IRS PTIN Renewal Process is partially down.

I have been told (when calling the IRS PTIN line) that the payment subsystem is currently down. People can still input changes or start applications, but cannot complete the process by paying the user fee. The IRS will be working on the problem over the weekend and expects to have a resolution by Monday, November 4, 2013.

I called them when trying to renew my own PTIN and being unsuccessful in the payment subsystem. The web site seems to oscillate between two pages: "Online Application Payment" (which contains the disclosure from their payment processor, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank) and "Confirm Payment Details", where clicking on "next" kicks one back to the earlier page.

Reply to
D. Stussy
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You made it further into the process than I did. I was kicked back to the login page when I clicked to confirm my name.

Gary

Reply to
Gary Goodman

"Gary Goodman" wrote

That's what it did to me all day. Log in to be redirected to the, yes, the log in screen. Then it would "time out" after it said 15 minutes.

This isn't the best time for any government agency to have computer problems.

Reply to
paulthomascpa

Just as a follow-up, I'm re-posting a message that was posted to the IRS Return Preparer Office Facebook page yesterday (looks legit to me).

I have a reminder on my calendar to renew my PTIN every year by Nov 30 (giving me a month before the deadline), so I'm not worried yet.

========[begin message]================A message from Carol A. Campbell, RPO Director:

Hello everyone. I am excited that so many of you have lined up to be among the first to renew or register for your PTIN for the coming year. I hate to dampen that enthusiasm by telling you that the system just cannot accomodate ALL OF YOU at one time. At some points this first week, we had more than 40,000 login attempts in a one hour period for three hours straight. That is a lot of traffic for a system that previously had a maximum of 20,000 attempts in an hour and it only lasted for one hour. This results in an inability to get into the system, getting kicked out of the system (and if your luck is like mine, you were so close to being finished), or the system is extremely slow.

Yes, I have been reading your comments. I know some of you are frustrated, and I apologize. This is the same system you have used since we started, albeit updated, but we've never had as many people try to access it at the same time as we've had this year. We planned for the same steady pace of renewals that was consistent with past years, but the volume of this year's early renewals has been quite a surprise.

Last night we upgraded the system's capacity, which should result in improved performance. However, I checked with our tech folks for other tips that may improve your experience and here's what they recommend:

- Try accessing the system during off-peak hours. (Peak is 1 pm to 4 pm Eastern Standard Time)

- If the system is slow, try a little later. (Hitting refresh won't help.)

- No need to call us about the slow system. (Trust me, we know.)

Again, we're sorry for the inconvenience. We very much appreciate all of the early renewals, but remember, you have until December 31 before your PTIN expires. Of course, please don't wait until the last week to renew either!

All the best, Carol ==============[end message]=================

Reply to
Mark Bole

Hello everyone. I am excited that so many of you have lined up to be among the first to renew or register for your PTIN for the coming year. ... ==============[end message]================= OK. Has anyone successfully paid for their PTIN renewal?

The system still won't let me pay for it. I still get cycled between the two payment screens, even today; the first one having the JP Morgan Chase disclosure. I never get a screen asking for my credit/debit card number. I've tried this at various times of day - including 1:00 a.m. PT.

Reply to
D. Stussy

Yes. I renewed last week, and did not have any trouble paying with a credit card.

Bob Sandler

Reply to
Bob Sandler

Mark Bole wrote: : On 2013-11-04 05:53, paulthomascpa wrote: : > "Gary Goodman" wrote : >>> -- : >> You made it further into the process than I did. I was kicked back to the : >> login page when I clicked to confirm my name. : > : > : > : > That's what it did to me all day. Log in to be redirected to the, yes, the : > log in screen. Then it would "time out" after it said 15 minutes. : > : > This isn't the best time for any government agency to have computer : > problems. : >

: Just as a follow-up, I'm re-posting a message that was posted to the IRS : Return Preparer Office Facebook page yesterday (looks legit to me).

: I have a reminder on my calendar to renew my PTIN every year by Nov 30 : (giving me a month before the deadline), so I'm not worried yet.

: ========[begin message]================: A message from Carol A. Campbell, RPO Director:

: Hello everyone. I am excited that so many of you have lined up to be : among the first to renew or register for your PTIN for the coming year. : I hate to dampen that enthusiasm by telling you that the system just : cannot accomodate ALL OF YOU at one time. At some points this first : week, we had more than 40,000 login attempts in a one hour period for : three hours straight. That is a lot of traffic for a system that : previously had a maximum of 20,000 attempts in an hour and it only : lasted for one hour. This results in an inability to get into the : system, getting kicked out of the system (and if your luck is like mine, : you were so close to being finished), or the system is extremely slow.

: Yes, I have been reading your comments. I know some of you are : frustrated, and I apologize. This is the same system you have used since : we started, albeit updated, but we've never had as many people try to : access it at the same time as we've had this year. We planned for the : same steady pace of renewals that was consistent with past years, but : the volume of this year's early renewals has been quite a surprise.

: Last night we upgraded the system's capacity, which should result in : improved performance. However, I checked with our tech folks for other : tips that may improve your experience and here's what they recommend:

: - Try accessing the system during off-peak hours. (Peak is 1 pm to 4 pm : Eastern Standard Time)

: - If the system is slow, try a little later. (Hitting refresh won't help.)

: - No need to call us about the slow system. (Trust me, we know.)

: Again, we're sorry for the inconvenience. We very much appreciate all of : the early renewals, but remember, you have until December 31 before your : PTIN expires. Of course, please don't wait until the last week to renew : either!

: All the best, : Carol : ==============[end message]=================

: --

: Mark Bole, EA : Enrolled Agents - America's Tax Experts :

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I was not sure what PITN was, but after reading all this I think it must be Pain In The Neck, as polite way for phrasing that expression:-)

Wendy Baker

Reply to
W. Baker

I also renewed successfully last week, paid with a debit card. No glitches.

Reply to
Mark Bole

I also renewed successfully last week, paid with a debit card. No glitches. ============= Meanwhile, I get thrown into an endless cycle between the page with the JP Morgan Chase processing disclosure ("Online application payment - terms and conditions") and the page which follows it ("Confirm payment details"). Clicking on "next" on the latter returns me to the former - repeatedly and without fail. I never get asked for my card info. This was the problem I reported to the IRS PTIN hotline on November 1.

I even tried this again a few minutes before replying here today. Same cycle of pages.

Reply to
D. Stussy

Try using a different browser, or a different computer.

Bob Sandler

Reply to
Bob Sandler

Try using a different browser, or a different computer.

====== I have - and I get the same result. One machine is 32-bit arch. and the other is 64-bit, and they do not run the same OS.

I guess it will be time soon to print out a W-12 and mail it in with a check.....

Reply to
D. Stussy

I'm feeling stupid here but I can't find any payment link. All I can find is a statement saying that I can pay by credit or debit, but not how to make the payment. Where do I go to find the link?

Reply to
SD

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