Completing the electronic filing process

After you receive acknowledgments from the IRS and state taxing authorities, resolve any problems in your clients’ rejected returns (if possible) as explained in "Resolving problems with rejected returns", then complete the filing process for accepted returns.

Completing the filing process

After the IRS or state taxing authority has accepted a return, take these steps to complete the filing process:

Not using Self-Select PINs. If you and your client are not using Self-Select PINs, attach any required paper documents to Form 8453, U.S. Individual Income Tax Declaration for an IRS e-file Return. Do this for each return that has been accepted, then continue with step 2.


Tip:	The Preparing Form 8453 section of the Electronic Filing Information Worksheet identifies the paper documents to attach to the client’s Form 8453.

Using Self-Select PINs. If you and your client are using Self-Select PINs, you don’t need to mail Form 8453 to the IRS. However, you may need to mail state electronic filing paperwork to the appropriate state service center. Go to step 3.


Tip:	To determine if a client’s return was filed with Self-Select PINs, go to the EF Center and scroll across to the PIN column. If the return was transmitted with a PIN, you’ll see a “Y” in the PIN column. If the return was transmitted without a PIN, you’ll see a “N” in the PIN column.

Mail the completed Form 8453 to the appropriate IRS service center (within the time period required by the appropriate taxing authority) after you’ve been informed the return was accepted.


Tip:	Form 8453 mailing address. The Mailing Form 8453 section of the Electronic Filing Information Worksheet shows the Form 8453 mailing address.

State forms. If the state tax authority requires a Declaration of Electronic Filing signature form similar to the federal Form 8453, open the client’s state return, then select the state Declaration of Electronic Filing signature form from the Forms Bar.

For more information while the state electronic filing signature form is on the screen, go to the Help Center and select Tax Help.

While the state electronic filing signature form is on the screen, go to the File menu, point to Print, choose Print Selected Forms, select the form, then click Print.

Review the form and the return with your client.

Mail the completed state electronic filing paperwork to the appropriate state service center (within the time period required by the appropriate taxing authority) after you’ve been informed the return was accepted.

Print and give your client the federal Form 9325 Worksheet, Acknowledgment and General Information for Taxpayers Who File Returns Electronically.


Tip:	IRS refund cycle. For information about the IRS refund cycle, see "IRS e-file 2003 Refund Cycle Chart", or go to www.proseries.com, select E-Filing, select How to E-File, then select IRS Refund Cycle from the E-Filing Information area.

Balance due. If you filed a balance-due return and your client did not elect to pay with a Discover Card or to have their bank account directly debited, print Form 1040-V, Balance Due Payment Voucher, and give it your client.

Federal taxes. If your client owes federal taxes, he or she must mail Form 1040-V and the payment to the IRS no later than April 15, 2003.

State taxes. If your client owes state taxes, complete the state tax payment voucher at the same time.

Resolving problems with rejected returns

Tip:	To review common reject reasons, troubleshooting information, and frequently-asked questions, see "Troubleshooting suggestions", or click the View Frequently Asked EF Questions button in the Steps to E-File section of the HomeBase EF Center.

If a return is rejected by the IRS or state taxing authority, that status appears in the Electronic Filing Transmission log and the Status column in the HomeBase EF Center.

In the Electronic Filing Transmission log, click View Acks to view the reject reasons for any returns.

To view a detailed description of the rejection and instructions for solving the problem, create a Rejected Returns report.

For more information, see "Preparing and printing electronic filing reports".

Fix the errors in each return.

Make sure that each corrected return passes Final Review.

Convert and retransmit the corrected returns.

For more information, see "Converting and transmitting returns".

Correcting SSN errors

If a return is rejected because the taxpayer’s social security number isn’t correct, print the Intuit Electronic Postmark Report before correcting the social security number and resubmitting the return. This provides the original date and time of filing.

When you resubmit the return after correcting the social security number, the resubmitted return is treated as a new return. This is because the IRS treats different social security numbers as unique filings and the taxpayer’s social security number is different from the social security number that was originally used. Therefore, a new date and time will appear as the original submission on the Intuit Electronic Postmark Report (the resubmitted date and time, not the date and time of the original transmission).

What you can do after transmitting a return or extension

Important:	Rejected state returns. If you’ve filed a client’s federal and state returns together and the federal return is accepted but the state return is rejected, with ProSeries you can’t electronically re-file the state return unless it is a California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, or New York return. If the return is for any other state, you must file a printed copy of the return with the state taxing authority.

When you transmit returns or extensions, the ProSeries program displays the Electronic Filing Transmission dialog box shown next to remind you what you can and can’t do after you transmit a return or extension.

The Electronic Filing Transmission dialog box that’s shown above explains the following situations:


If this is the situation...	Do this...
You’ve transmitted a return to the Intuit Electronic Filing Center.	Wait for an acknowledgment that the return has been accepted or rejected by the IRS or state taxing agency. (You can’t recall the return.)
A return has been accepted by the IRS or state taxing agency.	If you used Self-Select PINs, you don’t have to do anything. If you didn’t use Self-Select PINs, prepare the appropriate follow-up electronic filing paperwork, then mail that paperwork to the IRS or state taxing agency within the required time. (See "Completing the electronic filing process".)
A return has been accepted by the IRS or state taxing agency, but you need to make a correction.	Prepare an amended return, then mail a paper copy of the amended return to the IRS or state taxing agency.
A return has been rejected by the IRS or state taxing agency.	Correct the return, then refile it with the IRS or state taxing agency electronically or by mail. ("Troubleshooting suggestions".)
You’ve transmitted an extension to the Intuit Electronic Filing Center.	Wait for an acknowledgment that the extension has been accepted or rejected by the IRS. (You can’t recall the extension.)
An extension has been accepted by the IRS.	Complete the return, then file it with the IRS electronically or by mail before the extended filing deadline.
An extension has been rejected by the IRS.	Correct the extension, then refile it with the IRS electronically or by mail. Alternatively, complete the return, then file it with the IRS electronically or by mail before the filing deadline. ("Troubleshooting suggestions".)