Generate and View, Save or Print a Tax Return
This document applies to all license types. Content last updated 5/4/2018.
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► A WalkMe tutorial is available for this topic.
The tax generation step performs calculations and creates a printable version of the return.
First time generating this return?
- Be sure to complete the Setup Steps Before Filing.
- Review the Tax Return Guideline, if there is one for this return for helpful information.
Generate a tax return
Tax return generation step also runs the transactions validation. Any records with critical errors will be omitted from the return if not corrected.
- Click Tax Filing > Tax Sessions.
- Click the tax session row in the grid and then click Session Details.
- On the Form Settings tab, confirm the information in the fields.
- If the information is incorrect, close the window and choose the correct session from the grid.
- If you want the Schedule Details Report appended to the tax return PDF file, click Include Schedules.
- Click the Form Manual Entry tab:
- Enter any additional data required on the return here.
- The manual entry fields vary according to the jurisdiction's return requirements. Refer to your jurisdiction for questions on the contents of field entries. The one listed below is an example:
- Click Save & Regenerate.
- When the Return Status column changes from Pending to Passed, it is finished.
- If the page grid view does not change, click Refresh. This refreshes the grid view without reloading the entire page.
- When the Return Status column changes from Pending to Passed, it is finished.
Tax Session Options
At the bottom of the Form Settings tab are optional fields.
- Locked checkbox - how to lock a return is detailed below.
- Prepared by - defaults to current user.
- Submission Type - paper, eFile or web.
- Taxpayer Group - selections will show in the dropdown if taxpayer groups have been created.
- Due Date - defaults to the date the return is due, but can be overridden using the calendar icon.
Click Save Options to save your selections to your taxpayer preferences for this and future returns. Just click the Save & Regenerate button to use the options only for the current tax return.
Mass generate multiple returns
Use this option only after you are familiar with the steps in generating a single tax return, above.
- Filter on common criteria - date, jurisdiction, sequence, terminal, etc.
- Select Generate Return(s) from the dropdown at the bottom of the grid and click Submit.
- Only sessions that are eligible for file generation will appear in the resulting grid.
- There is no Form Manual Entry option with this method. The default manual entry settings will apply to each return.
- Review the list of returns to be filed and change filter criteria if necessary.
- Additional filters may be applied on this grid.
- Click Generate Returns to apply to all the selected sessions.
View tax return
- Click Tax Filing > Tax Sessions.
- Click the tax session row in the grid and then click View Tax Return.
- View Tax Return will not be available as a menu choice until the tax return generation is finished running.
- View Tax Return will not be available as a menu choice until the tax return generation is finished running.
- Scroll the PDF to view the return. When "/\" including schedules is checked, a large numbers of pages is divided into display segments. Select another segment to view in the upper left corner.
- To close the window, click Return To Tax Sessions.
Print or save a tax return
You can print or save the tax return in PDF format.
- Click the tax session row in the grid and click View Tax Return.
- Click your web browser's print icon and select the printer and the number of pages to print.
- There are 2 options to save the return as a PDF export.
- Click the diskette icon to save only the current view segment
- Select the Export as a Merged File to save all pages in the report in one PDF.
- Click the diskette icon to save only the current view segment
- Click the Export tab to track the status of the export file creation. A very large number of pages may take a few minutes. The status changes to Passed when it's completed.
- Click on the Output File to download the exported PDF to your computer.
Lock a tax return
After your tax return is created, you can lock it so changes can't be made to the session.
- Click Tax Filing > Tax Sessions.
- Click the tax session row in the grid and then click Session Details.
- Click Locked to checkmark the box under Tax Session Options.
- The option is only active if the Filed Date status is Open. Click here to learn about filing your return.
- Click Save Options.
- No changes can be made to a locked session, including those to its schedule data, tax generation form manual entry or its status as Open or Filed.
- No changes can be made to a locked session, including those to its schedule data, tax generation form manual entry or its status as Open or Filed.
- To unlock, uncheck the box and click Save Options again.
Locking a return is not the same as marking it as filed when the submission to your tax jurisdiction is completed. Click here to learn about filing your return.