Printing Illinois watermark forms.

[maughact]

Are you kidding me? Ugh, Illinois forms aren't going to be released until February 7th and Lacerte is blocking us from printing the forms? What am I suppose to do with the clients that come in the next two weeks?

[IRonMaN · Accepted solution]

"limit preparers from being able to file printed returns that include non-final forms"

But can't something be built into the system to allow printing when you have e-filing selected for the return?

[IntuitAlicia]

We do offer the ability to preview forms with clients using the Split View option.  This would allow you to display the forms on a separate monitor for your clients to review as you make changes in the program.

Detail/Forms Split View: https://accountants-community.intuit.com/articles/1608214&src=lsccom

Additionally, you can provide your feedback, personal experience, etc. utilizing the feedback option in Lacerte.  To access, go to your 'Help' drop-down menu and select 'Lacerte feedback'.  

This feedback goes directly to our developers.

[IRonMaN]

But not everybody does returns with the client sitting across from us and it is a little hard for the client to bring that computer screen home with them, let alone finding a cord that will reach from a preparer's office to the client's home.  I hear what maughact is saying, it makes it tough to run a tax practice when the season gets even more compact than it already is.  Intuit isn't afraid to hit folks up with flaky fees, so turn on the print button for folks and then charge and extra $200 per return if the return doesn't get e-filed - just to get the preparers attention.

[maughact]

Thank you IRonMaN for backing me up on this 🙂

[maughact]

IntuitAlicia, what your suggestion still doesn't fix the issue of my clients not having a full copy of their tax return as stated in our engagement letter.

[IntuitAlicia]

I understand it doesn't fix the issue, as the issue is a limitation built into the software.  Providing your feedback, personal experience, and overall irritation with this function would go a long way.
To access, go to your 'Help' drop-down menu and select 'Lacerte feedback'.  This feedback goes directly to our developers.

[IRonMaN]

@maughact   

[mojocpa]

I remember how long it took for Archie's toggle switch to be implemented. Don't get your hopes up @maughact .

[garman22]

right on @IRonMaN

[George4Tacks]

You can use something like Windows "Snipping Tool" to make jpg images of the screens in forms view. That will give you something to work with, but, I think rightly so, Lacerte holds our hand through many things, some good and some, like this maybe not so good. There are many reasons I have stuck with Lacerte and the safegaurds the software offers is one of them. Give the client the tax summary for initial review. 

I used snipping tool here https://accountants-community.intuit.com/questions/1794357-i-would-like-to-print-the-2018-540-ca-for... for CA

Okay, kick my soapbox away now. 

[maughact]

I use snip it but it looks cheesy

[garman22]

@maughact can i ask you......do you have in blue "update available now"  in your yellow bar at top of the IL-1040? ah crap.....you use Lacerte. Never mind. Sorry.

[abctax55]

"...the safegaurds"
@George4Tacks -  LOL.

[George4Tacks]

There is an update schedule for 1/23, but now schedule for 1/24. There is another for 1/25.
https://accountants-community.intuit.com/articles/1738593-2018-lacerte-release-availability-and-date...

[George4Tacks]

Check IL forms https://lfs.intuit.com/#/s/IL/I looks like it will be a while. YES safeGAURDs

[maughact]

Interesting that Lacerte says forms won't be ready until 2/7 but the Illinois Department of Revenue website states they are accepting e-files on 1/28.  How can that be?

[IRonMaN]

As a side note, ProSeries is listed as having the form EF ready on 1/17 and print ready on 1/31.

[garman22]

With that being said, I should be able to efile 01/28. I won’t tho until Feb 1. Hopefully 01/31 is accurate.

[IntuitAlicia]

Illinois is one of the states that require all tax software to limit preparers from being able to file printed returns that include non-final forms. Lacerte is committed to complying with these state requirements.

Additional information can be found here.

State Requirements for Printing Draft Forms in Lacerte: https://accountants-community.intuit.com/articles/1638328

[maughact]

Then why are other software companies allowing it?  I'm sorry but is it mandatory by the state?  I don't think so.  I think a better idea would be if you choose paper copy return then block it from being printed.  However, if you choose e-file there is no reason to block it.  No one who is e-filing is mailing anything in.  That makes more sense to me.  It would be one thing if the forms weren't delayed but they are.  This tax season is tough enough on all of us tax preparers as it is.  Isn't our software company suppose to help us with our tax season?  Isn't that why we pay the big bucks for our program?  I have had 5 clients come in and at least 40-50 more before the Illinois release date of 2/7.  I am not able to give them a copy of their Illinois tax return using the Lacerte program.   Huge burden on my firm this year and last year.

