The data collected from TaxSlayer is one of the primary tools for VITA/TCE programs to measure their success and evaluate trends from their filing season. The number and type of reports within TaxSlayer can be truly daunting. Therefore, as members of the Data Collection Working Group, we came up with the following list of six of the reports you should keep an eye on for this upcoming filing season and beyond. We utilized this list from TaxSlayer that shared the listing of fields within the reports. A key point to remember: a good report is a useful report that provides details from the tax returns or summary totals.

If you want to merge reports to compare over a series of data points, most reports have common fields that allow for merging via data processing formula such as VLOOKUP or SEARCH. The primary common fields are last name and the last four digits of the Social Security Number (SSN).

IRS Acknowledgement/Old IRS Acknowledgement

Description: The IRS Acknowledgement report presents the records since the last time the report was run. The Old IRS Acknowledgement report is a cumulative report.

This report displays all transmissions, including rejects. For example, if a return is has rejected twice and accepted the third time, there are three records. The reject code & the reject explanation is displayed.

Possible Application: Some programs mail letters or postcards to clients in Nov/Dec reminding them of the upcoming tax season.  The two most common rejects that can be avoided are:

• F8962-070 – failure to provide Form 1095-A
• IND180-01 series error codes – failure to provide Identity Protection PINs

A letter could be sent to the clients as a reminder whose returns rejected to look for these letters.

Validation Errors/Old Validation Errors

Description: This report lists the returns that were transmitted but, for some reason, didn’t get to the IRS.

If the e-filing process is operating as it should, there should be no records in this report.  Like the Old IRS Acknowledgement report, the Old Validation Errors report is a cumulative report.

Possible Application: A periodic check of this report helps to identify returns that have “fallen through the cracks”. I would suggest running this report monthly and just before due dates (i.e., April 15 and October 15).

Web Report – Site Production Detail Report – Electronic & Paper

Description: This report provides the most comprehensive details on the tax return for both paper and electronically filed returns. 

For this report to be accurate, the return should be marked “Complete” and the filing method should be marked with their associated medium: Electronic or Paper. This report can provide the most detailed look at your site operations on a periodic basis.

Web Report – Site Production State Detail Report

Description: This report lists the state tax liability, state EIC, withholding, refund/balance due. 

Possible Application: State refundable tax credits can be calculated with these figures. These local credits are as critical to the metropolitan area’s economy as federal tax credits, both refundable and non-refundable. 

Rejected Returns Report

Description: This report identifies unresolved rejected returns. 

Possible Application: Follow-up to identify status of resolving reject. If paper return, update the status to reflect PAPER return. 

Note: There currently are limitations that prevent a return from being removed from the list.  Example – reject code 194 – duplicate e-filed return

A Note on Group Reports

When you see the group reports, keep in mind that TaxSlayer Reports are grouped into categories:

• Financial Reports Group – these reports are not relevant to the VITA/TCE program

• Management Reports Group – most of these Web Reports are useful and applicable to the VITA/TCE program.