In TaxSlayer Pro, there are several options for backing up the program:
- Backing up return data only - Return data includes individual returns as well as business returns (for Premium subscribers). You can back up a particular year's individual return data by selecting Backup Returns under the Utilities menu. If you're a Premium subscriber you can back up business returns by selecting Backup Returns under the Business Utilities menu.
- Backing up the entire TaxSlayer folder - You can back up the entire TaxSlayer Pro folder by selecting Program Backup under the Utilities menu. This includes all files and folders for all years - individual and business returns data, program configurations, Paper Cut files (for Premium subscribers) - everything.
- Backing up program configuration - You can back up a particular year's configuration by selecting Copy Configuration to Disk in the Advanced Configuration menu. This backup includes the information in the Firm, ERO(s), and Preparer(s) Menus, the System/Network Configuration Menu, the Path Menu, the MACROs Menu, the program updates, and certain other essential files.
See the Additional Information below for articles on each of these backups. We recommend doing all of them periodically, as redundant backups provide a greater level of security.
Since the Program Backup covers everything, this is the best backup to use to be certain that nothing's been left out. However, if you have many years of TaxSlayer Pro installed, this backup can take some time and will unnecessarily copy older years that haven't changed and that are taken care of under another backup.
Selective Program Backup
Another backup scheme involves backing up just the essential things needed for each year. Being smaller, this backup is more portable and faster to create than the full program backup.
If you prepare tax returns on more than one PC in a networked office, this backup is done on the PC designated as the file server. Additionally, for TaxSlayer Pro Premium subscribers one step of this backup scheme involves copying and pasting in a Windows File Explorer window. If you're unfamiliar with working in a File Explorer window, you may not wish to use this backup scheme.
With the backup drive inserted into your PC, follow these three steps:
1. Back up the return data. Follow the instructions in the articles below to back up individual returns and, if you're a Premium subscriber, back up business returns.
2. Back up configuration. Follow the instructions in the article below to copy the program configuration.
3. For Premium subscribers, back up Paper Cut. Backing up Paper Cut is done in a Windows File Explorer window as follows:
- Open a Windows File Explorer window and navigate to the drive TaxSlayer Pro is installed on. Typically this is the C drive.
- Double-click the TaxSlayer folder to open it. Look for a folder called 20xxPDFS, where 20xx is the year you wish to back up.
- Right-click the 20xxPDFS folder and choose Copy. (Do not choose Cut!)
- In the same File Explorer window, navigate to and open the backup drive. Right-click a blank area of the drive window and choose Paste. This will copy the Paper Cut folder to the backup drive.
When finished backing up, in a Windows File Explorer window navigate to This PC. Right-click on the backup drive and choose "Eject". Then remove the drive from the PC and store it in a safe location, preferably in a different location than the PC.
Additional Information:
Desktop: Backing Up / Recalling Individual Tax Returns
Desktop: Backing Up / Recalling Business Tax Returns
Desktop: Program Backup Utility