When are the Louisiana Non-Resident forms going to ready......this is ridiculous! Intuit needs to support their professional products better than this....

[KTMPP]

I just did the latest update and the LA Non-Resident forms are still saying "unavailable" until it has been released by the State and Lacerte.... and the next Lacerte 2019 program update per the schedule is on 2/20... that is a whole week away...the LA Dept of Revenue website shows the forms are available so seems like a Lacerte issue, not the State . This is ridiculous! Our firm has been using Lacerte for 20+ years and have been happy with the product but they are obviously more focused on their consumer products and leaving their professionals behind to be sitting here 2 weeks into February and having to tell our clients for yet another week that the forms are still not available so we cannot file your returns yet and in response they tell us that they can get online and file using the Turbo Tax product line. So we have already completed the returns and we are supposed to be the professionals but are sitting here with our 'hands tied' because the forms are unavailable for Lacerte users.....Lacerte will not even allow us to print the draft version of the forms to be able to attach it to the clients resident tax return as required for the credit for tax paid to another State.....a little aggravated this morning is a understatement. I tried to call customer service this morning to complain, instead of making this post, but they are not open yet so here it is...

[tpherson]

I'd like to know this also.  Forms availability issues with Lacerte is making us look bad with our clients.  This is supposed to be professional software, makes us look anything but professional when we are sitting on returns for a month because we don't have the appropriate forms.

[KTMPP]

Did my 02/20 update last night and STILL CANNOT FILE LA Non-Resident Returns...... Intuit, come on I want to hear your excuse for why your cheapest consumer product Turbo Tax users can file but your professional users are sitting here looking extremely UN-professional......maybe I need to learn how to use that product instead of renewing Lacerte for next year or maybe, after 25+ years, it is time to completely end our firms relationship with Intuit products all together!

[Ross]

Hello! Apologies for delays.

We are working with the states to get final approval on certain forms.

Final approval does not mean you can’t go online to find the forms- it means that we cannot file them because the state or federal agency has not approved these forms for filing yet with a specific software. 

Each year we recreate every form, even though they look just like the forms the state/federal agencies release. We then have to get each form approved by the state/federal agencies. If there are any discrepancies we have to make corrections and re-submit for approval by the state/federal agency. This back and forth can create delays. It is also why certain forms get delayed but not all forms for a specific state.

Again, we don’t blame the states or federal agencies, but this back and forth creates delays. These delays exist with ALL tax software providers [but where we have the LA forms delayed, another provider may have GA, NY, AZ, etc. form(s) delayed]. This can also make some forms available with TurboTax or ProSeries but not Lacerte (and vice-versa) as the software is different and the approvals are unique to the software.

Updates usually occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and typically we work especially quick to add these “missing” forms once approval is confirmed by the state or IRS to have it ready for the next update.

I apologize for not having a definitive date, but I hope this helps provide some context!

[Caroline]

Same with S-corporate returns, the last form needed is the payment voucher which Louisiana has not changed since 2017.  Absolutely no reason the form should be holding up the efile.  The form list shows it to be ready March 3rd! I have a call in to Lacerte. 

[KTMPP]

Where did you find a listing that provides the Forms with specific dates they are to be ready? I just downloaded the 02/25 update and the LA Non-Res. still isn't ready...... At this point, I thought if I could at least tell my clients a specific date we expect it instead of thinking it will be on the next general update that is scheduled and being incorrect yet another week, maybe I won't look quite as d*mn incompetent.... 

[mscpa30]

I agree with all of you.  The LA Non-Resident forms that are not released is not acceptable!  I have contacted Lacerte customer support since Feb 13 regarding this matter.  I have asked to speak to supervisors.  I talked with one yesterday whom I did not find genuinely sympathetic to the fact that our clients are not happy with us because we don't have their returns ready and in turn we are extremely dissatisfied.  She explained that LA did not approve Lacerte's first draft of the form.  They submitted another draft for approval and are waiting for LA to approve.  In my opinion, it really doesn't matter why the form is not available.  This should have been resolved by the 2nd week of February.  I feel as though I  paid a premium price for a premium product, but am now getting a sub-standard product.  I too have been a Lacerte customer for 20+ years and am very disappointed and dissatisfied.  Their lack of performance on this issue is unacceptable.  FYI, I contacted one of their competitors to see if this is an issue for all software providers or just Lacerte.  The competitor has the form released and available for efile.

