Our first phase of Return Dashboard provides a high-level overview of key information from within a 2021 1040 Individual return. Other return types are planned in future phases.

CCH Axcess™ Tax 

The dashboard is comprised of 5 major sections:

• Return Details
• Diagnostics Information
• Return Complexity
• Return Overview
• Two-Year Return Comparison

 
 

Firm Configuration

Return Dashboard is enabled by default, but a firm can choose to disable it entirely or specific sections.
To access the firm settings: Axcess Dashboard > Application Links > Firm > Settings and Defaults > Tax > Options

If “Show Return Dashboard when opening returns” is enabled but all sub-areas disabled, only the return details section will display on the return dashboard.
 

User Option

If the firm option is enabled, the Return Dashboard will display automatically when a user opens a 2021 1040 Individual return.
Users can disable “Show Return Dashboard when opening returns” by changing their user options either via the Axcess Dashboard > User Options > Tax > Miscellaneous Options or from Return Manager Application Menu > User Options > Tax > Miscellaneous Options


If the user selects to disable showing the dashboard when opening the return, they will be able to access it from within the return by selecting Return Dashboard from the View tab of the Tax Preparation ribbon or Dashboard tab within the Form tabs.
 

Display of Return Dashboard

How the Return Dashboard displays when opening a return depends on the user’s options:

• If the user has “Show the forms List to display worksheets when opening returns” enabled, the Dashboard will display as the left most tab of the form tabs:

• If the user does not have “Show the forms List to display worksheets when opening returns” enabled, the dashboard will open as a tab in the worksheet area as the left most tab and the Basic Data tab to the right. This tab does not count against the 4 tab/window limit of tax.

If the user closes the Dashboard tab or elects to not enable it when opening returns, they can access the Dashboard at any time by either selecting it from the Forms Tabs (if enabled) or the Return Dashboard Icon on the View tab on the ribbon.

 

Opening 2021 1040 returns calculated prior to release 2021-4.1

The Complexity, Return Overview and Two-Year comparison sections retrieve the data when the return is calculated. For these sections to populate, the return must be calculated on or after release 2021-4.1

 

Return Details

The return details section of the dashboard displays:

• Taxpayer and spouse contact information
  • Email address is an active link which will launch the default email client
  • The data is updated on the dashboard when basic data in the return is changed, and return is saved
• Return ID
• Return Description
• Last save date and by who which is an active link to the return history
• Signature form received if present in e-file status system, the data is sent from e-file to the dashboard when the e-file status for the return changes. The date change alone will not update the Dashboard. The real time update of the signature form will be on a future release.

Diagnostics

The diagnostics section lists each type of diagnostic present along with the count for that type. Each type is a link to that section of diagnostics. The date & time the diagnostics were last updated (last time the return was calculated) is also a link that launches the diagnostic window.

 

Complexity

For this phase, the Complexity section displays information about the type of data contained within the return. Future phases will include the ability to take the factors into account to give the complexity a rating. The return must be calculated to update this section.

 

Return Overview

The return overview section provides information related to the filing of the return. If more than 10 taxing authorities are present in the return, the grid will present pagination controls as well as allowing users to select how many rows per page they wish to view. The return must be calculated for this section to display.

• Taxing authorities
• Due Date
• Extended due date
• Extension filed
• Due/Refund
• E-file status & reject notices
  • For returns that were e-filed prior to the 2021-4.1 release, we will only have the summary status available.
• E-file status date
• E-file submission ID

Users can sort the grid by any column by clicking the column heading as well as filter the contents of the grid by selecting the filter icon displayed to the right of the column heading:


Rejection information from the e-file status system can be retrieved by linking on Rejected link.

 

Two-Year Return Comparison

The Two-Year comparison section displays if it is active within the return. Users must calculate the return for this section to display.

Q - Will enabling this functionality cause any service degradation/delays in opening return?
A - No, it will not

 

Q - Will we be able to apply a Keyword to any of the fields in the Return Dashboard, for DataScan use?
A - Not at this time. 

 

Q - Can this information be printed either as a part of Accountant Copy or available under Return Sections?
A - Not at this time

 

Q - Does the Return Overview display all e-filings, i.e. return and extensions?
A - Returns only