July 27th 2024 Product News for the SafeSend Suite

An update to SafeSend products was released. See below for more information about the changes.

Introducing Gather AI

• Gather is the next generation in tax preparation tooling that helps with the first mile of the tax return process. Gather accomplishes this by collecting e-signatures, generating questionnaires, and collecting important documents from taxpayers without requiring the upload of the traditional organizer.

• We further help organize these documents with the use of AI to identify and categorize the documents uploaded by the client, and eliminating time-consuming, manual work. This is a new SafeSend feature that can be seen as another innovative tool that solves a firm's "Tax Ready" problems.

• To learn more about Gather AI, please reach out to your Customer Support Representative.

SafeSend Suite

Improvements

• User Management Enhancement: Office locations cannot be updated for a primary admin from User Management. In User Management, the office location field for primary admins will be read-only and greyed out, ensuring proper access management.

TicTie Calculate (TTC)

Improvements

• Single Sign-On:  Users can now access TicTie Calculate via Single Sign-On if the firm has this feature enabled.

• Send for Signature: Users can now send any PDF document for e-signature through TicTie Calculate.

SafeSend Returns

Improvements

• In-Office E-Signing: Firms can now enable clients to electronically sign tax returns using SafeSend directly from the firm's computer during in-office meetings. This eliminates the need for clients to access email links on personal devices, providing convenience and efficiency for both firms and clients.

• Consolidation of Grouped Returns: We have integrated the Grouped Returns functionality with the regular Returns functionality, simplifying processing and eliminating the need to monitor multiple reports.

• Option to Disable KBA: Users can now disable KBA requirements on a per-return basis during delivery. This provides firms with added flexibility, ensuring quicker and more efficient signature collection, and enhancing the overall user experience.

• Client and Taxpayer Previews Enhancement: Users can now see the "Download Tax Documents" and "Forward a Copy of My Tax Documents" buttons in read-only mode under Client View and Taxpayer Preview. This allows them to advise their clients accurately on the location of these buttons.

• Stripe Account Enhancement: Firms can now disconnect an existing Stripe account without needing to add a new one, providing greater flexibility in account management.

• Text Validation in Saved Messages and Client Instructions: For these sections, users cannot save the draft message if its size exceeds 50 kilobytes. Users will receive an alert to reduce the size of the message. This enhancement will ensure that emails are of an appropriate size and are delivered to clients in a timely manner.

• Edit Client Info Enhancement: Users can now update the contact person info for a delivered return from the Delivered and Archive Returns pages, ensuring accurate and up-to-date contact information.

• Due Date Variable in Grouped Returns: The "Due Date" variable has been added to Client Instructions for Grouped Returns, helping clients stay informed about critical deadlines.

• K-1 Downloads: Clients can now download all K-1s into a single PDF with bookmarks for each shareholder, simplifying organization and access.

• Firm Email Notification: Updated the Completed Signing email template to inform users whether returns were e-signed or manually signed, enhancing clarity and communication.

Resolved Issues

• Resolved an issue causing Custom Authority payment URLs to appear invalid on the client side.
• Removed 2014 from the Tax Year dropdown across all reports in Returns, as 2014 tax returns are no longer supported.
• Resolved an issue where Client IDs were incorrectly pulled from CCH integration for entity type returns.
• Resolved an issue where delivered returns sometimes displayed a "Signature Stamping Failed" status.
• Fixed an issue preventing users from using temporary passwords to access SafeSend.
• We fixed an issue where recipients received an invalid access link to their new email address if the firm updated the email after the return was signed.
• Resolved an issue causing firms to experience intermittent loading problems with their invoices.

SafeSend Signatures

Improvements

• Parallel Signing: Users can now send signature documents to all signers simultaneously or set a specific signing order. This feature offers flexibility for firms and recipients, ensuring faster and more efficient document completion. It is available for both one-off and Mail Merge delivery.

• Optional Signature Controls: Users can now set signature controls to required or optional for all signature documents. This gives firms greater control over what clients must sign, ensuring clear expectations and compliance. This feature enhances the signing process and ensures that all necessary documents are correctly signed.

• Radio Buttons in Mail Merge: Users can now add radio buttons to Mail Merge deliveries, similar to one-off deliveries, allowing recipients to select from available options.

• Client Instructions Enhancement: We have added variables to the Client Instruction page, enabling firms to customize the subject line and body of Signature email templates with variables to enhance productivity.

• Edit Client Details Enhancements: Updated the Edit Client Details modal in the Delivered and Archive reports to include Client ID and Office Location fields. This improvement enhances accuracy and ease of client management.

Resolved Issues

• Fixed an issue where the year 2020 was missing from the Tax Year dropdown in all Signature reports and archives.

SafeSend Exchange

Improvements

• Print Function (Portal & Web Add-in): Users can now print messages sent and received from Exchange, improving documentation and record-keeping.

• Shared Folders (Web Add-in): Users can now create shared folders via Web Add-In, enabling clients to directly upload documents through the folder link. This feature simplifies document sharing and improves collaboration.

• Enhanced DRL Notifications: Enhanced Exchange DRL notifications to better inform taxpayers and firms when DRLs are completed or reopened, improving communication and workflow management.

• Auto Data Refresh: Implemented automatic data refresh in Exchange, providing real-time updates to firms and their collaborators on folder, DRL, and inbox activity, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.

• Enhanced DRL Templates: Users can now assign custom categories to their DRL items, providing better clarity and control over requested documents. Firms can manage these categories from the Document Request page under Settings.

• RBAC for Shared Folder: Firms can now share folders with user groups in addition to individual users, enhancing collaboration and document management.

• DRL History Reporting: Sent and received item history reports now include information about document request lists, providing comprehensive tracking and transparency.

• SSE Settings – UI Enhancement: We updated Exchange settings visually to enhance clarity and usability for firms and clients.

Resolved Issues

• Fixed an issue where Q&A authentication answers would not save in some scenarios.
• Fixed an issue where replied messages would not be visible in the inbox.
• Fixed an issue where Outlook would slow down when opening the Web Add-In from a draft mail.
• Fixed an issue where the description for a document request list item would not be visible to end users.
• Fixed an issue where clients would receive a locked message link.
• Fixed an issue where the Web Add-In would not be visible when initially opening Outlook.

SafeSend APIs

Improvements

• Tax Return ID to Download E-Sign Documents Webhook: The tax return ID will now be included in the above webhooks response, reducing the need to search for it for downstream operations.
• Webhooks for SafeSend Gather: Users can begin automating operations within SafeSend Gather.