Reminder- Please Complete Your OIR

We are excited to announce that we have opened Office Information Requests (OIR) for tax year 2020. Each year, we collect information about your office to service your more effectively.  We use this information to set up your account properly, so it is imperative that you complete the OIR annually and in a timely manner.

In order to complete the OIR, please login to the Refunds Today website and verify or update your information by 11/30/2020.   This process should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.  This update must be completed before we release the software to you or ship marketing materials.

New for this year:

Once you have completed the OIR you will receive an email with instructions on how to enroll for bank products.  We have launched a new bank enrollment portal to streamline our bank application process. 

Access the Refunds Today Site:

1.       1. Go to the Refunds Today site

2.       2. Type your username and password in the login section

If you have forgotten your password, follow the instructions after clicking on “Forgot Password”

Your username is your office number (office number) and if you are a new customer your password is your zip code.

Important reminder: Each office must have a valid IRS EFIN.  If you have not already applied for an EFIN, please contact your account manager. 

California e-file Business Rule Rejection S0000-095 Issue on 11/13/2020

 The State of California, Franchise Tax Board’s e-file program experienced an issue on Friday, November 13, 2020 after 1:30 PM PT that caused tax returns to be rejected by business rule S0000-095. The issue has been corrected as of 4:35 PM PT that day.

 

Business Rule S0000-095:

Our records indicate that you are not authorized to submit a tax return of a type and for a tax year specified in the Submission Manifest [CA-SubmissionManifest].
 

If you have any outstanding submissions that were previously rejected that day based on business rule S0000-095 and have not been re-submitted and accepted, please re-transmit the return. 

RESOLVED Refunds Today Phone Issue

Some customers may experience a busy signal when dialing into the Refunds Today support line. Our team is working with our partner telephone carriers to restore the lines as quickly as possible. Customers can alternately reach support by dialing directly at 877-220-0193.

Issue Resolved

IRS: Quick Alerts Modernized e-File (MeF) System Extended Maintenance Window

 

The MeF Production system will be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance from 7:00 a.m. Eastern time, October 17, 2020 through 7:00 a.m. Eastern time, October 18, 2020.

Please refrain from transmitting to the MeF Production system during this maintenance.

Please monitor the MeF Operational Status page  for any future updates.

Update from State of Maryland on Depository Bank change

  If you are a Maryland business clients who set up a direct debit to make a payment as part of a Corporate Tax filing (500 w/$, 500D w/$, 500E w/$) or Pass-Through Entity Tax filing (510 w/$, 510D w/$, 510E w/$).  Please review notice from MD below:

The State of Maryland has changed depository bank to Wells Fargo Bank. If you have a debit block service enabled to protect your bank account(s), you will need to contact Maryland Taxpayer Services to obtain the new Company (Originator) ID before scheduling a direct debit payment with the Comptroller of Maryland. Contact via email at taxhelp@marylandtaxes.gov or by calling 410-260-7980 from Central Maryland, or 1-800-MD-TAXES (1-800-638-2937) from elsewhere. If you are contacting Maryland via email, please include your name, address and the last four digits of your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) in your e-mail message. This will help generate a quick response to your inquiry.

E-filing Now Available for 2019 Amended Returns (1040X)

 

We released a Desktop forms update that enables e-filing for 2019 1040X returns. Please note that e-filing is only available on 2019 amended individual returns — you cannot e-file prior year 1040X returns.  

IRS announces 2021 PTIN fees for tax return preparers

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today the annual fee for 2021 that tax return preparers must pay to apply for or renew their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
In final regulations issued today, the IRS set a $21 fee per PTIN application or renewal (plus a $14.95 fee payable to a contractor).
Anyone who prepares or substantially helps prepare any federal tax return or claim for refund for compensation must have a valid PTIN from the IRS. The PTIN must be used as the identifying number on returns prepared. Failure to have and use a valid PTIN may result in penalties. The IRS estimates that more than 800,000 tax return preparers will apply for or renew a PTIN this year.
The annual renewal of PTINs ensures the IRS has up-to-date identifying information about each return preparer, which is essential for timely communication of important information. The program helps protect both return preparers and taxpayers and prevent the unauthorized use of PTINs. 
The IRS is required to conduct a biennial review of the PTIN user fee. The agency determined that the full cost to administer the PTIN program going forward is $21 per application or renewal. This amount includes costs relating to PTIN misuse and maintaining the integrity of PTINs. The third-party contractor fee, $14.95, pays for several functions including processing applications, renewals and operating a call center.
PTINs expire on Dec. 31 of the year for which they are issued. PTINs generally can be renewed beginning in mid-October and are valid for the following calendar year. A tax return preparer can renew online at www.irs.gov/ptin by logging into the preparer’s PTIN account or by submitting a paper Form W-12 with the “Renewal” box checked.