This article provides step-by-step instructions for setting up and configuring the CrossLink 1040 Hosted solution.
Overview
Creating Cloud Logins for the Tax Client Application (Thin Client)
Original Password Creation, User Password Creation/Changing
Tax/Thin Client Download Install, and Configuration
Office and License Management
Initially, you will need to assign a hosted license in the CrossLink Web Portal.
1. Log in to the CrossLink Web Portal.
2. Click Support > Manage Offices.
3. Select a license for the office(s) that will be using the Hosted Product.
4. Click on Update Licenses.
Creating Cloud Logins for the Tax Client (Thin Client)
Users will need to create cloud RDP Logins for each selected UserID.
1. Log into the CrossLink Web Portal.
2. Click on Office Management > Manage Hosted Offices.
3. Locate the UserID and select Edit (pencil or "+" sign).
4. Click Add Login, and enter the First and Last Names along with the unique email address of the user for whom the login is being created.
5. Click Save.
An email will be sent to the email address(s). This email will contain a link that users will need to follow, along with a temporary password.
Original Password Creation, User Password Creation/Changing
The account creation process happens every hour at five minutes after the hour. The email will not be generated until that process has run.
1. Click on the web link in the user creation email.
2. Enter your email address.
3. Enter your old password/temporary password.
4. Enter/Confirm your new password.
5. Complete the reCAPTCHA and click Submit.
Tax/Thin Client Download Install, and Configuration
Once you have completed Creating Cloud Logins for the Tax Client Application (thin client), the next step is to download the Thin Client software.
Users should receive a second email that contains a download link for the Tax Client/Thin Client.
1. Click the link in the email to start the download of the Tax Client file or click the link below:
https://www.mytaxofficeportal.com/portal18/downloads/XLink17_GenericTaxClient.zip
2. Save the file named XLink17_GenericTaxClient.zip to your Downloads folder or another location.
3. Extract XLink17_GenericTaxClient.zip.
4. Run the file named TaxClient.exe.
5. Follow the installation steps to successfully install the Tax Client completely.
By default, the software will install to c:\xlink17g, this can be changed if desired.
6. Launch the software from the Tax Client Icon on the desktop.
Upon initial launch, users may get a few update messages for the tax client. They will just need to press "ok" through them.
7. Enter the USERID, and the TaxClient password (this password IS case sensitive).
8. Click Configure.
If incorrect information was entered during the configuration, the software can be reset by deleting the file c:\xlink17g\thinclient\generic.settings.
There are several buttons on the “live” (configured) software.
The top buttons display Tax Year and the corresponding number to the tax year they will open.
If this is the first launch of any of those years, the software will have to be set up, setup is like it is on a traditional CrossLink 1040 install.
It is suggested you install from the earliest year to the most current.
The other buttons are:
Website - opens the website based on the cobranding information.
Chat - opens a link to chat, if available
Remote Req - See "The Remote Req Button" section below for an explanation.
Status - Displays the Live Link connectivity status.
Hosted Setup and Data Merges
As with any multi-year install, it is best to start from the earliest year available and work towards the current year.
When entering the Hosted software setup screen everything will appear as it does for a CrossLink 1040 Installation except for the following two items:
Prior year path – To set the prior year path you will need to type in the following. ..\xlinkXX
The two periods in the beginning represent the home drive, and the XX at the end, which indicates the prior year. As an example, if you are setting a prior path for Tax Year 2022 (this indicates you are working with xlink23), the path you would type is “..\xlink22”
The Remote Req Button
Remote Req Overview
If sending a signature pad request
When initiating a scan via the Document Archive/ Scan Doc in the Hosted Software
The Remote Req (Remote Request) button serves as a go-between for the hosted install, and the local machine that the Tax Client is installed on.
If sending a signature pad request:
1. A message will pop up on the screen telling the ERO to “sign the signature in client software then press OK to continue”.
2. Click on the Tax Client icon in the Windows taskbar (bottom of the screen).
3. Click Remote Req > Sign the Signature Pad.
4. Choose Accept, Clear, or Cancel.
5. Return to the hosted install, and click OK on the message from above.
The hosted software can throw a warning if the signature takes too long, if this happens choose yes or no, and continue
When sending a print job in the Hosted Software AND the “Thin Print” option is enabled on the print screen:
You will get a popup message saying the “Job was sent to the thin client”
1. Click OK on the message.
2. Click on the TaxClient icon in the Windows taskbar (bottom of the screen).
3. Click Remote Req.
4. Select the print job.
5. Click Select (this will send the print job to your Windows default printer.)
When initiating a scan via the Document Archive/ Scan Doc in the Hosted Software:
You will get a popup message saying “Scan the document in Client software then press OK to continue.”
1. Click on the TaxClient icon in the Windows taskbar (bottom of the screen).
2. Click Remote Req.
3. Select the scan documents listing and click Select.
4. The “capture document image” screen will open in the thin client, it looks and behaves just like the capture document image screen in CrossLink 1040.
Once you have taken and if needed cropped, and saved the scan. The capture window will close, and the scanned document will be in the doc archive of the selected return.