TAX WORKFLOW AUTOMATION

Smart Delivery

Q: How does the AI populate feature work?

Click “Populate with AI” after selecting a file and Smart Delivery automatically fills in the welcome message, return details, and document setup. What typically takes 30 minutes of manual work is done in seconds.

Q: Is manual tax return setup still an option in Canopy?

Yes. Firms can build out every section of a delivery by hand — name, welcome message, return details, invoice, and signature. The AI “smart” populate feature works alongside the manual flow, not a replacement for it.

Q: What does the client experience for Smart Delivery look like?

Clients receive a guided flow: View the watermarked tax return Check a confirmation box to proceed Confirm payment (if a paywall is set) Choose signature type and sign View “Next Steps” screen Firms can preview this exact flow before sending using “Preview as Client.”

Q: Can the paywall be set at the individual return level?

Yes. The paywall is configured per delivery, not as a global setting. Each return delivery can independently include or exclude a payment requirement.

Q: What happens if a client has already paid their invoice?

Smart Delivery detects it. Instead of blocking the client with a payment screen, it displays a “Paid” badge on the invoice and lets the client move forward without re-entering any payment information. No manual override needed.

Q: Can firms deliver returns without using the paywall?

Yes. The invoice and paywall are optional. Firms can deliver a return with just the document and e-signature, or with an invoice attached but no payment requirement.

Q: Is KBA included in the Smart Workflow?

Yes. KBA (Knowledge Based Authentication) is bundled with the Smart Workflow credit. When you use AI populate for a delivery that includes KBA-based e-signature.

Q: Do firms need Canopy Payments to use Smart Delivery?

Yes, if they want to use the paywall feature. Canopy Payments is required to collect payment within the delivery flow. Without it, firms can still deliver returns and collect signatures — they just can’t block access behind payment inside Canopy.

Q: How does Smart Delivery compare to SafeSend, Suralink, or TRUSS?

Those tools offer return delivery but operate as separate, standalone products outside of Canopy. Smart Delivery is native — the return, invoice, payment history, and client record are already in Canopy, so nothing has to be exported or re-entered.

The ultimate fast track from finished return to a cleared invoice

Average 4.6/5 from 1000+ reviews

Turn delivery day into payday

AI-powered setup, a client flow anyone can finish, and the option to require payment before the return is released

Let AI Handle Delivery in 30 Seconds

Canopy uses built-in AI to instantly read returns and auto-populate your entire delivery workflow in seconds.

Eliminate Confusion for Clients

Bring clients into a single, seamless client portal experience where they can review, sign, and pay all in one place in the portal or by secure link.

Always Get Paid

Require payment before the return is released, after, or not at all, set per delivery.

With AI-powered Smart Delivery, Canopy can:

Read 1040, 1120-S, 1065, 1041, and 1120 returns and fill in the delivery in about 30 seconds
Separate refunds from overpayments applied to next year, and show whether you or your client pays the balance due
Pull estimated payment amounts and due dates from the return, then remind clients before each one
Detect the signature forms you need (8879 and business variants) and mark where clients sign
Give clients who don't use the portal a secure link to review, sign, and pay

“We love Canopy! Robust software with essential features that help our tax season go smoother, like client portal, electronic signatures and the awesome and easy retrieval of client's tax transcripts.”

Licia V., Canopy Customer

TAX DELIVERY WORKFLOW

Goodbye Manual Data Entry

Upload the return. AI fills in the details. You review every field before anything goes out.

Upload any completed 1040, 1120-S, 1065, 1041, or 1120
AI fills in tax year, return type, taxpayer names, filing status, refund or balance due, overpayment applied, and estimated payments
Every AI-filled field is clearly marked and editable
Start from blank, a template, or AI, and save as a draft before sending

SEAMLESS CLIENT EXPERIENCE

The Client Portal That Actually Cooperates

Clients review, sign, and pay step by step. Required steps can’t be skipped, and progress is saved

Clients review, sign, and pay step by step. Required steps can’t be skipped, and progress is saved
Clients sign the 8879, 8879-S, -C, -P, or -F right on the return, with signature spots marked and KBA included
Clients who don’t use the portal finish through a secure link: encrypted, single-use, and set to expire
The return stays watermarked until the client signs
- Preview exactly what your client will see before you send

ALL-IN-ONE PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

Total Visibility, No Micromanagement

Enforce absolute quality control and track every return from one place.

Track every delivery’s status across all clients from one place
Use templates and permissions so every delivery goes out the same way
Completed deliveries lock to keep a clear record
If a return changes, cancel the delivery and send a new one. Canceled deliveries disappear from the client’s portal right away

ACCURATE OVERPAYMENT & UNDERPAYMENT DETAILS

Clients Know What They're Getting Back and What They Owe

Refunds and overpayments, side by side in one clear view for both you and the client.

Balance due, with who pays it: Show whether your firm or your client is handling the payment.
No double payments: Hide payment links when you pay through your tax software, like UltraTax or CCH.
Federal, state, and local in one view: Break out each refund or balance due so nothing gets missed.
Pulled straight from the return: Let AI fill in the amounts, then review and edit before you send.

YOUR AUTONOMOUS FIRM

Delivered in April. Reminded All Year.

Populate estimated tax payment amounts and automate reminders in seconds.

Vouchers ready to go: Pull each estimated payment voucher straight from the return, so clients have the amount, due date, and voucher in one place.
Every federal and state due date, front and center: List each estimated payment on the client’s review and next-steps pages.
Reminders before every deadline: Nudge clients ahead of each IRS and state due date, all year long.
No more reminder tasks: Replace the workarounds your team builds with task templates and one-off reminders.
Fewer missed payments: Help clients stay current with the IRS and their state and avoid underpayment penalties.

REDUCE YOUR TECH STACK

Delivery Built into Your Platform, Not Bolted On

Go from 5–7 tools to 1. Standalone tax delivery tools mean another vendor, another login, and another per-return fee. Smart Delivery runs inside Canopy, where the return, invoice, payment history, and client record already live.

Simplify Your Stack

What is Smart Delivery?

Smart Delivery is Canopy’s AI-powered, action-gated tax return engine that automatically reads your files to extract critical delivery data, then guides your clients through a single, secure, step-by-step process.

AI reads uploaded returns to instantly extract tax years, entity types, and balance details
Optional paywall, set per delivery, so you can require payment before the return is released
Automated watermarks protect draft documents and files lock instantly upon completion to preserve data integrity
Estimated payment reminders after delivery
Gain complete oversight and enterprise security without managing separate apps

“Canopy’s client management features allow us to deliver consistent service while giving us visibility into every relationship.”

Accountability Services

“Our client base is always changing, and I love that Canopy doesn’t lock us into a rigid setup. We can organize clients the way we want and keep things adaptable as we grow.”

Beth, Fullerton Tax Service

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Smart Delivery?

Smart Delivery is Canopy’s tax return delivery workflow. It lets firms set up a complete client delivery — documents, payment, and e-signature — in one place. AI can populate the entire setup in seconds using the return file.