[Ross]

Unfortunately, I’m not able to provide a specific date for final approval.

Final approval does not mean you cannot go online to find the forms- it means that we cannot file them because the state has not approved these forms for filing yet with a specific software.

Each year we recreate each and every form, even though they look just like the forms the states/IRS releases. We then have to get these forms approved by the state/federal agencies. If there are any discrepancies we have to make corrections and re-submit for approval by the state/IRS. This back and forth can create delays. It is also why certain forms get delayed but not all forms for a specific state.

Again, we don’t blame the states or IRS, but this back and forth creates delays. These delays exist with ALL tax software providers [but where we have the LA forms delayed another provider may have GA, NY, AZ, etc. form(s) delayed]. This can also make some forms available with TurboTax or ProSeries but not Lacerte (and vice-versa) as the software is different and the approvals are unique to the software.

Updates occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and typical we work especially quick to add these “missing” forms once approval is confirmed by the state or IRS to have it ready for the next update.

We feel it is worse to guess a date that something may be available. We prefer to have a more definitive date when it is announced.

We are in communication with the states each day, requesting updates, but until we have approval we cannot proceed with releasing the forms (doing so would risk our ability to eFile or paper file any form with them in the future). And for good reason- we do want the states’ approval to ensure that what we are transmitting and recreating conforms to their laws.

The bottom line is that the established process leaves everyone guessing and for that I do, sincerely, apologize.

[KTMPP]

Ross,

Based on your post, I guess I can hold off on asking all of our personnel to stop working mid-day today when the 02/27 update is released and assume the forms must still not be included in this release either? 

I completely understand your explanation in the response below and appreciate you replying to the post, however as you have seen by others that have commented, Lacerte users pay the premium price for Intuit's tax software and in return Lacerte should be Intuit's # 1 priority. If the Company's  software engineers were able to develop and draft an acceptable LA NR form that was accepted by the State in their other (free and cheap) versions of tax software products but the same form drafted for Lacerte was not accepted, sounds to me like the team of Lacerte engineers needs to be demoted and the Turbo Tax engineers promoted.....

[tpherson]

Wasn't this exact same response posted on here last week from Lacerete, almost looks like cut and paste response or just a repost?

Anyway, when we get to March and still do not have forms necessary to file returns, it no longer holds any weight.  There were only slight changes to this form year over year, these things should have been dealt with prior to tax season and definitely before March of the filing season  Since apparently you say  you are waiting on Louisiana to approve the form, we really have no idea when that may happen.  As others have said, we are paying a PREMIUM price for your product.  You are making us look incompetent, which in turn makes you look incompetent to us.

[Ross]

Hello KTMPP and tpherson!

It does not look like it will be included in the release this week as the date has not been added to https://lfs.intuit.com/#/s/LA/I.

Without getting into specifics (because I do not know exactly what was incorrect on this specific document or transmission information), we do typically create these forms simultaneously and submit them. It can occur, however, that one program gets a rejection while others do not. 

I do know definitively that we want to have these forms available as badly as you and your clients do.  As tpherson points out, we do not benefit from delays. The only promise I can make is that we do learn from these delays- specifically why they occurred and what was incorrect- so as to avoid them in the future (which is evident by this being a problem for this form in tax year 2020 and not occurring, to my memory, in any prior tax year).  

As an aside, I did post this last week but it was somehow removed. I copied from that original version. I've also shared this response with my team so that they can provide more context than "it is not available yet" when asked. I think that information is key but I do apologize again that you and your clients are being affected by this delay. 

[Ross]

tpherson, 

I responded above and wanted to make sure you received any alerts in relation to my response!

[mscpa30]

Are the LA Non-Resident Forms scheduled for release in today's update?

[tpherson]

Still no forms....😐

[HalH]

Can someone explain why the AL form will print with a watermark but the LA form will not? The exact same information is shown on the lacerte website about form availability (see below). If the LA form would print with the watermark, we could move on with E-File returns.  When trying to print LA form I get "This form has not been fully implemented.........................".

