ABCvoice

ABCvoice is a paid service offered by Versicom Communications (https://www.versicomcorp.com/) that enables your clients to call the toll-free ABCvoice Tax Infoline and get their return and refund check status at any time of day. The service works with single and multi-site offices using information from the EF database at Drake Software.

When your client calls the toll-free number, ABCvoice accesses the client's information and plays a status message. For example:

• Return has been transmitted to the IRS

• Awaiting bank approval

• Direct Deposit coming from the IRS

To hear a sample of how ABCvoice works, call toll-free (866) 730-2274 (en Español (866) 931-1040) and enter a test number (111-11-1111, 222-22-2222 through 999-99-9999).

Because clients call a toll-free ABC number rather than your office, you don't have to purchase new hardware or phone lines.

The service requires installation of an ABCvoice utility on your computer that uploads client status information from your online EF database to ABCvoice. In addition to the utility, multi-site office service requires the download and use of a CSV file available at your online database at Drake Support. To download this file,

• Log into the Drake Software Support website.

• Go to Reports > ABC Voice File Download.

• Click Create and Download the ABC Voice File and save the file to your computer where you can find it.

  If you are part of a multi-site, make sure your multi-site configuration is accurately set up within Drake Tax.

For more information or to purchase and set up the service, contact ABC at (800) 222-8170, or go to https://www.versicomcorp.com/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have an error message: “\Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server error '80004005' Transaction (Process ID 89) was deadlocked on lock resources with another process and has been chosen as the deadlock victim. Rerun the transaction./onlineefdb/abc.asp.line 30”?

This error indicates the server is busy. Please try again.

On the ABCV screen, do I have to make an entry in order for the taxpayer’s return information to be available on ABCvoice?

Yes, in order for information to be sent to Versicom, the taxpayer (or both taxpayers in a joint return) must sign both the Consent to Use and the Consent to Disclosure documents, and that fact must be indicated on the screen.

On the ABCV screen, do I have to select text or email? What if the taxpayer wants to use the phone number to ABCvoice or go out to the website address provided?

If the taxpayer wants to be notified by a text message or an email, you must select that option on the ABCV screen. If the software administrator requires a contact method to be selected and the taxpayer does not wish to be contacted via email or text message, select Do Not Contact. If Do Not Contact is selected, the taxpayer may still utilize the return status notification telephone hotline and website by consenting to the disclosure of their tax return information.

When are the Consent to Disclosure and Consent to Use forms printed?

The forms are generated when applicable if the software administrator has selected the ABCvoice option and Generate consent forms with tax return (in the Return Status Notification Programs area at Setup > Options > Administrative Options). The forms are also available as ABCVDISC.PG and ABCV_USE.PG in Tools > Blank Forms.

How do I automatically mark a Consent box to indicate a consent form has been completed on all returns?

There is not a way to mark a Consent box on all returns automatically. The consent will have to be indicated on each return as some taxpayers may not choose to complete a consent form; however, a macro can be set up to mark the Consent box on certain screens. A macro is a way to make the process of repetitive data entry easier by setting a string of data to a keyboard shortcut. For more information on setting up macros, go to Setup > Macros and click Help.

How can I make sure preparers review a certain field in every return before filing the return?

There is a procedure called “flagging” that allows the administrator to choose the fields the preparer must look at on each return or screen. These fields can be marked - or “flagged” - whenever a new return is created. When a field is set up to be flagged upon creation of a return, the preparer must mark or edit or remove the flag from that field or an EF Message will be generated, indicating there are unverified fields that need attention (see "Flagging And Clearing Flagged Fields" in Related Links at the bottom of this page).

How do I flag fields so the preparers will know to check those fields prior to filing the return?

The steps for flagging a field are as follows:

1. Go to Setup > Options > Administrative Options.

2. Select Use customized flagged fields on all returns.

3. Click the Flag button.

4. Select 1040-Individual.

5. Click ABCV from the Miscellaneous tab

6. Right-click the desired fields and choose the appropriate item from the right-click menu. To flag the Signed (send taxpayer information to ABCvoice) field on each return, select Flag For Review When Return Is Created.

7. Exit back to the Administrative Options screen and click OK to save the settings.