Configuring Return Configuration Sets

Return configuration sets are used to set default tax return input, such as signature block, correspondence options, and e-filing options. A return configuration set can then be selected or applied automatically to tax returns. Your firm can assign a return configuration set as the default for an organizational unit in Firm > Settings and defaults. Tax is installed with a return configuration set named Default that is selected for the Firm level organizational unit. A firm can change this default selection during return creation if other return configuration sets exist.

Once you assign a return configuration set to an organizational unit, if there is a configuration set assigned to a lower-level organizational unit, the lower-level setting overrides the settings of the higher-level organizational unit. See Defining Your Firm's Organizational Unit Hierarchy for more information.

Clients are assigned to an office and a business unit in the client profile. A client who is assigned to an organizational unit with a selected return configuration set inherits that return configuration set. When creating tax returns for that client, the inherited return configuration set is selected by default.

  • Firms can create any number of return configuration sets.
  • You can override most default settings in a return.
  • You can change the return configuration set applied to a return from the Return Manager grid.
  • Changes to a return configuration set are applied to all returns associated to that return configuration set when the returns are reopened and recalculated.
  • You must have the Tax return configuration sets functional right permissions assigned to manage return configuration sets.

To manage a configuration set, do one of the following:

ClosedCreate a return configuration set.

  1. Open Dashboard, click Application Links on the navigation panel, and then click Configuration > Return configuration sets under Tax.
  2. Click New on the button bar.
  3. Enter a name and description for the configuration set in the designated areas. It is a best practice to include a description to identify what the return configuration set is to be used for.
  4. Click OK to save your changes.

ClosedEdit a return configuration set.

  1. Open Dashboard, click Application Links on the navigation panel, and then click Configuration > Return configuration sets under Tax.
  2. Double-click a return configuration set on the navigation panel.
  3. Click the return configuration set area to edit on the navigation panel.
  4. Enter your changes.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4, if needed.
  6. Click Save to save your changes and continue working in the return configuration set, or click Save & Close to save your changes and close the return configuration set.

Important: If returns associated with the return configuration set are open when you saved your changes, they should be reopened and recalculated to apply the changes. Organizers reflect signature block, correspondence heading, and Organizer return configuration set changes when they are printed.

ClosedRename a return configuration set.

  1. Open Dashboard, click Application Links on the navigation panel, and then click Configuration > Return configuration sets under Tax.
  2. Select a return configuration set on the navigation panel or in the grid.
  3. Click Rename on the button bar.
  4. Enter the new name for the configuration set.
  5. Press Tab or Enter on your keyboard to save the change.

ClosedCopy a return configuration set.

  1. Open Dashboard, click Application Links on the navigation panel, and then click Configuration > Return configuration sets under Tax.
  2. Select a return configuration set on the navigation panel or in the grid.
  3. Click Save As on the button bar.
  4. Enter the name of the new configuration set.
  5. Click OK to save your changes.

ClosedDelete a return configuration set.

If you have adequate assigned rights, you can delete configuration sets. If there are returns assigned to the configuration set, you will have to reassign the returns.

Each return must be assigned to a configuration set. If you have only one configuration set, it cannot be deleted. If you delete a configuration set with returns assigned to it, those returns are assigned to another configuration set that you specify during the deletion process.

Configuration sets that have been used for printing returns can be deleted. Those configuration sets will be soft deletedClosed Records deleted from the active system but included in historical references. and can be recovered and used to print exact duplicates of the returns they originally produced. Configuration sets that have never been used to print returns are permanently removed from the system and cannot be recovered.

To delete a return configuration set, do the following:

  1. Open Dashboard, click Application Links on the navigation panel, and then click Configuration > Return configuration sets under Tax.
  2. Select a return configuration set on the navigation panel or in the grid.
  3. Click Delete on the button bar.
  4. Click Delete on the Confirmation window.

ClosedBacking up and restoring a return configuration set.

You can backup a return configuration set to an external file. The file can then be restored as a new return configuration set. This ability is useful if you would like to send the data to Customer Support for evaluation purposes. The originating return configuration set that you back up remains unchanged.

You must be granted the functional right to edit return configuration sets to use the Backup feature. To restore a return configuration set, you must be granted the functional right to add return configuration sets, and the current tax year is the same tax year in the backup file.

To backup, do the following:

  1. Select a return configuration set in the Return Configuration Set window and click Backup on the button bar. The location of the backup file displays.
  2. Click  OK. All return configuration set data is backed up, including, if licensed, Workstream and Practice settings.

For security reasons, the following settings are changed in the back up file. The values, however, will remain unchanged in the originating return configuration set.

  • Signature block
    • Employer ID number
    • SSN
    • Designee PIN
    • PTIN
  • Electronic filing
    • EFIN
    • ERO PIN
    • ERO EIN
    • ERO SSN
    • Alternate ERO ID

To restore, do the following:

  1. Click Restore on the Return Configuration Set window button bar, select the backup file, and click Open.
  2. Click OK. A new return configuration set appears on the Return Configuration Set navigation panel with _restored appended to the end of the name. If the name is greater than 21 characters, it will be truncated to 21 characters.

Notes:

  • If the backup file contains Workstream settings, Practice settings, or both, your account must be licensed for these products to restore the settings.
  • If the backup file contains Workstream settings and you restore to a different account that is properly licensed, the Workstream project types are not restored.