.pdf efile returns AUTOMATICALLY + Standardized logical .pdf naming convention + Efile attachments

[KevinRRiley]

Would anyone like to simplify the process of printing returns?  Ideally, by having an administrative person hit the "print complete return" button and everything happens exactly as the practitioner wants it.

It is really really bizarre how difficult the .pdf printing process is.  There are no settings that I am aware of that allows one to print the client copy, the preparer copy, and the government copy such that three separate .pdf files are created and automatically placed where the practitioner directs each of them and named logically so the user can identify what it is they are looking at with a single printing action.

Most Lacerte print options will combine these to a single .pdf file. I don't know why anyone would want this but everyone has their own needs.  Lacerte should at least give us an option as to whether we actually want these different versions to be combined or not.

The print to .pdf option comes close to the desired result, but there is no predefined location to send the documents to and there can only be one location option per print action.

The print to .pdf option DOES create a file name with logical and helpful information (tax year_client #_client name_selected printed copy_entity type) but ONLY if you select multiple items.  Otherwise the file name is generic and ultimately not very helpful.  Don't print twice or reprint though, because you will be prompted with a duplicate file error and it will bog your system down.

Also, when a return is electronically filed and accepted, it would be nice that the accepted version be automatically converted and retained for recordkeeping without prompting from the user.  

E-file attachments should be appended to the .pdf files.  I am not sure why this still needs to be requested but Lacerte still does not attach e-file attachments to print jobs.  

We do not have paper attachments following a paper file around the office anymore.  Everything is electronic so Lacerte should follow through with the mindset that e-file attachments should be attached to all versions of the return.  Electronic and printed.

In summary:

I would like Lacerte to allow the user to direct .pdf output to default location of choice for each return type, with a naming convention that is logical and helpful and will not produce errors, and have electronically filed returns automatically converted to .pdf for recordkeeping without user intervention for recordkeeping.  Ideally with a single print "complete return" action.

Importantly though, I would request that Lacerte append e-file attachments to the .pdf returns.  The e-file attachments are already in .pdf format so this should not be difficult to adopt.

[pmr]

I agree that we should be able to specify where each copy goes and exactly how it is named (UltraTax got it figured out, so why not Lacerte). We name our copy differently then the client copy, and they both go different places!