Preparer Options
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Use the Preparer Options window to add a new preparer to Planner CS and to set options for specific preparers. You can override a preparer's preferences for an open plan using the New Plan or Plan Information windows.
To open this window, select
Tools
, then Setup Preparers
.note
This command is only available when a plan isn't open.
Fields & buttons
Name
Use this field to enter the name or ID of the preparer for whom you are setting options and preferences.
note
- If you want a certain preparer and the preparer's settings to be associated with every new plan that is created, after you're done setting preparer options in this window, select a current preparer from the Home Page or, when a plan isn't open, selectTools, thenChange Preparer.
- To specify an alternative name for the preparer, which is used in client letters, see theName to appear on letterfield below.
Preparer List group field
Preparer list
Use this list to select the preparer for whom you want to set options.
To add a new preparer to Planner CS, select
New
below the list and enter the preparer name or ID in the Preparer name
field.Print defaults group field
Tax Projection report
Select this option to print a tax projection summary of the client's federal plan as well as a summary report for each state attached to the plan.
Auto Select
Select this option and then select
Auto Select Conditions
to specify which standard reports will print for the current preparer when printing reports.Auto Select Conditions button
When the
Auto Select
option is marked, select this button to open the Print Conditions window, where you can specify which specific reports will print for the current preparer when printing reports.Report Set
Select this option to print a previously defined group of reports, graphs, and client letters. If you select this option, select a report set from the drop-down.
Report layout
Select a report layout from the drop-down.
FileCabinet CS folder year
Use this field to specify the folder year to which plan data is backed up in FileCabinet CS.
Plan Defaults group field
Number of alternatives
Either enter the appropriate number in this field or use the arrows to select the number. The number of alternatives specified here determines how many alternatives a new plan will contain when created by this preparer.
Number of years
Either enter the appropriate number in this field or use the arrows to select the number. The number of years specified here determines how many years a new plan will contain when created by this preparer.
First plan year
Select the arrow buttons to select the year. The year specified here determines the first year of new plans created by this preparer.
Inflation percent
Enter the inflation percentage you want to use for federal tax calculations in future years. This percentage is used to calculate statutory amounts that are adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases, including:
- Tax tables, both regular tax and AMT
- Standard deduction base amount
- Additional standard deduction for age 65 or blind
- Phase-out of itemized deductions
- Personal exemption amount
- Phase-out of personal exemptions
- AMT exemption amount
- Phase-out of the AMT exemption amount
- Social security tax wage base
- Earned income credit tables
- Disqualifying income for the earned income credit
- Phase-out of Series EE and Series I U.S. savings bond interest exclusion
- Excess business loss exemption amount
- Maximum 0% rate amount and maximum 15% rate amount, used for the alternative capital gains tax calculation in tax years 2018 through 2025
The default inflation rate entered in this field transfers to the
Annual inflation rate
field on the Main > Analysis tab for new plans created by this preparer. However, you can enter a different rate in the Annual inflation rate
field. For more information, press F1 from that field.Resident state
Enter the two-letter postal abbreviation for the preparer's resident state in this field. When a new plan is created by this preparer, Planner CS will copy the state to the
Resident State
field in the New Plan dialog.View group field
Show Toolbar
Select this checkbox if you want Planner CS to display the toolbar when the selected preparer is logged into the application.
Show Status Bar
Select this checkbox if you want Planner CS to display the status bar when the selected preparer is logged into the application.
Navigation group field
Enter key moves between fields
Select this checkbox if you want to navigate through the fields in Planner CS dialogs with the ENTER key.
Smart data entry
Select this checkbox if you want to expedite data entry by having Planner CS automatically bypass fields in which data entry is not required.
This option will be the default for the selected preparer. However, preparers can temporarily turn this option on or off during data entry by selecting 
button in the Planner CS toolbar.
Edit
, then Smart Data Entry
, or by selecting the Smart Data Entry
button in the Planner CS toolbar.Cell movement
Choose Vertical or Horizontal from this drop-down to determine the direction the cursor moves when you press TAB or ENTER to navigate between fields in the main data-entry window. When the arrow points down, the cursor moves to the cell below when you press TAB or ENTER. When the arrow points to the right, the cursor moves to the cell to the right when you press TAB or ENTER.
This option will be the default for the selected preparer. However, preparers can switch between horizontal and vertical cell movement during data entry by selecting the Cell movement direction in the Planner CS toolbar.
Client Letters group field
Name to appear on letter
Use this field to enter the preparer's name as it should appear on client letters.
note
Leave this field blank if you'd rather use the current preparer name (which is selected on the Home Page or, when a plan is not open, via
Tools
, then Change Preparer
) in client letters.