User's Manual - Drake Software

E-filing a Return
Drake Software User’s Manual
Step 1: Calculate the Return
Calculate the return to determine if it is ready to be e-filed. (See “Calculating a
Return” on page 179 for instructions on calculating returns in Drake.) Drake generates
an EF status document and, if necessary, EF message pages, shown in the Figure 8-1
directory tree and described in the following list:
Figure 8-1: EF–related documents include EF messages and an EF status page
• MESSAGES — EF messages are generated only if issues within the return cause
it to be ineligible for e-file. Messages include error codes, descriptions of the
issues, and identification of fields that must be verified.
• EFSTATUS — The EF status page shows which federal and state returns will be
transmitted and which returns have been suppressed and will not be transmitted. It
also states whether any federal EF messages were generated.
NOTE
Error codes above 5000 are Drake error codes. All other codes are federal
or state error codes.
Eliminating
EF
Messages
All EF messages must be eliminated before a return can be e-filed. To eliminate an EF
message:
1. Open the return and click View to calculate it and go to View mode.
2. Under the All Forms or EF tab in the left column, click the MESSAGES page to
view.
• EF messages are displayed in red and are listed by error code.
• Unverified fields are identified at the end of the EF message page.
NOTE
It’s easiest to view all EF messages from View mode, but individual
issues can be viewed, and in some cases accessed, from the Calculation
Results window. See “Calculation Results” on page 180.
3. Return to data entry and correct the issues that are preventing e-filing.
4. Re-calculate the return.
Repeat the above steps until all federal and state EF messages are eliminated.
230 Tax Year 2012