Tag: Configuration

01/10/2018 — The add buttons are now visible again

The Add button is currently not visible in these items through Configuration.  We will resolve this with an application update.

Blog posted 01/09/2018

These are some of the questions we received about Custom Questions during our Administrator Webinar:

Q: Is there a way to make the Assigned Questions = REQUIRED?

A:  The four default question we deliver at the request of the IRS cannot be marked  as required.  Custom questions that are created at the site level can be marked as required.  If the site belongs to a multi-site or relational group, the questions can be marked required before they are assigned to the site.

Q:  Can you make a pre-set question inactive because you are substituting your own version of the question and you want that one active?

A:  No, assigned questions cannot be marked as inactive, however the 4 assigned are not required to be answered.  It is important to note that if you are using your own version of the question, those answers are not being reported up to the IRS in their weekly reports.

Q: Will the 4 delivered questions show up for all the years of the software, or only for the 2017 year?

A:  Yes, the 4 assigned questions on behalf of the IRS will show up in the returns for all years

Q: How do you collect the data after you have gathered it?

A: Reports can be run at a site level for the data captured for custom questions.

Q:  Can one rearrange the order of the answers to preset questions ?

A:  No, they will be arranged in the order requested by the IRS Core Team.

Q: I want to require Custom questions for the current year, but not for prior years.  Is there a way to “unrequire them” for prior years?

A:  No

Q: Can more than one response to a single question be marked?

A:  No.  If you are seeing a pattern of taxpayers with a combination, you can add that combination to the answer bank at any point.  The modified questions and answers are available for existing and new returns.

Q: Can you delete those questions completely?

A: No, you cannot modify or delete anything assigned to the site.

Blog Posted 10/23/2017

These are some of the questions we received about Custom Credits during our Administrator Webinar

Q: What are Custom Credits used for?

A: They are typically used to capture data for reporting purposes that changes with each return so a picklist is not a good solution through Custom Questions.  Sites typically use these to capture refundable state credits and any numerical information that may not be captured for reporting purposes when completing the tax return.

Q: I understand. we use to be able to track how many homesteads were processed.  When using the software for 2016, there wasn’t a way to capture this information.

A:  Depending on the data you are collecting, you can capture this information via Custom Questions if Yes/No or by Custom Credits if you are tracking the amount of the credit.

Q: Are they going to be able to use alpha in custom credits?

A:  No, the primary purpose of these fields is to allow the preparer to enter numerical information that changes with each return.

Q: Is there anyway to assign a number to each taxpayer for reporting purposes without using the custom credit section?

A:  No, if you want to assign a unique number to a taxpayer for reporting purposes, you will need to create a custom credit.  This will allow the unique number to be entered.

blog Posted 10/22/2017

We have removed the Security Answer and Security Question from Preparer Setup.

Why were they removed?

These are no longer required with the implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication.  The user is now required to receive an authentication code when they select Forgot Password that will be sent to the either the email or cell phone number that is listed in their user account.

Blog Posted 10/19/2017

One of the common questions received yesterday (9/7/17) after launching MFA was from site administrators or volunteers with a security template allowing access to Configuration>Preparer Setup.

Scenario: I have multiple volunteers at my site that also volunteer at other sites. When I access my own Preparer(s) Setup Menu page, I can see the checkbox to allow my e-mail address to be used across multiple accounts. However, when I access the Preparer(s) Setup Menu page for other volunteers at my site, I do not see the checkbox under their e-mail address entry field.

Q1:  Why can’t I see the checkbox for my volunteers?

A1: The reason you are able to see the checkbox under your Preparer(s) Setup Menu page is because you completed the Account Update screen after MFA was launched.  As each volunteer completes the Account Update screen for their username, the checkbox will be available within their Preparer(s) Setup Menu page.

The following instructions describe how to create and assign Question Templates:

(1) Login with your Group Login

(2) Click Select on Group Configuration

(3) Select Question Templates

(4) Click on either Create Question Template or Default Question Template

(5) Click Add to create the question and answer bank to assign.  Note:  You cannot re-assign any question templates assigned to your group.

(6) Add Question and Answer Bank

(7) After saving your question(s), click the Back Button to return to the Questions Main Page

(8) Select the site(s) to assign the question(s) to and click Continue

You have received your login credentials for your Relational Admin group account.  This also requires the use of a Relational EFIN and the appropriate 7216 Consents.  We will be assigning the appropriate Reporting Consent that will be required to be completed for the purpose of electronic filing.

You will have access to Group Menu

Client Search = Allows you to search for a taxpayer from any of the sites under your group

Group Configuration = Allows you create configurable/setup items and assign to any of the sites under your group

Group Reports = Allows you to run reports for any of the sites under your group

Transmissions = Allows you to transmit returns for any of the sites under your group

Office Access = Allows you to access any office under your group with your group login credentials.  At this point you can assist the site in quality reviewing returns if the site utilizes the built-in review process to mark returns ready for review, create preparers/users, and much more

You have received your login credentials for your Multi-Site Admin group account.  This allows you to create configurable items and assign them to the sites that are listed under your MSA group.

You will have access to Group Configuration when you login.

Click Select to access the Configuration Menu.  The items located on the Configuration Menu allows you to create items and assign it to other sites under your MSA umbrella.