Preparer Step-by-Step Guide - CCH Axcess

Step 1: Start a Tax Preparation and Select a Client

To begin, click the Start a Tax Preparation button and select a client from your client list, or create one.

Next, select the tax year you want to prepare the return for. 

Step 2: Upload Source Documents 

Now you’re ready to upload source documents. You can drag and drop them into the upload container, or import them through an integration with your file storage platform. Juno currently supports Box, Sharepoint/Onedrive, and SmartVault.

The documents you've added will display on the right side of the page:

When you click Continue, Juno will classify your source documents and begin extracting data.

For a full list of source documents Juno can process, see Supported Source Documents.

Step 3: Review Source Documents Status

On the Source Document Review screen, your documents will begin processing, and each document's status will update as it becomes available for review. 

Once a document shows the status Awaiting Review, it's ready for validation - click Review Data to begin. You can always return to the previous step to add more documents as you receive them. 

Some documents may immediately receive the Validated status. This means Juno extracted every data field with high confidence and nothing requires review. You can still click into these documents to view them.

Once all your documents are Validated, you can proceed to the next step and download a workpaper along with a bookmarked PDF of your uploaded source documents. Be sure to scroll down to see how much work Preparer saved you.

Step 4: Viewing Documents in Our Human In the Loop Process

Click Review Data on any processed document in the table. The document will display on the left side of the screen, with the extracted data on the right.

A single PDF may contain multiple distinct tax forms. Each form found in the document appears as its own section on the right. These sections can be collapsed and expanded by clicking the gray header:

Each section header includes a few useful tools. It displays the form type, followed by the page numbers where that form's data is found.

You can click Jump to Form to instantly display the page associated with that form in the document viewer on the left.

To remove a tax form, click the trash icon to delete it from the document. 

In rare cases, Preparer may miss a tax form in a PDF. If this happens, first delete the source document and re-upload it. If the issue persists, use the button below the tax forms to enter the data manually - clicking it displays a list of tax forms you can add, and selecting one adds that form to the document.

Step 5: Validate Source Documents

After clicking Review Data, you can begin validating your documents. We call this the Human in the Loop process. Each field will have one of three statuses:

• Possibly Missing -  Juno did not extract a value and believes one may be missing. In most cases, the field is blank on the form and simply needs you to confirm it's blank. To do so, click the Validate button below the field. 
• Flagged for Review - Juno suggests double-checking this field. Often the value is calculated (gain/loss on a 1099B) and just needs to be verified for accuracy. 
• Validated - The value was extracted with near perfect confidence and doesn’t require review.

For a document to receive a Validated status, you must either validate every individual field or click the Mark All as Validated button on the bottom of the page.

If you're validating Schedule C, E, or F documents, you'll notice the interface looks a bit different. For a quick walkthrough on validating Schedules, watch this video.

Document Checklist & Client Letter 

You can now upload the prior year 1040 alongside your current year source documents on the standard upload screen, or add it later from the Expected Documents Checklist section of the Uploaded Source Documents screen. This step is optional.

When you upload a prior year return, Juno reviews it and populates an Expected Documents Checklist on the Uploaded Source Documents screen. The checklist identifies the specific documents your client is expected to provide, including document type and issuer where known (for example, "2026 W-2 Disney"). Each item has its own Upload and Remove actions.

Building on the checklist, the Generate Email button on the Uploaded Source Docs screen auto-drafts a client email listing any still-missing documents. You can edit the draft and copy it before sending.

Date Acquired and Date Sold Logic 

When Juno processes forms containing transactions, such as a 1099-B, individual transactions are aggregated into summary rows grouped by transaction type (short-term vs. long-term) and reporting status. Because these entries are aggregated, tax software requires standardized placeholder values for certain fields, such as Date Acquired and Date Sold.

Year-Specific Behavior

Juno automatically applies the correct year-specific dates based on the return you’re preparing. The long-term acquisition date stays the same from year to year because it represents assets held for more than one year.

User Experience

These placeholder dates and quantities are expected and won’t affect the accuracy of your reported gains or losses - they simply allow your 1099-B data to be accepted and processed correctly by tax software.

Next Step: Export Data to CCH Axcess

You're now ready to move all the extracted data into CCH Axcess. Individual and business returns both use the same .dat file process: generate the .dat file in the Juno Web App, then import it into CCH Axcess. For detailed steps, see the Exporting Tax Preparations to CCH - Step By Step Guide.