File format for use with Tax Return Import/Export
Use comma-delimited text files with a specific header and data record structure to import and export tax return data in Thomson Reuters Tax Return Import/Export.
Tax Return Import/Export files are comma-delimited text files that share an identical format and record structure — 1 header record followed by any number of data records. You can open these files in Microsoft Excel as well as other text editors, such as Word, Notepad, and WordPad.
In Microsoft Excel, you can:
- Change header record data field values
- Delete existing data records
- Add new data records
- Change existing data record values
After you edit the Excel worksheet, save it as a comma-delimited text file and import it back into a tax return locator. This round-trip export and import process lets you complete tax return data entry without connecting to the system.
You can also convert data from any source into the file format that Tax Return Import/Export requires, add the required data field identification, and then import that data into a new or existing tax return.
Saving a spreadsheet file
Every record in a Tax Return Import/Export import file, including the last data record, must end with a carriage return-line feed pair.
If the last record is missing the carriage return-line feed pair, the system won't import the field value on that record into the designated tax return database location.
When you save a Tax Return Import/Export file from Excel using
Save
or Save As
, Excel writes all records to the CSV file correctly. Choose the regular CSV option — don't choose CSV UTF8
.When you create a Tax Return Import/Export import file from a Microsoft Excel workbook, save the worksheet as a CSV (comma-separated values) file, then manually change the file name extension from the Excel default (.csv) to the extension that Tax Return Import/Export requires, such as .PX3 or .CX3.
