TaxSlayer® Pro Online Practice Lab An Introduction CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

TaxSlayer Pro Online Practice Lab Software Use Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher, Google Chrome or Safari Browser 5.1. Firefox not recommended. For 2015 Practice Lab: https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining Create a desktop icon for this link When you first enter the url, it will show as expanded as follows: https://vita.Taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining/en/account/access. TaxSlayer does not recommend using Firefox due to its weak firewalls that can be easily compromised. However, we have received reports that Firefox works as well as Edge, the browser for windows 10. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

TaxSlayer Practice Lab Log-in Video Can provide to counselors as Practice Lab starting point Url: http://bit.ly/1ZcELb1 8 minutes long Click on “Attachments” to open or to download TaxSlayer User Guide for this topic REFER TO PRACTICE LAB INTRO DOCUMENT ON OSHC. CONTAINS URL SHOWN ABOVE CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Log in – First Time Enter e-mail address twice Create a user name Be sure it doesn’t conflict with a potential Production name In Production, User Names must be unique across the entire TaxSlayer platform Create a PW – alphanumeric with at least 6 characters (use only letters and numbers) Enter PW twice CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Managing Training Accounts ASSUMPTION – Instructors will want to look at returns prepared by students. All training will be done using Practice Lab, where each User is a “Site” No other Users can see returns Instructors must log in as the same user to see returns CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic 5

