IRS and Tax Filing Issues

Edward Stewart said:I certainly see how this will become more efficient down the road, but right now, my focus is strictly on sales tax filings, so the lack of a simpler, more affordable option is a bit of a headache.
And as for the prospect of handling 365 separate forms one day—well, I don't doubt that for a second 😍.

Back to the topic at hand... I've been trying to get a hold of the IRS help desk for several days now, but the lines are absolutely endless (and as for calling the local branch, I'm almost afraid to pick up the phone because they seem so reluctant to answer 🙂).
I am currently filling out an Application for Business Digital Certificates, and I have a few questions regarding section 3.
- Regarding security level—should I select "Medium"?
- For the certificate selection—is "Certificate for Auto, Electronic Signature, and Encryption" the correct choice?
Under section 4, when it mentions "USB port"—does that still refer to a traditional card reader? (Personally, I would much prefer using a USB stick)

If I am interpreting their fee schedule correctly, the total cost should come out to roughly:
registration $27, plus the business certificate at $278.00, plus the reader (the USB stick) $30?

Since this is just a small LLC where all the responsibilities fall on one person, I assume there won't be a need for any additional powers of attorney... is that correct?

They somehow managed to make a basic application form a nightmare. Even a month ago, those few questions had me stumped. I spent forever calling and emailing, but got absolutely nothing back. In the end, it felt like it didn't even matter how I filled it out... it was all the same. Just a huge waste of time on hold and typing emails.

Now looking at it, they actually put a new application form on their site.
http://www.irs.gov/business-registration
... which already has the security level set to "medium" and pre-selects the certificates, so I guess that's the way to go.

And for the folks at FINRA and the IRS (maybe someone's actually reading this): if you want fewer questions, fewer emails (that you don't answer anyway), and fewer phone calls, just sit down and write some simple step-by-step instructions. Exactly what a new user needs to do, in order. And PLEASE, get those outdated instructions off the official sites because they just confuse everyone. When things change, update them immediately...

Henry Chavez5 said:If you haven't figured it out yet...
Your first move should be installing the IRS e-filing software. You can find it here:
http://www.irs.gov/e-filing...6.asp?id=b03d9
Once that's done, go into the app and complete the Settings section.
The next hurdle is getting authorized to actually operate the system. Authorization depends entirely on whose name is on the certificate.
If the certificate belongs to the primary account holder, you authorize yourself through the application by submitting the Electronic Business Request form (found under the Authorizations tab). The IRS will then grant authorization and notify you via the email address you provided in the digital form.
If the certificate was issued to someone other than the primary responsible party, you’ll need to fill out a Power of Attorney form in triplicate. Take that, along with the certificate, to your nearest IRS office to finalize the authorization. Everything regarding the power of attorney is available at this link:
http://www.irs.gov/e-Filing...k.asp?id=b03d2

We went ahead and purchased the Synesis software package with the e-filing module included. Does that mean I don't actually need that standalone IRS application?

EDIT: Actually, looking closer, I think I might still need it.
Now I'm completely lost on what the actual workflow is.
Do I start by decrypting the PIN on the security token? And then what? 🤷 I've tried, but I'm just spinning my wheels here... I don't understand any of this. 🙂 🙂 🙂

hmm, I suppose I might have actually pulled it off 😬

Where on earth am I supposed to find those "IRS tax codes" the software keeps demanding while I'm trying to generate these forms? Am I supposed to manually enter the specific tax jurisdiction code where these filings were originally submitted?

Nicole Lee6 said:Where on earth am I supposed to find those "IRS tax codes" the software keeps demanding while I'm trying to generate these forms? Am I supposed to manually enter the specific tax jurisdiction code where these filings were originally submitted?

Wait, what specifically is it looking for? Which form is triggering that prompt?

Nicole Lee6 said:Where on earth am I supposed to find those "IRS tax codes" the software keeps demanding while I'm trying to generate these forms? Am I supposed to manually enter the specific tax jurisdiction code where these filings were originally submitted?

Those are just the standard tax return codes for the filings you usually submit. You can actually hunt them down pretty easily this way: Log into the IRS portal and open a VAT form as if you were going to type everything in manually rather than importing it from your software. Once you're in, select the local district office and the specific filing type in the header, then simply hit "print." That should display the code right there for you.

I NEED HELP WITH SALES TAX FILING. I'M SUBMITTING EVERYTHING THROUGH THE IRS PORTAL BUT IT KEEPS THROWING AN ERROR SAYING THAT SECTION VI DOESN'T EQUAL SECTION IV MINUS SECTION V.
IV. TOTAL TAX LIABILITY FOR THE TAX PERIOD IS 38125.47
V. AMOUNT PAID TO DATE BEFORE THIS FILING IS 38125.47
VI. TOTAL DIFFERENCE: DUE/REFUND$0.00 I TYPED IN $0.00 AND I HONESTLY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT ON EARTH IS WRONG. IF EVERYTHING IS ALREADY PAID UP, WHY AM I GETTING THIS ERROR? ANYONE HAVE A CLUE? THANKS FOR THE HELP

Jack Young said:Wait, what specifically is it looking for? Which form is triggering that prompt?

When I'm trying to update my e-ID parameters over at Synesis, it keeps prompting me to enter an IRS tax code.

Brenda Chase3 said:Those are just the standard tax return codes for the filings you usually submit. You can actually hunt them down pretty easily this way: Log into the IRS portal and open a VAT form as if you were going to type everything in manually rather than importing it from your software. Once you're in, select the local district office and the specific filing type in the header, then simply hit "print." That should display the code right there for you.

Alright, thanks. I'll give that a shot!

EDIT: Found it, thank you!

mistynomad3 said:I NEED HELP WITH SALES TAX FILING. I'M SUBMITTING EVERYTHING THROUGH THE IRS PORTAL BUT IT KEEPS THROWING AN ERROR SAYING THAT SECTION VI DOESN'T EQUAL SECTION IV MINUS SECTION V.
IV. TOTAL TAX LIABILITY FOR THE TAX PERIOD IS 38125.47
V. AMOUNT PAID TO DATE BEFORE THIS FILING IS 38125.47
VI. TOTAL DIFFERENCE: DUE/REFUND$0.00 I TYPED IN $0.00 AND I HONESTLY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT ON EARTH IS WRONG. IF EVERYTHING IS ALREADY PAID UP, WHY AM I GETTING THIS ERROR? ANYONE HAVE A CLUE? THANKS FOR THE HELP

Try V with a hyphen

So, here's what we've got...
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<LookupTable>

Entry Value="Washington, D.C." Name="Washington"

Entry Value="3374" Name="Austin"
Entry Value="3394" Name="Vrbovec"

Entry Value="3401" Name="Washington, D.C. - Entire City"
Entry Value="3402" Name="Downtown Washington, D.C."

Entry Value="3320" Name="Dug Sela"
</Entry>

Entry Value="3340" Name="Cleveland"

Entry Value="3399" Name="Zabok"
Entry Value="3414" Name="Zlatar"
I don't have any text provided to rewrite yet. Please provide the entry you want me to work on!

Entry Value="3343" Name="Kutin"

Entry Value="3366" Name="Pittsburgh"

entry Value="3396" Name="Gvozd" />
Entry Value="3339" Name="America Kostajnica"

</Entry>

Entry Value="3334" Name="Indianapolis"

</Entry>
Entry Value="Savannah" Name="Savannah"
Entry Value="3388" Name="Savannah" />
Entry Value="3331" Name="Ivanec"
Entry Value="3346" Name="Springfield" />

</Entry>

Entry Value="3323" Name="Đurđevac"
Entry Value="3337" Name="Koprivnica"

</Entry>
Entry Value="Bjelovar" Name="Bjelovar"

Entry Value="3312" Name="Daruvar"
Entry Value="3324" Name="Garešnica"

Entry Value="3304" Name="Bjelovar"
</Entry>

Entry Value="3372" Name="San Francisco" />
<Entry Value="3395" Name="Vrbovsko" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Gospić" Name="Gospić">
<Entry Value="3326" Name="Gospić" />
<Entry Value="3315" Name="Donji Lapac" />
<Entry Value="3384" Name="Korenica" />
<Entry Value="3361" Name="Otočac" />
<Entry Value="3375" Name="Senj" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Virovitica" Name="Virovitica">
<Entry Value="3391" Name="Virovitica" />
<Entry Value="3368" Name="Slatina" />
<Entry Value="3359" Name="Orahovica" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Požega" Name="Požega">
<Entry Value="3364" Name="Pakrac" />
<Entry Value="3379" Name="Požega" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Slavonski Brod" Name="Slavonski Brod">
<Entry Value="3351" Name="Nova Gradiška" />
<Entry Value="3424" Name="Okučani" />
<Entry Value="3380" Name="Slavonski Brod" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Zadar" Name="Zadar">
<Entry Value="3303" Name="Biograd ma moru" />
<Entry Value="3302" Name="Benkovac" />
<Entry Value="3327" Name="Gračac" />
<Entry Value="3355" Name="Obrovac" />
<Entry Value="3363" Name="Pag" />
<Entry Value="3400" Name="Zadar" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Osijek" Name="Osijek">
<Entry Value="3360" Name="Osijek" />
<Entry Value="3301" Name="Beli Manastir" />
<Entry Value="3350" Name="Našice" />
<Entry Value="3316" Name="Donji Miholjac" />
<Entry Value="3387" Name="Valpovo" />
<Entry Value="3322" Name="Đakovo" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Šibenik" Name="Šibenik">
<Entry Value="3383" Name="Šibenik" />
<Entry Value="3317" Name="Drniš" />
<Entry Value="3336" Name="Knin" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="El Paso" Name="El Paso">
<Entry Value="3398" Name="El Paso" />
<Entry Value="3390" Name="Vinkovci" />
<Entry Value="3425" Name="Ilok" />
<Entry Value="3415" Name="Županja" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Split" Name="Split">
<Entry Value="3305" Name="Supetar" />
<Entry Value="3329" Name="Hvar" />
<Entry Value="3330" Name="Imotski" />
<Entry Value="3347" Name="Makarska" />
<Entry Value="3357" Name="Omiš" />
<Entry Value="3377" Name="Sinj" />
<Entry Value="3385" Name="Trogir" />
<Entry Value="3392" Name="Vis" />
<Entry Value="3397" Name="Vrgorac" />
<Entry Value="3419" Name="Kaštela" />
<Entry Value="3420" Name="Solin" />
<Entry Value="3421" Name="Split" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Pazin" Name="Pazin">
<Entry Value="3307" Name="Buzet" />
<Entry Value="3344" Name="Labin" />
<Entry Value="3365" Name="Pazin" />
<Entry Value="3369" Name="Poreč" />
<Entry Value="3370" Name="Pula" />
<Entry Value="3373" Name="Rovinj" />
<Entry Value="3306" Name="Umag" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Dubrovnik" Name="Dubrovnik">
<Entry Value="3318" Name="Dubrovnik" />
<Entry Value="3349" Name="Metković" />
<Entry Value="3418" Name="Ploče" />
<Entry Value="3338" Name="Korčula" />
<Entry Value="3345" Name="Lastovo" />
</Entry>
<Entry Value="Čakovec" Name="Čakovec">
<Entry Value="3310" Name="Čakovec" />
<Entry Value="3423" Name="Prelog" />
<Entry Value="3422" Name="Mursko Središće" />
</Entry>
</Entry>
</LookupTable>

thanks!

Thanks from my side too.

On the IRS website, whenever I try to check my filing status, it keeps telling me that my returns from November—and even the ones after that—are still being processed. That includes my ID, IDD, and sales tax filings.
Is anyone else dealing with this nonsense, or is it just me?

Every single time I check my filing status, it’s like some cosmic joke—the system updates to "processed" at the exact millisecond I refresh the page.
To be honest, I don't even lose sleep over it. I have my submission confirmation, and so far, I haven't had a single issue where a "processed" status actually mattered for my records.

I noticed the same thing a while back, but it’s changed now; it just says they're being processed.
I always make sure to check the status and attach the confirmation to the form.

On Friday, my agent at the IRS told me to bring in the last two sales tax forms because she couldn't see them on her screen. Honestly, I'm a bit stressed about this... I have quite a few of these lying around...😵

I just print the submission confirmation on the back of the form itself. That’s on them to deal with during processing; if they run into hiccups, I'm not going to waste my time printing extra receipts. 🤷
If I were you, I'd just claim the sales tax credit using the submission confirmation. Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. 😘

Henry Edwards33 said:I just print the submission confirmation on the back of the form itself. That’s on them to deal with during processing; if they run into hiccups, I'm not going to waste my time printing extra receipts. 🤷
If I were you, I'd just claim the sales tax credit using the submission confirmation. Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. 😘

Agreed. I never even bother checking the status once it's submitted. As long as I have my proof of filing, the ball is in their court.
If they don't have it, fine—I have my receipt. They can come "ask" nicely if they need me to resend it.😉

In the end, this whole "request" is just more busywork for me, and I honestly don't have the bandwidth for it. I'm pretty annoyed. 🙂

Hi there!
I could really use some help here.
I just decided to switch over to digital tax filing this week.
I got my USB drive and encrypted PIN from FINRA, but I’m hitting a massive wall trying to get everything installed.

I downloaded the tax software directly from the FINRA site. But once I open it, the program won't recognize my certificate—it doesn't even show up as an option when I try to load it.
On top of that, when I attempt to decrypt the PIN, I keep getting an error saying "cryptographic device support is not installed."
I've been wrestling with this for two days now and I'm honestly at my wits' end.
The instructions mention that if the certificate isn't recognized, I should run an app called "ActivCard Gold Utilities." Does anyone know where I can actually download that?

Help, please.

wanderingseal14 said:Hi there!
I could really use some help here.
I just decided to switch over to digital tax filing this week.
I got my USB drive and encrypted PIN from FINRA, but I’m hitting a massive wall trying to get everything installed.

I downloaded the tax software directly from the FINRA site. But once I open it, the program won't recognize my certificate—it doesn't even show up as an option when I try to load it.
On top of that, when I attempt to decrypt the PIN, I keep getting an error saying "cryptographic device support is not installed."
I've been wrestling with this for two days now and I'm honestly at my wits' end.
The instructions mention that if the certificate isn't recognized, I should run an app called "ActivCard Gold Utilities." Does anyone know where I can actually download that?

Help, please.

I use online banking, so I’ve had ActivCard installed on my machine for quite a while. That part was easy enough for me. Take a look at this site:
Just a word of advice: do not even bother launching the tax software until you have successfully decrypted the PIN and verified that the RDC certificates are fully installed in your settings (go to Internet Explorer -> Tools -> Internet Options -> Content tab -> Certificates button).