Client Experience

This article outlines the full taxpayer experience. The taxpayer can access the return, review, sign, pay vouchers/invoices, deliver K-1s, and download documents. 

Initial Email

The taxpayer receives an email with a link to the designated return.

1. Click the access link to get started. 

Start Page

1. Click Contact Person to reach out to the firm if you have any questions.
2. Click on the tab Click Here to Get Started to proceed to Authentication.

Authentication

Social Security Number Authentication (personal returns only):

1. Enter 4 digits of your Social Security Number according to the onscreen instructions.  
2. Click Continue to proceed to Access Code Verification.

Access Code Verification:

• One of two pages displays based on firm settings.
  • Email Access Code - An 8 digit access code is sent to the same email address the initial email was sent to.
  • Mobile Access Code - A 6 digit access code is sent to your cell phone via text message.

1. Click the Request Access Code button.
2. Enter the 6 or 8 digit access code in the code field.
3. Click Continue to proceed to the Welcome Page.

Welcome Page

This is the main dashboard for your return. 

A. The title line displays:

• Tax year. 
• Contact Person link for you to reach out to the firm.
• Settings panel where you can change your mobile number or edit spouse information.
• My Downloads folder is where large files will download to.

B. The progress bar shows the step the return is currently in.

C. Total refunds and payments for the return are displayed on the left.

D. A quick overview of the steps in SafeSend Returns is displayed.

• • Distribute K-1s option is only available for business or entity returns. 
  • Print and Mail Paper File Returns will only show if one or more returns are required to be paper-filed.

E. Click Here to Begin to proceed to the Message from Preparer.

Message from Preparer

This page displays any instructions or messages included by the tax firm.

1. Click the print icon to save or print this message.
2. Click Continue to proceed to Review Tax Documents.

Review Tax Documents

A. Click the Return Section you want to review (filing instructions, tax return, and attachments). 

B. Click Download Tax Document(s) to save the return.

C. Click Back to return to the previous page.

D. Click Forward a Copy to forward all available documents to an external email address. 

E. Click Continue to proceed to the Sign Tax Documents page.

Sign Tax Documents

There are up to 3 options to sign:

• e-Sign - Sign electronically from this website (only if enabled for your return type).
• Manually Sign - Print, Sign, and Return the forms.
• Delegate Signing to Someone Else - Send tax forms to partners or shareholders for signatures. See the Signer Delegation: Managing Member Experience article for information about this feature.
• Click the signing method that you prefer.

Sign Tax Documents Electronically

1. Enter Your Date of Birth for verification.
2. Check the box to consent to e-signing.
3. Enter your spouse's email address if applicable.
   • If the firm has mobile text verification enabled, you have the option to enter their mobile number as well.
4. Click Continue to proceed to:
   • Knowledge-Based Authentication for 1040 returns.
   • E-sign Your Documents for entity returns.

Knowledge-Based Authentication

Security Questions are displayed in order to verify your identity. 

1. Select the correct answer.
   • Answer 3 of 5 questions correctly to pass. 
     • If you pass, continue to the E-Sign Your Documents section.
     • If you fail, continue to the Manual Sign section. 
2. Click Continue.

E-Sign Your Documents

A list of all pages that require your signature is listed in the left panel. A green check appears next to the page after it is signed. 

1. Click on the Start arrow to be led to your first signature line.
   • Continue to click this arrow as you proceed to be led to all signature lines. 
2. Click on the green signature block to open the Signature window.
3. Type out or draw your signature.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click Continue to proceed to:
   • Paper File Your Returns if applicable. 
   • For entity returns, continue to the Distribute K-1s section.
   • For individual returns, continue to the Pay screen section.

Manually Sign Your Documents

• Click the Download documents requiring signature button.
  • Upload options appear. 

A. Drag and drop your signed e-file forms to upload them OR

B. Click to Upload to browse your files, then select the signed e-file forms to upload them.

• Once a document is uploaded, you are given the option to delete the uploaded documents or upload new documents. 

C. The firm's mailing address is listed on the right so you can mail the documents if you prefer.

D. The firm's fax number is listed on the right so you can fax the documents if you prefer.

E. Click Continue:

• To Paper File Your Returns if applicable. 
• For entity returns, continue to the Distribute K-1s section.
• For individual returns, continue to the Pay screen section.

Paper File Your Returns

Note: Paper File Returns will only appear if your delivered return includes a paper-filed return.

• View the Consent to Paper File Returns pop-up. 
• Click the I Consent button.
  • By clicking I Consent, you agree to file the Paper File Return with the respective tax authority.
  • If you choose to Skip to Next Step you can access your Paper File Returns from the summary page and receive the Consent to Paper File Returns pop-up again.

Paper file options: 

A. Individually download your Paper File returns by Clicking the download button under the action column.

B. Download all Paper File returns to a Zip file by Clicking the Download All Paper File Returns button.

C. Print all Paper File returns by Clicking Print All Paper File Returns.

D. Click Continue:

• For entity returns, continue to the Distribute K-1s section.
• For individual returns, continue to the Pay screen section.

Distribute K-1s

You have three options in the Distribute K-1 section: 

1. Email them from this website.
2. Download Print, and Mail.
3. Continue to skip this step and distribute the K-1s later.

Distribute K-1s Electronically

1. Select the K-1 recipients you will be sending to.
   
   • Choose the Select All checkbox to select all K-1 recipients. 
   • Choose each K-1 to send individually.
2. Click Email Documents to send out the selected K-1s.
3. Click Send Later if you are not ready to distribute any K-1s.

Distribute K-1 Hard Copies

1. Click Download Documents.
2. Select Download All K-1s to download all of the K-1 packages to a single PDF OR
3. Select the K-1 packages you want to download as individual PDFs.
   
   • Select All to select all K-1s. 
4. Select Download Selected K-1s.
5. Click the Download icon to download each K-1 package separately. 
6. Click Continue. 

Tax Payments

A. Click Download All Payment Vouchers to download all vouchers.

B. Click Download Filing Instructions to download all filing instructions for reference.

C. Tax Payments due are listed here. 

D. Email Me Reminders. 

• You can update the number of days to be reminded or turn them off.

E. Click Continue to be directed back to the Estimated Tax Payments section. 

Estimated Tax Payments

A. Click Download All Payment Vouchers to download all vouchers.

B. Click Download Filing Instructions to download all filing instructions for reference.

C. Estimated Tax Payments due are listed here. 

D. Email Me Reminders.

• You can update the number of days before the due date to be reminded or turn them off.

E. Click Continue to be directed back to the summary page. 

Payment Information

• Click the Pay button on the voucher to be given the option to pay online or by mail.

• Click the Add Payment Details button to mark a voucher as paid. Note: this option does not process payments, it is for tracking purposes only.

End Page/Return Page

The final page of the return is the page you see when you re-enter the return at a later date.

A. Summary panel. 

B. Send reminder to spouse for joint 1040s. 

C. Click Make Tax Payments to be directed back to the Pay section.

D. Click Download Tax Documents to see a list of documents included in the return.

• Click the documents individually or click the Download all my tax documents button to download them.

E. Click View Tax Return to review the return.

F. Click View or Download Signed Documents to download the signed e-file forms.

G. View and Download Paper File Returns.

H. Click Pay or View Tax Preparation Fees to pay your invoice or mark it as paid.