Umbrella Accounts - One login to control many accounts
Standard accounts in TFX are 1:1 - one individual is in control of one account. That individual may ask that notifications get sent to many e-mail addresses, but taxes will still be prepared for just one individual.
However, sometimes there is one primary contact who is preparing taxes for many individuals. For this scenario, such as a family where one person will be the contact for multiple tax filings (parents, children, elderly grandparents, etc): we offer Umbrella Accounts.
The umbrella would be able to sign separate engagement letters, pay bills, review documents all in an organized fashion where nothing will slip through the cracks, and the umbrella won't have to toggle through 5 different e-mail accounts to manage the communication, nor remember 5 e-mail/password combinations. The umbrella logs in once and can toggle between the accounts they have access to.
How to request an umbrella account
To create an Umbrella Accounts, we (TFX) need:
- Name of account (family/firm)
- Name of primary contact
- Email of person (primary contact) who will receive all the emails for all of the clients they create / whom you would like to be the firm contact. Note - this email would be your login and also the person who receives all incoming emails for all the clients you cover. doeumbrella@gmail.com in the table below
- Phone number (of primary contact)
How to create accounts inside the umbrella account
Once the Umbrella account is created, you can create the individual client accounts inside your profile. If you had any existing TFX client accounts, support can place them inside the newly created umbrella.
For each new client, please click Full Client list from the left sidebar and click New Client
Although you will be asked to provide a unique e-mail address, emails for this individual will be routed to the Umbrella email (see section below)
How e-mail routing works
Each account should have their own email address. However, all e-mails will still be routed to the umbrella e-mail. This is intentional, as perhaps your child will grow up and no longer want to be under the 'umbrella' but handle their own finances.
At any point, any accounts under the umbrella may be removed and become standalone accounts that can log in and communicate without the umbrella liaison. Sample umbrella email: Doeumbrella@gmail.com
Name | Where emails route to | |
John Doe | johndoe@gmail.com | doeumbrella@gmail.com |
Mary Doe | marydoe@gmail.com | doeumbrella@gmail.com |
Shane Doe | shanedoe@gmail.com | doeumbrella@gmail.com |
Michael Doe | michaeldoe@gmail.com | doeumbrella@gmail.com |
Umbrella interface overview
Home dashboard where you can navigate to what you need, including bills, account details, and more.
The client list shows you the status of each individual tax preparation
Unassigned E-mails - what this means
Since one individual is liasoning on behalf of many, we need to know for which taxpayer to route the communication.
When you respond to an email from our system, we know which account it is for. All emails will indicate For [ Taxpayer Name] in the subject to clarify whom we are addressing.
Example email subjects:
For Mike Smith: Your engagement letter is ready
For Kate Smith: We have some questions to finalize your return
For Nate Smith: Your tax return is ready
etc
However, when you e-mail your tax preparer with a new email, we do not know for whom to route it. You will receive an email asking you to assign the email to one of the clients. If it is a new client (perhaps, your cousin Frankie also needs you to oversee his tax return) - you may select New Client in the dropdown.
Navigating between accounts
When you toggle into one of the accounts under the umbrella, you will notice a Return to home page button in the top left corner. This will return you to the Umbrella Dashboard