Entering a different Third Party Designee in Lacerte

If the taxpayer wants to allow someone in your firm (other than the preparer) to discuss the return with the IRS, select the other party in the firm to serve as the third party designee.

Follow these steps to select another preparer in the firm as the third-party designee:

1. Go to Screen 1, Client Information.
2. Scroll down to the Miscellaneous Info section.
3. Using the field Designee, if different select another preparer from the dropdown.
   • Note: If the preparer selected does not have a designee PIN entered in the Settings / Options / Preparers a PIN will need to be entered in Screen 3, Miscellaneous Info./Direct Deposit outlined below.

The preparer/designee selected will print in the Third Party Designee section on the federal main forms and will only print if you instruct the 'yes' box to be checked in Settings / Options / Tax Return.

Follow these steps to enter a Designee who is not a preparer:

1. Go to Screen 3, Miscellaneous Info./Direct Deposit.
2. In the Miscellaneous section, enter the following information
   • Allow discussion: 1=yes, 2=no, 3=blank [O], enter a '1'.
   • Designee's Name [O]
   • Designee's phone number [O]
   • Designee's PIN (5 digit numeric) [O]

If you make an entry in this field, you must also assign a five digit self-selected PIN to the preparer/designee in the Preparer's section of Options.

Note: If you leave this field blank, but instruct the yes box to be checked, the word 'Preparer' prints as the third party designee per IRS instructions. The designee's phone number and PIN is not required and will not print in this situation.