Client portal experience
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This article outlines the full taxpayer experience in the client portal dashboard. The taxpayer can:
- view and access outstanding tasks
- upload and download documents
- pay vouchers
- distribute K-1s
- update settings
Refer to our Client Experience: Client Portal on Mobile article for mobile-specific instructions and limitations.
note
The client needs to be registered in the firm's Client Portal Management dashboard to access the portal.
Access the Client Portal
The firm can send the client an invitation email to register for the client portal from their Client Portal Management dashboard. Alternatively, the firm can provide its custom client portal URL located in .
- SelectRegister Nowin the onboarding email.
Create New Account
- SelectSign Upor selectRegister Nowin the onboarding email.
- Enter yourName.
- Enter yourEmail ID.
- Enter aMobile Phone Number(optional).
- SelectVerify your email.
- Enter theAccess Codesent to your email.
- SelectConfirm.
- Enter a 6 digit PIN into theCreate PINfield (used for future sign-ins).
- Enter the same 6-digit PIN into theConfirm PINfield.
- SelectCreate Account.
- Sign in to your account.
Recover or Reset Your Email ID
You can reset your email ID from the Client Portal sign in page if you have a recovery email set up.
note
- A recovery email needs to be set up in your Client Portal for this feature to function.
- You can set up a recovery email in theSecuritysection of your Client Portal account.
- Refer to the Security Settings section for more information.
- SelectRecover or reset your email ID.
- Reach out to your tax firm to recover your email ID or selectplease click hereto reset your email ID.
- Select theEmail AddressorPhone Numberradio button.
- Enter theRecovery Emailaddress orRecovery Phone Number(mobile number required).
- Enter theExisting Email ID.
- SelectContinue.
- Enter theAccess Codesent to your recovery email or phone number.
- SelectConfirm.
- Enter the new email ID for your Client Portal.
- SelectContinue.
- Enter theAccess Codesent to your new Client Portal email.
- SelectConfirm.
- Sign in to your account.
Sign In To An Existing Account
- Enter yourEmail ID.
- SelectContinue.
- Enter yourPIN(only required when logging in from a new browser or device).
- SelectContinue.
- Enter theAccess Codesent to your email.
- SelectConfirm.
Homepage
This is the main dashboard for the Client Portal. You can review recent activity, pending tasks, completed tasks, firm information, and notifications.
Recent Activity
This section displays the 5 most recent actions taken, including opening or completing tasks and downloading files. This section doesn’t display actions taken in the Tax Payments or K-1 Distribution sections.
- View a summary of yourRecent Activity.
- Select theNameof the item to be redirected to it.
Send Files
- SelectSend Files to CPAto upload documents to your tax firm.
Contact Information
- View theContact Informationfor someone at your tax firm.
Notification Bell
- Select the Notification Bell to open your recent notifications.
- Select a line item to be redirected to that document or task.
Completed Tasks
- SelectCompleted Tasks.
- Review recently completed items.
Pending Tasks
- Review yourPending Tasks.
- SelectGet Startedto be re-directed to that task.
Documents
Review and download completed, sent, and received documents.
- SelectDocumentsin the left panel.
Search & Filter
Choose which documents to display.
Search
- Enter a keyword into theSearchfield.
- SelectSearchto display related documents.
Filter
- Select theFilterbutton.
- Select aDate Range(optional).
- Select one or moreStatus(optional).
- Select one or moreFile Type(optional).
- SelectApplyto save any changes made.
Sort
- SelectSort By.
- SelectNewest FirstorOldest Firstto sort by date.
View
- Select the arrow next to a folder to expand it.
- Locate the document.
- Review the signatureStatusfor documents requiring signature.
- SelectViewto open a preview of the document.
- Use theNavigation BarorBookmarkpanel to review the document.
- SelectDownloadto save a copy.
Download
Individual File Download
- Select the arrow next to a folder to expand it.
- Locate the document.
- SelectMore.
- SelectDownloadto save a copy.
Bulk or Large File Download
- Select one or more documents to download.
- SelectDownload.
- A message tells you the files were downloaded to theMy Downloadssection.
- SelectMy Downloads.
- SelectDownloadto download a ZIP file containing the files.
View Message
- Select the arrow next to a folder to expand it.
- Locate the document.
- Select theMorebutton.
- SelectMessage From CPA
- SelectView Messageto see a note from your tax firm.
- SelectOKto close the window.
Upload
Upload documents to your tax firm.
- SelectSend Filesto be re-directed to the firm's upload page.
- Follow the steps in our Upload Documents guide (access code is not required when uploading from the Client Portal).
Tax Payments
Review your tax payments and pay your vouchers.
- SelectTax Payments.
- Vouchers are separated byDue Date.
View
- SelectView.
- Review a summary of your payments due for that due date.
- SelectOkto close the summary.
Pay
- SelectPayto be re-directed to your Make Payments dashboard.
- Follow the steps in our Make Voucher Payment article.
Distribute K-1s
Review K-1 delivery status and distribute K-1s.
- Select Distribute K-1s in the left panel.
- Review the delivery Status.
- Select Distribute.
- Follow the steps in our K-1 Distribution article.
Security Settings
Update security settings related to your Client Portal account.
- SelectSecurity Settings.
Merge Emails
If you have had documents delivered to multiple email addresses, you can merge those into your existing account. Each email address can only be linked to 1 Client Portal.
note
Merged email addresses cannot be used to log in. Any documents associated with the merged email will be available in the main Client Portal, but the merged email address can't be used to create a separate Client Portal or login to the main Client Portal.
- Enter an email address into theAdd another email IDfield.
- SelectAdd.
- Enter theAccess Codedelivered to that email address.
- SelectVerify Code.
Update PIN
Update the PIN used to sign in to your Client Portal account.
- SelectUpdate.
- Enter yourCurrent PIN.
- Enter yourNew PIN.
- Enter your new PIN toConfirm.
- SelectUpdate.
Update Email ID
- SelectUpdate.
- Enter theNew Email ID.
- SelectUpdate.
Grant Third-Party Access
Grant a third-party access to your client portal to review documents and perform actions like distributing K-1s. These people only receive access codes via mobile for security reasons. Third-parties can't access tasks requiring a signature that haven’t been signed by the main portal user. This access is only granted for 48 hours.
Grant Access
- SelectAdd.
- Enter the third-party'sName.
- Enter the third-party'sEmail ID.
- Enter the third-party'sMobilenumber.
- SelectPage Accessoptions to determine which areas/documents the third-party can access.
- SelectAdd User.
- The third-party needs to authenticate:
- SelectSend Linkto send a Client Portal access link to the third-party.
- SelectEditto edit their details and permissions.
- SelectDeleteto remove third-party access.
Third-Party Authentication
The third-party receives an email notification from noreply@safesendreturns.com to verify their access.
- SelectVerify Your Access.
- SelectSend Code.
- Enter the code sent to your mobile device.
- SelectConfirm.
- Client Portal user mustSend Linkto the third-party.
- SelectAccess Client Portalin the new email.
- FollowSend Codesteps outlined above.
Add Recovery Email
- SelectUpdate.
- Select theEmail Addressradio button.
- Enter aRecovery Emailaddress.
- SelectUpdate.
Add Recovery Phone Number
- SelectUpdate.
- Select thePhone Numberradio button.
- Enter a recoveryPhone Number(mobile number required).
- SelectUpdate.