The status report lists current information for any tax return on your program by a specified date range. The date range defaults to all dates, but can be changed to any date range. Various sorting options are available that can be used to limit the information displayed on the report.

To run a status report, follow these steps:

1.  On the Reports menu, click Status Reports and then click the status report that best suits your needs.

2.  Select the sorting option you want to use to sort the report from the list.

3.  Type a Min Date and a Max Date for the sort criteria.

4.  Click the Quick View button to view the report on your screen or click the Print button to print the report.

The IRS allows two methods for calculating vehicle expenses. You can either use Actual Expenses, including depreciation of the vehicle, OR the Standard Mileage Rate. The Standard Mileage Rate is updated each year.

1.  If you have not done so already, add the form you want to carry the vehicle expenses to. For example, if the vehicle expenses are to be carried to a Schedule C, add the Schedule C to the tax return.

2.  Press CTRL+N to open the All Forms & Schedules window to the Depreciation tab.

3.  Double-click Car/Truck to open the Business Activity Asset window.

4.  Click New Asset to add a new vehicle.

5.  In the Description box, type a description of the vehicle.

6.  In the Date Placed in Service, type the date the vehicle was placed in service.

7.  Select the appropriate Business Asset Class and then click OK to open the Choose Asset Class window.

8.  Enter the original cost or basis. Note: CrossLink requires at least $1 for cost or basis.

9.  Complete the questions that appear in the Choose Asset Class window. If you are claiming standard miles, the questions must be answered as demonstrated below. The last question is not available if the vehicle was placed in service during the current tax year.

10.  Click the Mileage/Expenses tab.

11.  Enter the total vehicle mileage, total commute mileage, and average daily commute miles in the appropriate fields.

12.  Enter the activity and business miles in the center grid. All business activities on the return will display in this grid.

13.  Enter the actual expenses paid in the applicable boxes.

14.  Select the two evidence questions at the bottom if applicable.

15.  Click Close.

16.  Click Return to List.

17.  Click Close.

You may receive this error message if any of the following conditions are true:

  Another computer has already transmitted to the Central Site using the specified User ID.
  You are transmitting from a newly purchased computer.

RESOLUTION
When you first transmit, Central Site automatically assigns each of your transmitting computers a unique serial number. Central Site uses this serial number to prevent multiple stand-alone computers from transmitting to Central Site with the same User ID. If a user attempts to transmit to Central Site with multiple stand-alone computers using the same User ID, the message Login Refused Serial Changed will appear.

There are circumstances in which users may want to transmit to Central Site with multiple stand-alone computers using the same User ID – for example, the customer purchased a new computer.

To reset the serial number, please call CrossLink Technical Support at 1-800-345-4337 and request that they reset your serial number.

When you try to transmit to the Central Site, the following error message appears:

      'Login refused, BAD PASSWORD'

CAUSE

This issue can occur if any of the following are true:

    The User ID entered in CrossLink is incorrect.
    The password entered in CrossLink is incorrect.

RESOLUTION

Method 1: Verify the User ID

1.  On the Setup menu, click Office Setup
2.  In the User ID box, verify the correct User ID exists. If the correct User ID is not entered, type the correct User ID and then click OK. If you don’t know the correct User ID, call CrossLink Technical Support at 1-800-345-4337.

Method 2: Verify the password
IMPORTANT: Your password is case sensitive – for example, PASSWORD and password are different entries.

1.  Click Transmit on the toolbar.
2.  On the Transmit to Central Site dialog, click Setup.
3.  In the Password box, type your transmission password. If the correct password is not entered, type the correct password in the Password box and then click OK. To find the transmission password, call CrossLink Technical Support at 1-800-345-4337.

When you try to print a tax return, the following error message appears:

'The laser printing package has not been installed in this version of CrossLink. If this is a new installation, you will need to apply a printing update in order to activate this function.'

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if CrossLink has not been updated with the Printing package update.

RESOLUTION

Download and apply the latest Printing package update.

To install the latest Printing package update, follow these steps:

1.  Click the Transmit button on the CrossLink toolbar.
2.  On the Transmit to Central Site window, click the Transmit button. CrossLink will transmit to Central Site and retrieve any updates that have not been installed.
3.  Once the transmission has finished, click the Software Updates option found on the Work In Progress Summary screen.
4.  Click the Apply All button to install the pending updates. Once the program has finished installing the updates, the program will restart automatically.
5.  Attempt to print again. If you receive the same error message after following the steps listed above, please contact CrossLink Customer Support at 800.345.4337 option 2.

To print returns and other documents to a non-PCL 6 printer, follow these steps:

1. On the Setup menu in CrossLink, click Printer Setup.

2. Select the Use GDI printer interface check box and then click OK.

3. Try to print a tax return.

If the above return does not print, your printer is not compatible with CrossLink. Try saving the return as a PDF and then printing the PDF.

To print checks to a non-PCL 6 printer, follow these steps:

1. From the CrossLink Work In Progress Summary screen, click Check, Registers, and Activation.

2. Select the Use GDI Printing checkbox and then click OK.

The next time a client needs a copy of his or her return, instead of mailing a paper copy, try e-mailing a PDF file. With PDF files, you save time and money by mailing taxpayers fewer paper documents.

PDF stands for "portable document format." When you print a tax return to PDF, you make it "portable," which means it is easy to transmit through email and the document will look the same as the printed document. In addition to making documents portable, PDF files look and print the same on virtually any computer.

