The basic operation of the BRS Tax Preparer

Basic capabilities:

The BRS Tax Preparer (the program) can prepare any tax form that is available as a form module.  Over time more form modules will be released and the program will be able to prepare more tax returns.

Basic Operation:

At the most basic level the operation of the program is to edit and print the pages of a tax return.  To do this first a new case file is created.  Then one or more tax forms are added to the case file.  Then values are entered into the fields of the pages of these forms.  Then the case file can be saved to disk so that at a later date it can be reopened. After the return in the case file is completed its forms can be printed for submitting to the IRS, for filing, or other purpose.

How it works:

When editing a case file in the program the user can select any of the available forms and add it to the file.  If the selected form has not yet been installed the user can install it immediately from within the program.  Once installed the form is added to the open file as if it was there all along. 

What is a form module?  A form module consists of all the data and intelligence required to implement a tax form in the BRS Tax Preparer program.  It allows the program to print the pages of the form; to edit the pages of the form; to calculate the values on the form; to navigate between the fields and pages of the form; and more.  It also contains the help text specific to the form and its parts.  

When the program is initially installed no form modules are installed with it.  Instead form modules are installed automatically by the program when they are requested by the user. 

As form modules are released the list of available forms is updated to include them.  The program updates its list of available forms every time that it checks for updates.  This way the user is made aware of the new forms as soon as they are available. They will appear in the Add Form dialog. There is no need to check the website to see if a form module has been released.  The user may also wish to be notified by email when a form is released. To do this he can simply join the mailing list.

Note that in order for the program to have a current list of available forms it must be allowed to run the Check for Updates operation frequently and automatically.  The Check for Updates operation also makes sure that the installed form modules are the most current version available.

Note that when a form module is first installed it is run in demonstration mode until it is purchased.  Demonstration mode has certain limitations.  Once purchased these limitations are released for this form.

How are form modules purchased?  Form modules can be purchased from within the program itself.  This is a simple process where you select the forms to be purchased, enter you credit card information, confirm the order, and submit.  When the process completes all of the purchased forms are unlocked for unlimited use on this machine. 

Form modules can also be purchased by phone in the case that the user does not have a working internet connection.  In this case a series of unique keys are exchanged verbally and the user enters them into a special window to unlock the purchased forms for use on this machine.  This is a more laborious process than using the online purchase method described above.

For more see the product page of the BRS Tax Preparer.

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Copyright © 2007 Bold River Software, Inc.
Last modified: 1/19/2008