The Office to Office module in the TaxSlayer Pro program gives you the ability to securely transfer encrypted returns over the internet from one office to another. This method of transferring returns obviates the need to use removable media such as a thumb drive and is useful for several common scenarios:
- A company with one computer transmitting returns but more than one office preparing returns;
- An office that has multiple preparers but doesn't have a network established within their office;
- A preparer who prepares returns remotely with their laptop. (Of course, the laptop will need an internet connection in order to send returns.)
Returns that have been sent may not be immediately available for retrieval; expect a momentary delay that is generally measured in seconds rather than minutes.
Note: Sending and retrieving should only be done on the computer designated as the File Server in each location. This means that the Network Configuration setting "Are You Using a Network" is either set to NO or, if set to YES, the setting "File Server" is also set to YES.
To send one or more tax returns from one office to another office, from the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro on the File Server select:
- E-File
- E-File Utilities
- Office to Office Transfer
- Send Returns to Another Office
- Select each return that needs to be sent to the other office. (Note: if a return has been marked private, you will also need to enter the return's password.)
- After choosing the returns to send, select OK. You will be prompted to enter a password used to secure the transmission to the other office. This is a one-time password created for this transmission.
- When the transmission is complete, you will see the message "Returns successfully uploaded to TaxSlayer Pro", indicating that the transmission was successful. Select OK.
- Communicate the password you created to the other office.
To retrieve the tax returns(s) sent from another office, from the Main Menu of TaxSlayer Pro on the File Server select:
- E-File
- E-File Utilities
- Office to Office Transfer
- Retrieve Returns from Another Office
- Enter the EFIN of the sending office and the transmission file's password.
- A window will appear listing the returns that were sent. Select each return to be retrieved, then select OK. (After the 2018 program year they should be automatically selected.)
- You will see the message, "Returns successfully recalled". Select OK.
The recalled return(s) will show in the Client List.
Troubleshooting
There are several possible reasons why returns don't show up at the office attempting to retrieve them:
- Retriever miskeyed the EFIN.
- Retriever misspelled the password.
- Sender's Transmitter EFIN in Configuration is different than what the Retriever is expecting.
- The Sender and Retriever are not in the same program year.
- There is a temporary delay in the return being available to the Retriever.
- The Retriever received a list of the returns to be retrieved but did not select the returns in the list, or deselected them, before selecting OK. If this happened, the Sender will need to resend the returns.
