How to enter another firm

[dougrice]

How do you enter another firm.  It's greyed out, and the program instructs you to call customer service.  Customer service says I must buy another fast path for a different firm...but my circumstances are unique...I am efiling on behalf of another firm.  How do you efile for another firm...gotta add a firm under the options menu.  It would not be an abuse of the license...pay per return/fastpath...only one return, just two firms involved

[PhoebeRoberts · Accepted solution]

You e-file with your firm as the ERO. You enter alternate paid preparer information (somewhere, but I don't know where in ProSeries).

[dougrice]

Thanks for offering your thoughts Phoebe but I think your answer is not on point.  I know where to enter all the data, it's just that the data fields for the second firm are greyed out because Intuit allows only one firm per license...that is how they control license theft...but below the greyed out boxes, Proseries says to call customer support if you need to add another firm under specific circumstances.  Today I spoke with Sales, Technical, and customer support twice.  None would unlock the firm #2 boxes.  Unlocking firm #2 in my specific circumstances would not equate to license theft.  Two firms involved in one filing.  Wondering how other's have added a 2nd firm.  Any senior person or phone number within proseries to call?

[Accountant-Man]

I did year's ago, but not since he died. Support did it for me.

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Im not sure what "Two firms involved in one filing" means, you can only show 1 firm on the tax return itself, but if customer support couldn't help, you should ask for a supervisor and have it escalated.

[dougrice]

My firm, which has the proseries fastpath license entered the data into proseries and will efile it, but another firm will review and sign as preparer.  Guess I'll try to escalate

[dougrice]

Well I escalated and the solution is to buy TWO FAST PATH licenses!!!  Seems wrong to have to buy two licenses to e-file one return!  Seems greedy.  Maybe there is a software reason?  Signing firm has there own EFIN and my firm, but my firm as the ERO, would use our EFIN

[jeffrey]

My employee preparer has about 10 clients. I am reading this post and subsequent thread. I see there is post that it has been done in the past with Second Firm. When I called, I was first told by the person on the other side of the world a LIE, about multiple firms. It' can't be done....Then I told her that is not true, then she laughed at me, and said let me check. She came back and said, buy new software. I said that is not acceptable and I want to speak to a supervisor. She then said, there's no use in that. they will tell you the same thing. Well, she had misinformation once in the call. I told her, yes, maybe I need better software provider.

I would like to get a second firm set up to help my employee. And not pay $hundreds more after paying thousands already.

[sjrcpa]

Why doesn't your employee file under your firm name?

[jeffrey]

Because in our agreement (with the preparer)I will not lay claim to her clients, or receive revenue for it. I will merely be the ERO to transmit the returns. My firm should not have any connection/responsibility for the work. My firm should be limited to the ERO standards only. I am only talking about a few returns.