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Intuit QuickBooks 2015 - Send File to Accountant Feature
New for 2015 you can now send a copy of your company file to your accountant using a shared folder directly from QuickBooks.
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Intuit QuickBooks 2015 - Send File to Accountant Feature
When you need to send a copy of your company file to your accountant, you can now save it on a shared folder directly from QuickBooks
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Intuit QuickBooks 2015 - Send File to Accountant Feature
Set this folder as the default location and save time for future file sharing.
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Intuit QuickBooks 2015 - Send File to Accountant Feature
The data and time are automatically appended to the file name so the accountant can be certain of the newest file.
For years users have been confused with ‘how’ to send copies of their QuickBooks data to their accountant or tax preparer. Years ago we had to make a windows copy of the file, then we could make a back-up copy of the file, later Intuit began offering the Portable Company file so that the data was hopefully small enough to be attached to an email. Then came along the Accountant’s Copy, but that was rather complex in how the file should be sent.
As ‘the cloud’ has become increasingly accepted, and more and more people are using cloud based file sharing services like Dropbox, a simpler way to transfer your QuickBooks Company file to your accountant is warranted. New for 2015, you can send a copy of your company file to your accountant directly from QuickBooks by saving it on any Internet-based shared folder. You can set this folder as the default location and save time for future file sharing with the click of a button.
This new option (See Figure 1) to send a Portable Company file precludes client confusion about saving a copy in the wrong format, or sending the wrong file, or sending a file that the accountant can’t access. It also reduces the complexity of sending the file, and streamlines the process for future file transmittal by remembering the save location.
Clients already know where to save the file (See Figure 2) because it is the same location they use to exchange other information and data with their accountant. The next time the Accountant wants a copy of the file, you can respond with one click because you have already saved where the file gets uploaded to. (See Figure 3)
When your accountant goes out to your file sharing site, he will know exactly which file is the most recent copy of your data because the data and time are automatically appended to the name of your file. (See Figure 4)
Testing, conclusions and how to get training on the new feature:
In my own testing of this new feature in a pre-release copy of QuickBooks 2015, it worked exactly as expected; I was able to send a portable copy of my test file via my file-sharing service without issue, and pick up the copy from the file-sharing service and restore it with my test copy. While there could be some slight differences or updates to this new feature by the time QuickBooks 2015 is actually released, I suspect that it will work much the same way as I have described it here.
This new feature provides a simplified method for users to send their files to accountants or tax preparers without having to really understand the file type options or windows file structure. The simplified process also fits into the changes that are taking place ‘in the real world’ about how we are all approaching the sharing of data. It is a great new way to transmit the data on a regular on-going basis.
While Intuit will start releasing 2015 versions of QuickBooks sometime this week to QuickBooks ProAdvisors, your first opportunity to receive training on this new feature will be at the Intuit QuickBooks Accounting Virtual Conference to be held on September 22 and 23, 2014. See the website for more information or register here.