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How to import financial institution data into Lacerte with Tax Import

by Intuit•1• Updated 3 months ago

Lacerte Tax Import is only available for the current tax year and is available until November when it's taken offline to prepare for the next tax season. It's brought online in mid-January for processing current year returns.


Lacerte Tax Import allows you to quickly and accurately download W-2, 1098 and 1099 forms directly into the 1040 return. There are two ways to download financial institution data from your client's accounts.

Review the steps below or watch our short video to learn more.

If the taxpayer has enabled extra security on their financial institution, (such as two factor authentication) Tax Import won't be able to connect. This will generate an error:

"A popup blocker prevented us from connecting to your bank. Turn off your popup blocker, then try again."


Inviting the client and importing is an easy three-part process:

Follow these steps:

  1. Open Lacerte to the Client List. 
  2. Select the client you'd like to send the invitation to.
  3. From the Import menu, choose Tax Import then Import Client Data from Online Accounts.
  4. Review the client's name and email address. Changes made here won't change Client Information on Screen 1.
  5. Select Next.
  6. Review the default text for the taxpayer. ${FirstName} ${LastName} will use the taxpayer's first and last name from Client Information. You can customize the text and who's listed as the Tax Preparer.
  7. Make sure your email is on the email address for notifications and select Next.
  8. Make sure the field Email address for notifications contains your email address.
  9. Review what will be sent to the taxpayer and select Send to email the taxpayer.

Follow these steps:

  1. From the email, the taxpayer should select Get Started.
  2. On the Intuit Tax Form Dropoff website, sign in with their Intuit Account Login.
    • If they don't have an Intuit Account login, they should select the New to Intuit? Create an account link.
    • If the invite is sent to a Married Filing Jointly client, only one login is necessary, your client doesn't need a separate login for the taxpayer and spouse for the drop-off website.
  3. Select the Document Type to download:
    1. W-2 
    2. 1099


  4. Select Start download.
  5. Enter the required information:
    • If importing a W-2:
      1. Enter the EIN from the W-2.
      2. Select Continue.
      3. Enter the Control Number from the W-2.
      4. Enter the Social Security number from the W-2.
      5. Enter the amount from Box 1 of the W-2.
      6. Select Continue. They'll receive a confirmation saying "The following forms were successfully sent to your tax preparer."
    • If importing a 1099 or 1098:
      1. Search for the Financial Institution. A list of the available forms and institutions can be found here. 


      2. Select Continue.
      3. Enter the User ID and password for the financial institution.


      4. Select Continue. They'll get a confirmation saying "The following forms were successfully sent to your tax preparer."
  6. Select Send More if they have more than one document to send or Sign Out.

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the Tax Import client view to see the status of your clients.
  2. Review the Download Status column.
  3. Once the status says ready to import, open the tax return to complete the import.
  4. Choose the forms you'd like to import and select Import Selected Forms. 


Activating the client and importing the data is an easy three-part process:

Follow these steps:

  1. Open Lacerte to the Client List. 
  2. Select the client you are working with.
  3. From the Import menu, choose Tax Import then Import Client Data from Online Accounts Now.
  4. Select Continue.


Follow these steps:

  1. On the Intuit Tax Form Dropoff website sign in with your MyAccount login.
  2. Select the Document Type to download:
    1. W-2 
    2. 1099


  3. Select Start download
  4. Enter the required information:
    • If importing a W-2:
      1. Enter the EIN from the W-2.
      2. Select Continue.
      3. Enter the Control Number from the W-2.
      4. Enter the Social Security Number from the W-2.
      5. Enter the amount from Box 1 of the W-2.
      6. Select Continue. They'll get a confirmation saying "The following forms were successfully sent to your tax preparer."
    • If importing a 1099 or 1098:
      1. Search for the Financial Institution. A list of the available forms and institutions can be found by here. 


      2. Select Continue.
      3. Have the taxpayer enter the User ID and password for the financial institution.


      4. Select Continue. They'll get a confirmation saying "The following forms were successfully sent to your tax preparer."
  5. Select Send More if they have more than one document to send or Sign Out.

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the Tax Import client view to see the status of your clients.
  2. Review the Download Status column.
  3. Once the status says ready to import, open the tax return to complete the import.
  4. Choose the forms you want to import and select Import Selected Forms. 


Watch the video


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