Short answers to the questions that come up first on the Report tab.
Finding a report
Where is the Report tab?
Two ways in. Click Reports under Quick links in the sidebar (Alt+P) and pick a return, or open a return and click its Report tab.
How many reports are there?
Fifteen. Twelve on every return, plus three state reports.
Why don't I see the state reports?
The State Modification Worksheet, Federal-to-State Reconciliation and State Depreciation Schedule appear in the Report Template dropdown once the return has assets allocated to a state. Enabling a state on the entity is the first half: until assets carry an allocation to it, there is no state depreciation to report and the three reports stay hidden. The State forms tab tells you which case you are in — it names the state and says whether any assets are allocated to it.
Can I change an asset from a report?
No. The Report tab shows and exports figures. Edit assets on the return's asset grid.
Shaping the table
How do I sort?
Click a column header. Click it again to reverse. The arrow on the header shows the direction. Three display-only columns do not sort: 280F, A-Adj=D? and Status on GL Rollforward & Reconciliation.
Why can't I hide a column?
The first identifying column on each report cannot be hidden, and neither can Account, Debit or Credit on Journal Entries. Their checkboxes are disabled.
Where is Group By?
In the report header, to the right of Report Template (and of Context and State, which appear when the return has assets allocated to a state). It is offered on the Depreciation Schedule, Vehicle/Listed Property, Disposals, the State Depreciation Schedule and the Book Depreciation Schedule. Everything else renders in a fixed shape, so the control is not shown, or offers only No Grouping on the two state worksheets.
Which grouping ties a report to a trial balance?
Group the Depreciation Schedule by GL Account. On a return with several activities, group by Activity instead. The Book Depreciation Schedule offers the same two groupings, so a book-basis entry ties out the same way; the Book Depreciation Schedule can also show an Activity column, hidden until you turn it on from the Columns button above the report.
What is the Unassigned activity filter for?
Finding assets that were never given an activity. They sit in the grand total but in none of the per-activity subtotals.
Why is only part of my report showing?
Reports page at 100 rows. Use Previous and Next under the table.
Saved layouts
Are saved layouts mine or the firm's?
Either. When you save one you choose Just for me or Everyone at the firm, and the Load a saved layout… dropdown groups them into My layouts and Firm layouts. Creating, renaming, starring, or deleting a firm layout takes a role that manages firm settings.
Why don't I see a layout I saved?
Layouts are scoped to the report they were saved from. Switch back to that report and it will be in the list.
What does Set Default do?
It stars a layout so it is applied whenever you open that report. Starring your own layout sets your personal default, which wins over the firm default for you alone. Starring a firm layout sets the default for everyone without a personal one.
Does a saved layout remember my activity filter?
No. It stores your columns, their order, the grouping and the sort. Not the filter.
Exports
Do I get the report I am looking at?
Yes. Excel, CSV and PDF in the Export menu all export the report on screen, and the file is named for it.
Do my column choices reach the export?
The PDF is the only export that follows your visible columns. Excel and CSV write the report's whole column set, so hiding a column on screen does not remove it from the file. The PDF and Excel both follow grouping, on the Depreciation and State Depreciation Schedules only. No export follows the sort you clicked.
Does the activity filter apply to an export?
Yes, on the Depreciation Schedule. Excel, CSV and PDF each carry only the filtered activity's assets, and the totals match your screen. The activity goes into the filename, and the file names the filter inside it too: an Activity Filter row on the Excel Metadata sheet, an # Activity Filter: line in the CSV header, an Activity Filter line in the PDF header.
Why is my PDF taking a moment?
Every PDF is built by a background worker so large returns finish instead of timing out. A progress tracker appears under the report controls and gives you a download link when it is ready.
I got "Export queue is full."
Too many exports running at once. Nothing is lost. Choose it again shortly.
Which format should I send to a client?
PDF for something that should not be edited. Excel for a working paper. CSV for feeding another system.
Why does the CSV item change name on Journal Entries?
That report exports the journal-entry file instead. The Format dropdown picks QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, or Xero, and the item's label follows the format you picked.
What is the difference between the vendor export and the 4562 recap?
The vendor export carries one row per asset. The recap carries Form 4562 and Section 179 line totals only, and is meant to be keyed in by hand rather than imported.
Why does my software only offer a recap?
GoSystem Tax RS and ONESOURCE have a 4562 recap and no per-asset detail export.