Posts by silverbadger

Henry Edwards33 said:I'll probably need to deal with that soon myself. 😁

Does anyone know how you actually go about renewing one?

You just fill out the application for the certificate issuance and then head over to the Department of the Treasury with your card in hand.

When I was renewing mine last time, the clerk mentioned that we could probably handle the renewal ourselves online by following the instructions on the Department of the Treasury website, but I honestly couldn't find those specific steps anywhere. So, I decided to just take a quick stroll over to see the lovely, polite, and super friendly staff at the local 😉
branch.

Andrew Ortiz4 said:Greetings to everyone. I've been attempting to access the e-regos pages all day long, but I keep running into this particular roadblock:

Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /rs on this server.
Apache HTTP Server AT example.com port 443

Does anyone happen to know what might be causing this?🤷

Do you think your security certificate might have expired??

Brenda Chase3 said:If this is intended as a solution to the issue I described earlier, could you please walk me through the steps in a bit more detail? I'm finding the instructions a little hard to follow. Also, I have an e-card (not a USB stick), if that makes any difference.

I also use a smart card instead of a physical USB stick, though I'm not entirely sure if these steps would even apply to a thumb drive.
I started by completely uninstalling ActivcardID and stripping out all versions of Java from my system.
Then I headed over to and kicked off the installation process. During the setup, it prompted me to select a reader, so I picked ActivcardID ver 6.3 (I can't recall the exact version number right now, but it was likely that one). After a quick restart, everything started working perfectly, with both the latest Java and the newest ActivcardID fully installed.
For anyone wondering about my setup, I'm running Windows 7 64-bit.
When I reached out to the IRS helpdesk to file a complaint—and I did call them quite a few times regarding these e-filing issues—they basically brushed me off every single time, claiming everything worked fine on their end and that the problem was entirely mine. On the other hand, when I called the FIN helpdesk, they were actually very polite and genuinely tried to assist me. They always made sure to ask which operating system I was using and which version of IE I had running. It turns out the trouble always started once I mentioned I was using Windows 7 64-bit along with Internet Explorer 10. Following their advice, I actually uninstalled IE 10 and installed Internet Explorer 9 32-bit, which ended up working for a while.
Since I used to work at FIN back in the day (when they were still known as SDK), I have a pretty good handle on how they operate. In the past, they wouldn't release a new program until it was thoroughly tested and they had confirmed every single workstation met the minimum technical requirements. It feels like those standards aren't quite as strict anymore. Now, they just list some minimum specs, and if your hardware is even slightly more advanced than what they expect, you run into nothing but trouble. Instead of being able to upgrade your gear, you find yourself having to downgrade your entire system just to stay compatible.

The real issue stems from the Okta application.
Even after reaching out to the IRS, I didn't get much traction there, but at least they actually called me back, which was a nice change of pace compared to the usual helpdesk experience. I'm going to copy and paste the email my buddy sent me explaining the fix. Once I went through a fresh installation, everything started working perfectly again.

To make it simple, you just head over to the Chase website, navigate to the Support section, select the web installation option, and then install the drivers for your card reader along with the new Okta. When you go to sign your first document, the system will prompt you for the file path to acpsk11#, so you'll need to type that in. Just make sure you do a quick search on your computer beforehand so you know exactly where that specific file is located.

And just like that, everything is back up and running smoothly.

Jessica Grant56 said:Wait, NO statistics??? Then why does the IRS website still have a new version of the form posted that explicitly mentions Podcasting requirements?

Fine, fine—July 20th, my bad. I had a total brain lapse there.

The thing is, you aren't actually required to submit it, though you certainly can if you want to. Usually, it’s only the folks applying for bank loans who end up needing that Podcasting documentation.

Of course he’s doing it now, right when you're trying to get through regular business hours. You can't just hand off paperwork to Larry Summers whenever you feel like it...
He shuts the internet off at 7 PM.

Christian Reed8 said:The clerk told me this is mandatory for every single small business, then handed me a checklist where a medical certificate is listed right at number one.
Honestly, it feels like a total shakedown.
I can easily just get a note from my own doctor saying I'm healthy—why on earth would I have to pay for an occupational health exam for this?

😉

Christian Cruz41 said:I just updated my Java version and now it won't sign any of my forms...
Is anyone else running into this?
The IRS site hasn't been responding since yesterday—not sure what happened there.

You actually need to put a minus sign (-) in the notes section of the sales tax form.
I was busy filing everything for my clients using their power of attorney, but for some reason, I couldn't sign my own paperwork. After a pretty frustrating phone call with the IRS help desk, they suggested I try doing exactly what I mentioned above, and once I did, I was finally able to sign and submit the form without any trouble. Of course, from the perspective of that grumpy lady on the help desk, it was somehow all our fault.

The issue isn't actually with Java, but rather with Internet Explorer. I had version 10 installed—which auto-updates, by the way—but I ended up wiping it from my computer following some advice from the IRS. Since I haven't filed anything with Mexico yet, I'm honestly not quite sure if everything will run smoothly. During my various chats with the finance support team, I gathered that they are also incredibly frustrated with the IRS because they weren't even consulted when the new IRS system was being rolled out. It sounds like the Finance department has really been left in a tough spot here.
In the meantime, I sent off another email requesting that they don't charge my card for the March authorization fees since I wasn't even able to access the service, so now I'm just waiting to see if they'll be reasonable and grant my request.
It also looks like the IRS system itself is dealing with some bugs. One of my sales tax forms ended up being processed twice even though I only submitted it once. Their customer support isn't exactly known for being quick to respond, but one of the representatives did tell me she could get it sorted out for me.

