E-file closed for the season?

[ILLMAS]

I have tried to efile a client return twice and I get the same rejection error "this type of efile is not being accepted by the EFC". Anyone else?

[Guest Taxed]

MAS you are late to the dance. It closed on 11/23 I believe. Sorry time to paper file.

[ILLMAS]

Thanks for the fast response.

[mrichman333]

MAS you are late to the dance. It closed on 11/23 I believe. Sorry time to paper file.

Ok, I get totally confused on this. On another thread a while ago we pointed out that we can efile "prior" year returns. So if I'm getting it right, you can efile prior years but only during the open dates?

[Guest Taxed]

Ok, I get totally confused on this. On another thread a while ago we pointed out that we can efile "prior" year returns. So if I'm getting it right, you can efile prior years but only during the open dates?

You got to wait till IRS opens shop after retooling for 2014 tax season in Feb 2014. Then if your software allows prior year e-file you can do it.

[Catherine]

What about business entities?

I have a new C-corp on a fiscal year with a return due date of 12/15. CPA last year e-filed and I saw no extension in the paperwork.

[Guest Taxed]

Always check the MeF status page at irs.gov I do it each day before i batch submit my e-files. I sleep better that way! Modernized e-File (MeF) Status Page

Current System Status

Production System:

Operational

Assurance Testing System (ATS):

Operational

Scheduled Maintenance Build

A routine system maintenance build is scheduled every Sunday from 1:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., Eastern.

MeF Alerts:

Extended Maintenance Window for Modernized e-File (MeF) Assurance Testing System (ATS) and Production environments

The Modernized e-File (MeF) Sunday maintenance build is being extended. The system will be unavailable starting at 7:00 a.m., Eastern on Saturday, December 7, 2013 until 7:00 a.m., Eastern on Sunday, December 8, 2013.

The IMF Production Shutdown Deadlines on Saturday, November 23, 2013, Eastern Time have been completed and 1040 Federal and State returns are no longer accepted in MeF for the filing season.

MeF Assurance Testing System (ATS) Schedule

ATS will remain open throughout this production shutdown/cut over period (11/23/2013 - 01

or 02/2014).

Important Note: BMF returns are not impacted by this IMF Production Shutdown/Cut over

schedule.

BMF Shutdown is tentatively scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 26, 2013 at 11:59 a.m.

Modernized e-File (MeF) ATS/Production Calls (posted 10:30 a.m., Eastern November 18, 2013)

Update: Friday, November 15, 2013 MeF held the final call for the ATS TY 2013 test season. We will continue to work any open issues on the ATS Call Log and will also continue to update the Known Issues files. We will resume daily calls when MeF opens for Production in 2014. Information about that call will be posted on this page as we get nearer to the opening of Processing Year 2014.

Distribution of Modernized e-File (MeF) New Web Service Definition Language (WSDLs) (Posted 11:00 a.m, Eastern on 9/20/2013)

New WSDLs will be installed in the MeF test environment (ATS) on November 4, 2013. These new WSDLs will also be required for MeF Production when it reopens for Processing Year 2014, which is planned for January 6, 2014. Please note that starting November 4th you will be using the "la.alt" (https://la.alt.www4.irs.gov/a2a/mef ) URL for ATS and "la main" (https://la.www4.irs.gov/a2a/mef ) URL for Production environments.

If you would like to receive the new WSDLs please send an email to MeF Mailbox ([email protected]). The email request must include your company name and ETIN/EFIN. The required WSDLs will be sent to you as soon as it is verified that you are a valid software developer, transmitter or State user.

Transition to the new Integrated Enterprise Portal (IEP) for MeF (updated 10:30 a.m., EST on 10/15/2013)

IRS is in the process of completing a multi-year upgrade to the on-line portal infrastructure. The MeF application version and current supported schemas will not change as part of this migration. The first phase of the IRS portal upgrade was the transition to a new IRS.gov in August 2012. The second phase supports all registered user applications and was implemented over the Labor Day weekend, with full operation on September 3, 2013. All software developers, transmitters and states need to make changes to transition from the RUP to the new Integrated Enterprise Portal (IEP).

Information Highlights:

• The MeF Production and ATS environments have been migrated to the new portal (IEP) and are operational to all software developers, transmitters and states starting on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. ET. The MeF application version and current supported schemas will not change.
• The new portal (IEP) will require new public SSL certificates for establishing the SSL connection. Your software or browser configurations may be set up to automatically download these certificates when it connects to the new portal (IEP) the first time. Information on where you can manually download them is located in the Portal Transition Guide on the MeF User Guides & Publication page.
• A2A toolkit users (SDK and client application) are also impacted by these changes. Please read the Portal Transition Guide for more details.

If you have any questions, please send them to the MeF Mailbox.

GetNewAcknowledgementNotifications Service Request (Posted 12:15 am EST 3/24/2013)

The IRS is experiencing an issue with the GetNewAcknowledgementNotifications Service Request. We ask that the States refrain from using that particular Service Request until further notice for any submission received prior to March 24th. All other Service Requests are fully operational and production has resumed. Thank you for your patience and support.

2013 Filing Season - URL Information (revised 2:30 pm, Eastern on 11/23/2012)

Please use the ‘la’ URLs to access ATS and Production returns. 'la.alt' remains operational; however the IRS uses that URL to debug problems. 'la.alt' must be isolated to effectively use it for that purpose.

Federal/State Tax Returns:

In order for standalone/unlinked returns to be accepted, the state must be participating in the State Standalone program and the Transmitter/Software Developer must NOT include an IRS Submission ID in the State Manifest. State Standalone returns may be either submitted in the same transmission (Send Submissions) as the federal return or in a different transmission.

State Testing

States wishing to transmit their own test returns need to send an email to IRS requesting this access. We will work with you to set up a software developer account in e-Services. When that is done you will then have to create system ids for these new software developer accounts in Automated Enrollment. You will not be able to use your state accounts or system ids to transmit. However, you can use your same Strong Authentication certificates for both accounts.

Historical Information for Processing Year 2013, 2012 and 2011

STILL CAN’T GET IN?

Reminder: If you have not received your Acknowledgements within 24 hours, please call the e-Help desk at (866) 255-0654.

Volume of Accepted Returns by Form Type

The current and historical volumes of accepted MeF returns for each processing year can be found on the MeF Volumes of Accepted Returns webpage.

Current Schema Releases

We have created XPATH to XPATH documents for each form type with additional information relating to the Tax Year 2013 XML standardization efforts. These documents can be found within the TY2013version 1.0 schema pages for each form type.

[Lee B]

Business efiling will be closed the last week of December thru the first week of January, otherwise open.

[Catherine]

Thanks, cbslee!