Prepare the Family Returns

Personal Taxprep allows you to prepare and save the returns of all family members (i.e. the returns of the parents and dependants) in a single client file. This way, the family situation is optimized and if a change occurs in the common information, the modification must be made in only one return.

It is possible to attach the returns of a spouse and/or dependants to the taxpayer's return in one of the following manners:

  • If the return of the spouse and/or the dependant do not exist, you can create them directly in the client file that contains the taxpayer's return.
  • If the return of the spouse and/or the dependant already exist in a separate client file of the current-year, you can attach them to the taxpayer's return.
  • If the return of the spouse and/or the dependant exist in client files of the last year, you can roll them forward to attach them to the taxpayer's return.

Where the taxpayer's return is a planner return, you can attach to it the following returns:

  • A new planner return directly in the planner file that already contains the taxpayer's return.
  • An existing return contained in a client file of a separate current-year or a separate planner file.
  • A rolled forward current-year return contained in a separate client file.

Notes:

  • It is recommended to simultaneously prepare the taxpayer, spouse and dependant's returns.
  • Although the returns of the family members are saved together, you can still choose, when necessary, to print or send electronically only one of the returns.

Viewing the Returns of Family Members in the Client Manager

Returns of the different taxpayers in the client file will appear in the Client Manager as separate returns (except when using the File Data filter and the Files to Roll Forward filter).

The Family Member column available in the Client Manager allows you to identify the different returns in the client file.

The different types of returns are identified using the same coloured icons that are used in the list of open returns within the Tax Return view:

  • represents the taxpayer's return
  • represents the spouse's return
  • represents the dependant's return

You can filter on this column to select certain types of returns (e.g. to display only the taxpayer returns when printing labels).

The Family Member column can be displayed in the Client Manager, including when you use customized filters.