SmartRequestAI relies on your prior-year client copy of the 1040 to generate accurate client questionnaires.
To work correctly, SmartVault must be able to clearly identify which tax return represents the final client copy for the appropriate engagement and tax year.
This article explains:
- How SmartRequestAI selects the client copy of the return
- The supported tagging and routing paths by tax software
- Best practices to validate your setup before sending SmartRequests in bulk
How SmartRequestAI Identifies the Client Copy
SmartRequestAI looks for:
- A document tagged Client copy of tax return
- Within the correct Tax Engagement and Year
- Selected based on the most recently created document with that tag
Tax year cutover logic
- Requests sent on or before October 31 → use the previous tax year
- Requests sent on or after November 1 → use the new tax year
If more than one document is tagged as Client copy of tax return, or if the wrong document type is tagged, SmartRequestAI may not extract data correctly.
Best Practice: Test Before Sending SmartRequests in Bulk
Before sending SmartRequests to many clients, SmartVault strongly recommends:
- Sending SmartRequests to a small test group
- Verifying that:
- The correct 1040 is being used
- The questionnaire is prefilled as expected
- No unintended documents are being picked up
Testing helps confirm that document tags, routing rules, and engagement settings are configured correctly, preventing issues during bulk sends.
Tagging and Routing Tax Returns
Expand the section below in your tax software to view the specific steps for tagging the tax return as the client copy in Lacerte, ProSeries, ProConnect Tax Online, UltraTax, CCH Axcess, Drake Tax, or the Auto-Filer.
- In Lacerte, select the client tax return.
- Click Print and select Tax Return.
- In Print Tax Return, go to Return Options and select SmartVault for the Client Copy.
- Click OK.
- Select your SmartVault account and click Print.
The client copy is routed and tagged based on the SmartVault configuration.
- In ProSeries, select the client tax return to print.
- Click Print and select Tax Return.
- In the Print Center, go to Print Selected Returns>Print to: and select SmartVault.
- In the print dialog, check the box for Client Copy, then click Print.
- Select your SmartVault account, and then click OK.
- Open the client return.
- Click View client & returns.
- Select View return.
- Go to File return > Print > Print to PDF.
- For the return version (copy), select Client copy and click Create PDF.
- Once created, click Send to SmartVault.
ProConnect automatically routes the document to the corresponding SmartVault client folder.
UltraTax requires a specific SmartRouting configuration to ensure that SmartRequestAI identifies the correct document.
See detailed instructions: Configuring UltraTax to Use SmartRequestAI.
- Open the document to print.
- Click Print, or go to File > Print.
- Select the Client Copy set.
- Choose SmartVault PDF Printer as the destination.
- Click Print.
Example file name:
2024 Tax Return Documents (ABC Company - Client Copy).pdf.
For more details, see Printing with SmartRouting in Your Tax Software.
- Locate the client in Drake Tax.
- Select Client Set.
- Click Print.
- Choose SmartVault PDF Printer.
- Click Print.
Example file name:
2024US CABC123 Clnt.pdf
For more details, see Printing with SmartRouting in Your Tax Software.
Use this option when printing from tax software via the SmartVault PDF Printer.
- Log in to the Connected Desktop.
- Open the tax return in your tax software.
- Go to File > Print.
- Select SmartVault PDF Printer and click Print.
- In Upload File to SmartVault, click Auto-Filer.
- Enter routing criteria:
- Account – select the SmartVault account
- Client – select the client
- Engagement type – select "Tax Engagement"
- Tax Year – select the correct tax year
-
Tag – select "Client copy of tax return"
- Edit Name or Description if needed.
- Click Upload.
For complete guidance, see Printing Tax Returns to SmartVault Using the Auto-Filer Tool.
Need more help?
If you’re unsure how your tax software applies tags or routes documents, contact SmartVault Support for guidance before sending SmartRequests.