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Returns

The taxpayer can access the return, review, sign, pay vouchers/invoices, deliver K-1s, and download documents.
Show all hidden content.
Initial Email
The taxpayer receives an email with a link to the designated return.
  1. Select
    Let's Get Started
     or
    Access Client Portal
    .
Homepage
  1. Select
    Contact
     if you have any questions for the firm.
  2. Select
    Get Started
    .
Authentication
Social Security Number Authentication (personal returns only)
  1. Enter the requested 4 digits of your Social Security Number.
  2. Select
    Continue
    .
Access Code Verification (all return types)
  1. Select
    Send Code
    .
    • A message states whether the code is being delivered to your email address or your phone.
      • Email Access Code:
         An 8-digit access code is sent to the same email address as the initial email was sent to.
      • Mobile Access Code:
         A 6-digit access code is sent to your cell phone via text message.
  2. Enter the 6 or 8-digit access code in the code field.
  3. Select
    Continue
    .
SMS Text Notification Consent
  • This only appears if your tax provider has this feature enabled.
  • By consenting to the SMS Text Notifications, you are agreeing to let SafeSend send reminders to sign your tax return via text message. This consent is valid for 12 months.
Welcome Page
This is the main dashboard for your return.
  1. The title line has 3 options:
    • View the
      Tax year
       for the return.
    • Select
      Contact Person
       to display a contact at the firm in case you have any questions.
    • Select
      Client Panel
       to change your mobile number or edit your spouse's information.
  2. The progress bar shows the step the return is currently in.
  3. Total refunds and payments for the return are displayed on the left.
    • Select the
      Print
       icon to print the summary.
    • Use the arrows to open the panel to view more.
  4. A short overview of the steps required to complete your return is displayed.
    • Depending on what was included in the return by your tax preparer, these steps may appear different.
  1. Select
    Get Started
     to continue.
Message from Preparer
This page displays any instructions or messages included by the tax firm.
  1. View the message from your tax preparer.
  2. Select
    Print
     if you would like to print the message.
  3. Select
    Next
     to continue.
View or Pay Invoice
This section only appears if your delivered return includes an invoice.
  1. Review the invoice.
  2. Select
    Pay Now
    .
    • Depending on your firm's settings, you may get a message requesting payment details or a new tab open to a payment site.
    • If you don’t have the
      Pay Now
       option, this tells you the firm doesn’t have a payment method available online. You can download the invoice in the next section.
  3. Select
    Next
     to continue.
Review Tax Documents
  1. Select the
    Return Section
     you want to review (filing instructions, tax return, and attachments).
  2. Select
    Download
     to download and save documents to your device.
  3. Select
    Forward
     to forward all available documents to an external email address.
  4. Select
    Next
     to continue.
Paper File Your Returns
The Paper File Returns section only appears if your delivered return includes a paper file return. Consent to the terms of the Paper File Return before you can print the documents.
  • By selecting
    I Consent,
    you agree to file the paper return.
  • If you select
    Skip
     you can access your paper returns from the summary page and receive the
    Consent to Paper File Returns
    message again.
  1. Print
     or
    Download
     the paper returns individually under the
    Action
     column for each return.
  2. Select
    Print
     to print all the returns into 1 PDF.
  3. Select
    Download All
     to download a ZIP File with all paper file returns.
  4. Select
    Skip
     to skip this step or
    Next
    to continue.
Sign Tax Documents
There may be up to 3 options to sign depending on your firm's settings.
  1. Select
    e-Sign
     to sign electronically.
  2. Select
    Manually Sign
     to print, sign, and upload the forms.
  3. Select
    Delegate Signing
     to send tax forms to partners or shareholders for signatures.
eSign
Identity Verification (personal returns only)
  1. Enter or verify
    Your Date of Birth
     for verification.
  2. Mark the checkbox to consent to e-signing.
  3. Enter your spouse's email address.
    • Enter your spouse's mobile number to prompt access codes to go to their cell phone (optional).
  4. Select
    Next
     to continue to:
    • Knowledge-based authentication
       for individual returns.
    • E-sign Your Documents
