Reviewing the Diagnostics Report

The Diagnostics report describes errors and warnings that could affect the accuracy of a prepared tax return. Descriptions of error and warning locations in the tax return are also included in the report. Diagnostics are cleared from the report after you correct errors or warnings, calculate the return, and generate the report. Diagnostics may also be removed from the report if they are no longer relevant to the return.

Tip: We recommend reviewing the diagnostics report from the Worksheet View rather than from the Government Forms view. Most diagnostics must be corrected in Worksheet View, so running the diagnostics report from this view is more efficient process.

Diagnostic Categories

Diagnostic errors and warnings are grouped in the following categories on the report:

Category Code starts with Action required E-file disqualification
Electronic Filing 6 Must be cleared to file federal or state forms. Yes
5 Must be cleared to file secondary forms or extensions. Yes
4 Must be cleared to file federal or state forms. Yes
Warning 1
  • Indicates there is an input issue in the return that should be addressed prior to filing the return. These will not affect the electronic filing of the return.
    		•  No, but may cause electronic filing diagnostics
    Caution 2 Should be reviewed but may not require a change of input. No
    Informational 3 Should be reviewed but, in most cases, cannot be cleared as they provide information regarding return preparation. No

    Diagnostics categories are separated in collapsible sections. Click or to expand or collapse a section. The number of items in each section displays beside the section headings. If there are no diagnostics for a category, the section for that category does not display.

    Diagnostics have a status of Open or Signed-off. You can sign-off diagnostics that you do not want to show in the Open view. This allows you to focus on diagnostics that may require further input. Select All, Open, or Signed off at the top of the report to change the view, if needed.

    To display the Diagnostics report, do the following:

    1. Select Calc > Return in the Process group on the Home tab, if the return has not been calculated since the last update.
    2. Click Diagnostics in the Reports group on the Review tab.
    3. Do any of the following:
      • Link to a field. Some diagnostics link to the corresponding form or worksheet field in the tax return, allowing you to review or edit the information. In this case, click to the left of a diagnostic. After you make changes to the return, you can calculate the return and regenerate the report to verify the related diagnostic is cleared.
      • If the link option does not display for a diagnostic, a description of the location is provided in the report, so you can navigate to and open the form or worksheet.
      • Sign-off diagnostic. You can select Sign-off below non-severe diagnostics and diagnostics that are not related to electronic filing input or extension/FBAR disqualification. Your user ID, the current date, and current time display next to the Sign-off field and the diagnostic is removed from the Open view.

        • Notes:

        • You can also clear the Sign-off field to return a diagnostic to the Open status. This removes the user ID and date associated with the sign-off and shows the diagnostic in the Open view.
        • The Signed-off state is assigned to the diagnostic for the open return and will remain signed-off unless it is cleared. The diagnostic will show as signed-off for other staff working in the return.
        • You can set the default to print only open diagnostics in User Options > Tax > Print Options and in Return Configuration Sets > Print Options.
      • Print the report. Click Print to display the Print Options window, and then do the following:
        1. Select the number of copies, print destination, and, if needed, print device and watermark.
        2. If you are printing to PDF or TIFF, enter or browse to and select the file destination.
        3. Click Print to print the Diagnostics report for the selected view: All, Open, or Signed-off.

        • Note: You can also send PDF or TIFF files to Document, and PDF files to CCH® ProSystem fx ® Engagement if you have enabled the option to do so in User Options > Tax > Interface Options.

    4. If you made changes to return data or signed-off diagnostics, click Save to retain your changes.