Personal Taxprep 2021.1.0

Couple the Spouse's Return

Personal Taxprep allows you to prepare the taxpayer and spouse’s returns in the same client file; returns prepared this way are called “coupled.”

How to couple the taxpayer and spouse's returns

To couple the taxpayer and spouse’s returns, proceed as follows:

Display the taxpayer’s return whose marital status is “Married” or “Common-law.”
In the Identification - Identification and Other Client Information form (Jump Code: ID), select the Coupling: Taxpayer and spouse returns are prepared together check box.
The Couple dialog box is displayed. Click one of the following links to find out how to couple according to the type of return:

To couple the non-existent return of the spouse
1. Click New return to create the spouse’s return directly in the client file, then click OK.
To couple the existing current-year return in a separate client file
1. Click Current-year return, then click OK.
  The Open dialog box is displayed.
2. Select the spouse's client file.
  Note that the spouse's client file must be closed to perform this operation.
  If the operation is performed from a planner file, in the File of type box, select the "Taxprep Files" file type to couple the spouse’s current-year return without the permanent data being rolled forward.
3. Click OK.
4. Click Yes to delete the spouse’s client file.
  Click No to keep the spouse’s client file.
  When coupling the spouse's current-year return to the taxpayer’s planner return, you do not have to answer the question, since the spouse’s client file cannot be deleted.

The opened client file will contain the taxpayer's and spouse’s return. In addition, once the returns are coupled, you can uncouple and save the spouse’s return in a separate client file.

Notes:

It is possible to couple the spouse’s return to a client file containing the taxpayer and dependant’s returns. However, the coupled return of a dependant’s spouse cannot be prepared in the same client file.
It is possible to couple the spouse’s return with the taxpayer’s planner return, regardless of whether the spouse’s return is a current-year return or a planner return.