Tax return copy

[Questionguy101]

By rule, we have to give our client a copy of the tax return.

My question: Does it have to be a paper copy? If we email an electronic copy of the client, have we fulfilled the requirement already?

[Koss]

Client Copy

Yes. As long as the client has agreed to accept an electronic copy, then you have in fact provided a copy. And I don't think the consent has to be in writing.

If you are sending the return by e-mail, the PDF should be password-protected.

Whether this is actually required has been the subject of intense debate. The IRS does not explicitly require the use of encryption by tax pros in the private sector. But there are guidelines and publications that suggest that the Federal Trade Commission does impose such a requirement.

The consensus seems to be that sending a tax return as an unencrypted PDF is a terrible idea. The industry standards are still evolving.

Clients often use free e-mail accounts such as Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail. It is waaaaay too easy to break into those accounts, especially if the client is using a weak password, or the same password that they use for everything else.

There is a separate debate about whether 128-bit RC4 encryption is strong enough...

If you encrypt the PDF, then you have to give your client the password over the phone.

And they won't be able to open it if they don't have a current version of Adobe reader...

I have one client who has a brand new PC running Windows 7, with all the latest, greatest software on it. He still has trouble opening my encrypted PDFs, and it drives him nuts.

My theory is that either he has some keys that are sticking, or it has something to do with the fact that he is opening the encrypted PDF within Internet Explorer, because he uses webmail, and he doesn't save the attachment to his PC before trying to open it.

BMK

[Uncle]

Phone call is not required

My software, Drake, sends an encrypted and password protected copy by email with a few keystrokes. Instructions on how to figure out the password are included in the covering email text. As in "your password is the first four letters of your last name and the last five digits of your SSN".

[Greenbriar]

Tax return encryption

I have been using Adobe Standard 8 which came with my Fujitsu scanner. My clients know to use the last 4 digits of their SSN to open the file. I sent them a draft and tell them if everything looks good, print the 8879's and email or fax them back to me. I don't think ProSeries has encryption like Drake. If anyone knows differently, pls let me know. I've thought about using Dropbox recently and maybe I'll try it with them next year. I do use DB with QB clients. Great program.

[Questionguy101]

My software, Drake, sends an encrypted and password protected copy by email with a few keystrokes. Instructions on how to figure out the password are included in the covering email text. As in "your password is the first four letters of your last name and the last five digits of your SSN".

I use Drake too but I am not aware of the email function. Can you tell me how to set the program to send the email to the clients?

[Jiggers]

I use Drake too but I am not aware of the email function. Can you tell me how to set the program to send the email to the clients?

Print the return to a .pdf file and e-mail that.

[dtlee]

I use Drake too but I am not aware of the email function. Can you tell me how to set the program to send the email to the clients?

A little more insight into this process....

While in the enhanced view/print mode, select the pages you wish to include in the email.

Then, with the pages selectec, click on the "Email" icon in the toolbar (there is a dropdown on this button to choose your Window default email or your Drake email account).

The software defaults to the password pattern you have chosen as a default and displays it to you. Click the "OK" button.

It will attach the password protected pdf to an email with some generic text (including the description of the password as mentioned above) that you can modify to suit your needs and then send.

Hope this helps.

[nkustura]

Drake Email Attachments

Thank you for sharing this information on how to attach and email forms from Drake Software. I was trying to figure this out last night and just couldn't do it.

Thanks again.
nk

[Uncle]

I use Drake too but I am not aware of the email function. Can you tell me how to set the program to send the email to the clients?

Go to Print Mode.
Select F2 (all).
Click on Email on the top menu bar.
Accept or change the password.
Let her rip

Using the Drake email system will encrypt the file. Just printing to a *.pdf file and emailing will not, unless you are using encryption software.

[nkustura]

Drake Order of Forms

Do any of you know if you can select specific order of forms in which you want the forms to appear as the recepient opens the file?

Thanks,
nk

[Uncle]

Do any of you know if you can select specific order of forms in which you want the forms to appear as the recepient opens the file?

Thanks,
nk

Go to Setup.
Select printing (bottom option).
Select Printer setup.
Select Set Form Order. (second choice from right at bottom of window)
Click and drag into any order desired.

[DMICPA]

Double Sided copy of Tax Return

I am of the old school and always give the client a paper copy and a cover etc.

I was trained to do the copy one-sided. It is easier to flip through as you don't have to turn the copy around to see the back side.

However, I have noticed my clients usually don't look at the return and within a year, the return ends up where the other sock is behind the dryer or some never-never land because they can never find it when they refinance etc.

I was thnking that I could give them a copy of it and print it double sided. This would cut down the amount of paper by 1/2 and take up less space.

Anyone already do this?