Adding and Securing Tax Returns

Use the following procedure to create a return for one of the following:

• An existing client with no other returns for the same tax year.
• Another version of a return belonging to an existing client in the same tax year. A client can have up to nine tax return versions for each specified return type and tax year.

1. In Return Manager, select File > New > Tax Return on the menu bar or by clicking New Return directly above the grid on the toolbar.
2. Enter an existing client name or ID. If your client ID contains a sub-ID, enter a period after the client ID, followed by the sub-ID, for example, Client ID.SubID.

In the Other settings section, the return group Set up at the firm level for filtering and organizing purposes only. Clients are assigned to return groups in the client profile. All returns for a specific client will belong to the same tax return group. In Tax, a return group can also refer to a family of consolidated returns. populates based on the client profile settings and the print set Print sets can be created for the firm or the user to configure default options such as copy types, print order, print destination, and watermarks. populates based on the firm's return defaults established for the organizational unit.

Notes:

• If a return group is not established for the client ID, you are prompted to select one for the client.
• You cannot add returns for clients assigned to a custom or Sole Proprietorship client type.
• You must have permissions to access the client.
3. Accept the current tax year or select a different year from the list of supported tax years.
4. Select a tax return type based on the firm's licensing and the client profile. See Selecting Return Types to review the return types available for each client type.

Example: An Individual client type populates the following return types: Individual, Employee Benefit Plan, or Estate & Gift.

5. Accept the return configuration set A set of preferences that allows the firm to configure tax return detail for signature block, print, electronic filing, tax products, and other products that interface with the Tax system. that is populated based in the firm's return defaults established for the organizational unit or select another to apply to the return.
6. Enter a description, if you prefer. If you will be creating more than one return version for a client in the same tax year, a description is helpful to distinguish differences in the versions. You can enter a description at any time after the new version is created by clicking Version Description on the Manage tab from inside a return.
7. Select from the list of return templates A tax return used as a template to set preparation options, such as print detail and preparer information for a tax product and tax year., if needed. The available templates are listed for the return type and tax year.
8. After you enter all required information, you can click Return security on the navigation panel to enter and confirm a password of one to eight letters or numbers for the return. Security is applied to the client level. The password entered to secure a return for a client must be entered to open other returns created for that same client. See Securing an Open Tax Return for information about securing an open return.
9. Click Create. If you are creating a return for a client with no existing returns in the same tax year, the return opens. If you are creating a new version of a return for an existing client that has one or more returns for the selected tax year and return type, the existing return versions display. A client can have up to nine tax return versions for each specified return type and tax year.
10. Do the following to create a new version, if applicable:
    1. Click New Version.
    2. Below the version number, enter a description for the new version, if needed.
    3. Click OK to open the new return version.  If not already downloaded, the appropriate tax forms required to process your return are downloaded for the tax year and return type.
11. If all of the following conditions are true, you are prompted to link the return to a Workstream project:
    • A Workstream license is assigned in your staff profile.
    • Workstream is installed on your machine.
    • The Workstream option to link the return ID and client ID to a project is selected in the return configuration set.

    Accept the default settings for the project or enter different link options. See Linking Returns to Projects for more information.

If you have the assigned permission rights, you can create a client while creating a return.

1. In Return Manager, select File > New > Tax Return on the menu bar or by clicking New Return directly above the grid on the toolbar.
2. Enter an ID in the Client ID box of up to 15 characters. If your client ID contains a sub-ID, enter a period after the client ID, followed by the sub-ID of up to 21 characters, for example, Client ID.SubID. When you press Tab or Enter, the Add Client window displays.
3. Enter profile data for the new client. Enter a client type, office, business unit, client ID, name, and return group. See Selecting Return Types for information about the return types that are available for each client type.

Note: You cannot add returns for clients assigned to a custom or Sole Proprietorship client type.

4. Accept the default year end (fiscal year end date) or select a different date.
5. To enter additional profile information not included on the Add Client window, do the following:
1. Click Client Profile to display the complete profile.
2. Enter additional profile information on the various windows, as needed.
3. Click Save & Close to save your changes.
6. Click OK on the Add Client window to return to the New Tax Return window. In the Other settings section, the return group Set up at the firm level for filtering and organizing purposes only. Clients are assigned to return groups in the client profile. All returns for a specific client will belong to the same tax return group. In Tax, a return group can also refer to a family of consolidated returns. populates based on the client profile and the print set Print sets can be created for the firm or the user to configure default options such as copy types, print order, print destination, and watermarks. populates based on the firm's return defaults established for the organizational unit.
7. Accept the current tax year or select a different year from the list of installed tax years.
8. Select a tax return type based on the firm's licensing and the client profile.

Example: An Individual client type populates the following return types: Individual, Employee Benefit Plan, or Estate & Gift.

9. Select the return configuration set A set of preferences that allows the firm to configure tax return detail for signature block, print, electronic filing, tax products, and other products that interface with the Tax system. to apply to the return.
10. Enter a description, if you prefer. If you will be creating more than one return version for a client in the same tax year, a description is helpful to distinguish differences in the versions. You can enter a description at any time after the new version is created by clicking Version Description on the Manage tab from inside a return.
11. Select from the list of return templates A tax return used as a template to set preparation options, such as print detail and preparer information for a tax product and tax year., if needed. The available templates are listed for the return type and tax year.
12. After you enter all required information, you can click Return security on the navigation panel to enter and confirm a password of one to eight letters or numbers for the return. Security is applied to the client level. The password entered to secure a return for a client must be entered to open other returns created for that same client. See Securing an Open Tax Return for information about securing an open return.
13. Click Create. If not already downloaded, the appropriate tax forms required to process your return are downloaded for the tax year and return type.
14. If all of the following conditions are true, you are prompted to link the return to a Workstream project:
    • A Workstream license is assigned in your staff profile.
    • Workstream is installed on your machine.
    • The Workstream option to link the return ID and client ID to a project is selected in the return configuration set.

    Accept the default settings for the project or enter different link options. See Linking Returns to Projects for more information.