User Settings Options for TaxWise Online



The information that follows in this instruction is similar to that of IRS Publication 3189, but tailored for our use. You should also refer to the Users Guide that was shipped with your software package as well for additional discussion on setting up and operating with TaxWise Online.

User Settings.

While logged in as administrator, select the User Settings icon on the taskbar.

The User Settings screen displays a listing of several options for your use. You will find that the first two entries, Tax Preparer and ERO need not be filled out for our Tax-Aide use. However the third entry, Display, may be useful if you wish to change the color scheme.

High Contrast Color Scheme. You may find it desirable to change from the default color scheme to one with higher contrast. It is easy to try this out since one can always switch back if desired.

Click on the Display entry to reveal the display setting screen. In the case below we have already checked the box for using the high contrast color scheme.

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The next screenshot illustrates what your display will look like using the high contrast color scheme. You may ignore the yellow border since it displays only while in the template mode. Note how the required fields show up more clearly in this mode when compared to the standard mode.

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Custom Fields (for Preparer Use).

For the 2009 tax returns we no longer need to set up a custom field for the data retention question. In addition we can simply make any preparer field red for a required entry for preparer’s and/or quality reviewer’s initials. Hence you may skip the Custom Field setup if you wish. Otherwise for instructions refer to Page 52 of the TaxWise Online User Guide that was shipped with your software package.

User Defined Return Stages.

Assigning a Return stage to each tax return provides a very handy tool for the ERO especially. It is recommended that a Return stage listing be generated by the Administrator and that the Counselors be instructed on its use. Refer to the figure below to create User Defined Return Stages:

• Select Settings on the toolbar.

• Select Return Stages by clicking on Return Stages in the tree at left.

• The Return Stage screen will be blank initially.

• Decide on your desired stage descriptions and the desired order.

• Type in your first description in the bottom box.

• Click Add. This will move your text to the main box.

• The below descriptions are recommended, but you may choose your own.

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Print Sets.

You may find that printing the primary forms and signature forms works well for your site in which case you need only to check the two boxes shown below. However this season we now have the ability to set up our own customized print set, in which case you should check only on the bottom “Create My Print Set” box. The procedure for selecting forms for your print set is identical to that of the desktop version.

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The next entry under Administer Settings is Advanced. Clicking on this results in the below screen. If one has a suitable high-speed internet connection then data is written to the CCH servers as it is entered, which is the preferred mode. In this case use of the Classic mode is not recommended.

On the other hand if the page refresh is noticeably slow then you may want to switch to Classic mode, which speeds up the data entry process. The data isn’t written to the servers until a Save command is received. Thus the below caution: You must select the Save Return icon to refresh the data on a page otherwise the entries will be lost. When using the Classic mode caution the counselors to save the date regularly and to make it a required procedure after finishing (or editing) a given form.

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The next entry after Advanced is “Send Settings.” This entry is not of any use to our program and can be bypassed. It is intended for professional organizations with sub offices.

The last entry on the Administrator Settings listing is for “Carry Forward Templates.” This entry is for EFINs that used TWO the previous season. At the time this instruction was prepared (December, 2009) we cannot recommend the use of this option since it does not work properly.

Send suggestions on how to improve this instruction to taxaidetech@.

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