New (tax) year, new help!
Fixed Assets and UltraTax CS 2023 help is now on Help and Support. We're still moving articles, but you can find most content for the 2023 tax year there. Continue using the Help & How-To Center for tax years 2022 and older.
As part of the Security Summit partnership involving the Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies, and the private-sector industry additional taxpayer and tax return preparer safeguards are in place for UltraTax CS. The Security Summit Partners initiatives enhance authentication efforts of tax return preparers and transmitters using Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs). These guidelines require that all software providers retain a copy of each customer's e-file application summary, even if an e-file acceptance letter or a
If you are new to UltraTax CS, or you have received a new EFIN from the IRS, submit your e-file application summary to Thomson Reuters now to electronically file returns using UltraTax CS.
Obtaining your e-file application summary
A copy of your IRS e-file application summary is required before you can electronically file tax returns. You'll need to access your e-services account and provide a copy of the IRS e-file application summary.
For assistance generating your e-file application summary, please see IRS e-file application summary required prior to e-filing with UltraTax CS.
You will be unable to electronically file returns in UltraTax CS until we verify your EFIN. This means if you are not a member of a firm who can participate in the IRS e-Services program, you will not be able to electronically file returns in UltraTax CS.
For assistance accessing your e-services portal, contact the IRS e-Help desk.
The e-file application summary is not available when I log in to my e-services portal.
Submitting your e-file application summary
Send your e-file application summary to EFINCertificate@TR.com, please include your firm ID number in the subject line. If you are unsure of your firm ID number, see How to locate the firm ID number.
If you have more than one EFIN number associated with your account, we'll need an IRS e-file application summary for each EFIN number.
Submitting your e-file application summary for multiple office locations using the same EFIN number.
Verifying your e-file approval status
After submitting your e-file application summary to EFINCertificate@TR.com you will receive a confirmation email letting you know your message has been received. If you do not receive this confirmation within 24-hours of submitting your e-file application summary, please re-send it. After your submission has been reviewed you will receive a confirmation email letting you know your approval status. The turnaround time is typically 24-48 business hours after receipt.
To verify your e-file approval status within UltraTax CS, complete the following steps:
- Choose Setup > Office Configuration and then click the E-Filing tab.
- If the “All returns in this office will file using EFIN” option is marked, the assigned EFIN will show in the EFIN field. If the “Several EFINs are being used.” option is marked, the assigned EFINs can be reviewed in the Preparers tab.
- To confirm you have successfully verified the listed EFIN(s), open the UltraTax CS Home Page and click Alerts. If you see a message labeled "Action Required - Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) Verification", your firm has not submitted an EFIN application summary for the EFIN listed. Show me.
Note: If you have already submitted an application summary for the listed EFIN and received a confirmation message from EFINCertificate@TR.com, download and apply updates via CS Connect to refresh your Home Page to clear this alert.
Frequently asked questions
Am I required to submit my e-file application summary annually?
Does electronic filing error R0000-905-01 mean I am not approved to electronically file?
Is there any other documentation that will be accepted?
How can I determine which EFIN number or numbers I am using within UltraTax CS?
Additional resources
EFIN verification required for electronic filing through CS Connect
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Use EMS to check e-file approval status
Internal: Verifying e-file approval status in EMS or Internal: Verifying an EFIN's status by firm ID.
Submitting e-file application summaries
Security concerns with emailing summaries
Options to protect the security of the EFIN number when transmitting the request via email include:
- Sending documentation via Sharefile or other encrypted programs.
- Password protect the attachment with Firm ID or some other combination of information that Thomson Reuters would have on file for their account. The email message could simply state, to access the attached document enter the Firm id and zip code.
- E-file application summaries may also be submitted by physical mail. Send summaries attention to Jason Cox to 6300 Interfirst Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108.
Requests to fax summaries
Faxing is not a secure transmission method for e-file application summaries.
- If the external user must fax in the e-file application summary, faxes may be sent to 734.426.5946.
- The full EFIN number must be left in tact when submitting the application summary. The specific EFIN is what is being validated. This means this information will be visible to anyone on our end with access to the fax. This is many more individuals than the limited secure group that manages the inbox.
Summaries received through KANA
If an e-file application summary has been submitted directly to you or a KANA inbox by the external user, please forward their message to EFINCertificate@TR.com. In the body of the message include the contact and email address the confirmation message needs to be sent to, and include the Firm ID in the subject line.
Troubleshooting printing to pdf
Step ten of the instructional topic prompts the reader to create a pdf of their e-file summary. This process will vary based the on the browser and/or the print to pdf driver installed. If the external user has navigated to the Print Summary option on the e-file application summary and they do not have the ability to print to pdf, they may need to download and install a pdf print driver. There are several available for free download, we recommend CutePDF writer as a possible solution.