Table. The buttons at the bottom of the transmission table are defined on the next page: 34

35 Add Client This function allows you to add returns to the transmission table. As an example, when you have corrected an IRS reject on a return you must manually add the return to the transmission table to resubmit the return. Select Add Client and then enter the taxpayer s SSN. If you receive a message stating, The Client Was Not Found, the return has not been marked for electronic filing or the return has not been marked complete. Delete Client This function allows you to remove returns from the transmission table. Deleting the return from the Transmission Table will prevent the return from being e-filed at this time. Cancel To abort the transmission process, select the cancel button. Transmit When you are satisfied with the transmission table, select Transmit to proceed with e-filing the return(s). Step 3 After selecting Transmit, the next screen will display how many returns are in the Table; click OK. The following screen will ask, Do You Want a Printed List of Clients to Send? We recommend that you always print the list so you will know what has been transmitted and when the transmission occurred. You will be asked if the printed information is correct, if so, select Yes. If you select No, you will be returned to the E-File Main Menu. Step 4 The Transmit/Receive from TaxSlayer Pro window will be displayed. Click the Connect button. In the white box, you will see a description of each action during the transmission process. When prompted, click on the Exit button. Step 5 You will see a message that says You Have Reports to Print! From the Indirect Main Menu, select Print Reports. Each report you have to print will be marked with an arrow next to the report. At a minimum, you will have a Transmission Confirmation Report. 35

36 This report will list the last name and SSN of the taxpayers that were transmitted. Keep this with your List of Clients to Send report. *IMPORTANT The List of Clients to Send only shows that you created a Transmission Table. It does not mean you actually made a transmission. If you DO NOT receive a Transmission Confirmation Report, the returns DID NOT get sent to TaxSlayer Pro. The returns will be processed and acknowledged by the IRS within 24 hours. The IRS does reserve the right to wait 48 hours before giving an acknowledgement for the return. 36

37 Receiving Acknowledgements During tax season, the IRS releases acknowledgements continuously throughout the day. To check for your acknowledgements follow the steps below: Step 1 From the Transmitting computer, select E-File. From the Indirect Main Menu, choose Receive Acknowledgements Only. Step 2 The Transmit/Receive from TaxSlayer Pro screen will be displayed. Click the Connect button. In the box, you will see a description of each action during the retrieval process. When prompted, click on the Exit button. Step 3 You will see a message that reads You Have Reports to Print! From the Indirect Main Menu, select Print Reports. Each report you have to print will be marked with an arrow next to the report title. The IRS and State Acknowledgement report will display an acceptance or rejection code. In most cases, an explanation of the reject code will be displayed. 37

38 Printing a Tax Return There are two ways to print a return in TaxSlayer Pro. Print Menu From the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro select Print Returns and Select Individual Returns to Print. A list of your clients will appear in a pick-list. Enter the SSN of the tax return you would like to print or select the client from the list. A box will appear with a list of print options. Choose the print option you prefer and select OK. Once you have made your print selections, press the Print Selected button. The return will be sent to your printer. View Results From inside the tax return, select View Results. Select Print Return. A box will appear with a list of print options. Choose the print option you prefer and select OK. The return will be sent to your printer. You can also print a single form from the View Results menu by highlighting the form and selecting OK. The form will display on the screen. To print the form, select File and then Print. 38

39 Downloading Programs and Updates TaxSlayer Pro has a built-in utility to download and install program updates as they are released throughout the year. The Update Utility is also used to download and install state programs and the business program once they become available in January. To manually download and install updates, follow the steps below: Step 1 Select Updates from the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro. Step 2 Select Download / Install Updates. Step 3 Answer Yes when prompted to Download the Update Status Report. Select Connect on the next screen to receive the most up-to-date information on available updates. Step 4 When the Update Status Report finishes downloading and the message You May Now Exit is displayed, select Exit. You will be directed to the Individual Updates Menu. To display business updates select the business tab at the top of the screen. There are four colors displayed on the page: Red A new update is ready to download. Blue An update has been downloaded but not installed. Gray No updates are available. Black The latest update is installed on your computer. 39

40 Step 5 To download an update, select the update box. The update will turn gray once selected. Select all of the updates you need and click the Download button. A status window will appear displaying the progress of the download. This may take a few minutes depending on the speed of your Internet connection. Once all of the updates have downloaded, the program will proceed to install each update. Once the installation is complete and each update turns black, the update process will be complete. 40

41 Installing Updates Across a Network Once you download an update on the transmitting computer, the workstations will be able to use the downloaded file. You do not have to download the updates onto the workstations, you only have to install them. When an update has been downloaded on the transmitting computer, the update will turn blue on the workstation computers. If an update appears gray on the workstation computers, the update needs to be downloaded on the transmitting computer. Step 1 From the main menu of the program on the workstation computer, select Updates. Make sure that the Drive Where Updates are Stored is set to the drive letter you used to map to the transmitting computer. Step 2 Select Download / Install Updates. The updates will be blue if they have been downloaded on the transmitting computer. Select the updates you want to install on the workstation and select Install. The updates will begin to install automatically to your computer. When the updates are installed, the name of the update will turn black. Once the selected updates have all turned to black, installation is complete. 41

42 Installing Updates on Non-Networked Computers If you have multiple stand-alone computers that do not have access to the internet and are not on the TaxSlayer Pro network, you will need to copy the updates to a flash drive from your transmitting computer and then transfer them over to your workstation computer(s). Step 1 Download and install the updates on the transmitting computer. Step 2 From the main menu of TaxSlayer Pro select Updates. Select Backup / Recall Updates to Drive. Select Backup Updates to Drive and select the drive associated with your flash drive. Step 3 A list of updates will appear on your screen. Select the updates you want to back up and then select OK. Step 4 Once the update is copied to the flash drive, take the flash drive to the workstation computer and select Updates from the TaxSlayer Pro Main Menu. Step 5 Insert the flash drive into your computer and select Backup / Recall Updates to Drive. Step 6 Select Recall Updates from Drive and select the drive letter associated with the flash drive. The updates that are stored on the flash drive will appear in the list. Select the updates you want to recall onto your workstation and select OK. Step 7 From the Internet Update Utility Main Menu, select Download/ Install Updates. The updates that you recalled will be blue. Select the updates to install and select the Install button. The Install Shield Wizard will begin to install each update automatically. When an update is installed, the name of the update will turn black. Once the selected updates have all turned to black, installation is complete. 42

43 Thank you for purchasing TaxSlayer Pro! If you need further assistance in setting up TaxSlayer Pro or you have additional questions, check out our Online Knowledge Base at /kb. 43