How do I add a preparer's reminder note to a return?
Use either the NOTE or the PAD screen to produce pop-up reminders or to put preparer notes on the NOTES pages in View. You can use either or both screens, and you can Page Down for multiple screens.
Summary
- To produce a pop-up reminder when a return is opened to data entry, use the PAD screen or the Miscellaneous Notes field on the NOTE screen.
- The pop-up must be enabled by selecting the option Show notes/reminders to preparer when opening a return on the Setup > Options > Data Entry tab.
- A NOTE screen pop-up (Miscellaneous Notes field) can be individually disabled with the Don’t show option.
- To produce a note on the NOTES pages in View, use the first four note fields on the NOTE screen.
- To prevent e-filing for a problem or open issue, select the Hold EF option on the NOTE screen.
- To produce a note that updates to next year, use the PAD screen or the Miscellaneous Notes field on the NOTE screen.
Screen
|
Pop-up reminder?
|
Appears in View on NOTES page?
|
Can prevent e-filing?
|
Updates to next year?
|
Goes into Organizer?
|
PAD
|
If enabled in Setup > Options
|
No |
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
NOTE
|
Only the Miscellaneous Notes field on NOTE screen.
If enabled in Setup > Options and Don't show is unselected on NOTE screen.
|
Yes, except Miscellaneous Notes field entries.
|
Yes, if EF Hold option is selected.
|
Only Miscellaneous Notes field entries.
|
Only Miscellaneous Notes field entries where Print on Organizer is selected.
|
Details
The PAD screen (on both the General and the Miscellaneous tab)
A PAD screen entry
always updates to next year and always produces a "Preparer Notepad" reminder pop-up when the return is opened to data entry:
The NOTE screen (on both the General and the Miscellaneous tab)
The first four notes entered on the NOTE screen appear in VIEW on the NOTES pages.
- Hold EF produces error message 5421 ("review the NOTE screen for outstanding issues") to prevent e-filing until the option is cleared.
- However, selecting this option does not stop an extension (Form 4868) from being e-filed, in expectation that more information is needed from the client.
- Don't show keeps a Miscellaneous Notes entry from appearing as a pop-up.
- Print on Organizer puts a Miscellaneous Notes entry in a "Miscellaneous Notes" section on MISC Page 3 of the client's organizer for next season.
The NOTES page shows the first four notes on the NOTE screen. Here, a second NOTE screen was entered:
If enabled, a Miscellaneous Notes entry appears as a "Miscellaneous Notes" pop-up when the return is opened to data entry: