Electronically File Specialized State (AL) Extensions

The state of Alabama requires tax preparers to upload extension tax payments directly to the Alabama state tax authority website. To accommodate this requirement, Batch Manager provides you the capability of exporting specialized state electronic data for Alabama tax returns in a batch process. One text file is created with extension data for all returns selected for the batch. This option is available for tax years 2012 and higher.

First create a batch job, and then download a file that you can upload to the Alabama tax authority website.

Creating the Job

Do the following to create the Specialized State Extensions (AL) job:

1. Open Dashboard, click Application Links on the navigation panel, and then click Batch Manager under Tax.
2. Select New Job > Electronic Filing > Specialized State Extensions (AL) from the Job Management group on the Home tab.
3. Use the filters to limit what displays in the grid. Click the Select Returns bar to show or hide filters. Setting filters to a value other than All results in fewer returns displayed in the grid.

Example: To see only Individual returns, select 1040 Individual from the Return Type list.

Explain the available filters and processing options.

Component	Description
Tax Year	Displays the current or previous tax year in the grid. Note: Tax year 2012 is the first current or previous year that can be selected.
Return Type	Displays the Individual, Corporation, or S Corporation return type in the grid.
Office	Displays all offices in the grid or limits the grid display to one office.
Business Unit	Displays all business units in the grid or limits the grid display to one business unit. This filter is available if your firm has configured at least one business unit.
Return Group	Displays all return groups in the grid or limits the grid display to one return group.
Last Activity	Displays all activities in the grid or limits the grid display to one activity.
Signer	Displays all signers in the grid or limits the grid display to one signer.
Return Status	Displays all return statuses in the grid or limits the grid display to one status.
Year End	Displays all months or limits the grid display to one month. The selection for Individual returns is always December.

4. Click Go to display results for your filter criteria in the grid. If there is a large number of returns, a progress window displays.
5. Sort columns in the grid to locate the returns to include in the batch.

You may also consider sorting the Password Protect column to locate returns that will require you to enter a password before continuing the batch process. You will also have the option to skip password protected returns.

6. Do any of the following:
   • Select individually. Select the check boxes to the left of the returns to include in your batch job.
   • Select all. Select the box at the top of the column to select or clear all returns in the grid.
   • Review required authorizations. Click the down arrow beside Authorization Summary to view the number and types of authorizations required for the selected returns. Applicable federal, state, or consolidated authorizations are deducted when returns are calculated or printed if they have not been previously authorized. The Authorizations column in the grid displays Yes for returns that require authorizations.
   1. Show me the grid options.

   Component	Description
   Show selected returns only	Select to display only the returns that you have selected in the grid. Clear the check box to show all filtered returns.
   Find Next	Enter the complete criteria to search for specific records or enter partial information to search for similar matches in the Search box located at the top of the window. Then, click Find Next to select the first or next occurrence of your search criteria in the grid. Note: You can enter alpha, numeric, and special characters to locate records.
   Hide/Show Filters	Click the double up or down arrows near the top of the window to alternately hide or show filters, giving you more or less area in the window to review returns in the grid.

7. Click Continue to display your processing options. Your filter selections are saved the next time you create the same job type. If authorizations are required to process one or more of the selected returns, click Yes to confirm the process or No to abandon the process.
8. Select your print options. See Selecting Electronic Filing Specialized State Extensions Print Options for more information.
9. Do one of the following:
   • Click Submit Job to submit the job for immediate processing.
   • Click Schedule Job to schedule the job to process at another date and time. See Scheduling and Rescheduling Jobs for more information.

Uploading the Tax Payment File

After you have submitted the Specialized State Extensions (AL) job, do the following:

1. Filter jobs in the Job Status grid by the Specialized State Extensions (AL) job type.
2. Locate your submitted job in the Job Status grid and click Ready for Download in the Download column or, if this is not the first time the file has been downloaded, click Downloaded. The system displays the location where the estimates file was created.
3. Click OK. The Online Tax Estimate Payment website for the state of Alabama displays, allowing you to upload the downloaded file.