Starting a Return

Open Start New Tax Return 0:10

On the main menu, click anywhere in the Start New Tax Return row (the top item), or click its SELECT button.

Enter the SSN twice 0:34

Type the client's number in Social Security Number, then again in Confirm Social Security Number. The two entries must match before you can continue; if they don't, the program shows Social Security Number must match so you can fix the typo.

Choose a taxpayer profile 0:59

Under Available Taxpayer Profiles, Basic (No Profile) is selected by default. It creates the return without queuing any forms.

If your office has built profiles (for example HOH Filer or College Student), click one to use it. Once you finish the basic information, the program asks for that profile's forms automatically.

Preview a profile's forms 1:36

Click the small arrows icon next to a profile name to expand it. The list shows which forms the profile includes and the order in which they'll come up.

Click START RETURN 2:53

Click START RETURN. A reminder asks you to make sure the client's 7216 Consent to Use Tax Return Information is signed before you start. Click OK.

Continue to the filing status page 3:17

The return opens on What's your filing status?, where you continue with the return.

Start the return 0:00

After you enter and confirm the SSN and click START RETURN, the return opens on What's your filing status?

Select the filing status 0:20

Pick the option that applies to the taxpayer:

• Single
• Married Filing Jointly
• Married Filing Separately
• Head of Household
• Qualifying Surviving Spouse
• Nonresident Alien

Each status has its own requirements and affects the return, so make sure you choose the correct one.

Use the Filing Status Wizard if unsure 0:41

Click FILING STATUS WIZARD. Answer each question with YES or NO. The first question is whether the taxpayer was considered married on December 31. Based on the answers, the wizard suggests a filing status.

Use PREVIOUS to go back a question, or EXIT WIZARD to leave it.

Treat the questions as due diligence 1:11

The wizard's questions (marital status, citizenship, who lived with the taxpayer, who paid more than half the household costs) are the qualifications behind each status. Asking them shows you checked eligibility. Some offices put them on their client intake sheet.

Click CONTINUE 1:47

With the status selected, click CONTINUE to go to the Personal Information page.

Enter the taxpayer's name 0:13

Fill in Primary taxpayer first name, MI, Last name and Suffix (Jr, Sr, etc.) if there is one. The SSN is already filled in from the start screen.

Tab through date of birth and occupation 0:22

Press Tab to move from field to field. In Date of Birth, just type the month, day and year on the number keys while you tab through the three boxes. Then enter the Occupation.

Use Shift+Tab to go back 0:45

Press Shift+Tab to move back to the previous field. This lets you fix a mistake without taking your hands off the keyboard.

Answer the taxpayer questions 1:07

Check any boxes that apply, for example Taxpayer can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, Taxpayer is blind, Taxpayer is deceased, Taxpayer wishes to contribute $3 to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, or Taxpayer was affected by a natural disaster during the current tax year.

Enter the address 1:26

Under Address and Phone Number, check I have a stateside military address or Check here if foreign address if either applies. Then fill in Address (street number & name), Apartment, ZIP code, City, town, or post office, State and the resident state as of December 31.

Enter phone numbers 1:44

Enter the Daytime Telephone Number and, if you have one, the Secondary Telephone Number. The banks require two phone numbers for a bank product.

Capture the email address 1:56

Enter the client's address in Primary Client Email.

Invite the client to the Customer Portal (optional) 2:10

Under Invite to Customer Portal, choose Email, enter the address and click SEND INVITE. The Customer Portal works like the mobile app but is meant for use on a computer. Clients use it to upload documents.

Continue to dependents 2:48

Click FILING STATUS to go back to the previous page, or click CONTINUE to save and move on to dependents and qualifying persons.

Answer the dependents question 0:08

After you click CONTINUE on Personal Information, the Dependents or Qualifying Person(s) page asks Do you have any dependents or qualifying person(s) to claim on your return? Click YES.

Read each page carefully. The on-screen text explains what it's asking for.

Enter the name and date of birth 0:49

On Dependent/Qualifying Child Information, enter the First name and MI. Last name fills in with the taxpayer's last name, so change it if the dependent's is different. Then select the Date of birth.