I’m currently trying to file an IRS form, but every single time I finish signing it, the system just kicks me right back to the main landing page on Regis. It’s incredibly frustrating because the form doesn't actually get processed, so it never even shows up on my list of submitted documents. I tried reaching out to the finance helpdesk for some assistance, but I can't get anyone on the line since all their phone lines are constantly busy. I did send them an email a few days back, and they were actually pretty quick to call me the very next day asking me to forward over a log from the Java console, but honestly, I haven't heard a peep from them since then...

It’s Saturday, about 12:30 PM here...
I’ve been trying to log into the IRS website, but I just can't get in. Every time I enter my password, it just kicks me right back to the home page like nothing happened. Is anyone else running into this issue today? I'm currently using Voyager 1.

I mean, even those tiny little electrons powering our internet and computers need a break every now and then, since they aren't exactly on the clock from midnight to midnight!

silverbadger said:Since we’ve already brought up GFI-POD, I was wondering where I might track down a sample payment voucher for when I submit my forms. The Treasury Department website lists all their fees, but I just can't seem to find the specific reference number or account details needed to complete the transfer. Or am I just being a total silverbadger?

Well, looks like I figured it out myself after all (clearly my eyesight isn't what it used to be)

Account number 2390001-1100017042
Payment reference 05 7543000-SSN

I finally managed to dig those numbers up from an old regulatory manual dating back to 2007.

Since we’ve already brought up GFI-POD, I was wondering where I might track down a sample payment voucher for when I submit my forms. The Treasury Department website lists all their fees, but I just can't seem to find the specific reference number or account details needed to complete the transfer. Or am I just being a total silverbadger?

Brenda Chase3 said:Is anyone else running into a headache with FINRA because of Java 1.7? Here’s the situation: the IRS website refuses to function unless I have Java 1.7 installed, and when I use that version, everything seems to run smoothly there. However, once I switch to 1.7, FINRA won't process my digital signature on the RS forms, which means I can't submit them. If I roll back to Java 1.6, FINRA works perfectly and everything goes off without a hitch, but then the IRS site just breaks because they strictly require version 1.7.
Has anyone dealt with this specific conflict before, and more importantly, how did you fix it? I've been trying to get a hold of someone at FINRA, but I've been sitting on hold for 20 minutes already. 🙂

So, did you ever hear back from them? What was the verdict from the Treasury?
In my case, Java just crashes right after I sign the form, but before the protocol is even downloaded. I click on Close, restart REGOS, and it just crashes at the exact same spot every single time. The forms are being submitted correctly and everything looks perfect, it's just this annoying Java window that keeps messing me up.
Windows 7 64-bit

Brenda Chase3
Were those PDF attachments actually signed? I’m asking because last year my caseworker at the IRS refused to accept one of my documents just because it wasn't digitally signed and stamped with an official seal. This weekend, I’m planning to dive into how to properly sign a PDF now that I have my FINA card and Acrobat ready to go. Based on some guides I found on the Adobe website, Acrobat Reader should theoretically allow you to sign things, but I honestly couldn't figure out how to make it work no matter what I tried.
Oh, and one more thing—if the documents are signed using the FINA card, am I correct in thinking I wouldn't even have to pay the public filing fee? That's what I gathered from reading about it over on NotesNet.

I figured I’d throw this question out here since I haven't had much luck finding an answer elsewhere—though maybe I’m just becoming one of those old-timers who struggles to keep up with all these new tech updates.
Does anyone here happen to have a business account over at JPMorgan Chase and use their Intranet? I have a client who signed up for the Intranet service, but they are having a real hard time trying to export statements from the business account into a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format. Is there actually a way to do that within the Intranet interface? If there is, I would be incredibly grateful if someone could walk me through the process in plain, simple English—just tell me how to handle the export, the print function, or whatever you want to call it. I'll happily buy a round of coffee for whoever can help me out here.

@Jessica Grant56

Man, you really can't please anyone, can you? You're stuck right in the middle of the crossfire!
I mean, where are we even supposed to go once those American forests get privatized? Are they just going to lock us out of the woods entirely?

On a different note, I really wanted to say thanks to Jessica Grant56 because she’s honestly made things so much easier for us when it comes to setting up and managing Synapse. She basically took all the hard lessons and headaches on herself so the rest of us could just watch, learn from her mistakes, and apply the fixes immediately without the stress. Jessica Grant56, if you ever find yourself traveling through the Great Plains or stopping by Des Moines, you absolutely have to let me know so I can grab you a coffee.

Henry Chavez5 said:Since the start of this year, they've been issuing certificates tied directly to an individual's SSN. Before that, they used to be issued in a person's name—whether it was the manager or someone else—but they were technically linked to the business's tax ID instead.

Actually, those weren't linked to the business entity itself, but rather to the SSN of the individual listed on the power of attorney. I know this for a fact because I originally drafted a power of attorney using the company's tax ID, and the IRS wouldn't accept it, so I had to go back and change everything to my own SSN.

Donna Jones26 said:Thanks for the info!

Here’s the deal... my accountant told all our clients they need to go out and get their own digital certificates. He claims he’ll still help everyone out with the setup, getting things installed, and actually sending the forms... but I'm wondering... how much is this really going to hit small business owners or sole proprietors who have to deal with sales tax? Like, what does that look like monthly or yearly for the little guys?...

$17 monthly plus sales tax