Add a plan

  1. Choose
    File
    , then
    New
    , or select the New button.
  2. In the General tab of the
    New Plan
    window, enter an ID in the
    Plan ID
    field. The ID can contain up to 11 letters and/or numbers.
    note
    If you enter a Plan ID that is identical to the ID of an existing plan in Planner CS, you will be prompted to enter a new, unique ID.
  3. Assign a preparer to the plan by selecting a preparer from the
    Assigned to
    dropdown list, or select
    <Default>
    if you don't want to specify a preparer for the new plan.
    note
    The current preparer is automatically entered in this field by default.
  4. Do one of the following to create a basic plan, family plan, annualized plan, or an S Corp Comparison plan.
    Create a basic plan.
    1. Enter the first year of the new plan in the
      First Plan Year
      field.
    2. Enter the number of alternatives to include in the new plan in the
      Number of Alternatives
      field.
    3. Enter the number of years to include in the new plan in the
      Number of Years
      field.
    4. Optional: If you want to display the data for the first plan year in one Base Year column next to the alternatives and future years in the plan, mark the
      Display single base year
      checkbox in the Options group field.
      note
      The
      Display single base year
      checkbox is only available for a basic plan and if the plan includes two or more alternatives and years.
    Create a family plan.
    1. Mark the
      Family Plan
      checkbox in the Options group field.
    2. Enter the year of the new plan in the
      Plan Year
      field.
      note
      Family plans are always one-year plans.
    3. Enter the number of children in the
      Number of Children
      field.
    4. Optional: To change the default name of a child in the plan, select the
      Children's Names
      tab, select the default name of a child (for example, Child 1) in the Children Included in Plan pane, and then enter a new name in the
      Child's Name
      field.
    Create an annualized plan.
    1. Mark the
      Annualized Plan
      checkbox.
    2. Enter the year of the new plan in the
      Plan Year
      field.
      note
      Annualized plans are always one-year plans.
    Create an S Corp Comparison plan.
    1. Mark the
      S Corp Comparison
      checkbox.
    2. Enter the year of the new plan in the
      Plan Year
      field. Enter the export year or a subsequent year.
      note
      S Corp Comparison plans are always one-year, two-alternative plans.
  5. Do any of the following optional steps.
    • Enter a description in the
      Plan Description
      field. When opening a plan via the
      Open Plan
      window, this information appears in the
      Plan Description
      field when the plan is highlighted.
    • Enter a keyword in the
      Keyword
      field to help distinguish this plan from other plans. Keywords can be used to search or sort the list of available plans when opening plans via the
      Open Plan
      window.
    • Select the taxpayer's resident state, if licensed, from the dropdown list. This field isn't enabled if the
      Annualized Plan
      checkbox is marked.
    • To select nonresident states, if licensed, select the
      Nonresident States
      button, mark the state checkboxes, and select
      OK
      . This button isn't enabled if the
      Annualized Plan
      checkbox is marked.
    • Select the
      Set Password
      button and enter a password if you want to password-protect plan data.
    • Select the
      Client Information
      tab and enter the client name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth.
      note
      The dates of birth of the taxpayer and spouse are used in various federal and state calculations.
  6. Select
    OK
    . Planner CS creates the new plan and automatically opens the main data-entry window.