Install and participate in the Lacerte 2025 early access program

Thank you for being a part of this exclusive group. Your expertise is invaluable to us, and with your help, we'll ensure the 2025 Lacerte product is the most reliable and efficient version yet for you and your clients.

Applies to tax types:

• Individual (1040)
• Business (1120/1120S/1065)
• Fiduciary (1041)

The Intuit Lacerte Tax software you are about to install for tax year 2025 is fully functional. You can continue to update it as you normally would without affecting your participation in this program.

In this article, you will find:

• Instructions to install the program.
• Details of Critical Workflows we would like you to try
• Report Bug Form to report any issues, provide feedback
• $50 Reward for completing workflows the fastest

Your professional insights on these tasks will help us fine-tune the product before the full release. If you need help, you can find more resources for using Lacerte here.

Note: The proforma process is influenced by both tax law changes and programming adjustments. Should there be any changes in either or both areas that necessitate an additional proforma, you will be notified accordingly.

Table of contents:

Installation

Prerequisites

• You should have valid My Account sign-in credentials.
• Your Lacerte license should be renewed for tax year 2025.
• Make sure you meet the current system requirements.

Installation instructions (for Non Hosting Customers)

1. Go to MyAccount webpage and enter your MyAccount credentials and select Sign In.
2. In the Lacerte section, select Download 2025to download the installer.
3. Run the websetup25.exe file.
4. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
5. Select Next on the Welcome screen.
   
6. Read the end-user license agreement and select Accept.
   
7. Select the option Login to My Account and download PREP file and select here. If you have Lacerte for tax year 2025 installed on your computer, you will not get this window.
   
8. Go to MyAccount webpage and enter your MyAccount credentials and select Sign In.
9. Select the firm you want to use if your account is linked to multiple account numbers and download Prep from MyAccount.
10. Return to the Lacerte installation, select Browse to upload the Prep.25 and select Next. Choose the recommended or the custom installation based on your requirements.
    
11. Review your installation path, modules, etc. before proceeding with the installation process.
    
12. On successful installation, restart the system if prompted.
    
13. Launch Lacerte for tax year 2025.
14. Sign in with your MyAccount credentials.
15. If you encounter an issue with installation or launching the software, reach out to LacerteFeedback@intuit.com.

Why don't I see the “PREP.25” file in My Account?

The PREP file for tax year 2025(PREP.25) will not be available for download in My Account until Nov. 9 even though your license may have been renewed for that tax year. The early-access installer will manage to get it on the back end for installation.

Installation instructions (for Hosting customers)

• Enter your hosted environment.
• Launch Lacerte for tax year 2025.
• If you have difficulty locating or launching your software, reach out to LacerteFeedback@intuit.com.

Critical Workflows

Workflow 1: Get Started with Your 2025 Proforma

This is the most crucial step. It tests the migration of your client data and the performance of the new Lacerte platform. This is where we ensure the new 2025 product is ready to handle your firm's data quickly and without any issues.

Instructions:

• Open Lacerte for tax year 2024.
• From the Tools menu, select Transfer Clients (Proforma to 2025).
• When the Proforma Wizard starts, select Next.
• Choose Transfer all my clients for all my modules at once and select Next.
• Lacerte will display a Module Initialize screen while it prepares the data.
• Select Typical (Recommended) if you use the Lacerte default locations and select Next.
• Review your settings and select Transfer Now.
• If a Diagnostics Results window appears, it means that a client may have an uncleared critical diagnostic, such as when a taxpayer has passed away. We recommend printing such instances for later review.
• Select Finish.
• Open Lacerte for tax year 2025.
• The transfer will have been automatically completed. If Lacerte for tax year 2025 was already open, then Refresh your software from the Client menu.
• If you need assistance, visit Proforma Wizard Help.

Workflow 2: Data Entry and Client Maintenance

Instructions:

• Create a new 2025 password-protected client with minimal data.
• Renumber the new 2025 client and confirm data/password intact.
• Copy the renumbered client and verify data/password behavior.
• Delete copied client and confirm removal from client list.
• Split MFJ returns into taxpayer/spouse clients and verify allocations, passwords, and integrity.
• Remove password from a client, reopen client without prompt, and confirm unrestricted access. Bridge S-Corp (1120S) to C-Corp (1120) using the same client number with password-protected client; verify data transfer and integrity.
• Bridge C-Corp (1120) to S-Corp (1120S) using the same client number with password-protected client; verify entity conversion and diagnostics.
• Test Family Link in Individual (1040) module; confirm linking across family members and data consistency.
• Update dependent info and add additional W-2/other income in 2025.

Workflow 3: Backup, Restore & Imports/Exports

Instructions:

• Backup selected clients and confirm backup file created.
• Restore clients from backup and verify data/password integrity.
• Change client data path to empty folder and confirm client list updates, then revert.
• Switch to another module (e.g., 1120S) and confirm module-specific client list/path.
• TC File import/export: Ensure .TC5 client files export via email and restore properly on receiving systems.
• QuickBooks, EasyACCT import/export: Confirm QBO CSV → Trial Balance Utility → Post, EasyACCT direct transfer (GL/assets), and Lacerte billing export to QB Desktop.
• Partner/Oil & Gas import: Verify partner and oil & gas CSV imports correctly populate schedules and update existing records.

Workflow 4: Appointments, Print & SSO

Instructions:

• Calendar Appointments: Confirm creation, recurrence, printing, and To-Do functionality in Appointment Manager with shared Option Path visibility.
• Bridge Appointments
  • Overwrite = Yes: Validate bridged prior-year appointments replace existing ones and are visible across workstations.
  • Overwrite = No: Validate bridged prior-year appointments are appended without overwriting existing appointments, with no data loss.
• Print: Validate printing of full tax returns, database reports, client letters, client detail reports, and input sheets across selected clients.
• SSO between 2024 and 2025: Test that single sign-on from 2024 allows seamless entry into 2025 without re-authentication once versions are updated.

Workflow 5: Tax Preparation - OSI screens

The goal for this workflow is to ensure the seamless and accurate flow of data across all specified OSI screens for Individual and Fiduciary Tax types.

Instructions:

Navigate to the specified screens in the OSI system for various tax types and accurately enter data into the designated fields.

• For Individual Tax:
  • Screen 10 - Wages:
    • Social Security Tax Withheld
    • Medicare Wages and Tips
    • Medicare Tax Withheld
    • Social Security Wages
  • Screen 31.2 - Foreign Income Exclusion (2555):
    • Social Security Tax Withheld
    • Medicare Wages and Tips
    • Medicare Tax Withheld
    • Social Security Wages
• For Fiduciary Tax:
  • Screen 38.3 - Other Credits:
    • Social Security Tax Withheld
    • Medicare Wages and Tips
    • Medicare Tax Withheld
    • Social Security Wages

Validation that the values are correctly calculated and validated within the respective modules

How to Report Issues and Share Feedback

Use this form to report any issues you find.

Your detailed feedback is what helps us make this the best product yet. Attach your test clients for any issues you would like to report.

Early Access Rewards

We're looking for the most dedicated and skilled tax professionals to help us fine-tune the 2025 Lacerte product. The first 50 firms to complete all 5 critical workflows mentioned above will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card as a token of our appreciation. Your expertise will directly impact the quality of Lacerte for the entire tax season. Are you up for the challenge?