Preparer Options dialog

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Use the Preparer Options dialog to add a new preparer to Planner CS and to set options for specific preparers. Note that you can override a preparer's preferences for an open plan using the New Plan or Plan Information dialogs.

To open this dialog, choose Tools > Setup Preparers.

Note: This command is only available when a plan is not open.

Special information

Entering or modifying preparer information and preferences

Fields & buttons

Use this field to enter the name or ID of the preparer for whom you are setting options and preferences.

Notes:

  • If you want a certain preparer and the preparer's settings to be associated with every new plan that is created, after you're done setting preparer options in this dialog, select a current preparer from the Home Page or, when a plan is not open, choose Tools > Change Preparer.
  • To specify an alternative name for the preparer, which is used in client letters, see the Name to appear on letter field below.

Preparer List group box

Use this list to select the preparer for whom you want to set options.

To add a new preparer to Planner CS, click the New button below the list and enter the preparer name or ID in the Preparer name field.

Print defaults group box

Click this option to print a tax projection summary of the client's federal plan as well as a summary report for each state attached to the plan.

Click this option and then click the Auto Select Conditions button to specify which standard reports will print for the current preparer when printing reports.

When the Auto Select option is marked, click this button to open the Print Conditions dialog, in which you can specify which specific reports will print for the current preparer when printing reports.

Click this option to print a previously defined group of reports, graphs, and client letters. If you click this option, select a report set from the drop-down list.

Select a report layout from the drop-down list.

For information about creating report layouts, see Creating custom layouts for reports.

Use this field to specify the folder year to which plan data is backed up in FileCabinet CS.

Plan Defaults group box

Either enter the appropriate number in this field or use the arrows to select the number. The number of alternatives specified here determines how many alternatives a new plan will contain when created by this preparer.

Either enter the appropriate number in this field or use the arrows to select the number. The number of years specified here determines how many years a new plan will contain when created by this preparer.

Click the arrow buttons to select the year. The year specified here determines the first year of new plans created by this preparer.

Enter the inflation percentage you want to use for federal tax calculations in future years. This percentage is used to calculate statutory amounts that are adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases, including:

  • Tax tables, both regular tax and AMT
  • Standard deduction base amount
  • Additional standard deduction for age 65 or blind
  • Phase-out of itemized deductions
  • Personal exemption amount
  • Phase-out of personal exemptions
  • AMT exemption amount
  • Phase-out of the AMT exemption amount
  • Social security tax wage base
  • Earned income credit tables
  • Disqualifying income for the earned income credit
  • Phase-out of Series EE and Series I U.S. savings bond interest exclusion
  • Excess business loss exemption amount
  • Maximum 0% rate amount and maximum 15% rate amount, used for the alternative capital gains tax calculation in tax years 2018 through 2025

The default inflation rate entered in this field transfers to the Annual inflation rate field on the Main > Analysis tab for new plans created by this preparer. However, you can enter a different rate in the Annual inflation rate field. For more information, press F1 from that field.

Enter the two-letter postal abbreviation for the preparer's resident state in this field. When a new plan is created by this preparer, Planner CS will copy the state to the Resident State field in the New Plan dialog.

View group box

Mark this checkbox if you want Planner CS to display the toolbar when the selected preparer is logged into the application.

Mark this checkbox if you want Planner CS to display the status bar when the selected preparer is logged into the application.

Navigation group box

Mark this checkbox if you want to navigate through the fields in Planner CS dialogs with the ENTER key.

Mark this checkbox if you want to expedite data entry by having Planner CS automatically bypass fields in which data entry is not required.

This option will be the default for the selected preparer. However, preparers can temporarily turn this option on or off during data entry by choosing Edit > Smart Data Entry, or by clicking the Smart Data Entry Smart Data Entry button button in the Planner CS toolbar.

Choose Vertical or Horizontal from this drop-down list to determine the direction the cursor moves when you press TAB or ENTER to navigate between fields in the main data-entry window. When the arrow points down, the cursor moves to the cell below when you press TAB or ENTER. When the arrow points to the right, the cursor moves to the cell to the right when you press TAB or ENTER.

This option will be the default for the selected preparer. However, preparers can switch between horizontal and vertical cell movement during data entry by clicking the Cell movement direction button in the Planner CS toolbar.

Client Letters group box

Use this field to enter the preparer's name as it should appear on client letters.

Note: Leave this field blank if you'd rather use the current preparer name (which is selected on the Home Page or, when a plan is not open, via Tools > Change Preparer) in client letters. To insert a preparer's name in a client letter, see Inserting plan data into a client letter.

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