Customizing client documents: custom paragraphs

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You can print and send documents provided with UltraTax CS to clients without modifying the documents, or you can customize the documents to better meet the needs of your firm. Custom paragraphs enable you to easily personalize the documents provided with UltraTax CS.

First, you can add or edit a custom paragraph. Then, you can choose which document you want to modify, and insert a placeholder for the custom paragraph into the document. Finally, you must decide if you want the information to print for all relevant clients within an entity or for one client.

You can include custom paragraphs in any of the following documents: transmittal letters, TL shells, filing instructions, FI shells, invoices, elections, slipsheets, inserts, package inserts, and email delivery greetings.

Creating custom paragraphs

Video overview

The following video outlines the steps described below.

Steps to create custom paragraphs

Follow these steps to create custom paragraphs.

  1. From the Setup menu, choose the entity (for example, 1040 Individual).
  2. Click the federal or state tab.
  3. Click the appropriate button (for example, Letters & Emails or Filing Instructions).
  4. In the [Document Type] dialog, click the Custom Paragraphs tab.
  5. Click the New button, name the paragraph, and click OK.
  6. Enter text for the paragraph.
  7. Choose Document > Save.
  8. Choose Document > Exit.

Now that you have created a custom paragraph, you can insert a placeholder for the paragraph into a client document.

Note: You can edit, delete, or restore a custom paragraph at any time. To do so, return to the Custom Paragraphs tab, highlight the custom paragraph you want to edit, delete, or restore and click Open or Delete, or click Properties > Restore Default > OK > Yes. Note that you cannot delete custom paragraphs that are provided with UltraTax CS.

Inserting placeholders for custom paragraphs

Video overview

The following video outlines the process described in the steps below.

Steps to insert placeholders

Follow these steps to insert custom paragraph placeholders into documents that you will send to clients.

  1. From the Setup menu, choose the entity (for example, 1040 Individual).
  2. Click the federal or state tab.
  3. Click the appropriate button (for example, Letters & Emails or Filing Instructions).
  4. In the [Document Type] dialog, find the document you want to edit, and click Open.
  5. Place the cursor where you want to insert the placeholder for a custom paragraph.
  6. Choose Insert > Embedded Content and click Custom Paragraph.
  7. In the Insert Custom Paragraph dialog, highlight the custom paragraph you want to insert.
  8. Click the Insert button.
  9. Choose Document > Save.
  10. Choose Document > Exit.

Now that you have inserted a placeholder for a custom paragraph in a document, you can choose the clients for whom it will print.

Printing documents that include custom paragraphs

After you create a custom paragraph and insert a placeholder for the custom paragraph into a document, the placeholder remains in the document (but will not print within the document) until you either mark a checkbox so that the paragraph will print in documents for all relevant clients within an entity, or choose up to five custom paragraphs in Screen Letter to print for one client.

Printing documents that include custom paragraphs for all relevant clients

Follow these steps to include a custom paragraph in a document that you want to print for all relevant clients in an entity.

  1. From the Setup menu, choose the entity (for example, 1040 Individual).
  2. Click the federal or state tab.
  3. Click the appropriate button (for example, Letters & Emails or Filing Instructions).
  4. In the [Document Type] dialog, click the Custom Paragraphs tab.
  5. After you decide which custom paragraph you want to include in the document and insert a placeholder for that paragraph, mark the checkbox to the left of the custom paragraph that you want to print for all relevant clients.
  6. Click the Close button.
  7. Print the document.

Note: You can return to the Custom Paragraphs tab and clear the checkbox at any time.

Printing documents that include custom paragraphs for one client

Follow these steps to include a custom paragraph in a document that you want to print for one client.

  1. After you decide which custom paragraph you want to include in the document and insert a placeholder for that paragraph in a document, open the appropriate client's return.
  2. Click the General folder, and then click the Letter tab.
  3. In the Transmittal Letters and Filing Instructions section of Screen Letter, select the paragraph that you want to include in the document (choose up to five) from the Custom paragraphs drop-down list.

    Note: All custom paragraphs may not display in the drop-down list in Screen Letter. If you chose to include a custom paragraph in a document for all applicable clients in an entity by marking the checkbox on the Setup > [entity] Product Information > Letters & Emails button > Custom Paragraphs tab, that paragraph will not display in the drop-down list in Screen Letter because the paragraph will already be included in the document (if the paragraph applies to the client).

  4. Preview or print the document.

Related topic: Client documents overview

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