1. TaxSlayer® Pro Online Practice Lab
An Introduction
CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

2. 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:
Create a desktop icon for this link
When you first enter the url, it will show as expanded as follows:
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

3. TaxSlayer Practice Lab Log-in Video
Can provide to counselors as Practice Lab starting point
Url:
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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 address:
This is not a real 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

7. 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

8. 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 ( 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

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

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

18. 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

19. 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

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

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

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

23. 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

24. Sample Profiles (1)
CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

25. Sample Profiles (2)
CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

26. 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

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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

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

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

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

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

36. 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

37. 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

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

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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. Navigating TaxSlayer
CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

44. 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

45. “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

46. Let’s prepare some returns!
CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

47. 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

48. E-File Program defaults to direct deposit CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

49. 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

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

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

52. 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

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

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

55. E-File Submission
CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic
CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic

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

57. TaxSlayer/Training Questions… Comments… CA2 TaxSlayer Clinic