Common questions about individual California invoice letter and filing instructions in Lacerte

The Individual module has an input to generate the Web Pay verbiage on the client letter.

Follow these steps to generate the Web Pay verbiage on the client letter:

1. Go to Screen 3, Miscellaneous Information/Direct Deposit.
2. Scroll down to the California Miscellaneous section.
3. Check the box labeled Requires electronic payments.

The client letter will include the following text:

A new California provision mandates that the payment to the Franchise Tax Board be made electronically. Use FTB's Web Pay or pay by credit card to satisfy this requirement.

Follow these steps to print the CA LLC/SMLLC return client letter:

1. Go to the Forms tab.
2. Select US in the State box at the top of the left navigation panel.
3. In the left Form box, choose Letter.
4. Select California LLC Return from the Description box in the left navigation panel.
5. Click the Print Form button in the upper right of the client letter.
6. Select All pages in the Print Form window.
7. Click OK to print the form.

Any checkboxes marked on the Invoice, Letter, Filing Instructions screen in the Filing Instructions section for federal and state override the default settings and generate filing instructions for those forms only.  If no filing instructions are generated for a form, slip sheets aren't completed either.

Follow these steps to make sure no checkboxes are interfering with the default settings:

1. Go to the Invoice, Letter, Filing Instr. screen for your module:
   • Individual: Screen 5.1
   • Fiduciary: Screen 3.1
   • Partnership: Screen 2.1
   • Corporate: Screen 5.1
   • S-Corporate: Screen 4.1
   • Exempt Org.: Screen 3.1
   • Benefit Plan: Screen 2.1
2. Scroll down to the Filing Instructions section and review any marked checkboxes.
   • If there aren't any marked checkboxes, then the filing instructions and slip sheets are only printed for the tax return's main form (for example, 1040) and estimates (and the state equivalents).
   • If some checkboxes are marked, then the filing instructions and slip sheets are generated for each specified form.
3. Scroll down the [State] Filing Instructions section.
   • If there aren't any marked checkboxes, the filing instructions and slip sheets are only printed for the tax return's main form (for example, 1040) and estimates (and the state equivalents).
   • If some checkboxes are marked, then the filing instructions and slip sheets are generated for each specified form.

Follow these steps to print seperate client letters for federal and state returns:

1. From the Settings menu, select Client Letter.
2. From the Tools menu in the Client Letter Setup screen, select Letter Settings.
3. Mark the checkbox labeled Separate State Letter.
4. Click OK to save changes.