Restoring Tax Returns

In Return Manager, you can restore a previous version of a tax return from a backup file. You may want to do this if your system shuts down unexpectedly or if you want to recover data from an older version of a file. The Restore process allows you to save restored data for a different client and select different values for return group, return configuration set, office, business unit, signer, name, and SSN/EIN.

Tip: Click Cancel at any time throughout the Restore wizard to return to a previous window.

Show me the differences between Return Rebuilder, Recover, and Restore.

Feature	Description	Comment
Return Rebuilder	Rebuilds a new version of an existing return.	Does not rebuild the following: Tax return tick marks, estimates, and government form overrides Input from some worksheets, such as the Partnership Partners > Federal / State Schedule K-1 Overrides worksheet Changes to letters made in the return. G/L Direct data Amended return data Prohibit Changes setting
Recover	Recovers an automatically saved copy of the selected return.	Recovers tax return tick marks, estimates, notes, government form overrides, PDF attachments for tax years 2017 and higher, and input from all worksheets.
Restore*	Restores a backed up return version.	Restores tax return tick marks, estimates, notes, government form overrides, PDF attachments for tax years 2017 and higher, and input from all worksheets.

*You can also restore deleted returns. See Restoring Deleted Returns for more information.

To restore tax returns, do the following:

1. Click Restore in the Maintenance group on the Utilities tab or select Restore from the menu.
2. Browse to the backup file and click Open.
3. Enter a password, if the selected backup file is password-protected.
4. Select Overwrite existing returns to overwrite existing returns that have matching IDs.

Note: Returns with matching IDs but with differing client-specific data, such as SSN or EIN, will not be overwritten.

5. Select Overwrite existing Correspondence custom content to overwrite existing custom paragraphs in returns with matching return IDs.

6. Click Next to continue. The Client ID, Client Name, and Return ID displays for each return.

7. Click Next to start the restore process. If there are values for Return Group, Office/Business Unit/Return Configuration Set, or Signer that do not exist in the account for the return(s) selected, you have the option to map the updates either through the dropdowns that are displayed or by selecting the Edit in grid view button.

8. Updating via the dropdown(s): Field values for all the selected return(s) display in the accordion dropdown (Current value(s)) for any values that are not currently in the account the returns are being restored to. Updates can be made by selecting the value(s) in the current value dropdown and then mapping the value to the values in the New value(s) dropdown. Once all the Current values are mapped then you can select Save & restore to continue the process.

9. Updating via Edit in grid view: The returns needing values updated will display in the grid with dropdowns available for Return Group, Return Configuration Set, Office/Business Unit and Signer (optional) with the new values available for updating.

   Note: If updates were made via the dropdowns on the previous dialog the updates will be transferred to the grid view. Once all the updates are made then select Save and restore to continue the restore of the returns.

10. If exceptions during the restore process are encountered the returns with the exceptions will be displayed and updates can be made, or the return can be skipped if needed.

11. Upon completion of the restore process a Restore Returns Report will be presented with the return details and status of the restore of the return.

12. The Export option is available to save the report information to an XLS file.

Note: If returns are password protected, do one of the following:

• Enter the password and click OK to continue the restore.
• Click Skip to bypass the password-protected return.
• Click Stop to end the restore with the last return processed.
13. The Restore return options window displays if another return exists for the client. Select the return information in the Selected Return column and select an option. See Managing Restore Return Options for more details.

Component	Description
Skip	Bypasses the restore of the current return and skips to the next return.
Overwrite	Replaces the existing return with the selected Return version. The Overwrite option is available when you select a return version in the Selected Return column.
New	Creates a return using the next available version selected. The New option is available when the selected return version in the Selected Return column is New.
Stop	Ends the restore without restoring the remaining returns.

14. The Restore in progress window displays the current progress of the restore. Click Stop to cancel the restore, if necessary. Click What happens if I stop the restore? for more information.
15. Click Finish on the Restore complete window to view the Restore Tax Return Report window. A One or more exceptions has occurred notification displays on the report if all files were not successfully backed up.

Note: Exceptions can be Return is in-use, Return is locked, Return has been deleted, or Rights to view return only.

16. Do any of the following, if needed:

Component	Description
Export	Click Export on the button bar to save the report information to an XLS file.