Working with income tax return tasks

Overview

Income tax return tasks manage the workflow for all income tax returns in a tax year. They are automatically created by TaxLab for an entity when the entity is created. They can be used to track the progress of all income tax returns that a user has access to. Tasks can be assigned to TaxLab users in your organisation, and the status of the task updated to show its progress.

View return tasks

From the TaxLab home screen, select Workflow > Returns.

The top part of the screen displays the task statistics for the selected filing period (which will default to the previous tax year when the screen is first loaded). The statistics are for returns that the user has access or visibility to, either assigned as a Partner, Manager or Consultant on the entity, or assigned the return task.

The second half of the screen displays the table of return tasks that make up the statistics. These can be filtered by status of task by using the tabs, or selecting All to view all tasks for that tax year. The year dropdown allows you to switch between tax years. The refresh icon refreshes the list of tasks for updates.

Add filter allows you to search by various fields (name, status etc.). The settings icon lets you export the tasks list to excel, and hide or show charts. The return tasks table can be sorted by various columns, using the sort by arrows next to each column title.

Create a return task

When a new entity is added to the software, return tasks create by default. The first task will create for the previous tax year, and tasks will then create for all subsequent tax years that TaxLab has made available for return preparation. 

To create a return task for a historic period, the tax return needs to be opened for preparation. If the entity already has an active income tax subscription:

1. From the TaxLab home screen, select Open from the Income tax column of the entity's record.
2. In the navigation bar, select the dropdown arrow next to Goto.
3. Select the relevant tax year to add the year to the subscription and create the return task. If the year is not displaying (i.e. it is more than 2 years old) you will need to first add the oldest year displaying to the subscription, then from within that year, either repeat the process, until you can open the year you want a return task for.

If the entity does not have an active income tax return subscription (i.e. on the TaxLab home screen, Open does not display in the Income tax column of the entity's record):

1. Select the name of the entity.
2. From the entity details screen select the Income tax tab > Add subscription.
3. In the New INC subscription pop-up window, select the dates of the income tax year that you require a return task for, and select Confirm.

This will create a return task for the tax year you have entered, and tasks for any future tax years.

Update a return task

There are two ways to make changes to a return tasks. To make changes in bulk, select the tickbox beside the tasks, then select Edit to make changes.

The pop-up window allows you to change the Progress (status) of the task, edit the GST frequency (which can impact the dates of payment tasks), assign or reassign a task, and add or amend the EOT (extension of time) status for that specific income tax return.

To make changes to an individual task, select any item on the task line. This will open the Filing and Payment Schedule in a new tab. Here, you can add a note or attach a file to the task. The sidebar allows you to change the Workflow status, and who the task is Assigned to. The dropdown menu will show all users who currently have access to the entity. You can also add another user in your organisation to the entity by selecting Add user from the Assigned to list. Using this method will give the added user full access to the entity.

Task statuses

By default, the status of all income tax return tasks when created is Not Started. If there are income tax returns that are prepared outside the system, or entities where income tax returns are not required, the status can be changed to Not Required or Non-Active. Return tasks cannot be deleted, so if a task has been created in error, change the status to Not Required. This status change does not roll forward into tasks for future tax years so any entities that will also not require return tasks in future years will need to be updated task by task.

What's next?

Read an overview of how to prepare an income tax return.

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