Transmit e-files and retrieve acknowledgments with CS Connect

You can use CS Connect to transmit electronic files for returns and extensions, as well as to retrieve e-file acknowledgments.
Every return transmitted is acknowledged by the receiving agency (such as the IRS) via the return of an acknowledgment (ACK) file to the transmitter. The acknowledgment file is a record of whether the transmitted returns have been accepted or rejected, along with any errors found by the receiving agency. The ACK includes a postmark date and an acknowledgment issued by agency date. The transmitter generally gets this file from the agency within 2 days of transmitting the returns.
When Thomson Reuters is the transmitter, these acknowledgments are made available through CS Connect 15 minutes after they are received from the agency.
If your firm uses multiple installations of UltraTax CS or multiple file locations, issues can occur with these configurations.

Transmitting electronic returns

To transmit electronic returns (and 1040, 1120, 1065, 990, or 1041 electronic extensions), follow these steps.
note
  • For the Modernized e-file (MeF) program, IRS maintenance schedules and downtimes are reported on the IRS MeF Status Page.
  • If you use a 3rd-party application vendor to transmit electronic returns, consult the vendor's guide for details about transmitting returns.
  • Only 1 person at a time can transmit electronic files through CS Connect per data location.
  1. Select the
    CS Connect button
    on the UltraTax CS toolbar.
  2. In the Options tab, select the
    Electronic Filing: ($) Transmit returns
    switch to set it to
    Yes
    .
    note
    This switch is available only after you create electronic files.
  3. Select the
    Electronic Filing
    tab to view a list of electronic returns ready for transmission.
    note
    The
    Electronic Filing
    tab is available only after you set the
    Electronic Filing: ($) Transmit returns
    switch to
    Yes
    in the
    Options
    tab.
  4. Select the clients whose returns you want to transmit during the next CS Connect session, and select the
    Select
    button. The selected clients move to Clients queued to transmit.
    note
    • If the electronic file is a FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) return,
      FBAR
      displays in the Product column.
    • To remove a client from the list of returns queued to transmit, select the client name, then select the
      Remove
      button.
    • To delete an electronic file from UltraTax CS, select the client name under Clients available to transmit, then select
      Delete
      .
  5. After all returns you want to transmit are listed under Clients queued to transmit, select the
    Options
    tab. The selected returns are now queued and ready to submit.
    note
    • We highly recommend that you lock the
      Electronic filing: Retrieve acknowledgements
      switch so that acknowledgments are retrieved with each CS Connect session.
  6. Select
    Connect
    .
    note
    Available acknowledgments are retrieved if you set the
    Electronic filing: Retrieve acknowledgements
    switch to
    Yes
    .

Retrieving acknowledgments via CS Connect

UltraTax CS will automatically re-send e-file acknowledgements when there's no activity for over 24 hours. To manually retrieve acknowledgments, follow these steps.
note
  • If the electronic file is a FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) return, you will receive an acknowledgment from the BSA E-Filing System. The BSA E-Filing System processes FinCEN Form 114 electronic files and transmits acknowledgments to Thomson Reuters within 1 business day, per the FBAR Electronic Filing Technical Overview, pages 24 and 26. The acknowledgments are then available for download via CS Connect.
  • For 1040 and 1041 returns, acknowledgments are normally processed by the IRS within 24 to 48 hours from the time you send the return. If you use the UltraTax CS Electronic Filing tool and don’t receive an acknowledgment within this timeframe, there may be a processing delay at the service center.
  • For 1120, 1065, 990, and 2290 returns, acknowledgments are normally processed by the IRS within 24 hours from the time you send the return. If you use the UltraTax CS Electronic Filing tool and don’t receive an acknowledgment within this timeframe, there may be a processing delay at the service center.
  1. Select the CS Connect button on the UltraTax CS toolbar.
  2. In the Option tab, select the
    Electronic filing:
    Retrieve acknowledgements
    switch to set it to Yes.
  3. Select the Connect button.
After you retrieve acknowledgments, you can view the updated status of the electronic file in the
Electronic Filing Status
window.

Retrieving acknowledgments via CS Connect background services

To automatically download acknowledgments via CS Connect background services, follow these steps.
  1. Select
    Setup
    , then
    System Configuration
    .
  2. Select the
    CS Connect
    tab.
  3. If needed, set the
    Enable CS Connect Background Services
    switch to Yes if not already marked.
  4. Set the
    Download electronic filing acknowledgments
    switch to Yes.
  5. Select
    OK
    .

Retrieving watermarked Schedules 1 for 2290 via CS Connect

To retrieve the watermarked Form 2290 Schedule 1 from Thomson Reuters using CS Connect, follow these steps.
note
CS Connect will download only the watermarked Schedule 1 when the firm is either licensed for FileCabinet CS or GoFileRoom.
  1. Select the
    CS Connect button
    on the UltraTax CS toolbar.
  2. In the Option tab, select the
    Electronic filing: Retrieve acknowledgements
    switch to set it to
    Yes
    .
  3. Select
    Connect
    .
After you retrieve acknowledgments, you can view the updated status of the electronic file in the
Electronic Filing Status
window.

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