1. Navigation, Tips, Tricks, and Challenges
TaxSlayer
Navigation, Tips, Tricks, and Challenges

2. What’s Up with TaxSlayer?
Practice Lab 2016 launched in early November
Lots of issues
Production software links sent out in late November
Doesn’t have all the templates (security, tags, etc.) that was in the user guide
National compiling list of problems with the software which will (hopefully) be corrected before Feb 1, 2017
Practice Lab 2016 can be used to complete the certification test, but there have been some issues
May be corrected at any time
New issues may pop up

3. Key to Training Success
Introduce TaxSlayer to returning volunteers in a way so that they embrace it as a welcome upgrade, not as something that was imposed upon them by Washington

4. Taxwise has had 10 years of feedback from the IRS and AARP.
TaxSlayer vs. Taxwise
The same, but different
...sometimes VERY different…
but most of the time not.
Taxwise has had 10 years of feedback from the IRS and AARP.
TaxSlayer has not.

5. Greatest Challenge to TaxSlayer?
Flexibility
TaxSlayer is much, much more flexible than Taxwise
Can make it confusing the first time you use it
Having used it, what do you think?

6. First Impressions are Critical How to Handle Returning Volunteers
How volunteers are first introduced to TaxSlayer can make training easy or a nightmare
How should you handle your volunteers’ first time: on their own or in a classroom?
TaxSlayer looks and acts differently than Taxwise
Show volunteers the 85% that is similar, and then go into the differences
For most returning volunteers the transition should not be a major problem...It should be much easier than it was going from paper to computers

7. TaxSlayer Advantages Compared to Taxwise
No override (F3) – some think this is a problem
No scratch pads – some think this is a problem
Main page style forces Counselor to slow down and ask questions
Telephone numbers must be input
Mini-diagnostic on each page
EIC issues easier to look at and correct
Health care looks to be easier to navigate and less confusing
Education credits easier to compare (front page vs. back page)
Form 1099-MISC less likely to be done incorrectly
Foreign tax credit more likely to be done correctly
Notes capability is helpful to make sure information is passed along from Counselor to Counselor/Reviewer

8. Aspects to Emphasize Potential to need Extra Training
IRA early distribution exceptions
Form 1099-R (simplified method and public safety deduction)
Schedule K-1 (located in other income...Line 21)
Form 1099-MISC must be input first
Itemized deductions (similar to Taxwise, but not especially user friendly)
First-time homebuyers credit (half credit to each spouse)
EIC (for tax professionals; we do less, and that means training)
IRS PIN numbers
The “two stage” diagnostic to finalize returns for QR
Best way to do quality reviews
Amended returns (can go back three years)

9. TaxSlayer Challenges
Biggest challenge: Getting comfortable with TaxSlayer
Navigate is the biggest user difference
Practice, practice, practice
Each site – even within a district – have “typical” returns that they complete all year long
Suggest creating a return for training based on the “typical” return that volunteers will see during the year
Before the first day of training you must know what, if any, software issues will affect your “typical” return
Have a work around plan
May mean doing a “practice” return on your production software

10. Six Ways to Enter Taxpayer Data
Default view
“Guide Me” Basically the TurboTax interview mode
Enter myself
Takes you to tax return subsets: income, deductions, other taxes, payments and estimates and miscellaneous forms
Master profile
User-defined form trees
Quick file
Located in dropdown under taxpayer’s name; basically make your own master file
Enter the tax form you are looking for directly into TaxSlayer
Form 1040 line-by-line selection: click on tax line and it takes you to the forms

11. Items to Show or Discuss
1099-Misc
1099-R
Sch A
Sch D
EIC
Health Care (ACA)
Diagnostic (efile)
Bank Info
“Notes”

12. Change is a Good Thing We all love new things, we just hate change
But change happens every day whether we want it to happen or not, and we survive
People fear the unknown and not change in particular
Take away the unknown and suddenly change is something we look forward to

13. Questions ?