TaxSlayer Pro Online

Setting up Security Templates Topics include Listing pre-defined security templates Determining which security template to use based on allowed actions Creating new security templates Edit an existing security template Assigning security templates LOGGED IN WITH THE INSTRUCTOR LOGIN We are going to cover the pre-defined security templates that will be available with TaxSlayer 2016, determine which template should be used based on their allowed actions, create and edit security templates and assign security templates Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Predefined Security Templates LOGGED IN WITH THE INSTRUCTOR LOGIN TaxSlayer 2016 will be delivered with a set of pre-defined security templates. You will not be able to modify the templates, but you will be able to create an unlimited number of additional security templates. Administrator – Can do everything but create a return SuperUser – Can do everything the administrator can do except delete returns and manage users. They can start a new return Return Preparer – Create new returns, mark them for e-file, mark them for review, print returns Interviewer – This is a return preparer that has a flag set to force them to use the Guide Me feature Reviewer – Has the ability to review returns marked as review and either approve or deny them E=file manager – has the ability to submit e-files

Creating Security Templates LOGGED IN WITH THE INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click Select on the Configuration line to display the configuration menu landing page Click Select on the Security Templates lines

Adding a Security Template LOGGED IN WITH THE INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click Add Enter the name of the Security Template You will notice that everything defaults to True. I can go through the list and remove the checks from what I don’t want anyone assigned this template to have access to. For this example I am going to clear everything and then select Create Tax Returns, View/Edit existing returns, Access current year client list, and print returns. Click Continue to return to the Security Template summary page Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Editing Security Templates LOGGED IN WITH THE INSTRUCTOR LOGIN If you forgot to add something or want to take something away, click Edit next to the template. Make the changes and click Continue to return to the Security Template summary page Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Assigning Security Templates LOGGED IN WITH THE INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Normally you will assign the security template to the User/Preparer as you are creating them. However, there are times that you need to add a new security manager after you have created your users. Click Assign Select the User(s) to assign this template Click Continue Click Back If the user already has a security template assigned to it, this new assignment will override the existing template assignment. Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Adding Preparers Topics include Creating a user/preparer Assigning security template Controlling return access Listing password requirements LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Now that we have reviewed and setup any additional security templates, we are going to add our preparers (aka users) We are going to go over Creating a user/preparer, Assigning security templates, controlling the return a user can view and edit, and understanding password requirements Instructors Note: If you are teaching from PPT, this slide is animated

Preparer Setup LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click Select on the Configuration Line Click Select on the Preparer Setup Line

Adding Preparers/Users LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click Add You are going to leave the social security number blank Now we are going to enter the preparer first name and last name Instructors Note: If you are teaching from PPT, this slide is animated

Return Access LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click the Pull from office link to automatically populate the SIDN that was imported from the orders The PIN defaults to 98765 Do not select Office Contact or self-employed If you want the preparer to view only their returns select the Can View own returns only. If you want the preparer to use the Guide Me Interview feature once the complete the personal information and any established Profile, select Required to Use Guide? If you are preparing NY returns, click the option and select Volunteer Tax Preparer from the drop down list Instructors Note: If you are teaching from PPT, this slide is animated

Login Account LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Reminder: User names are unique across the platform Enter an email address (you can have multiple users associated with an email address. If a recovery email is requested and sent it goes to this email address) Create a username Create a password (best practice would be to make it the same as the username because they will be required to change it) Caution: If the username is all letters, you will need to add a number to the password and the password must be a minimum of 6 characters Instructor Note: The must reset password on first login is going away, it will always be set to true and should not have the ability to be changed Select a Security Question and Answer (This needs to be given to the user when you give them their username, password and security code) The preparer defaults to Active. This is where you will come back and remove the check box if the user needs to be deactivated Instructors Note: If you are teaching from PPT, this slide is animated

Adding a Security Template LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN If you need to review the permission for a security template, click Show Definitions Click the Please Select Dropdown and select the appropriate Security Template Click Continue.. If you need to reset the users password, you will come back to this page and click Change Password Instructors Note: If you are teaching from PPT, this slide is animated

Working with Custom Questions Topics include Configuring custom questions and answers LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Now we are going to go over entering customer questions and answers (formerly known as prep Use Fields) The site can enter an unlimited number of questions. The sites will have 3 pre-set questions with corresponding answers that cannot be modified or deleted at the site level. The site administrator has the ability to create an unlimited number of questions and corresponding answers that fits the sites needs

Selecting Question Templates LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click Select on Configuration Click question Template from the Configuration menu landing page Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Adding a Question LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click Add Notice that you can see the questions that are already assigned to your site. Type the question (up to 75 characters). A best practice would be if you are going to make this a required question, you start with REQUIRED to make it more noticeable to the preparer

