QUALITY REVIEW OPTIONS USING TAXSLAYER

Background: This tool is meant to be used as a reference for options on how to conduct Quality Review (QR) using TaxSlayer. You may find that you like a hybrid of the options provided. To discuss QR options further, contact your SPEC Relationship Manager or Site Coordinator.

1. Quick File – Based on the information entered in TaxSlayer, you can review tax documentation sequentially. You can edit/update any information needed to complete an accurate tax return. If additional income, adjustments, deductions or credits need to be added to the tax return, you can still add when using this feature.

2. Summary View or 1040 View – For volunteers who like to see Form 1040 while conducting QR, this option is for you. Tax data entered in the software can be reviewed by clicking on dollar amounts. For example, if a taxpayer has W-2 income, the volunteer will hover the mouse over the dollar amount on Line 7, click on the amount, and the software will direct you to Form W-2.

3. Preview Return – This option might be best for basic tax returns. The tax return, including worksheets and schedules, is available to electronically review within the software and is in Adobe PDF. To make changes, you’ll need to close out of Preview Return and go to the appropriate section of the tax return to make a change.

4. Click through the whole tax return – This option is just like it sounds. QR would click through each page of the return to review tax information. For example, QR must separately click on and review tax data within Basic Information, Income, Deductions, Other Taxes, Payments & Estimates, and other screens to review data entries.

Other Quality Review processes may work better for you. This tool is not a one-size fits all. Volunteers are different and comfort level is different. Choose a QR process that works for you.

Step-by-Step Instructions are provided for each option.

QUICK FILE

1. Open tax return and view 1040 page 1 & 2 to see what data is on the tax return and gain basic understanding of the tax return.

2. Go to Basic information to review personal information and dependents. Review and make changes, if necessary, by clicking edit.

3. Click on Quick File

4. Add tax forms you want to Quality Review to the queue. Click continue.

5. One by one you’ll be directed to each form you added to the queue. Click edit, review, and

make changes, if needed. Click continue. Review all the tax forms you put in the queue.

6. Once completed, you’ll reach this page. Continue as needed to add more data or review health insurance.

7. Click E-file and continue quality review to the submission page.

SUMMARY VIEW/1040 VIEW

1. Follow steps 1 & 2 of Quick File. 2. To review data entered, click on dollar amount within Form 1040. Once clicked, the software

will direct you to the tax form.

3. Click on Health Insurance and review, if necessary. For example, if taxpayer had MEC all year, it may not be necessary for you to review Health Insurance in its entirety. You can review Line 61 on Form 1040 to ensure the full-year coverage box is checked.

4. Click E-file and continue quality review to the submission page.

PREVIEW RETURN

1. To preview the tax return in Adobe PDF to conduct a quality review, click on Preview Review then Print Your 2015 Tax Return.

2. Quality Review the tax return via Adobe PDF. Forms and schedules are included.

3. To make changes, you’ll have to exit the Adobe PDF and use the software to make edits. Click on the appropriate header and edit, or type in the appropriate tax form into search box.

4. Click on Health Insurance and review, if necessary. For example, if taxpayer had MEC all year, it may not be necessary for you to review Health Insurance in its entirety. You can review Line 61 on Form 1040 to ensure the full-year coverage box is checked.

5. Click E-file and continue quality review to the submission page.

CLICK THROUGH THE WHOLE TAX RETURN

1. This option is just like it sounds. Click through each page of the return to quality review tax information. QR must separately click on and review tax data within Basic Information, Income, Deductions, Other Taxes, Payments & Estimates, and other screens to review data entries. For example, click on Basic information, click edit, review tax information and make any changes necessary.

2. Click on Health Insurance and review, if necessary. For example, if taxpayer had MEC all year, it may not be necessary for you to review Health Insurance in its entirety. You can review Line 61 on Form 1040 to ensure the full-year coverage box is checked.

3. Click E-file and continue quality review to the submission page.