ALERT

ProSeries and ProSeries Basic Edition

Click-to-Call Feature

Skip to the head of the phone line! Introducing a new feature that allows you to skip to the head of the line when you search online for your answer first using our powerful new search engine. If you are unable to find your answer we'll provide you with a token that puts you at the front of the phone queue. Learn more

TIP: While in the ProSeries program if you can't find the answer to your question in the Live Community or Help Center, click Search Online Help in the Live Community panel to quickly go to the ProSeries Support Web site.

ProSeries/1040

Intuit Document eSort Now Available for ProSeries
For those interested in saving time this tax season, a free trial of Document eSort is now available in ProSeries. Document eSort automates the time-consuming step of sorting and organizing tax source documents securely. It is easy to use, and is completely integrated into the ProSeries tax program. Just click the Document eSort icon on your ProSeries toolbar to access the free trail. For more information, please visit our Accountant Web site.

ProSeries and ProSeries Basic Edition

Holiday Schedule
Reminder, 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.)

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.

To view more General topics visit Online Support.

• Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008
  On December 11, 2008, Congress approved legislation that temporarily suspends an excise tax which is assessed on seniors who fail to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from their retirement accounts including IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s. The bill waives the penalty on RMD for 2009, thereby allowing seniors to recoup some of the losses they have experienced as the stock market plummeted... View KB Article
  
  
• Comprehensive Tax Guide Available for Free at IRS.gov
  On December 17, 2008, the IRS issued News Release IR-2008-142, announcing that the IRS has placed its comprehensive tax guide for individuals on IRS.gov, updating it for tax year 2008. The updated on-line version of IRS Publication 17, “Your Federal Income Tax,” contains more than 900 interactive links. For more information, please visit the IRS Web site.
  
  
• IRS Speeds Lien Relief for Homeowners Trying to Refinance, Sell
  On December 16, 2008, the IRS issued News Release IR-2008-141, announcing an expedited process that will make it easier for financially distressed homeowners to avoid having a federal tax lien block refinancing of mortgages or the sale of a home. For more information, please visit the IRS Web site.

To view more Federal Tax topics visit Online Support.

IRS and Intuit End-of-Year E-File System Maintenance
The IRS e-file system will be off-line beginning on December 29, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. EST, through January 5, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. EST. If you have any returns that need immediate acknowledgment, please e-file them no later than December 29, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

During the IRS end-of-year system maintenance, the Intuit Electronic Filing Service Center will be holding any federal and state business returns that you have sent and will file them with the appropriate taxing authorities once the IRS system comes back online on Monday, January 5, 2009.

The Intuit Electronic Filing Service Center will be unavailable for scheduled maintenance beginning on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. EST, through Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 5:00 a.m. EST. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience that this may cause.

ProSeries/Bank Products Software

SBBT and Refund Advantage Registration Deadlines
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. View SBBT Registration Deadlines
• Refund Advantage - To enroll with Refund Advantage, visit the Refund Advantage web site, click Sign Up Now and follow the on-screen instructions. View Refund Advantage Registration Deadlines

Santa Barbara Bank & Trust (SBBT) Users

• Registering ProSeries/Bank Products Software
  Once your SBBT enrollment application has been approved by SBBT, you must register your ProSeries/Bank Products software with SBBT. In the ProSeries program, complete the bank products registration information and transmit it to SBBT. View KB Article



• Missing Z-Record or Bank Product Registration
  The Z-Record is part of the in-product registration that is completed through the ProSeries software. You will need to transmit this to the bank prior to offering Bank Products from SBBT. View KB Article

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

New Texas Tax Forms
The Texas Comptroller’s office has requested that starting January 1, 2009, only the newly approved forms with Ver. 1.1 printed in the top left corner be filed. As requested by the Texas Comptroller’s office, returns filed after December 31, 2008 should NOT be prepared using the 2007 calendar year Texas program. This includes any form of any kind; initial, final, amended or annual return. View KB Article

Florida, New York and South Carolina - E-File

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.