Printing Returns
PrerequisitesYou should be familiar with or have completed the Wages exercise in the Individual Return section of the Tax Returns tutorial and the Viewing Forms exercise in this section. You should also be familiar with or have completed all the exercises in the Before You Prepare a Return section. A laser printer is required for printing with the Lacerte programs. ObjectiveIn this exercise, you will print a tax return. |
LESSONS
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Facts
Add a sample client, enter wages, and print Form 1040 for this client. Use a Single taxpayer with wages of $125,000.
Program Considerations
You can print returns from anywhere in the program. From the Detail, Forms, or Diagnostics tabs, you can only print the return for the current client. From the Clients tab, you can print returns for all selected clients.
At the Print Tax Return dialog box, you can choose to print everything from a single form to a complete return. The Complete Return settings default to the settings in the Options, but they can be modified for any return. Some of the other available print options are:
- Custom copy
Using this option, you can select the items to print for the current print job. The program saves these settings for later use.
- Preparer review copy, Preparer file copy, Client copy, Government filing copy
These copies print according to the settings in the Items to Print tab of the Options.
- Partial return
Using this option, you can selectively choose each form and the number of copies you would like to print.
- Federal only, State/City only
The program prints the federal or state/city return(s), collated as specified in Items to Print for each return type: Preparer review copy, Preparer file copy, Client copy, and Government filing copy.
- Extensions only, Addl. Extensions only
This option prints according to the settings in the Items to Print tab of the Options. These options can be especially useful when printing a group of clients.
- e-file validation only
This option validates the return for electronic filing, but does not create the e-file.
- Return Options
In this section, you select where you want to print the different copy types and the number of copies to be sent to the designated printer. To select where to print the copy, check the box next to Printer to print the tax return on your printer(s), File (PDF) to create a PDF version of the tax return, or Document Management System to print a PDF copy of the tax return to DMS. You can select any combination of the three options.
Note: You cannot print multiple copies of the same copy type to File (PDF) or to the Document Management System .
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files. This reader is available as a free download from www.adobe.com.
How?
To print tax returns:
- Select the desired client (from the Clients tab).
- On the Print menu, click Tax Return.
- Select Partial return.
- Click US in the States list.
- Check the box next to 1040.
- Click OK.
Tips & Shortcuts
You can open the Print Tax Return dialog box by clicking the print icon 
in the toolbar at the Detail tab or Forms tab, or from anywhere in the program by pressing [Ctrl]+[P].
Review
You should have been able to print Form 1040 for the sample client.
Troubleshooting
Problem: I can't print Form 1040.
Solution: You must select Partial return in the Print Tax Return dialog box, and then select US. Check the box next to 1040 and click Print.
Note: If you check the box next to US, then all available forms are selected. To deselect all forms, check the box again.