Extensions Client Experience

After the firm delivers an extension package, the client is notified via email. They can then click on a provided link to review their tax documents, make payments, and sign necessary forms. This article outlines the full taxpayer experience.

Initial Email

The taxpayer receives an email with a link to the extension package. All emails come from [e-mail]. 

1. Click Let's Get Started or Review Your Documents. 
   • If you have a Client Portal account, you will be redirected to the Client Portal. See our Client Portal Experience article for more information. 

Start page

The Start page shows a file folder and contains information on what is being delivered and who is sending the extension.

1. Click Contact to reach out to the firm if you have any questions.
2. Click Get Started to begin.

Authentication

The client must first authenticate before gaining access to the extension package.

Social Security Number Authentication (personal extensions only)

1. Enter the requested 4 digits of your Social Security Number.  
2. Click Confirm.

Access Code Verification (all extension types)

1. Click Send Code.
   • A message states whether the code is being delivered to your email address or your phone.
     • Email Access Code: An 8-digit access code is sent to the same email address as the initial email was sent to.
     • Mobile Access Code: A 6-digit access code is sent to your cell phone via text message.
2. Enter the 6 or 8-digit access code in the code field.
3. Click Continue.

Welcome Page

This is the main dashboard for your extension package. 

1. The title line has 3 options:
   • View the Tax year for the extension.
   • Click Contact Person to display a contact at the firm in case you have any questions.
   • Click Client Panel to change your mobile number or edit your spouse's information.
2. The progress bar shows the step the extension is currently in.
3.  Total refunds and payments for the extension are displayed on the left.
4. A quick overview of the steps required to complete your extension is displayed.
   • Depending on what was included in the extension by your tax preparer, these steps may appear differently. These additional steps are outlined below. 

1. Click Get Started to continue.

View or Pay Invoice

This section only appears if your delivered extension includes an invoice.

1. Review the invoice. 
2. Click Pay Now. 
   • Depending on your firm's settings, you may see a pop-up requesting payment details or a new tab open to a payment site. 
   • If you do not see the Pay Now option, this indicates the firm does not have a payment method available online, but you can download the invoice in the next section. 
3. Click Next to continue. 

Review Documents

This section lets the client see a message from the firm and preview the filing instructions and tax documents.

1. Read the message from the firm.
2. Click Next.
3. Click the Extension Section you want to review. 
4. Click Forward to forward all available documents to an external email address. 
   • See our Forward a Copy of Your Return article for more information about this feature. 
5. Click Download to download and save documents to your device.
6. Click Next to continue. 
   • This is a crucial step to ensure the extension is marked as Reviewed.

Paper File

The Paper File section only appears if your delivered extension includes a paper file return. You must consent to the terms of the Paper File Return before you are allowed to print the documents.

• By clicking I Consent, you agree to file the Paper File Return with the respective tax authority.
• If you choose to Skip you can access your Paper File Returns from the summary page and receive the Consent to Paper File Returns pop-up again.

1. Print or Download the Paper File returns individually under the Action column for each return. 
2. Click Print to print all the returns into 1 PDF. 
3. Click Download All to download a ZIP File with all paper file returns. 
4. Click Skip to skip this step OR
5. Click Next to continue. 

Sign Tax Documents

This screen shows the available ways that the client can sign required documents. Depending on the extension package and how the firm processed the extension, not all options may be available.

• Click e-Sign to sign electronically.
• Click Manually Sign to print, sign, and upload the forms.
• Click Delegate Signing to send tax forms to partners or shareholders for signatures.
  • See the Signer Delegation: Managing Member Experience article for information about this feature.

Each option is described below in greater detail.

Sign Tax Documents (E-Sign)

Identity Verification (personal extensions only)

1. Enter your date of birth.
2. Check the box to consent to e-signing.
3. Enter your spouse's email address and mobile number if applicable.
4. Click Next to continue.

Knowledge-Based Authentication (personal extensions only)

1. Select the correct answer.
   • Answer 3 of 5 questions correctly to pass. 
     • If you pass, continue to the E-Sign Your Documents section. 
     • If you fail, you are directed to Manually Sign your documents. 
2. Click Next to continue.

E-Sign Your Documents (all extension types)

A list of all pages that require your signature is listed in the left panel. A green check appears next to the page after it is signed. 

1. Click the Start arrow to be led to your first signature line.
2. Click the green Signature block to open the Add Signature window.
   • Continue to click the Next arrow as you proceed through each signature. 
3. Click Type, Draw or Upload to choose your signature type.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click Next to continue.  

Please note:

If there is a spouse on the return, the confirmation screen below appears. Here you can update the spouse's email and add a phone number (optional). Click Next to finalize signing. 

Sign Tax Documents (Manually Sign)

If the client is required to or chooses to manually sign, they can download any forms requiring a signature, then print, sign, and upload them. 

1. Click Download to download documents requiring a signature.
2. Drag and drop the documents OR click Choose File to open a file browser to upload the signed documents. 
3. View the alternative sending methods if you are unable to upload the signed documents electronically: 
   1. Send by Mail
   2. Send by Fax

4. Click Next. 

   

Tax Payments

This section allows you to view anticipated payments and estimated taxes. The client can choose to download all payment vouchers or download the filing instructions for reference. They can also make or record a payment. 

View Tax Payments

Important

Estimated payments appear when you click Done. The options are the same for Tax Payment and Estimated Payments. 

1. Click the Due date to view the payments due. 
2. Check or uncheck the Email me reminder... to adjust reminder settings. 
   • If checked, you can adjust the number of days before the due date that you receive the reminder. 
3. Click Payment Voucher to download all vouchers.
4. Click Filing Instructions to download all filing instructions.
5. Click Done to move to Estimated Payments. 

Pay Vouchers

1. Click Pay.
2. Click Pay Now to open a new tab for the taxing authorities website to pay online. 
3. Click Get Voucher to download the payment voucher.
4. Click Add Payment Details to mark the voucher as Paid.
   • This step is optional and for record-keeping only. 
5. Review the pop-up warning and click Continue.  
6. Enter the details for the payment made. 
   • Check Number is optional. 
7. Click Add Payment when done. 
8. Click Done to complete all steps.

Important

SafeSend does not make any payments on behalf of a client. It directs clients to a tax authority's website to make a payment. It also records payment details that the client enters. The PAID label, when seen, simply means that the customer has recorded making a payment. It is the client's responsibility to make sure that they have actually made the payment.

End Page/Return Page

Once the extension is completed you are directed back to the Welcome Page, but different options are now available. It is also what populates when you re-enter the extension at a later date. The following options are available: 

1. Summary panel. 
   • Click the Print icon to print the summary. 
2. Send a reminder to your spouse for joint 1040 extensions. 
3. Click Make Tax Payments to be directed back to the Pay section.
4. Click Download Tax Documents to see a list of documents included in the return.
5. Click View Tax or Forward Tax Documents to be taken back to the review step.
6. Click View or Download Signed Documents to download the signed e-file forms.
7. Click Print and Mail Paper File Returns to access your Paper File returns.
8. Click Pay or View Tax Preparation Fees to pay your invoice or mark it as paid.

Info

Any signed documents downloaded from SafeSend are password-protected and cannot be edited. The audit report printed with the signed document is used as a security standard to track document history events. Allowing the report to be edited would make it unviable.