Holiday Schedule
We wish all of our customers a very special holiday season. In observance of the holiday season ProSeries Customer Service and Support will follow the closing schedule below (Hours are Pacific Time):

• Wednesday, December 24, 2008 - Closing at 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday & Friday, December 25 & 26, 2008 - Closed (Reopening at 6:00 a.m. on December 29, 2008.)
• Wednesday, December 31, 2008 - Closing at 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, January 1, 2009 - Closed (Reopening at 6:00 a.m. on January 2, 2009.)

Reminder, answers to many of your support questions may be found 24/7 on our ProSeries Support web site. You can browse Quick Answers, search the Knowledge Base, select Topics and visit the Live Community.

New for tax year 2008, the Live Community is built right into the product. Quickly share and exchange ideas with tax professionals, and get fast answers to your questions from fellow ProSeries users. Visit the Live Community today!

ProSeries/1041, 1065, 1120 and 1120S Now Available Online
The ProSeries/1041, 1065, 1120 and 1120S downloads for tax year 2008 are now available online.

If you have already installed the ProSeries Headstart program for tax year 2008, go to the Update menu and choose Select and Download New Products. Verify that the federal business products you want to download are selected, click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you have not installed a tax year 2008 program, login to My ProSeries, choose Download Products and follow the on-screen instructions to manually download the federal business products you have ordered. View KB Article

TIP: Adding a Privacy Statement to the Client Letter
A prewritten privacy statement is included in the ProSeries/1040, 1041, 1065, 1120 and 1120S programs. This privacy statement can easily be inserted into to the client letter. View KB Article

ProSeries

After Installing ProSeries Tax Forms are Blank
After installing the 2008 ProSeries program, if the tax forms are blank or fonts are missing please reboot your computer. After restarting your computer, open the ProSeries program and verify the fonts now appear on the tax forms and worksheets. View KB Article

To view more General topics visit Online Support.

• Plan Now to Get Full Benefit of Saver’s Credit; Tax Break Helps Low- and Moderate-Income Workers Save for Retirement
  On December 1, 2008, the IRS issued News Release IR-2008-134, announcing that low- and moderate-income workers can take steps now to save for retirement and earn a special tax credit in 2008 and the years ahead. For more information, please visit the IRS Web site.
  
  
• New Law Encourages Cash Donations for Midwest Disaster Relief
  On November 25, 2008, the IRS issued News Release IR-2008-133, regarding taxpayers who make qualifying cash contributions for disaster relief efforts in the Midwest could benefit from a recently passed law that suspends the percentage-of-income limits that would normally apply when taxpayers deduct the contributions on their 2008 federal tax returns. For more information, please visit the IRS Web site.
  
  
• IRS Announces 2009 Standard Mileage Rates
  On November 24, 2008, the IRS issued News Release IR-2008-131, announcing the 2009 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. For more information, please visit the IRS Web site.

To view more Federal Tax topics visit Online Support.

Electronic Filing Identification Number
All ProSeries users must have an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) to e-file tax returns. To receive an EFIN, you must register with the IRS by completing Form 8633, Application to Participate in the IRS e-file Program, at least 45 days before you want to start e-filing returns. If you do not have an EFIN, you can register online using e-services on the IRS Web site.

If you already have an EFIN, your Form 8633 should include all types of tax returns you will be e-filing. You can revise your application on the IRS Web site.

ProSeries/1040 and ProSeries Basic/1040

Intuit Electronic Filing Center - Individual Returns
The Intuit Electronic Filing Center will begin accepting electronically filed tax year 2008 individual returns at 9 p.m. (PT) on January 15, 2009.

ProSeries/Bank Products Software

Offering Bank Products
If you wish to offer bank products to your clients for the upcoming 2009 tax season (2008 tax returns), you must first enroll with either Santa Barbara Bank & Trust (SBBT) or Refund Advantage. You can only enroll with one bank.
• SBBT - To enroll with SBBT, login to My ProSeries, click SBBT Enrollment Form and follow the on-screen instructions. It is important that you enroll before the appropriate SBBT Registration Deadline.
• Refund Advantage - To enroll with Refund Advantage, visit the Refund Advantage web site, click Sign Up Now and follow the on-screen instructions.

To view more Federal E-File and Bank Products Software topics visit Online Support or EF Atlas.

E-Filing Additional State Business Returns and Extensions
New for tax year 2008, you can use your ProSeries software to electronically file the following types of state business returns and extensions:

• Florida Corporation returns and extensions
• New York Partnership returns and extensions
• South Carolina Corporation and S Corporation returns

To view more State Tax and State E-File topics visit Online Support or EF Atlas.