A “Solution” to seeing Students’ exercise returns Assign User Names to Students Simple, unique format, e.g. ALANOnnn (nnn = 000 to 999) “ALANO” will differ by district Tell students to use the following e-mail address: ALANOnnn@PL15test.com This is not a real e-mail address, so can’t be used for password recovery Tell students what password to use: e.g. ALANORTH Security Question: Pick your own question, but ask each student to use the same answer CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Further Guidance on Assigning Practice Lab Accounts Visit: One Support Help Center>>Tax Training>>TaxSlayer Download the document: “Practice Lab Accounts for Training” CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Practice Lab – Home Page Takes you to practice area Select a training video Note: Section 1: Getting started with TaxSlayer Pro Online. The Pro Online Login and Passwords video provides you with information about how to long into the production version of TaxSlayer Pro, not the practice lab. To access a video that covers logging into the PL use the url (http://bit.ly/1ZcELb1) found at the bottom of the TaxSlayer Practice Lab Intro document on OSHC. Section 2 contains video that will be used by the LC in setting up the site. Section 3 contains videos for the desktop version of TaxSlayer. We will NOT be using desktop as a contingency. Section 1 Production Log in Section 2 For LC’s mostly Section 3 For Desktop Version which we do not use CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Practice Lab – Home Page (Continued) Section 4 contains videos that cover how to prepare a return and are helpful. Be careful when using the videos as they do contain information that does not match with the current practice lab. For example, the Creating the e-file video found in Section 5 contains information about form 8888 which has not been activated in the practice lab. Section 5 covers e-filing and some can be used for PL. Since you cannot submit an e-file in PL, the last 2 videos in this section do not apply to PL. Section 6 contains practice returns. Section 4 Videos … view as many as possible Section 5 E Filing…OK but refers to Form 8888 which has not been activated Section 6..Practice Problems CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Practice Lab – Welcome Page You will arrive at this welcome page if you select “Go to Practice Area” instead of selecting a video Ignore “Your Office”. Will not be activated in the practice lab platform E-file opt out form may be deleted as it does not apply to volunteers Message Center feature is designed to help the site or local coordinator pass on information to preparers at the site. Also used by TaxSlayer will to provide information regarding changes to the software. It is NOT to be used to submit questions to TaxSlayer. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Navigation Bars – Practice Lab vs Production Don’t bother! Will be moved to PL home page CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Navigation Bars – New Addition Both Practice Lab and Production Blog opens in new window Landing page is difficult to navigate, but Tabs across top are much easier, and in chronological order CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Search Screen Doesn’t look like this now, but expect it in 2016 software. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Search Screen (Continued) 10 choices for client status ranging from in progress to deleted . Status is assigned by the software. The preparer does not assign a status. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Search Screen (Continued) 4 choices for return tag. Preparer does assign tags. Can be assigned here or during the input process. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Search Screen (Continued) CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Search Screen (Continued) Clicking on Heading Sorts by that Column CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Search Screen (Continued) View or Add Notes You can add it note here or during input process. If you add a note, when you select e-file, it will give you a warning that you have a note. Does not prevent you from filing the return. It is just a reminder that you added the note. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Search Screen (Continued) Prints all forms. Prints only forms sent to IRS and state. The production platform will most likely contain more than two print choices. Allows you to print return without having to open the return. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Tools Only tool available in practice lab is Client Status CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Client Status (and history) Provides you with a history of what has been done with the return. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Start New Tax Return Screen Don’t click on “Start Return” yet! CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Available Taxpayer Profiles …OPTIONAL! After completing basic information will take you to income screen. After completing basic information will take you to W-2 input screen. No limit on number of profiles that can be created. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Sample Profiles (1) CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Sample Profiles (2) CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Custom Taxpayer Profiles Site Admin can create additional Taxpayer profiles when setting up site. No limit on number of profiles that can be created. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Now...after selecting Profile (or accepting default of No Profile) Click on Start Return CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Navigation/Input Rules All information is entered via input screen (nothing entered directly on forms) Use “Tab” key to move from field to field within input screen Do not enter leading zeros when entering dates of birth Select “Continue” to save information and move from one input screen to another If you enter information and do not click on continue you will get a warning at the top of the page. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Navigation Filing Status is 1st screen you must complete after entering SSN Filing Status Wizard is available but it is unreliable! Don’t use it. Personal Information screen must then be completed Dependent screen next (one screen for each dependent) Regardless of which input method you choose you must complete filing status screen first. STOP SLIDE SHOW HERE AND ASK FOR QUESTIONS. AFTER QUESTIONS HAVE EVERYONE OPEN GAIL HUDSON RETURN. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Left navigation bar Will take you to input screen for form Section you are in will be red Input screens for all forms except ACA ACA input screens Create state return Once you enter social for new return or select existing return, the screen will contain a new navigation bar. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Left navigation bar (Continued) 1040 view, summary and print Must complete health insurance and EITC to e-file Amend 2015 return Takes you to practice lab welcome screen CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Filing Status Screen Screen you are currently in will be red. Other screens will remain blue. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Personal Information Screen These questions may be a good way to teach or reinforce tax law CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Personal Information Screen (Continued) CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Dependent Information Screen These questions may be a good way to teach or reinforce tax law CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Additional Tools Select drop down window next to name Must complete filing status, personal & dependent information to activate tool bar CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Additional Tools (Continued) Logs you out to welcome page Access denied at this time Select Spanish Add notes to return CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Additional Tools (Continued) Currently user manual is out of date. Will be updated. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Quick File Tool Once you have completed Basic Information. Quick File CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Quick File Tool Stop at this point and demo Quick File using Felix Scott return. Add forms from W-2 to child care credit. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Quick File, Con’t. Can use this feature in conjunction with Profiles Select a profile and if that does not include all items Add a Quick File(s) CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Closing a Return Four ways to close a return: Select “Save and Exit Return” from left navigation bar, then Confirm Select “Save and Exit Return” from drop down window next to taxpayer’s name, then Confirm Select “Your Office” from drop down window. No confirmation needed After completing e-file, select “Save and Exit Return” button, then Confirm All four will take you to Welcome to Practice Lab screen. Will take you out of return but stay in the program. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Navigating TaxSlayer CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Many Ways to Navigate TaxSlayer (Are there too many?) Taxpayer Profile Quick File Guide Me Enter Myself Link from “1040 View” Link from “Summary View” Search Form Number Regardless of which input method you choose you must complete filing status screen first. STOP SLIDE SHOW HERE AND ASK FOR QUESTIONS. AFTER QUESTIONS HAVE EVERYONE OPEN GAIL HUDSON RETURN. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

“Learning” vs “Teaching” As we go through these exercises consider what works well for you THEN Consider what may work well for those with less (or zero) experience CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

Let’s prepare some returns! CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-file Warning If you have added notes you will get a warning here. Does not prevent you from filing return. ASK FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN STAY WITH SCOTT TO DEMO E-FILE PART OF RETURN CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File Program defaults to direct deposit CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File Federal Return Type Four choices for federal return type when return includes a refund: electronic mailed (no dd), direct deposit, paper return/dd and paper return no direct deposit CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File (Continued) LEAVE UPPER PART BLANK System creates both taxpayer’s PIN and ERO PIN. Enter client e-mail address here TS enters automatically but you can edit CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File (Continued) CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File (Continued) For production bank name will be included on screen but will not be a required entry as it is now. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File (Continued) Have option to Designate 3rd party CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File (Continued) If LC makes questions required cannot e-file return unless questions are answered. CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File Submission CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

E-File Submission (Continued) CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

TaxSlayer/Training Questions… Comments… CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic