January 2, 2012: Modernized e-File Assurance Testing System (ATS) Not Operational

The Modernized e-File (MeF) system is experiencing a problem resulting in a "failed to commit transaction" error message. Please refrain from accessing the Assurance Testing System until we issue a follow-up message when the problem is resolved.

We are working this as a high priority and apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused. Please continue to monitor the MeF status page for any updates.

We thank you for your patience and we apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delays.

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January 2, 2012: Modernized e-File Assurance Testing System (ATS) Operational

The "failed to commit transaction" error that transmitters to the Modernized e-File (MeF) system have been experiencing has been resolved.

You can resume transmitting submissions, transmitting other service requests, and getting acknowledgements. Please continue to monitor the MeF status page for any updates.

We thank you for your patience and we apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delays.

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January 4, 2012: e-services Re-Engineering Results in Minor Changes to Functionality of Transcript Delivery System (TDS)

Please be advised that the Internal Revenue Service is updating the Transcript Delivery System (TDS) with an implementation date of January 9, 2012.

The new TDS will have an updated look, feel and functionality. The new TDS will:

• Improve delivery time of transcripts
• Increase capacity to compensate for the growing demand of the product
• Reduce downtime associated with maintenance problems

Highlights of these changes in the look, feel and functionality are included in the e-services On-line Tutorial located on the e-services Registration Services page. These changes may present a learning curve for some users. However, we are certain the improvements will be well worth the minor inconvenience as we strive to offer the best possible service.

The system will be down beginning January 6 at 8:00 p.m. and be back up at 6:00 a.m. EST on January 9. Users could experience intermittent downtime for the first few days after implementation. If you experience problems using the new TDS, you may contact the e-help Desk at 866-255-0654.

We recognize that these changes may prove untimely since implementation is at the start of filing season. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

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January 5, 2012: Revised 1040 ATS Disabled Business Rules File

The Tax Year 2011 1040 Assurance Testing System Disabled Business Rules File has been updated. The following Business Rules have been disabled:

F2441-009-01, F1040-027-01, F1040-189, F1040-224, F1040-386, and F1040-387.

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January 5, 2012: Modernized e-File Assurance Testing System (ATS) Downtime

The ATS system will be unavailable due to a system upgrade starting Friday January 6 from 1:00 am Eastern to 5:00 am Eastern. Please refrain from testing inATS during this window.

Please continue to monitor the MeF status page for any updates.
 
We thank you for your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by this delay.

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January 6, 2012:  Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) Expiration Change from 24 hours to 10 hours

Due to a recent change in Government Security Standards, MeF has changed the period for which a SAML is valid to 10 hours.
 
Prior to this change, A SAML was valid until the session was terminated with a logout or when 24 hours had expired from the time the SAML was issued, whichever came first. Now a SAML is valid until the session is terminated with a logout or when 10 hours has expired from the time the SAML was issued, whichever comes first.
 
This change has already been implemented. If you have any questions regarding this change please contact us at MeFmailbox@irs.gov.

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January 8, 2012:  Modernized e-File (MeF) Production and Assurance Testing System (ATS) URL Change

Important URL Changes effective immediately:

Please return to using the la.alt URL below unless you are a Software Developer, Transmitter or State who uses Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism (MTOM).  la.www4.irs.gov/a2a/mef/
 
All MTOM users, whether it's for ATS or Production transmissions, should use the la.alt URL below until further notice.

During internal testing, we identified a minor issue with large sized returns that we are in the process of resolving, and la.alt is not experiencing that issue.
la.alt.www4.irs.gov/a2a/mef/ 

We thank you for your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delays.

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January 8, 2012:  Urgent Update: Modernized e-File (MeF) Production and Assurance Testing System (ATS) URL Change

Important URL Changes effective immediately:

Please return to using the la URL below unless you are a Software Developer, Transmitter or State who uses Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism (MTOM).la.www4.irs.gov/a2a/mef/
 
All MTOM users, whether it's for ATS or Production transmissions, should use the la.alt URL below until further notice.

During internal testing, we identified a minor issue with large sized returns that we are in the process of resolving, and la.alt is not experiencing that issue.
la.alt.www4.irs.gov/a2a/mef/

We thank you for your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delays.

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January 8, 2012: Revised 1040 ATS Disabled Business Rules File

The Tax Year 2011 1040 Assurance Testing System  Disabled Business Rules File has been updated.  The following Business Rules have been disabled:

F1040-006-01 F1040-037-01, F1040-038-01, F1040-039-01, F1040-040-01, F1040-394, F1040A-032, F1040A-033, F1040A-034, F1040A-035, F1040A-193, F1040A-260,

F8826-001, F8941-006, F8941-007, IND-178, IND-179, IND-900.

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January 9, 2012:  Modernized e-File (MeF) Production Startup for Business Filers

The IRS has successfully completed the annual Modernized e-File cutover activities and can now accept Tax Year 2011, 2010 and 2009 business-related tax returns.

MeF will be open for production at 9:00 am, Eastern on January 9, 2012.

We appreciate your e-file participation and look forward to another successful filing season. Please monitor the  MeF Status Page for important system updates. 

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January 11, 2012:  MeF Form 720 Valid Schemas and Business Rules Webpage

ATTN: Software Developers, Return Transmitters and Authorized IRS e-file Providers/Electronic Return Originators (EROs).  The IRS.gov webpage for the  Form 720 – Valid XML Schemas and Business Rules  has been reorganized and separated by Tax Year.

Please remove all references to the old link and add the new link to your Favorites.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for using IRS e-file to file your Form 720 returns.

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January 12, 2012:  Providers prohibited from e-filing before receipt of All W-2's, W-2G or Form 1099-R

REMINDER: Authorized IRS e-file Providers are prohibited from submitting electronic returns to the IRS prior to the receipt of all Forms W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R from the taxpayer.

If the taxpayer is unable to secure and provide a correct Form W-2, W-2G, or 1099-R, the return may be electronically filed after Form 4852 is completed in accordance with the use of that form. This is the only time information from Pay stubs or Leave and Earning Statements (LES) is allowed.

For further information see Publication 1345 Chapter 3 "Submitting the Electronic Return to the IRS."

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January 13, 2012:  94x XML 

Attention: Software Developers, Return Transmitters and Authorized IRS e-file Providers/EROs.  The Employment Tax e-file System (94x XML e-file System) is incorrectly setting Error Code 276. We have scheduled a programming update to be implemented by January 23, 2012 to correct the problem.

The Error Code Matrix posted on the 94x XML User Guides and Publications page on IRS.gov will also be updated when the change has been made.

Please accept our apology for any inconvenience you may have incurred as a result of this matter.

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January 17, 2012: Opening for Modernized e-File (MeF)

The Modernized e-File (MeF) System successfully opened this morning at 9:00 am, Eastern Standard Time (January 17, 2012) and is now operational for Individual Tax Returns and Extensions.

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January 17, 2012:  Legacy Form 1040 (1040 e-File) – Error Reject Code 0832

A problem has been identified with Error Reject Code 0832 erroneously rejecting a Form 1040 return that has the characters "SO" in the 14th and 15th positions of the street address.

A subsequent QuickAlert will be issued when the problem has been resolved. 
We apologize for any inconvenience. 

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January 17, 2012: Unscheduled Modernized e-File (MeF) Downtime - Production and Assurance Testing System (ATS)

The Modernized e-File (MeF) System will he taken offline for unscheduled maintenance beginning at 6:00 pm Eastern  this evening (January 17, 2012) and is targeted to be available tomorrow morning. The maintenance build is necessary to improve processing of acknowledgments by the MeF system. 

We highly recommend that you do not wait until 6:00 pm to stop transmitting new submissions or retrieving the acknowledgements.  This will impact the Individual (IMF) and Business (BMF) submissions, and the ATS testing system.

After 6:00 pm, please refrain from accessing the system to transmit, retrieve or submit any other service request. This maintenance also includes Fed/State submissions.

We thank you for your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by this delay.  Please continue to monitor the  MeF status page for any updates.

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January 18, 2012: Modernized e-File (MeF) Online - Production and Assurance Testing System (ATS)

The Modernized e-File (MeF) System was successfully brought back online this afternoon at 12:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (January 18, 2012) and is now operational for Individual(IMF) and Business (BMF) submissions. The ATS testing system is also operational.

We thank you for your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by this delay.  Please continue to monitor the MeF status page for any updates.

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January 18, 2012: Revised 1040 ATS Disabled Business Rules File

The Tax Year 2011 1040 Assurance Testing System Disabled Business Rules File has been updated.  The following Business Rules have been disabled:
F4136-027, F4136-028, F4136-029, F4136-030, F4136-031, F4136-042, F4136-043, F4136-044, F4136-010, F4136-006, F4136-015.

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January 18, 2012: Legacy Form 1040 (1040 e-File) – Error Reject Code 0832

Please be advised that a programming correction to Error Reject Code 0832 will be implemented nationwide on January 18, 2012 for the 6:00 p.m. (Local Submission Processing Time) drain. 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

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January 19, 2012:  Electronic Management System (EMS) 1 Hour Window Transmission Error Messages

During the 2012 filing season EMS will be available for transmission of the Form 1040 family from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM and 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM only.  Here are the following transmission error messages that could be issued:

• INVALID PROCESSING SITE DESIGNATOR - If this message is received, you have transmitted outside the transmission windows (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM and 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM Local Time) using a processing site designator that is not currently accepting transmissions.
• INVALID FORM TYPE FOR THIS EMS PROCESSING SITE - If this message is received, you have transmitted outside the transmission windows (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM and 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM Local Time). 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

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January 19, 2012:  94x XML – Tax Year 2011 Updates (2012 Filing Season) 

This is a follow-up in reference to the Quick Alert issued on December 29, 2011, regarding Forms 941 and 944.

The programming error that incorrectly set Error Code 266 when the element “DepositStateCode” contained “MU” has been corrected. The correction was implemented on January 11, 2012.

We apologize for any inconvenience you may have incurred because of this matter.

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January 20, 2012: Revised 1040 Known Issues List

The Tax Year 2011 1040 Known Issues List has been updated and posted to IRS.gov.

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January 20, 2012:  EITC Due Diligence Webinar on Video Portal

The popular, and informative, Meeting Your EITC Due Diligence webinar is now posted and available 24/7. Avoid penalties and learn the new requirements.

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January 21, 2012: Early Scheduled Modernized e-File (MeF) Downtime - Production and Assurance Testing System (ATS)

The Modernized e-File (MeF) System will be taken offline beginning at 8:00 pm Eastern tonight (January 21, 2012) until 9:00 am Eastern on Sunday (January 22nd) for scheduled maintenance. This impacts Individual (IMF) and Business (BMF) submissions, Fed/State submissions and ATS.

We highly recommend that you do not wait until 8:00 pm to stop transmitting new submissions or to retrieve acknowledgements.  After 8:00 pm, please refrain from accessing the system to transmit, retrieve or submit any other service requests.

Once the system is operational, all outstanding acknowledgements will be available for retrieval and all submissions will process downstream as scheduled.

We thank you for your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by this delay.  Please continue to monitor the (MeF status- ART 168537) page for any updates.

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January 22, 2012:  Modernized e-File (MeF) Status - Production and Assurance Testing System (ATS)

Modernized e-File (MeF) system maintenance was successfully completed at 7:00 am, Eastern on Sunday, January 22, 2012.  MeF is operational for the transmission of Individual (IMF), Business (BMF) and Federal/State submissions, along with the various other service requests. The Assurance Testing System is also operational.

All acknowledgments generated from Saturday's (1/21/12) transmissions should be available by 9:00 am, Eastern.

We thank you for your patience and apologize for any inconvenience caused by this delay.  Please continue to monitor for any updates.

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January 23, 2012:  Legacy Form 1040 (1040 e-File) – Error Reject Code 0947

A problem has been identified with Error Reject Code 0947 setting erroneously.
A subsequent QuickAlerts will be issued when the problem has been resolved. 

We apologize for any inconvenience.

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January 26, 2012:  Form 1120/1120S/1120-F Business Rules and Schemas for Tax Year 2011

The following updates have been posted on IRS.gov in the Production tables.

 Tax Year 2011

• 1120/1120F/1120S XML Schemas and Business Rules: 2011v2.2.
• Forms and Attachments Listing: efileAttachments.xsd.
• Style Sheets

Questions or comments may be directed to the e-help Desk at 1-866-255-0654

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January 26, 2012:  Refund Status

The IRS has opened its filing season successfully this month, and refunds have started going out to many taxpayers.  As with the start of any tax season, there are system validations that occur requiring some fine-tuning of our systems.

As part of this, some taxpayers will receive refunds approximately one week later than initial projections they may have received, but these are still in line with historical refund delivery times.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that refund time frames provided by “Where’s My Refund” and tax providers are projected time frames and are subject to revision. Many different factors can affect the timing of the refund after the IRS receives the return for processing. 

The IRS apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the revised refund dates.

When the IRS announced the opening of the 2012 filing season, it advised taxpayers who electronically file and select direct deposit that they could see their refunds in as few as 10 days and 90 percent of refunds are provided within 21 days. Some taxpayers are getting refunds much faster, but at this time taxpayers should expect refunds to be issued as indicated in the original IRS guidelines.

The one-week delay for some refunds relates to fine-tuning IRS systems to adjust for new safeguards put in place this tax season to provide stronger protection against refund fraud.  The IRS is providing additional screening for fraud this year before issuing refunds, but the vast majority of taxpayers can still continue to expect to receive their refunds in a timely fashion.

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January 30, 2012:  1040 MeF Disabled Business Rules for Production

The list of disabled Business Rules for Tax Year 2011 for the Modernized e-File (MeF) System is available at the following link:

Tax Year 2011 Business Rules Disabled in Production

Thank you for participating in the 1040 MeF Program.

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January 31, 2012:  Legacy Form 1040 (1040 e-File) – Error Reject Code 0947

Please be advised that a programming update to disable Error Reject Code 0947 was implemented nationwide on January 31, 2012 for the 2:00 a.m. (Local Submission Processing Time) drain.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

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January 31, 2012:  1040 e-file (Legacy) - TY2011 – Publication 1346 Record Layout and Error Reject Code – Nature of Changes # 4

Please be advised the Tax Year 2011 Publication 1346, Nature of Changes  #4, has been uploaded to IRS.gov.  You may access this information using the following link:
Tax Year 2011 Publication 1346_________________________________________________________________

January 31, 2012:  Legacy Form 1040 (1040 e-File) – Error Reject Codes 0610, 0611, 0612

Please be advised that a programming correction to Error Reject Codes 0610, 0611 and 0612 was implemented nationwide on January 31, 2012 for the 2:00 a.m. (Local Submission Processing Time) drain.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

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January 31, 2012:  Form 1120/1120S/1120-F Business Rules and Schemas for Tax Year 2011 Production Date Change

Tax Year 2011

The Production date for 1120/1120F/1120S XML Schemas and Business Rules: 2011v2.2 is being removed.  Once a firm production date is established, it will be posted and a notice will be sent out.
 
Questions or comments may be directed to the e-help Desk at 1-866-255-0654.