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Getting Started with Tax

Welcome to Tax in Arbo — your central workspace for tax preparation, compliance reporting, and collaboration across your firm.

What is the Tax module?​

The Tax module brings all tax-related workflows into a single, organised environment. Within Tax you can prepare and manage Tax Returns, generate and track 1099 forms, access and manage IRS transcripts, upload tax data in bulk, and collaborate through built-in Chat — with visibility, control, and accountability throughout the tax lifecycle.

Tax Dashboard​

The Dashboard provides a high-level view of your tax operations: return statuses, pending reviews and approvals, upcoming deadlines, and activity across entities — a quick snapshot of workload and progress for managers and preparers.

Tax Returns​

The Tax Return section allows you to create, prepare, review, approve, and file tax returns for your entities.

Creating a tax return​

  1. Navigate to Tax Return and click Add Project.
  2. Select the relevant preference and continue with the relevant information.
  3. Review and confirm summary details, and Add Billing Details.
  4. Upload Required Documents and Continue to Chat.

The return opens in Open status. You can review system-calculated tax amounts, save progress at any time, and collaborate via Chat.

Completing a return​

Each return includes structured sections for income details, expenses, adjustments, deductions, tax computations, and supporting information. Enter data manually, review system-calculated values, edit applicable fields, and save progress at any time — totals and tax amounts are calculated automatically.

Review & validation​

Before submission, verify all required fields are completed, figures are accurate, supporting data is correct, and calculations are reasonable. The system may highlight missing information, validation errors, or incomplete sections, which must be resolved before submission. Returns can be edited while in Draft or Rejected status; after submission, editing depends on permissions and workflow setup.

Submitting, approving, and filing​

  1. Submit for Review — add comments if required and confirm; the status changes to In Review.
  2. Approve — users with approval rights review, comment, and approve or reject. Approved returns move to Approved.
  3. File — once approved, click File/Submit and confirm. The status changes to Filed and editing is locked.

Statuses​

  • Draft — set up but not actively worked on; can be edited freely.
  • Open — active and currently being worked on; assigned and underway.
  • In Progress — actively being prepared; data entry, calculation review, and validation underway.
  • In Review — submitted for internal review; editing may be restricted.
  • Approved — passed review; ready for filing.
  • Filed / Submitted — officially submitted; editing locked.
  • Rejected — sent back for corrections; returns to Draft.
  • Completed — fully prepared, reviewed, and ready for submission, filing, or internal closure.

Consistent statuses help your firm track progress, identify bottlenecks, monitor workload distribution, and maintain accountability.

Exports & downloads​

Export a PDF of the return, an Excel export of return data, a summary report, or a detailed computation report: open the return → Export → select format → download. Exports support internal review, audit, external submission, and management reporting.

1099​

The 1099 section manages independent contractor and vendor reporting. Generate 1099 records, capture vendor payment details, review totals before issuing, export forms for distribution, and track filing status — centralised vendor tax reporting with fewer manual errors.

IRS Transcript​

Manage and review official IRS transcript records associated with your clients or entities: upload and store transcripts, review historical tax data, cross-check reported amounts, and maintain records for audit purposes — ensuring returns align with official IRS records.

Bulk Uploads​

Upload multiple tax-related records at once: multiple 1099 records, spreadsheet imports, large data-set updates, or prior-period information.

  1. Download the system template (if applicable).
  2. Populate the required fields.
  3. Upload the file.
  4. Review validation results.
  5. Confirm import.

Especially useful for firms managing large client portfolios.

Chat (Tax Collaboration)​

Each tax record supports built-in Chat: discuss return details, ask review questions, clarify data entries, and leave internal notes. Conversations stay linked to the specific tax record — improving traceability, reducing email dependency, and supporting audit transparency.

Permissions & access control​

Access is controlled by user roles. Typical levels: View (view only), Edit (create and modify, save drafts), Submit (send for review), Approve (approve or reject), File (finalise and file), and Export. This ensures separation of duties, data security, controlled approvals, and policy compliance. Contact your system administrator to modify access.

Audit & activity tracking​

Every action is recorded — creation, edits, status changes, approvals, exports, and filing confirmations — for full traceability and audit readiness.

Best practices

Complete all sections before submission, review calculations carefully, attach supporting documents, submit ahead of deadlines, and use filters to monitor pending approvals.