To print a tax return as a PDF document in CrossLink, follow these steps:

1.  From within a tax return, click the Print menu and then click Final Tax Return.

2.  Click PDF.

3.  In the .pdf file, click  .

In the Save As Copy dialog, browse to the folder where you want to save the .pdf file and then click Save.

If you have printed a check that is damaged, was printed on blank paper, or is unusable (for example, the check text printed on the wrong side of the check stock) you can correct the problem by processing a reprint. After processing a reprint, the check is immediately ready for you to reprint.

To void and reissue or reprint a check, follow these steps:

1.  On the Work In Progress screen, click Checks, Registers, and Activation.

2.  On the Check Register tab, click the check you want to reprint and then click Reprint. A check is now available to print.

To report a lost or stolen check, follow these steps:

1. Immediately contact the bank that issued the check and inform them of the lost or stolen check. In most cases, the bank will require you to complete and send a form officially requesting the stop-payment and reissue of the check.

Bank	Required Form*	Contact Information
Republic Bank & Trust	Stop Payment Request & Indemnification Form	Tel: (866) 685-9460 Fax: (866) 685-9460 Mail: Republic Bank/Exception Processing P.O. Box 2348 Louisville, KY 40201
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust	Taxpayer Indemnity Bond Form	Tel: (800) 779-7228 Fax: (858) 430-2795 Mail: P.O. Box 261639 San Diego, CA 92126

*The required forms are usually included with the documentation that you received with your check stock.

2. Contact CrossLink Customer Support at 1-800-345-4337, extension 2 to inform them of the lost or stolen check. A CrossLink Support representative will gladly assist in performing a stop-payment on the lost/stolen check and by requesting a check reissue.

To add an asset to a tax return, follow these steps:

1.  If you have not done so already, add the form you want to carry depreciation to. For example, if you want the depreciation to appear on Schedule C, add the Schedule C to the tax return.

2.  Press CTRL+N to open the All Forms & Schedules, Depreciation screen.

3.  Double-click the business activity to open the Business Activity Asset window.

4.  Click New Asset.

5.  In the Description box, type a name for that asset.

6.  In the Date Placed in Service box, type the date the asset was placed in service.

7.  Select the appropriate Business Asset Class and click OK.

8.  On the General Tab screen, type the original cost or basis of the asset in the Original Cost or Basis box.

9.  If claiming the Section 179 deduction, type the amount elected for the Section 179 deduction in the Sec 179 Expense box.

10.  If the asset has prior year depreciation amounts, click the Depreciation tab on top and type the prior year depreciation in the Adjusted Depreciation box.

11.  Click Close.

12.  Click Return to List.

13.  Click Close.

If you have forgotten your CrossLink Login ID or password, please contact CrossLink Customer Support at 800.345.4337 option 2.

Republic Bank & Trust assigns tax return preparers an ID code when they pass compliance training. This online training gives preparers step-by-step instructions on how to process bank products in a fair and responsible manner and is required for all employees, contractors or others who will be offering or discussing bank products with customers, or employees who have access to confidential customer information.

For more information on compliance training, see www.republicrefund.com.

To enter a Republic Bank & Trust Code for a user, follow these steps:

1.  On the Setup menu, click Login Accounts.
2.  Double-click the applicable user.
3.  In the Bank ID Code (Republic Bank Only) box, type the Republic Bank & Trust ID Code.
4.  Click OK.

New regulations for paid preparers will roll out in three phases:

• Phase 1: Apply for or renew your PTIN. NOTE: You may also be required to e-file. 
• Phase 2: Pass a proficiency exam 
• Phase 3: Complete Continuing Education Credits 

Phase 1: Apply For or Renew Your PTIN
Beginning January 1, 2011, all paid preparers must have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) before preparing returns. If you already have a PTIN, you must renew it. You can sign up for or renew your PTIN online or by paper application. It only takes about 15 minutes to sign up online and receive your PTIN and costs $64.25 per year. For more information on applying for a PTIN, please visit www.irs.gov. 

Phase 2: Pass IRS Competency Exam (begins mid-2011)
In mid-2011, the second phase of the paid preparer oversight program is scheduled to begin. You must pass an exam to demonstrate your competency to prepare Federal tax returns. Once you pass the exam, you will become an IRS Registered Tax Return Preparer.

Exceptions—the following individuals will be exempt from testing:

  Attorneys, certified public accountants, and enrolled agents who are active and in good
      standing with their licensing agency.
  Supervised preparers (those who do not sign returns but are employed by attorney or CPA
      firms or other recognized firms at least 80 percent owned by attorneys, CPAs, or enrolled
      agents, and who are directly supervised by an attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent).
  Those who prepare no Form 1040 series returns.

The IRS expects to have the exam available in mid-2011. If you register and get your new PTIN before the competency exam is available, you will have until the end of 2013 to take and pass the exam. If you delay getting your PTIN until after the online exam is available, you will have to pass the exam before you can get your PTIN and start preparing Federal tax returns.

Phase 3: Take Continuing Education Courses (start date not yet determined)
In addition to a competency exam, IRS Registered Tax Return Preparers must take continuing education annually. The start date for continuing education courses has not been determined. You will be given further instructions through your IRS PTIN account once more guidance is available.

Exceptions—the same individuals who are exempt from testing are exempt from continuing education.