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