       for entity returns.
Knowledge-Based Authentication (personal returns only)
  1. Select the correct answer.
    • Answer 3 of 5 questions correctly to pass.
      • If you pass, continue to the
        E-Sign Your Documents
         section.
      • If you fail, you are directed to
        Manually Sign
         your documents.
  2. Select
    Next
    .
E-Sign Your Documents (all return types)
A list of all pages that require your signature is listed in the left panel. A green check appears next to the page after it is signed.
  1. Select the
    Start
     arrow to be led to your first signature line.
  2. Select the green
    Signature
     block to open the
    Add Signature
     window.
    • Continue to select the Next arrow as you proceed through each signature.
  3. Select
    Type
    ,
    Draw
     or
    Upload
     to write your signature.
  4. Select
    Apply
    .
  5. Select
    Next
     to continue.
note
If there is a spouse on the return, the confirmation screen appears. Here you can update the spouse's email and add a phone number (optional). Select
Next
 to finalize signing.
Manually Sign
  1. Select
    Download
     to download documents requiring a signature
    .
  2. Drag and drop
     the documents, or select
    Choose File
     to open a file browser to upload the signed documents.
  3. View the alternative sending methods if you are unable to upload the signed documents electronically:
    • Send by Mail
    • Send by Fax
  4. Select
    Next
    .
K-1 Distribution
This option is only available for entity returns. For more information about downloading K-1s to mail hard copies, refer to our K-1 Distribution - Taxpayer Instructions article.
Send Electronically
  1. Select
    Send Electronically
     on the K-1 distribution dashboard.
  2. Select
    Edit Partner Details
     in the
    Action
     column.
  3. Enter the Shareholder's email address in the
    Update K-1 Partner Details
     window.
    • An email address is required before a K-1 package can be delivered.
    • If a mobile number is added, the Access Codes are sent by text.
  4. Select
    Save
     to save any changes made.
  5. Select one or more K-1 packages to be distributed.
    • If you
      Select All
      , the K-1s on the current page and any additional pages are selected.
  6. Select the
    Email Documents
     button.
  7. View the
    Status
     of delivered K-1s.
Tax Payments
View Tax Payments
note
Estimated payments appear when you select
Done
. The options are the same for Tax Payment and Estimated Payments.
  1. Select the
    Due date
     to view the payments due.
  2. Mark or clear
    Email me reminder...
    .
    • If checked, you can adjust the number of days before the due date that you receive the reminder.
  3. Select
    Payment Voucher
     to download all vouchers.
  4. Select
    Filing Instructions
     to download all filing instructions.
  5. Select
    Done.
Pay Vouchers
note
SafeSend doesn’t confirm or process payments made to taxing authorities.
  1. Select
    Pay
    .
  2. Select
    Pay with debit/credit card
     to pay with pay1040.com OR
  3. Select
    Pay with IRS
     to open a new tab for the taxing authorities' website.
  4. Select
    Get Voucher
     to download the payment voucher.
  5. Select
    Add Payment Details
     to mark the voucher as Paid.
    • This step is optional and for record-keeping only.
  6. Review the pop-up warning and select
    Continue
    .
  7. Enter the details for the payment made.
    • Check Number is optional.
  8. Select
    Add Payment
     when done.
  9. Select
    Done
     to complete all steps.
End Page/Return Page
Once the return is completed you are directed back to the Welcome Page, but different options are now available. It is also what populates when you re-enter the return later.
  1. Summary panel.
    • Select the
      Print
       icon to print the summary.
  2. Send a reminder to spouse for joint 1040s.
  3. Select
    Make Tax Payments
     to be directed back to the Pay section.
  4. Select
    Download Tax Documents
     to see a list of documents included in the return.
  5. Select
    View Tax or Forward Tax Documents
     to be taken back to the review step.
  6. Select
    View or Download Signed Documents
     to download the signed e-file forms.
  7. Select
    Print and Mail Paper File Returns
     to access your Paper File returns.
  8. Select
    Pay or View Tax Preparation Fees
     to pay your invoice or mark it as paid.
note
Any signed documents downloaded from SafeSend are password-protected and can't be edited. The audit report printed with the signed document is used as a security standard to track document history events. Letting the report to be edited would make it unviable.

This article applies to:

  • Product: safesend
  • Audiences: Client