IRS Transcript Delivery In Holistiplan (Beta)

Contents:

Quick Start Checklist

Verifying TDS Access

How the IRS Transcript Delivery Process Works

IRS Documents in addition to Transcripts

FAQs

Troubleshooting Checklist

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Quick Start Checklist

Confirm all of the following are complete before requesting transcripts:

☐ IRS Transcript Delivery System is enabled

☐ IRS Integration is enabled

☐ A CAF holder has entered their CAF number in Holistiplan

☐ A Form 8821 or Form 2848 has been filed with the IRS and added to the client household

☐ The client has filed a tax return within the last six years

☐ A transcript request has been submitted

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Before Beginning:

Before a firm can use IRS Transcript features, the following prerequisites must be in place:

Requirement	Details
CAF Number	At least one member of the firm must hold a Centralized Authorization File (CAF) number issued by the IRS.
Active Authorization Form	At least one active Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) or Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) must be on file with the IRS, associated with the correct CAF number.
Client Tax Filing History	The client covered by the 8821 or 2848 must have filed a tax return in one of the previous six years.
IRS Tax Pro Account with TDS Access	The CAF holder must have an IRS Tax Pro Account with active Transcript Delivery System (TDS) access.

More information on getting TDS or CAF number set up can be found here.

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Verifying TDS Access

TDS access can likely be confirmed if you've previously requested transcripts through your IRS Tax Pro Account. If you have, TDS access is already active.

If TDS access has not yet been established, eligibility is achieved by completing the following steps (more detailed instructions can be found in our article on IRS Transcript Delivery System (TDS) Access Setup):

1. Creating an e-services account on the IRS.gov website
2. Creating a Tax Pro Account from within an e-services account
3. Requesting a CAF number with the Tax Pro Account
4. Completing the e-file application following Circular 230 steps
5. Requesting Transcript Delivery System (TDS) access via the eHelp desk or by filing 5 or more tax returns in a single year.
   1. Once TDS access is granted, annual tax filings are not required

How the IRS Transcript Delivery Process Works

1. A Firm Admin enables the feature.
2. A CAF holder enters their CAF number.
3. An advisor adds a Form 8821 or Form 2848 for the client.
4. An advisor submits a transcript request.
5. The request is sent to the designated CAF holder.
6. The CAF holder signs in to the IRS and retrieves the transcript.
7. The transcript is processed and becomes available in Holistiplan.

 

Step 1: Enable the IRS Transcript Delivery System

1. Navigate to Settings > Features & Tools.
2. Open the Tax section.
3. Enable IRS Transcript Delivery System.

Step 2: Enable the IRS Integration

1. Navigate to Settings > Security > Integrations
2. Locate the IRS Transcript Delivery System integration.
3. If the status is Disabled, change it to Enabled.

Step 3: Add a CAF Number

The CAF holder must complete this step.

1. Click the profile icon in the upper-right corner.
2. Select Account.
3. Locate the CAF Number field.
   
4. Enter CAF number.
5. Click Save.

The CAF number associates IRS transcript requests with the appropriate CAF holder and allows advisors to select that person when creating authorization forms.

Step 4: Add an Authorization Form

Before transcripts can be requested, the client must have a filed authorization form associated with the designated CAF holder.

Supported authorization forms:

• Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization)
• Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative)

To add an authorization form:

1. Open the client household.
2. Navigate to Details.
3. Locate Transcript Auths.
4. Click Add Filed Authorization Form.
5. Select either Form 8821 or Form 2848.
6. Select the CAF holder.
7. Select the client.
8. Enter the client's Social Security Number.
9. Select the applicable tax years.
10. Select the transcript types to retrieve.
11. Click Save.

Step 5: Request IRS Transcripts

Once an active authorization form exists:

1. Navigate to Returns & Transcripts.
2. Click Request Transcript via IRS.
3. Select the client.
4. Select the tax year.
5. Choose whether to request the transcript immediately or schedule retrieval for a future year.
6. Click Request.

The request will be routed to the designated CAF holder for retrieval.

Supported Tax Years

• Transcript retrieval is currently available for tax years dating back to 2018.
• Future transcript requests may be scheduled for supported future tax years as they become available.

Step 6: Retrieve Pending Transcript Requests

After a transcript request is submitted, the designated CAF holder must retrieve the transcript from the IRS.

The CAF holder can:

• View pending requests
• Sign in to the IRS
• Retrieve transcripts
• Edit requests
• Delete requests

To retrieve transcripts:

1. Navigate to Tools & Resources > IRS Transcript Requests.
2. Review any pending requests.
3. Sign in using your IRS Tax Pro Account credentials when prompted.
4. Complete the retrieval process.

After retrieval is completed and processing finishes, transcripts become available within Holistiplan.

Returns & Transcripts

Return Transcript data is processed into a Tax Report and can be accessed from the client's Returns & Transcripts page.

IRS Documents

Additional transcript documents may be available under IRS Documents, including:

• Wage & Income Transcripts
• Account Transcripts
• Record of Account Transcripts
• Other IRS transcript documents returned by the IRS

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is "Request Transcript via IRS" disabled?

This usually means the client does not have an active authorization form.

Verify that a Form 8821 or Form 2848 has been added under:

Details > Transcript Auths

Why don't I see the IRS sign-in option?

The IRS sign-in option does not appear immediately after enabling the integration.

Before the IRS sign-in option becomes available:

1. Enable the IRS Transcript Delivery System.
2. Enable the IRS Integration.
3. Enter a CAF number.
4. Add an authorization form.
5. Submit a transcript request.

Only after a transcript request exists will the CAF holder be able to retrieve transcripts from the IRS.

Why can't I request transcripts for a client?

It's possible something isn't set up correctly.

Verify that:

• The IRS Transcript Delivery System is enabled.
• The IRS Integration is enabled.
• A valid CAF number has been entered.
• The client has an active Form 8821 or Form 2848.
• The authorization form was saved successfully.
  
  

Which authorization forms are supported?

The IRS Transcript Delivery System currently supports:

• Form 8821
• Form 2848
  
  

Who needs to sign in to the IRS?

Only the designated CAF holder can sign in to the IRS and retrieve transcripts.

Other advisors may create requests, but they cannot complete transcript retrieval unless they are also the designated CAF holder.

Can pending requests be edited or deleted?

Yes. Pending requests may be edited or deleted before retrieval is completed.

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Troubleshooting Checklist

If transcript requests are not working as expected, verify the following:

• IRS Transcript Delivery System is enabled.
• IRS Integration is enabled.
• A valid CAF number has been entered.
• The client has an active Form 8821 or Form 2848.
• The authorization form was saved successfully.
• A transcript request has been submitted.
• The designated CAF holder is attempting retrieval.
• The CAF holder has access to the IRS Tax Pro Account and TDS.
  
  

Need Additional Help?

Contact Holistiplan Support if:

• Requests fail after all setup steps have been completed.
• The IRS login option never appears.
• Authorization forms appear active, but requests remain unavailable.
• Scheduled requests are not processing correctly.
• Unexpected authentication or transcript retrieval errors occur.