From Proconnect Form Status

40(NR)
The form is final and watermarked "E-File Only". This form is available to be E-Filed

 IT-540B-2D
The form is final and watermarked "E-File Only". This form is available to be E-Filed

[mscpa30]

What is the release date for LA Non-Resident Form LA IT-540B-2D?  As you are aware, we are well into March.  This is completely UNACCEPTABLE!!  I fail to understand how this issue was not resolved in the first two weeks of February.  My clients do not understand why I cannot efile or print their LA Non-Resident returns when other tax preparers have no such problem.  Further, I cannot efile their resident state because a copy of LA Non-Resident return is required to be attached in the efile.  Intuit's incompetence is about to cost me clients!!! I am completely dissatisfied!!  I have called support since February 13 regarding this issue.  I have heard all the "reasons" and read your last post about the process.  At this point, there are no acceptable reasons.  I have been a Lacerte customer for 20+ years and am currently researching other options for next tax season.  Whatever it takes, release the form ASAP.

[HalH]

I agree. I just loaded an update this morning hoping this would finally be resolved, but I still cannot print these returns. There is absolutely no valid reason that can be given for this at this point. I have listened to and read all the excuses, but competitor products have had these forms available for about 2 weeks, maybe longer.  You can print an Alabama non-resident return with the watermark "E-file only", why can't you print Louisiana with the same watermark?

[KTMPP]

Not only is the form available for Intuit's Turbo Tax, I talked to someone who uses Intuit's Pro Series and no issue for them being able to file the LA NR form so again, Intuit's resources appear to be focused on supporting their lower tiered tax products.  We gave up on Intuit having them ready for their highest professional and premium cost tax software, Lacerte.....  We ended up downloading the PDF version of the form from the LA Dept of Revenue website and hiring someone to fill in the information for each return. Then, of course, you have to re-review that the input was correctly entered....but then you can use that PDF to attach to your Resident State tax return and also to use for the client to have a copy of their LA NR Return. It works but certainly does not ease the frustration of more time+less efficiency = increased (non-recoverable) costs $$! 

[Ross]

Hello HalH!

The 40NR for AL is now available for print and e-file.

The IT-540B-2D for LA can be e-filed only. 

Unfortunately, not all states allow the same type of watermarks/draft forms and have different requirements for printed forms. 

[mscpa30]

Ross,

The ability to efile the LA Non Resident form is of little value.  The resident state requires a copy of the LA  IT-540B-2D.  The PDF file cannot be created.  Also, the resident state and LA are piggy-back for Efile with the Federal return.  The ability to e-file only does not resolve the issue at hand.

[Ross]

Hello mscpa30!

Thanks for your response- that is good information to share. Please don't let my answer come across as a "We're finished here" style of remark. I was relaying the status from lfs.intuit.com. From my perspective, this is not resolved until we see green font on lfs.intuit.com for the IT-540B-2D.

The good news is now that the calculations and transmissions are finalized, implementing the barcode/form should happen quickly once we have final approval. We're checking in with LA multiple times a day now so that once we get the confirmation the program can be updated quickly. 

[taxdawg]

Another unsatisfied Lacerte customer here.  My clients are NOT happy with me. It is unfair that they cannot receive their resident state refunds simply because we cannot attach a LA non-resident return.

[HalH]

I agree with you taxdawg. This thread of messages has been going on for 3 weeks. 3 weeks ago is about the same time that every other tax software vendor made this form available. Last week I was told by Lacerte this was high priority. I checked for an update first thing this morning, but still nothing. They don't even respond to service request messages. The one they did respond to was sent in 2/13/20 and I finally got a response 3/6/20. They had fixed the issue though on the 2/20/20 update.  When those other software vendors come calling after tax season I will take their calls and see what else is out there.  

[Ross]

As of this morning, IT-540B for LA has received final approval. It will be available this week for print and e-file. 

It should be available, at latest, in Thursday's release. 

We are making every effort to have it available for today's release, however.

It is being included with today's release (3/10/2020)

[HalH]

I see no release for yesterday. Program is telling me I am on the latest program. Lacerte Update Scheduler downloaded nothing and is also telling me "No new updates". ????????????????

[tpherson]

I got an update yesterday with the required Louisiana non-Resident forms.

[KTMPP]

It is in the 40.0310 release, maybe your internet connection is down and not retrieving the latest update???

[Jonesin1]

still saying unavailable in ProSeries

[sjrcpa]

@Jonesin1  

Start a new question. You added on to one for last year's Lacerte program.;

[lpresslercpa]

NJ isn't on the list of states that won't let you print - but it won't let me print the state partnership return!  Crazy!!