Adding Answers LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN . If you mark a question as Required, an e-file cannot be created until the question is answered. Click Add and enter an Answer (up to 20 characters) You can add up to 25 answers per question Click Save

Adding Additional Questions LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click Add to enter additional questions You can also edit or delete questions from this page. If you need to change an answer, you can edit the question and then edit the answer bank Click Save when you are finished Click Back to return to the configuration mene

Managing Returns Topics include Setting up return tags Filtering returns by tags Deleting returns Restoring returns Adding taxpayer notes Adding messages LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Now we are going to talk about ways to manage the returns being prepared at the site You will be able to create return tags (formerly return stages) and filter returns by the tag. We will discuss deleting the return and then quickly explain that it cannot be restored. We will talk about adding taxpayer notes and having the ability to electronically communicate to the preparers that at your site through the program’s message center. Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Setting up Return Tags LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Return tags can be used to help manage the different stages of the returns prepared at your site. Click Select on the Configuration line Click Select on the Tags line Type a tag name and click Add Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Adding Additional Tags LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN I can repeat these steps and add as many tags as I need to help manage the returns Select Save Changes when you have finished adding tags click Save Changes Click Back to return to the Configuration landing page

Adding Tags to a return LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Instructor Notes: If you have a return already completed prior to the training class, you can click the tag on the Client List and show them how to select a tag for the return. There are two ways to add a tag to the return. If you are in the return, you will add the tag in the e-file section If you are not in the return, you can click the tag on the appropriate taxpayer in the list and add the tag

Filtering Return Using Return Tags LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Now that I have added a tag to a return, I can filter my returns by Return Tag Click on the Filter by Return Tag drop down and select the tag you want to filter on The client list now displays only the returns with the return tag you chose as a filter Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Deactivating/Deleting Returns LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Sometimes you need to delete a return, maybe they came in, didn’t like their refund amount, took their documents and left. The right to delete a return is assigned via a Security Template. If you have the appropriate rights, you can click the Tools drop down and select Deactivate

Good-bye Mr. Taxpayer LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN You will be prompted to confirm that you want to delete this return Select Yes or No and click Continue. I am going to click Yes Notice that the return now shows a status of deleted Once a return is deleted, it is gone. Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Adding a Taxpayer Notes inside the Return LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN There are two ways to add a taxpayer note. If you are inside of the return, select the tools drop down list (next to the taxpayers name) and Click Notes Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Adding Taxpayer Notes from the Client List LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Or you can add a note from the client list by clicking on the notepad Click the Notepad Enter a title and description and click Save

Adding Taxpayer Notes LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Instructor Note: You can open your created return and show them how to navigate to the notes. The notes inside the return are color coded. You add a title and then add the content of the note and click Save You can have multiple notes per taxpayer The notes will carry over to next year’s return Any notes in the return will display during the e-file process so they can be reviewed to make sure the return is ready to be completed Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Sending Messages LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN You can communicate with the preparers at your site in the software. Click Message Center from the Welcome page Review any messages you may have…TaxSlayer will have the ability to post messages to everyone as well. Click Create Message

Selecting Recipients LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Select from the list of preparers setup at your site. You can send it to all or to a specific preparer and click OK Once you have selected the recipients, you can enter your message.. You are limited to 500 characters. When you are finished, click Send. The next time the preparer logs in, they can see the Message. Click Main Menu to return to the Welcome page

Contingency Procedures Topics include Description of TaxSlayer Pro Online contingency plan Downloading TaxSlayer Pro’s desktop application LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN TaxSlayer makes a contingency procedure available in the rare event that the web site becomes unavailable. If that happens, you can use TaxSlayer Pro’s desktop application to prepare and e-file returns. Any returns created in the desktop application will live their life in desktop from creation to acceptance Download the desktop application in advance so that your site does not have any downtime. Do not install TaxSlayer Pro on a network as a contingency plan. Instead, install on a standalone computer with an internet connection.. We recommend you do this prior to the season starting.

Contingency Procedures LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN Click on the Contingency Software link on the left navigation pan TaxSlayer downloads the setup file Click the setup.msi file and follow the on-screen instructions Instructor Note: If you are teaching in PPT, this slide is animated

Contingency Procedures LOGGED IN WITH INSTRUCTOR LOGIN We are going to cover setting up the desktop program at the end of the training session. You will use this information to make sure that you have everything setup prior to needing it with the goal of “not needing it” When TaxSlayer Pro Online is available again, use it to prepare new returns and complete any returns you started previously in TaxSlayer Pro Online. You will not transfer the returns to TaxSlayer Pro Online TaxSlayer Pro Online 2017 will use the transmitted return data for 2016 to 2017 carry forward

TaxSlayer Pro Online Q&A