Reviewing a client's GST return in Coffer

A client can assign a GST return to you from their Coffer account. You review the expenses, handle questions with the client, submit the return through myIR, and record that it was filed. Their invoices, expenses, receipts, and IRD payments stay read-only throughout.

Finding assigned returns

Your accountant home page shows a Returns section when at least one connected client has an active return. Work assigned to you is marked Action required and appears before progress-only items.

Select Review return to open the exact GST period. You can also open a client and use the active return card or their Reports tab. If there's no active filing work, the Returns section doesn't appear on the home page.

Assigned work and client-filed returns

You can make decisions only when the return is assigned to you. A client-filed return may still appear as a progress update, but its review actions aren't available to you. The client controls who is filing and can change the assignment before the return is filed.

Reviewing the client's expenses

Start the review to see the period's expenses, claimable GST, receipts, and return summary. You can switch between a full list and category groups.

For each expense, you can:

• approve the GST claim;
• exclude it and record why;
• ask the client for information; or
• open its receipts and comment history.

Approve remaining resolves expenses still waiting for a decision. It doesn't replace an exclusion or an open information request.

Asking the client a question

Select Ask on the expense and write what you need. The note stays attached to that expense. The client can open the same return, read the question, and reply in the thread.

Resolve the item by approving or excluding it after you have the answer. A reply on its own doesn't change the decision.

New expenses during the review

When the detailed review opens, Coffer checks for newly recorded expenses from the same period. New items are added as Needs review, while earlier decisions stay in place. A return that had been ready to file moves back into review until the new items are resolved.

Marking the return as filed

Once every item is resolved, download the worksheet and submit the return through myIR. Then select Mark as filed and confirm. Coffer records the reviewed figures and locks the client records covered by the return.

What happens after filing

The client receives a filed notification and sees the amount to pay or refund expected. Payment and refund actions belong to the client:

• The client records GST paid to IRD under Tax events.
• The client confirms a refund with Mark refund received.
• A zero-balance return needs no settlement action.

You can follow the return's payment status and view payments under the client's Payments to IRD tab. You can't create, edit, or delete those payments.