[BrianL]

That time of year again to start thinking about software. I do a few Canadian returns usually of less than mainstream types such as Canadian ceasing residency, Canadian nonresidet with Canadian property, etc. My practice is primarily US international tax, both southbound and northbound.

In the past I've been using Taxprep and for the # of returns do not expect the Canadian work to contribute materially to the bottom line. However, this year my son decided to take accounting at York U and in the tax course Profile comes packaged with the books so as he wants to do tax, I thought I'd take a look at it so if he wants to lend a hand during the tax season he need not have to deal with 2 different software packages. It does not phase me too much as I am dealing with 3 differnt ones already, so a 4th is not big deal.

In doing the first look at Profile, I have run into a problem that I can not find an answer to so hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction. A Section 216 return has a June 30th deadline. Also, if there is tax assessed pursuant to the submission of a NR6, the amount must be deposited periodically that is not the same as required when making installment payments. I prepped a 216 return and came up with the same answer as with Taxprep as to tax liability and disclosure. Only difference is taxprep adds Section 216 T-1 at the top and I had to type it in. I did like the nonresident fields having nonresident Section 216 which is an improvement over Taxprep. The problem comes when I generate the letter. It has April 30 as the deadline for filing and as in the example I did had a tax owing, it generates a schedule of installment payments. It also does not include the mailing address in the letter.

Taxprep does not generate the International Tax Office address either but will include the local office adresses. In Taxprep I can modify the client letter related to a particular client and generate it with the file. I can only find an edit of the letter template in Profile but, it modifies the default letter. I tried using the template for User 1 and sort of got it to where I want it but then, I dummied another return and again modded the User 1 letter to meet the requirements for the return and when I went back to the original return, the letter then contained the information for the 2nd return which was not a Section 216 return.

The help database was no help. Is there a method to modify the client letter in a particular return that will not modify the templates and will store with the file so when I archive the client copy to a dvd, it contains the letter?

Thanks in advance,

Brian Levy
U.S. International Tax Services
1200 - 251 Consumers Road
Toronto ON M2J 4R3
416-644-8515
US.International.Tax@gmail.com

[unknown]

BrianL, on Oct 28 2009, 07:40 PM, said:

That time of year again to start thinking about software. I do a few Canadian returns usually of less than mainstream types such as Canadian ceasing residency, Canadian nonresidet with Canadian property, etc. My practice is primarily US international tax, both southbound and northbound.

In the past I've been using Taxprep and for the # of returns do not expect the Canadian work to contribute materially to the bottom line. However, this year my son decided to take accounting at York U and in the tax course Profile comes packaged with the books so as he wants to do tax, I thought I'd take a look at it so if he wants to lend a hand during the tax season he need not have to deal with 2 different software packages. It does not phase me too much as I am dealing with 3 differnt ones already, so a 4th is not big deal.

In doing the first look at Profile, I have run into a problem that I can not find an answer to so hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction. A Section 216 return has a June 30th deadline. Also, if there is tax assessed pursuant to the submission of a NR6, the amount must be deposited periodically that is not the same as required when making installment payments. I prepped a 216 return and came up with the same answer as with Taxprep as to tax liability and disclosure. Only difference is taxprep adds Section 216 T-1 at the top and I had to type it in. I did like the nonresident fields having nonresident Section 216 which is an improvement over Taxprep. The problem comes when I generate the letter. It has April 30 as the deadline for filing and as in the example I did had a tax owing, it generates a schedule of installment payments. It also does not include the mailing address in the letter.

Taxprep does not generate the International Tax Office address either but will include the local office adresses. In Taxprep I can modify the client letter related to a particular client and generate it with the file. I can only find an edit of the letter template in Profile but, it modifies the default letter. I tried using the template for User 1 and sort of got it to where I want it but then, I dummied another return and again modded the User 1 letter to meet the requirements for the return and when I went back to the original return, the letter then contained the information for the 2nd return which was not a Section 216 return.

The help database was no help. Is there a method to modify the client letter in a particular return that will not modify the templates and will store with the file so when I archive the client copy to a dvd, it contains the letter?

Thanks in advance,

Brian Levy
U.S. International Tax Services
1200 - 251 Consumers Road
Toronto ON M2J 4R3
416-644-8515
US.International.Tax@gmail.com

yep, using the field code designating it as a section 216 return as a conditional...

[Tim Parris]

BrianL, on Oct 28 2009, 09:40 PM, said:

The help database was no help. Is there a method to modify the client letter in a particular return that will not modify the templates and will store with the file so when I archive the client copy to a dvd, it contains the letter?


Brian Levy
U.S. International Tax Services
1200 - 251 Consumers Road
Toronto ON M2J 4R3
416-644-8515
US.International.Tax@gmail.com

You can personalize any letter by right clicking on the letter and choosing "Personalize". There is no option to update the letter with revised amounts (like refunds) later.

[JohnNP]

presumably your letter says the tax balance due (if any) remains 30 April?

[BrianL]

JohnNP, on Oct 29 2009, 11:50 AM, said:

presumably your letter says the tax balance due (if any) remains 30 April?

Yes, it does.

[unknown]

Believe this is the field code you want to be working with, {T1Info.B[28]}, attached to the residency status pulldown on the info page.

Use that to create conditional statements peculiar to a section 216 return.

You can do that by adding it to your standard letter, and turning off the 'standard T1 letter parts' with an opposite conditional.

Or, my advice if you do not do a lot of S 126, do up a parallel S216 letter which you substitute for the standard in the templates section. You will just have to flip back and forth...

Alternately, set up your S216 letter as user1 or user2, or even use the invoice template for it.

[dunner]

I agree with Bert. I would change the template and do a IF ELSE, putting all your paragraphs that fit the S216 return after the ELSE. I've found that you can build in some creative letter inclusions by editing the template. Profile doesn't allow for too much programming in the letters but it's not too bad.

[Hardev@Intuit]

BrianL, on Oct 29 2009, 01:40 AM, said:

The help database was no help. Is there a method to modify the client letter in a particular return that will not modify the templates and will store with the file so when I archive the client copy to a dvd, it contains the letter?

Hi Brian:

Yes, there is a way to modify client letter for a specific return without modifying template globally. What you need to do is right-click on the client letter screen displayed in a particular return and select "Personalize" to just make the changes to that client letter and save the return. The changes made apply only to the specific return for which the client letter was open and will stay until you unselect the "Personalize" option.

Kind Regards,
Hardev