[garman22]

I agree here as well with @maughact. I just prepared a live return for a client and I noticed I CANNOT print out my Illinois return even w/ a watermark on them (i am in proseries). I've always in the past given them the watermarked copy for their files (those that were early). 100% of my early returns go efile. I think its also a huge disservice you are providing to your customers by not allowing them to print out early. Especially if other software companies allow this.

[garman22]

@maughact you gave us a 02/07 release date. Is this Lacerte's final release date?

[garman22]

Lacerte does have a point tho especially for the dopes that try to mail in non-final forms. But @IRonMaN brings up a great point re: something being built in.

[IRonMaN]

Maybe they shouldn't let stupid people prepare returns and paper filing of draft forms wouldn't be an issue.  Maybe you would have to pass an IQ test in order to qualify to purchase professional tax software.  But that could be bad news for ProSeries users --------------- I'm guessing they would only be able to sell a few dozen copies of the program under that requirement.

[garman22]

hahahaa!!! Amen to that, bud!! PS would be broke within a year. :laughing:

[itonewbie]

Evidently, that's a user problem, hence, the necessary control needs to be put in place. If your situation is unique as compared to other tax pros, take your time out of your busy schedule to clearly explain your needs so that Intuit can add that to the running list that has been accumulating over the years for consideration and prioritize based on user feedback. :smiling_imp:

[maughact]

I'm confused why these forms are not ready.  Illinois is ready for e-file today.

[IntuitAlicia]

@maughact regarding your comment "I'm confused why these forms are not ready.  Illinois is ready for e-file today."

This may help explain the difference between e-file and form availability, based on the format itself:

E-file approval covers the xml data transmitted from the program to the IRS, and state taxing authorities.

Form approval is often dependent on final forms being publishing, graphic approval, calculations, and 2D barcode (when applicable) among other things.

[maughact]

This still doesn't solve the problem of not being able to give our clients a copy of their tax return.  I really think that Lacerte needs to adopt a new policy on this and if you choose e-file option then let us print the water marked forms.  This is a major inconvenience.  I have prepared 16 tax returns thus far and have to do them in Drake to be able to give my clients a copy of their IL-1040.

[IRonMaN]

Alicia - everybody gets that part of the deal - it's the ridiculousness of not being able to print a form when the return is being e-filed.  If the numbers are good enough to fly through acceptance by the respective taxing authority, the form should be good enough to print for a client who is never going to look at the form or understand it anyway.

[IntuitAlicia]

sorry about that, i should have tagged the person asking that specific question to avoid any confusion.  editing...
I don't have any additional information outside of the article I posted earlier explaining why the program is functioning this way, and steps to provide feedback to the program developers.

[IRonMaN]

That's not a problem

[IRonMaN]

Alicia - always keep in mind, our frustrations are never focused at you or the other Intuit folks helping out here.  To be fair, the Intuit folks making those kinds of decisions should be out on the front lines here dealing with us rather than being safely tucked away in their bunker.

[maughact]

Good news, IL-1040 was released yesterday.

[IRonMaN]

:+1:

[garman22]

@maughact have you downloaded yet and if so, are you experiencing print failures or crashes? Please view forum as many are experiencing this due to yesterdays updates. I only say this to be careful.

[IRonMaN]

Garman - Lacerte user -------------------- their software comes with a collision avoidance option so they don't crash.

[garman22]

Are you messing with me with your humor?

[IRonMaN]

I wouldn't mess with you -------------- at least not about IL returns ------------ at least not today.

[maughact]

No crashes or print failures.  Was able to print Illinois forms yesterday and today with no problem.  Was so happy not to have to wait until February.  🙂  Back in business.

[garman22]

@maughact Good, Im glad you are up and running. Go and have a successful season!!

[garman22]

@IRonMaN I thought maybe you were playing re: collision, icy roads and proseries behaving as such.

[IRonMaN]

I feel more comfortable with driving icy roads than I do with ProSeries updates at this time

[garman22]

Ha!! hell yeah. Im on hold myself. PS is running fine for what I need right now. When Im ready for an efile, if PS tells me I am not current, I will do what needs to be done then.