Enter the SSN 1:10

Enter the dependent's number in Social Security number (ITIN & ATIN also accepted).

Handle a dependent with no SSN 1:15

If the dependent has no number yet, check Check here if the individual does not have an SSN, ITIN, or ATIN. The SSN field goes away and you're asked whether the dependent will be completing Form W-7. Answer yes or no. A yes brings up the W-7 later in the return.

Answer citizenship, relationship and months 1:47

Answer the U.S. citizen, national, or resident question with Yes or No. Choose the Relationship (for example Son or Daughter). This field is required. Then set Number of months this person lived in your home. If the dependent was born during the tax year, you must select 12 months.

Check any boxes that apply 2:02

Under Check any of these that apply to you, mark anything that's true, such as full-time student over age 18, DISABLED, married, or qualifies for a Multiple Support Declaration.

Save and enter the next dependent 2:06

Click SAVE & ENTER ANOTHER to save this dependent and open a blank form for the next one. When you've entered the last dependent, click CONTINUE.

Mark children you aren't claiming 2:37

If a qualifying child isn't the taxpayer's dependent (for example, because of a divorce agreement), check Check if this qualifying child is NOT YOUR DEPENDENT. To leave the child out for earned income purposes, check Check if you wish NOT to claim this dependent for Earned Income Credit purposes.

Review the summary page 3:06

After you click CONTINUE, the Dependent or Qualifying Child summary lists everyone you entered. Click the pencil to edit an entry or the trash can to delete it. To add someone else, click Add a Dependent or Qualifying Child. Click CONTINUE when you're done.

Start a return for the returning client 0:17

Click Start New Tax Return, enter the client's SSN in both fields and click START RETURN, then click OK on the consent reminder. If the SSN is already in the database, the program recognizes the client.

Review the data found 0:36

The We found data to import page groups last year's information by section, such as Dependents and Form W-2, plus any other items that carry forward (for example a Schedule C). Each item has a PULL ITEM? checkbox.

Uncheck anything you don't want 0:41

Leave items checked to bring them forward. Uncheck anything that no longer applies, for example a W-2 from an employer the client has left.

Import the data or start fresh 1:00

Under Would you like us to import this data?, click YES to import the checked items. Click NO, THANKS to start the return from scratch.

Verify the carried-forward information 1:07

After the import, the filing status is already selected and the Personal Information page is filled in from last year. Review each page as you continue. For dependents, the import brings over the SSN, name, date of birth, months lived with the taxpayer and student/disabled status, so verify all of it when you reach the dependent section.

Open the Refund Calculator 0:17

In the left-hand menu, click Refund Calculator. The Professional Tax Refund Calculator opens with these tabs: Simple Return, Other Income, Deductions, Adjustments / Credits and Results.

Fill in the personal info 0:30

You don't need a name, SSN, date of birth or address. Under Personal info, set Taxpayer's filing status, Taxpayer's age, Is the taxpayer blind?, Is the taxpayer a dependent?, Does the taxpayer have an ITIN? and Number of dependents.

Once you enter dependents, also fill in Dependents qualifying for EIC and Dependents qualifying for CTC. Ask enough about the dependents (ages and so on) to know which ones qualify.

Enter W-2 wages 1:03

Under Wages on Form W-2, choose the W-2 Owner and enter Wages (Box 1), Federal withholdings (Box 2) and any Additional compensation (Box 12a-12d). Click ADD ANOTHER W-2 if you need more rows.

The Refund Summary at the top updates the Estimated federal refund and Estimated AGI amount as you type.

Add other and business income 1:28

Click NEXT to open Other Income. Enter any interest, dividends, gains, IRA/pension distributions, unemployment, alimony or Social Security benefits. Under Business Income, enter Taxpayer's year end business profit/loss, using a negative number for a loss.

Add deductions, adjustments and credits 1:46

Continue to Deductions and Adjustments / Credits if the client has any. You can go into as much detail as you like or keep the estimate high level.

Review the results 2:26

On Results, the Refund summary walks from income through adjusted gross income, deductions, tax, credits and payments to the Estimated federal refund. Click SWITCH TO 1040 VIEW to see the figures in 1040 form. Click RESTART to clear the calculator for the next estimate.