Alabama must send the Alabama standalone return from inside the Consolidated Group. This is a change from prior years and is a result of the new Alabama business rule requiring the Federal Consolidated XML file to be included with the Alabama standalone return. Alabama has not rescinded the previous business rule requiring the PDF copies and so the diagnostic requiring those is still present and needs to be cleared.  

Note:  If the client ID contains letters, all letters must be in uppercase.  If they are not, the customer will need to change the client ID to all uppercase letters.  Numbers are allowed also but any letters must be in uppercase prior to release version 2017.05000. Please confirm that all client ID's are in uppercase by reviewing the client ID in the Return Group tab.

The return(s) must be exported from the consolidated return.  

The steps to successfully e-file the Alabama stand alone returns from a return included in the Federal consolidated return are as follows:

1. Open the Top Consolidated return.
2. Open the subsidiary or parent return from the return group tab.
3. Go to Interview Form EF-1 - Electronic Filing General Information, Electronic Signatures and Notifications.
   • In Box 30 - Electronically file the federal return and enable electronic file for return types selected below, select Y.
   • In Box 31 - File extension electronically, select N.
   • In Box 32 - File all state returns electronically, select N.
   • In Box 33 - File all city returns electronically, select N.
   • In Box 35 - File other returns electronically, select N.
   • In Box 50 - X to NOT transmit federal return/extension at this time field, select the box.
4. Go to Interview Form GEN-1 - State and City General Information.
   • In Box 30 - State/City Code enter the state code AL.
5. Go to Interview Form GEN-2 - State and City General Additional Information for Alabama.
   • In Box 30 - Name, enter the name of the consolidated return's parent.
   • In Box 31 - FEIN number, enter the federal electronic identification number of the consolidated parent.
   • In Box 37 - Member of a consolidated/combined or affiliated group, select option N - Not a member.
   • In Box 38 - Member of federal consolidated but not for state, select option 1 - Yes.
6. ​​​​​​Go to Interview form AL1.
   • In Box 75, Electronic Filing, select Y.
7. Calculate the return.

Clear any disqualifying electronic filing diagnostics.

• If diagnostic 43912 is issuing it is because Alabama has changed the required name for the PDF required for "1552ELECTIONCALCULATIONS" to "1552a1".  Your PDF for this diagnostic will need to be renamed to the 1552a1.pdf and you will need to contact support for the diagnostic override code.
• If you are filing Alabama from the Parent return, you will need to contact support for the Upload Override code.  This will need to be issued because you will be filing another return with the same FEIN as the consolidated return and with a different client ID. 
  • For more information, see our article reviewing, clearing, and signing off on diagnostics in CCH Axcess™ Tax, CCH® Global fx Tax, and CCH® ProSystem fx® Tax.

In the top consolidated return, do the following:

1. Go to Interview Form EF-1 - Electronic Filing General Information, Electronic Signatures and Notifications.
   • In Box 30 - Electronically file the federal return and enable electronic file for return types selected below, select Y.
   • In Box 31 - File extension electronically, select N.
   • In Box 32 - File all state returns electronically, select N.
   • In Box 33 - File all city returns electronically, select N.
   • In Box 35 - File other returns electronically, select N.
   • In Box 50 - X to NOT transmit federal return/extension at this time field, select the box.
2. Go to Interview form AL1.
   • In Box 75, Electronic Filing, select N.
3. Review all other states generated in return to verify no other state is enabled for electronic filing. 
4. Verify that Alabama E-file is turned OFF in the top consolidated return.
5. Clear any disqualifying electronic filing diagnostics.
   • If diagnostic 47349 issues, you will need to contact support for the Diagnostic Override code.  All other level 4 diagnostics must be cleared.
     • Note:  This diagnostic should not issue if input on Interview Form EF-1, Box 50, is selected.
   • For more information, see our article reviewing, clearing, and signing off on diagnostics in CCH Axcess™ Tax, CCH® Global fx Tax, and CCH® ProSystem fx® Tax.
6. Calculate the return.
7. Go to File > Export > Electronic filing > Return. You will see the consolidated tree listing all of the returns in the consolidated group, with only AL listed under those entities filing the standalone Alabama return.  
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8. Click OK.
9. The following window will appear:
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10. Close the window using the red X at top-right of the window.
11. The following window will appear for each parent or subsidiary return on the export tree with AL underneath the client ID (see step 7 above).
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12. Click OK  > Upload and HOLD the return.
13. Open Electronic Filing Status
14. Release the parent and/or subsidiary Alabama returns located under each stand alone return ID. 
    • For steps on releasing returns, please see our related article, How do I release a return to the tax authority for electronic filing using CCH Axcess™, CCH® Global fx, or CCH® ProSystem fx® Tax?