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License information

Standard license

With the standard license type, you can continue to use some features of the application even after the license expiration date. However, to continue receiving application updates and to have access to technical support, you need to renew and update your license files.
note
You shouldn't install a version of the application later than the last one you have a valid license for. If you do so, you wouldn't be able to add or import any new data or edit existing data. However, it’s possible to correct such a situation in 1 of 2 ways:
  1. Renew your license for another year.
  2. Download and apply the trial version of the license to access your existing data, to add or import data, to print reports, and to export data. The limitations of the trial license would apply.

Renewable license for certain payroll features

You can use the Renewable license that we offer for each of the following payroll features in Accounting CS to use and to download enhancements and updates for these features throughout the year until your license expiration date:
  • Accounting CS Payroll Compliance
  • Accounting CS Alternate Payroll Preparer Block
  • 94x Unlimited Electronic Filing
  • 1099 Unlimited Electronic Filing
After the expiration date for a Renewable license:
A 60-day grace period begins immediately after the license expiration date, and the features will continue to work with full functionality through that period. After a Renewable license has expired, you'll no longer have access to updates or technical support for those features. After the 60-day grace period has ended, you can't use the features associated with that license. However, you'll still be able to access any existing client data that you've already entered or imported into the application, and you can use the
Export
or
Print Reports
 options to report client data.
note
  • The payroll compliance features in Accounting CS and Accounting CS Payroll are licensed and renewable on an annual basis only. The application's payroll compliance features aren't available with an expired license.
  • The Payroll Compliance service lets your firm process W-2, W-2C, 940, 941, 941-X, 943, 943-X, 944, 944-X, 945, 945-X, 1099, 1099 Corrected, state payroll tax forms, and certain local payroll tax forms (AL, CO, KY, MI, MO, NJ, OH, PA, WV) using a streamlined batch payroll tax process (including electronic filing). In addition, your firm can verify SSN/TIN and process EFTPS, new hires, and ACH credit payment files for states and certain localities.

Check your firm's license information

To view your firm's license information, select
Help
 and then
About
. The version numbers for all installed product applications are displayed in the licensed products list. Some licenses have a specified number of seats and units.
  • Seats: The number of concurrent users allowed in the application.
  • Units:
    • For Accounting CS Payroll (live payroll), each unit is a client with the live payroll service enabled.
    • For Workpapers CS, each unit is a staff member who belongs to a security group with permissions granted to Workpapers CS.

Renew your application licenses

  1. Visit our website to renew your application licenses.
  2. If your application is installed locally or on a network in your own office, download the updated licenses via CS Connect, and then download and apply software updates.
note
  • If you run the application in the Virtual Office CS or Software as a Service (Saas) environment, both renewed and updated licenses and application updates are applied automatically.
  • When a licenses has been expired for more than 90 days but less than 4 years, a reinstatement of the license is required.
  • When a license has been expired for 4 or more years, you must repurchase.
  • As the renewal or expiration date for your application licenses approaches, the licensee at your firm will receive reminder emails that your renewal time is approaching, along with information about renewal options available to you.
  • As of 10 days prior to the expiration of your 60-daygrace period, when you open the application, you'll get a notice that lists the application licenses that are expiring and the time remaining until the application restrictions take effect.

Trial licenses

If you'd like to evaluate the application or features of the application prior to purchasing a full license, you can turn on a trial license.
important
  • If you already have a paid license version of Accounting CS installed: To evaluate the full calculating payroll features of Accounting CS Payroll and ensure the integrity of your firm's active license, you need to install the trial version of Accounting CS Payroll on a computer that doesn't have Accounting CS installed (either locally or a network installation).
  • If you already have a paid license version of Accounting CS Payroll installed: To evaluate the Accounting service features adn ensure the integrity of your firm's active license, you need to install the trial version of Accounting CS with the Accounting services on a computer that doesn't have Accounting CS Payroll installed (either locally or a network installation).
If you already have a paid license version of Accounting CS or Accounting CS Payroll installed, you can activate a trial license of the Workpapers CS service with the steps listed later.
note
  • If you don't currently own 1 or more Accounting CS or Workpapers CS services, contact your sales representative to set up a trial on Virtual Office CS. You're not able to install a trial version locally.
  • You can install a trial license version on a local machine, network, or terminal server. There's a limit of 24 users with a networked installation.
  • The trial version of an application will never overwrite any data from a fully licensed version of your application.
  • Any clients you set up in a trial version will be available in the fully licensed version after you activate a full license.
  • If you uninstall the trial version of an application, the transaction data you entered in the trial licensed portions won't be deleted, but you won't be able to access the screens associated with the functionality of those transactions.

