NY e-file: PREPARER not valid for Paid Prep name

[HV Ken]

On the 1040, we have put "Preparer" in the Third Party Designee box. We finally submitted our first e-files of the season, and our NY returns are being rejected:
"PREPARER" is not a valid entry for paid preparer name or third party designee name. Paid Preparer Name or Preparer SSN / PTIN blank or incorrectly formatted.

Guess we will have to override this field on each NY return from now on....

[joanmcq]

'Preparer' hasn't been valid for federal for a few years now. I've had to change all of my rolled over returns; but still get a few where I'm doing back returns. ATX should automatically fill in your info when you check 'yes' on the federal. I still have to fill in my info for CA & any other states that have it.

[HV Ken]

'Preparer' hasn't been valid for federal for a few years now. I've had to change all of my rolled over returns; but still get a few where I'm doing back returns. ATX should automatically fill in your info when you check 'yes' on the federal. I still have to fill in my info for CA & any other states that have it.

Thanks for the info - guess it should be an e-file reject on the federal as well ??

[joanmcq]

Don't know; I haven't tried one. But per the other board, a lot of people are getting state rejects from that box; not filled in or wrong info. Silly for not filled in-error check does point to not filled in.

But some of the people on the other board appear to have the intelligence of a turnip.

[Terry O]

Appears that the Feds will accept "preparer" - -but NOT NYS.

Soooooooooooo, I put it on the every growing checkilist of things I have to check in the new software.

sigh

[Lee B]

I started getting ATX efile error check messages related to this several years ago. Since I have

never had the IRS or my state utilize this authorization, I just started checking the no box.

Problem solved.

[joanmcq]

Yes, that's one simple solution! Feds aren't supposed to accept 'preparer' and ATX stopped defaulting to that in 2009 or 2010.

It is one of the messages you get in error check if you haven't filled in the state. At least for CA; I haven't done any out of state returns yet.

[David1980]

Thanks for the info - guess it should be an e-file reject on the federal as well ??

Might or might not. The IRS did change their instructions a while back to indicate it was no longer valid but they don't reject for everything that isn't valid. So it could be against instructions but still get accepted.