Transitioning from Data Connection to Tax Return Import/Export
Tax Return Import/Export's an income tax compliance product that allows you to import data into, and export data from, tax returns. It's the successor to Data Connection.
Similarities to Data Connection
Tax Return Import/Export's nearly identical to Data Connection but contains several important functional upgrades. The following's a list of features that remain the same between both products:
- The file format is CSV (comma separated values).
- The file extension's determined by the tax application code and tax year; for example, 2022 1065 file extensions are .PX2, and 2023 1120 file extensions are .CX3.
- The file headers including the various import flags.
- All existing form names, field names, and descriptions.
- Any enabled organizer, tax form, and workpaper fields will export; only organizer fields will import.
- All tabs on the file set workbook, including required fields, string values, navigation, etc.
- While in GoSystem, import is found under Returns Processing, then Import.
Increased functionality
Tax Return Import/Export has several major additions to Data Connection.
- Data Connection was limited to 3 groups; fields that required 4 or 5 group numbers to specify their position weren't enabled.
- In Data Connection, the second, third, and fourth columns on the import file were used for the first 3 group numbers; in Tax Return Import/Export, they're followed by 2 additional group number columns that are used for the next 2 group numbers when applicable.
Examples of data records from Data Connection and TRT import files
Nongroup Data:
- "GENERAL OPTIONS","0","0","0","PREPARER CITY","Dallas","O"
- "GENERAL OPTIONS","0","0","0","0","0","PREPARER CITY","Dallas","O"
Level 0 Group Data:
- "APPOINTEE INFO","0","1","0","NAME","Tommy Smith","O"
- "APPOINTEE INFO","0","1","0","0","0","NAME","Tommy Smith","O"
Level 1 Group Data:
- "FORM 8865","1","1","0","FP ENTITY INFO REFE ID NUM","1-111","O"
- "FORM 8865","1","1","0","0","0","FP ENTITY INFO REFE ID NUM","1-111","O"
Master Group Data:
- "FORM 8825","1001","0","0","ACTIVITY NUMBER","1001","O"
- "FORM 8825","1001","0","0","0","0","ACTIVITY NUMBER","1001","O"
Level 3 Group Data (New):
- "8865 FDE","1","1","1","1","0","FP 10 PC FPRTSH FORMS FILED","group data box",”O”
The data record shown above is an example of group data newly enabled in Tax Return Import/Export.
With the addition of two new group columns, data records for Tax Return Import/Export now have nine columns. All nine of these columns are
mandatory
for each data record on the import file; previously in Data Connection the last column containing the data source code “O”, “T”, or “W” (organizer, tax form, or workpaper) was optional on import files.Tax Return Import/Export also
supports three new tax application types
. Data Connection could import into 1040, 1041, 1065, 1120, and 990 tax types; Tax Return Import/Export can import into 1040, 1041, 1065, 1120, 5500, 706, 709, and 990 tax types. Import file validation
The first step for all imports through Tax Return Import/Export's import file validation. This validation checks the header and all data records on the import file to determine if any errors are present. If an import file fails validation no part of it will be imported. The
Import Status
column on the batch status screen will indicate “Validation Error on Import File” and Download All
will download a compressed file containing both the invalid import file (.?X#) and the validation report (.TXT).JSON file format
Tax Return Import/Export also supports the JSON file format for import and export files. The JSON file contains both a header and one or more data records similar to the CSV file. The JSON file can be opened with any text editor.
Header
The header record uses the same parameters as the CSV file header in the syntax shown below:{ "nameLine1": "Partnership Name 1", "nameLine2": "Partnership Name 2", "clientCode": "Client Code", "importFlag": "M", "locator": "1234AB", "process": "TRT", "taxReturnData": []}Data Records
Place all data records between the square brackets shown above. Each data record is bracketed by curly brackets and contains a comma after the closing curly bracket. Each data record contains the same nine parameters as the CSV file data record and uses the syntax shown below:{ "formName": "DEPLETION", "fieldName": "4562:DEPL OVR 3 YR BASIS AMT", "fieldType": "O", "data": "1003.00", "group1": "81", "group2": "0", "group3": "0", "group4": "0", "group5": "0" },The simplest way to obtain a JSON file with proper syntax is to export a locator. Importing and exporting using JSON files is its own import type.
- SelectImport Type, and thenTax Return Transfer – JSONfrom the import and export screens to begin.
- File ExtensionThe JSON file format follows the same convention as the CSV file extension except the second character ‘X’ is replaced with ‘J’ – for example, the JSON file extension for a 1065 import file is .PJ#.
