Tracking Requests

You can see the list of requests that are in each stage of the Client Collaboration workflow by clicking a status link in the Request Status section of the Requests dashboard. You can also move from one workflow status view to another view by selecting an option from the Request Status filter list above the request grid.

Requests in many cases will move from one workflow status to the next automatically based on specific triggers. In some cases, your firm can also manually trigger a status update.

ClosedTell me more about the workflow statuses and the triggers to move between them.

Workflow Order Status Description Trigger for Moving to the Next Status
1 Ready to Send

The request has been created and is waiting to be sent to the client at the appropriate time.

Requests progress automatically to the Client Progress status when the request is successfully sent.

Requests that do not send successfully are moved to the Error view (if there is an issue with an individual request) or the Batch Requests view (if there is an issue with sending a batch request).

2 Client Progress

The request was sent to the client, and the client has begun working on it.

Requests progress automatically to the Return Ready to Start status when either the client or a staff member closes the request.

If a staff member reopens a request, it is moved back to this status.

3 Return Ready to Start

The requested tasks are marked as completed. The firm can begin work on the engagement.

Requests progress automatically to the Return in Progress status when the firm downloads the tax documents for a request from this view.

4 Return in Progress

The completed request has been downloaded by the firm and work has begun on the engagement.

Requests progress automatically to the Awaiting Return Signature status when the firm sends the Form 8879 form for the client to sign.
5 Awaiting Return Signature

The return and Form 8879 has been sent to the client for review and signing.

Requests progress automatically to the Return Signature Received status when all required client signatures have been added to the Form 8879.

6 Return Signature Received

All the required client signatures have been added to the Form 8879.

Requests progress automatically to the Finalized status after 30 days in this status. A firm staff member can also manually mark the return as finalized.
7 Finalized All work for the engagement has been completed. n/a

Other Status Views

In addition to the workflow statuses, there are other statuses that indicate that a request requires additional attention from your firm. You can access these status views from the Requests dashboard. These views are not accessible from the workflow status views.

Note: Requests in some cases can both appear both on one of these status views, as well as in a workflow status view. For example, a request that is in the Client Progress workflow status could also display on the Overdue status view.

ClosedTell me more about the other status views.

Status Description How to Access this Status View
Reopen A request has been submitted to reopen this request. Reopening the request will change the workflow status to Client Progress and remove it from this view. Click View reopen requests on the Requests dashboard.
Overdue

The client either has not yet signed the engagement letter or has not completed the request, even though the due date set by the firm has passed.

If needed, you can update the due date or close the request to move it out of overdue status.

Click View overdue requests on the Requests dashboard.
Error An issue is preventing a request from being sent to the client. Use the information in the Error column in this view to correct the issue. Click View errors on the Requests dashboard.
Batch Requests

This view summarizes information about batch requests. It includes two tabs:

  • Batch Activity indicates whether past batch jobs sent successfully.
  • In Progress summarizes jobs that are currently in process.
Click View batch requests on the Requests dashboard.

Using the Request Grids

The request grids provide additional information to help you follow the progress of an engagement. For example, progress circles in certain columns indicate how much of that task the client has completed.

  • Green filled areas on the circles indicate the percentage of the request that the client has completed.
  • Gray areas represent the incomplete portion of the request.
  • A check mark displays when all portions of a task are completed.

When all tasks for a request are completed, the request automatically moves to the Return Ready to Start tab, indicating that the firm can take the next required action on the engagement.

In addition, clicking in the Actions column for a request displays a menu that you can use to perform additional tasks for that request.

Note: The actions you can perform on requests vary depending on the status view you are in. Similarly, the columns that are visible in a status grid vary as well.

On any status view, you can perform the following tasks to help you quickly find specific requests:

  • Apply a custom filter. Click above the grid, and then select the filter set you want to apply. See Creating Filter Sets for the Request Grid for information on defining new filter sets.
  • Sort the list. Click a column header in the grid to sort by that column. Click the same header again to reverse the sort order.
  • Change the number of results that display per page. Select a different number in the Results per page box at the bottom of the page.
  • Navigate to another page in the list. Click a specific page number or the arrows in the lower right beneath the grid to move to another page.
  • Search for a client in that status. Enter all or part of a client name or client ID in the search box above the grid and to the right.

ClosedTell me about all the columns in the request grid.