IRS Individual E-file Controlled Launch

[IntuitEric]

On January 15th, 2025 ProSeries will begin participating in the IRS controlled launch for Individual returns prepared for Tax Year 2024.  During controlled launch, Individual 1040 returns and states for TY24 can be e-filed to the Intuit Electronic Filing Center and Intuit will be working with the IRS to send groups of returns on controlled launch testing days. Not all returns received will be sent each day as the IRS determines the volume of returns to be sent. Additionally, while you can continue to e-file returns to Intuit, no returns will be sent to the IRS on days that are not controlled launch testing days (including weekends). We expect all returns e-filed during this period leading up to the official IRS live date on Jan 27, 2025 to be submitted and acknowledged by the IRS, however some returns may show as received by Intuit for several days.

Things to be aware of with controlled launch:

• Even though the IRS is not yet open for Individual returns (during this systems end to end performance testing time), all returns received by the IRS as part of this testing will be acknowledged as Accepted or Reject just like returns e-filed after EF Live 
• PLEASE NOTE - This is an opportunity for our Pay by Refund Cash Advance customers to file those returns early.  As soon as the IRS accepts those returns, the advance can be processed
• Acknowledgements will not be received in the normal turn-around time since the returns are sent in batches throughout the day, and do not get processed on the weekends. Once E-filing goes live on 1/27/25, normal processing times will resume.
• 1040 returns with refunds will not get funded any earlier, the funding cycles will start in alignment with the IRS go-live date of 1/27/25.
• The Form Status (yellow bar) in the return will indicate EF ready on 1/27/25.  This will not prohibit you from filing.
• Any returns which contain forms not yet final, will fail final review and will not be able to be submitted for e-file until updated to final forms (see forms availability for projected dates)
• For states that are e-file ready, but are not participating in the controlled launch, those returns will be held at Intuit until the state opens E-file on 1/27/25.
• Returns with states that are must-link states should be filed together.  If they aren't filed with the Federal return, they may need to be paper filed.  

Helpful resources:

• How to enroll in Pay-by-Refund for tax year 2024
• Using SBTPG Pay-by-Refund with ProSeries
• Using Refund Advantage Pay-by-Refund with ProSeries
• State e-file methods: standalone vs. piggyback
• How to find release dates for forms and schedules in ProSeries