As a CrossLink customer, you have the option to use Gmail or an SMTP server to send text messages and emails to taxpayers using TextLink.
🖐 Note: Your customer must have a text messaging plan on their cell phone to receive your message(s). Standard text messaging rates apply.
In this article you will learn the following:
How to Activate Textlink
Follow the instructions below to successfully activate TextLink:
1. Open CrossLink 1040.
2. Click on Setup > Office Setup.
3. Select the TextMsg/Email tab.
4. Click the Activate TextLink/Email button.
5. Click Ok as prompted until you have returned to the TextMsg/Email tab.
How to Configure Textlink:
Follow the instructions below to successfully configure TextLink:
If using Gmail:
🖐 Note: You may use an existing Gmail account or you can create a new one.
1. Select Setup > Office Setup.
2. Click the TextMsg/Email tab.
3. Click Register for a FREE Google eMail account.
- A browser will open displaying the Gmail account creation webpage. If an existing account is to be used, skip to step 5.
4. Follow the steps given on the Gmail webpage to create an account.
5. In the Email box, type in your Gmail e-mail address.
6. In the Password box, type in your Gmail password.
7. For CrossLink 2021 and above, the Server URL and Server Port fields are required. For CrossLink 2020 and below, they can be left blank and you can skip to step 10.
8. In the Server URL box, type in smtp.gmail.com.
9. In the Server Port box, type in 587.
10. Click OK to close the save changes and close the setup screen.
If you are using an SMTP server:
1. Select Setup > Office Setup.
2. Select the TextMsg/Email tab.
3. In the Email box, type in your email address.
4. In the Password box, type in your email password.
5. In the Server URL box, type in your SMTP server's URL address.
6. In the Server Port box, type in your server's SMTP port number.
7. Click OK to close the save changes and close the setup screen.
How to Test TextLink:
Follow the instructions below to successfully test TextLink:
Method 1 - Send a Text Message
To verify that TextLink is working properly it is recommended to send a sample text message to a cell phone. To do this, follow these steps:
🖐 Note: For CrossLink 2021 and above, skip to Method 2 instead. Text messages for these years did not require the TextLink email setup.
1. Start a new tax return or open an existing one.
2. Click Client Data on the Attached Forms pane.
3. Under Taxpayer Information type in the recipient’s cell phone number in the Cell field.
4. Select the Text Message check box.
5. Click the Cell Phone Carrier box and click Choices.
6. Select the appropriate cell phone provider and click Ok.
7. Click the Send Text button on the toolbar.
8. In the Text Messaging Option type in a test text message and click OK.
9. In the Text Confirmation window click Yes.
10. The text message should be received on the selected cell phone momentarily.
Method 2 - Send an Email
1. Start a new tax return or open an existing tax return.
2. Click Client Data on the Attached Forms pane.
3. Under the Taxpayer Information type in the recipient's email address in the E-Mail field.
4. Make sure the return is clear of all fatal errors.
5. Click the Print button from the Tax Return Toolbar.
6. Click the Email button from the Print Final Return window.
7. Leave the password as is in the PDF Password window and click OK.
8. On the Email Doc window, under the Email Attachment Password section checkmark the Taxpayer box.
9. Click OK.
10. This will email a copy of the tax return to the recipient's email.