Install a trial license

  1. Select
    Help
    , then
    About
    .
  2. Select
    Trial Licenses
    .
  3. Mark the checkbox for the trial version of the services to evaluate, then select
    OK
    .
  4. Select
    OK
    .
  5. When the application re-opens, enter
    ADMIN
     in the
    Staff ID
     field. If you previously opened this database and assigned a password, you'll also need to enter that password.

Remove a trial license

  1. Select
    Help
    , then
    About
    .
  2. Select
    Trial Licenses
    .
  3. Clear the checkbox for the trial licenses to remove, and then select
    OK
    .
  4. Select
    OK
    .

Trial license limitations for Accounting CS

  • You can add up to 5 clients, including client templates.
  • You can convert client data from Creative Solutions Accounting (CSA), but those clients count toward the 5 client limit.
  • You can export client data to UltraTax CS.
  • You can import client data from QuickBooks.
  • You can print payroll checks, but the application watermarks them with the word "void" and displays a 0 net amount. The application calculates all other items in the check correctly.
  • The application watermarks all reports - including financial statements and invoices - with the word "trial".
  • You can print reports to a PDF file but not to any other file types.
  • You can't advance the period.
  • You can't process direct deposits.
  • You can't export client data to other applications.

Trial license limitations for Accounting CS Payroll

  • You can add up to 5 clients, including client templates.
  • You can print payroll checks, but the application watermarks them with the word "void" and displays a 0 net amount. The application calculates all other items in the check correctly.
  • The application watermarks all reports - including invoices - with the word "trial".
  • You can't process direct deposits.
  • The impound feature isn't available.
  • Remote Payroll Data Entry is available if you firm is licensed for NetFirm CS, but you must also set up a client portal before an export can be transferred correctly.
  • Employee Self-Service isn't available.

Trial license limitations for Accounting CS Payroll Compliance

  • The application watermarks all payroll forms with the word "trial".
  • Electronic filing enrollment and transmittal of payroll forms isn't available.
  • The Create Files button is disabled for these screens:
    • Process Internet/Magnetic Files
    • Florida e-Enrollment
    • Michigan e-Enrollment
    • Enroll EFTPS
    • Process EFTPS
    • Process New Hires (Employees and California Independent Contractors)
    • Verify SSN/TIN

Trial license limitations for Workpapers CS

  • You can add up to 5 clients, including client templates.
  • You can convert client data from Creative Solutions Accounting (CSA), but those clients count toward the 5 client limit.
  • You can import account balances from QuickBooks.
  • the application watermarks all reports with the word "trial".
  • You can add up to 4 staff members.
  • You can add up to 2 engagement binders for each client.
  • You can't advance the period.
  • You can't roll forward any engagement binders.

Alternate preparer block feature (Alternate Firm license)

With the alternate preparer block feature, 2 firms with the same owner can access the application using different firm information, including firm name, address, and phone numbers. When you create electronic or internet files or print information on federal and state payroll tax forms, the application uses the approrpiate firm information for each one. Note that the application changes the firm information for only those clients with the Payroll service turned on.
For example: Your firm's owner has 2 firms that use Accounting CS and Accounting CS Payroll, but the firms have different names - 1 for write-up work and 1 for payroll work. The alternate preparer block license feature (Alternate Firm license) lets you process live payroll clients through the payroll firm and after-the-fact payroll clients through the write-up firm.
If you have the alternate preparer block feature (Alternate Firm license), the Main tab on the Firm screen includes an
Alternate firm
 field, and the dropdown list for the address, phone number, and fax number fields include an
Alternate
 option.

This article applies to:

  • PRODUCT: Accounting CS
  • Subject: Install,Setup,SQL

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