Review Messages

Updated: 2022-12-16

The audit and review process in TaxCycle runs all the time in the background. As you enter data, TaxCycle checks for missing information and optimization opportunities. 

These review messages appear in the Review sidebar and right in fields when you hover over them. Some messages are Quick Fix messages which offer a one-click solution to the error.

Review sidebar

1. When you're ready to review the tax return, click on the Review sidebar. Or, press F9 to jump to the first message and open the Review sidebar to the Require attention view. This opens the list of errors and audit messages. 
2. By default, the list shows messages that Require attention. You can change which messages show in the list by using the drop-down at the top of the box. For example, choose Signed off messages, First or second review, Questions or Corrections from the view list to see all fields containing those review marks.
3. Message types are distinguished using icons assigned to indicate severity or importance. Double-click on a message to jump to the form and field with the issue.
4. Hover over a message and click the light bulb to choose a Quick Fix solution.
5. If you do not want to address a review message, you can sign it off. Hover over the message and click on the mark on the right to sign it off as a first review. Click again to apply a second review. Click a third time to remove the review mark and re-activate the message.
6. Right-click on any message in the Review sidebar—even those without Quick Fix messages—to see more options of what you can do. This is a quick way to sign off a message or hide it for good (see more below).
7. Press Alt+F9 to show messages for the current form.

Review message icons

Icons on review messages also provide information about the type and severity of the message.

	Bulletin Messages affecting the entire file. They also show in the grey bar above open forms.
	Critical Message Errors in the return. These cannot be signed off.
	CRA Filing Error Required to file with CRA.
	EFILE Error Errors that prevent electronic filing.
	Caution Warnings that require review.
	Suggestion Optional messages of changes to make to the return.
	Tape on field.
	Memo on field.
	Variance Field varies from the selected snapshot.
	Override Field contains an override.
	AgriStability/AgriInvest Required for T2 AGRI EFILE.
	T1134 Error Required to EFILE a T1134.
	T106 Error Required to EFILE a T106.
	Quebec Error Required to file a Québec return.
	Alberta AT1 Error Required to file Alberta AT1.
	Alberta AT1 Net File Error Required to EFILE an Alberta AT1.

Quick Fix solutions

Some error messages give you the option to apply a Quick Fix solution. This means you can fix the issue without ever jumping to the form.

1. When you hover over a field with a message, click the blue link to apply a solution.
   
2. In the Review sidebar, some messages show a suggest solution right in the message text. Click the blue link to apply the solution.
   
3. When hovering over a message in the Review sidebar, look for a light bulb that appears to left of the message, then click on it to see the possible solutions.
   
4. You can also right-click on the message to choose from possible solutions.
   

Field highlighting

Fields with error messages contain indicators to alert you:

1. Colour in the corner to show the severity of the message.
2. A yellow background to highlight the field.

By default TaxCycle shows both indicators. You can disable the background highlighting for error fields in options:

3. To open options, go to the File menu, then Options. Or, if you are on the Start screen, click Options in the blue bar on the left. The settings below are accessible from section on the left-hand side of the Options dialog box.
4. On the left, expand the Return preparation section and click on the Review page. 
5. On the right, to hide the yellow background, clear the check box next to Show a coloured background on fields that have review messages.

View messages on fields

1. Hover your cursor over a field that contains a message to view the message in a small pop-up.
2. Move your cursor off the field to hide the message again.
3. Click the links in the message to complete the Quick Fix.
4. Click the icon on the left side of the message to jump to the Review sidebar and change the view to show a list of all messages of that type.
5. If you do not want to address a review message, you can sign it off. Hover over the message and click on the mark on the right to sign it off as a first review. Click it again to apply a second review. Click a third time to remove the review mark and reactivate the message.

Bulletins

Bulletins are a special kind of review message that appear when you need to do something important like create a adjust a return, when a file is in use, or to upgrade a T2 return to a more recent module. They announce significant issues or potential actions that affect the entire file or tax return.

1. Bulletins appear in a bar above the form area on all forms. 
2. Click the bullhorn button on the left to go to the Bulletins view in the Review sidebar and see all the bulletins.
3. If there is more than one bulletin available, use the buttons on the left to move through the bulletins.
4. Within the bulletin bar, links provide actions to address the bulletin.
5. Click the Dismiss button to hide the bulletin. This hides the bulletin bar but the message stays will continue to appear in the Require attention and Bulletins views in the Review sidebar. The bulletin bar will reappear the next time you open the file.
6. To hide the bulletin from the sidebar and prevent it from reappearing, sign off the message.

Disable review messages you don't want to see

You can disable some review messages so you never see them again. These are review messages that are not required for filing a return.

1. Click the Quick Fix light bulb in the Review sidebar and select the option to Never show this message for any clients.

You can also enable or disable messages in Options.

2. If you have a file open, go to File menu, then click Options. To open Options from the Start screen, click Options in the blue bar on the left side. 
3. On the left side of the dialog box, expand the T1/TP1 (or any other module) section, then click on Review to set the same options for all years. Or, expand Review and click on a year to set different options for each year.
4. In the right-hand pane, type a keyword to search for an option in the list messages.
5. If you are looking for a message you disabled by mistake, click the link to Show only disabled review messages.
6. When you find the message you need, check the box to have it appear for all clients. Uncheck it to hide for all clients.
7. Some messages cannot be disabled. For these messages, the checkbox will appear greyed out and you won't be able to check or uncheck it.
8. To see a list of all the review messages, click the link to Copy all review messages to CSV file.
9. Click Apply or OK to save your changes.

Review options

1. To open options, go to the File menu, then Options. Or, if you are on the Start screen, click Options in the blue bar on the left.
2. On the left, expand the Return preparation section and click on the Review page. 
3. On the right, to hide the yellow background, clear the check box next to Show a coloured background on fields that have review messages.
4. To show a yellow background on fields with memos, tapes and attachments, check Show a coloured background on fields that have memos tapes or attached files.
5. If you prefer higher-contrast review marks, check Use red review check marks on forms.
6. If you prefer not to see review messages in a hover pop-up, clear that option.
7. Check or uncheck Remove review message on first review and/or Remove review messages on second review to control when a message is signed off.
8. Check Show an override review message when the calculated value equals the imported or scanned value to see an override message when amount posted from DoxCycle is the same as a calculated value.
9. Click Apply or OK to save your changes.