JOE Admin is the facility within Advance Central that controls which components and applications each user can access in Advance Tax. Before allowing any staff member to begin tax processing, you must review and configure JOE Admin to ensure the right people have access to the right areas and no more.
⚠️Important: The functions controlled by JOE Admin affect your entire tax practice. Accidental access to restricted areas can change the function and use of the tax application. Review all components carefully before granting access to staff.
Understand the JOE Admin components
After selecting the JOE Admin option in Advance Central, you will see a number of areas that relate to Advance Tax. Each component must be reviewed before users commence tax processing. The table below summarises each component, its purpose, and its default access state.
Component | Purpose | Default access | Who should have access |
Tax Management | General operation of tax returns: required by anyone who prepares a tax return | May be off reviee | All tax preparers |
Batch Processing | Bulk functions such as lodging returns and changing statuses | Off by default | Dictated by role within the practice |
Tax Lists | Extracts data directly related to tax return information | Off by default | Dictated by role within the practice |
Standard Reporting | All reporting options for tax | May be on review | Users who require access to reports |
Process Engine | Establishes and maintains statuses within the practice | Off by default | Administration users only — required on first install |
Standard Matters | Links tax returns to matters; year-based matters must be established | Off by default | Administration users only — required on first install |
System and User Settings | Sets practice-wide defaults for Advance Tax | Varies by site | Administration users only |
Tax Agents | Sets tax agent and ELS details; handles ATO report requests and CP form creation | Off by default | Practice and tax administrators only |
Tax Data Extractor | Nominates which tax form fields are exposed in the database | Off by default | Database administrator only |
Tax Data Investigator | Reviews and analyses the integrity of tax data in the practice database | Off by default | System administrators only |
Tax List Customiser | Adds return status dates and Tax Data Extractor information to Tax List reporting | Off by default | System administrators only |
Extract Log Maintenance | Clears return locks caused by system faults or checked-out returns | Controlled by JOE Admin | System administrator only |
Glossary | View and edit common terms used within tax forms | On by default | All users |
Manual Forms | View and print blank ATO-approved forms | On by default | All users |
Review and configure access before staff begin
Follow the steps below to review and set the appropriate permissions for each component in JOE Admin.
From the Advance Central menu, select the JOE Admin.
Review each component listed in the table above and enable or restrict access based on each user's role within the practice.
Pay particular attention to components that may be on or off by default but require review:
Tax Management may be off by default: ensure all tax preparers have access.
Standard Reporting may be on by default: restrict access for users who do not require reports.
For a first installation of Advance Tax, enable the following components before any tax preparation begins:
Standard Matters: required to link returns to matters.
Tax Agents: required before any tax return can be prepared.
Restrict the following components to administration users only:
Process Engine: required to establish statuses.
System and User Settings.
Tax Data Extractor: database administrator only.
Tax Data Investigator.
Tax List Customiser.
Extract Log Maintenance.
Restrict Tax Agents access to practice and tax administrators only.
📌Note: If a user has not been granted rights to a component via JOE Admin, the relevant menu option will not appear for that user in Advance Tax.