Depreciation Data Conversion—BNA Fixed Assets Desktop to Fixed Assets CS

This application converts your depreciation data from BNA Fixed Assets™ Desktop. You can then import this data into Fixed Assets CS® version 2020.1 and later.

Review information before the data conversion

Before you start this conversion, do the following:
  • Identify the clients to be converted and note their client IDs and file names in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop.
  • Identify the client IDs you'll use in Fixed Assets CS. If you'll integrate your depreciation client data with UltraTax CS® and/or Accounting CS™, the client IDs need to match.
  • Note the drive and path where the BNA Fixed Assets Desktop client data resides.
  • Note the entity type of the client (I = Individual, C = C Corporation, S = S Corporation, P = Partnership, and so on).
  • Note the current-year beginning and ending dates (found in the Basic Information tab in the Client Properties screen).
Before you convert your client data, verify that the current depreciation has been calculated for all of the client’s assets in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop.

Create conversion files from BNA Fixed Assets Desktop data files—Step 1 create the export file

  1. Open the BNA Fixed Assets Desktop program.
  2. Open the BNA Fixed Assets client to be converted.
  3. With the client open, select
    Export to BNAFA Web
    from the Asset menu.
  4. Go to
    Name
    and enter a client ID then select
    Next
    . Also, record this ID as you'll need the ID in the “Create the conversion import file” procedure.
  5. Select
    Browse
    , enter the same client ID you used in the previous step in the File name field, then select
    Save
    .
  6. Note the data path and file name that show in the File name field, then select
    Next
    . This information is used in the “Create the conversion import file” procedure.
  7. Select
    Next
    .
  8. Select
    Finish
    to create the export file

Create conversion files from BNA Fixed Assets Desktop data files—Step 2 create the conversion file

  1. To start the CS Conversions application, double-click
    CS Data Conversions
    on your desktop.
  2. Go to Conversion Type and select
    Depreciation
    .
  3. Go to Competitor and select
    BNA Fixed Assets Desktop
    .
  4. Go to the Input Data Folder and select
    Browse
    to navigate to the data path used in step 6 of the procedure to create the export file.
  5. Select
    Start
    to start the conversion program.
  6. In the client list, select the client you want to convert then select
    OK
    .
  7. The client’s data is converted and a Client Data Transfer Report is prepared. When the process is complete, select
    OK
    .
  8. To process another client, repeat steps 5 through 7.
  9. To import the converted data into Fixed Assets CS, select
    Close
    and then go to the “Import the conversion file into Fixed Assets CS” section.

Import the conversion file into Fixed Assets CS

Before you start the import procedure, review the converted items and items not converted lists below. These lists describe all known exceptions during the conversion from BNA Fixed Assets Desktop to Fixed Assets CS.
  1. Double-click
    Fixed Assets CS
    on your desktop to start the program. If you didn't install the shortcut, select
    Start
    on the Windows taskbar then
    All Programs
    ,
    CS Professional Suite
    ,
    Fixed Assets CS
    .
  2. Select
    File
    then
    New Client
    to create a new client in Fixed Assets CS.
  3. Select
    Utilities
    ,
    Import Asset Data
    , then
    ASCII file
    . If the path specified in the
    Location of import
    file field isn't the location of your BNA Fixed Assets Desktop client data, select
    Change Location
      and go to the correct location.
  4. Enter the name of the conversion file you want to import or select the dropdown for a list of conversion files that are available in the specified location. The name of the conversion file is in the
    XXXXXXXXXXX.DSW
    format, where
    XXXXXXXXXXX
    is the client’s file name from BNA Fixed Assets Desktop.
  5. Select
    Import
    to transfer the files.
  6. When the import is complete, select
    Done
    .
  7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 for each client you’ve created a conversion file for. For any client whose conversion file hasn't yet been created, repeat the 2 steps to create conversion files from BNA Fixed Assets Desktop (create export file and create conversion file).

Converted items—Known exceptions

The following list of converted items describe known exceptions when you convert the BNA Fixed Assets Desktop data to Fixed Assets CS. This list also shows differences between the 2 applications and any data modifications that may be required in Fixed Assets CS after the conversion is complete.

Converted items—Activity

Assets for a client whose activity is Form 8829 or Depletion convert to a Misc activity. You'll need to assign the assets to the correct form or schedule after the assets are imported into Fixed Assets CS.

Converted items—Treatments

The following table describes how the method type entered in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop converts into Fixed Assets CS as a treatment.
Method Type in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop
Treatment converted to Fixed Assets CS
Federal Tax
Tax
Federal Tax — AMT
AMT
Federal Tax — ACE
Other/ACE
GAAP
Book
Federal Tax — E&P
E & P
The New Parent and Child Books treatments will convert and be added to the client data in Fixed Assets CS.

Converted items—Methods

The Remaining Bal / Remaining Life and No Depreciation methods in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop convert to Fixed Assets CS as the Memo method.
Conversion of methods
Method entered in Asset Keeper Pro
Method converted to Fixed Assets CS
PCT, PCTN, DBF, DB, MAN
Memo (life converts blank)
None
Memo
DB100, SB100
Straight-line
SL, SLD, SLF, SLH, SLHH, SLMM, SLNBV, SLP, SLR
Straight-line (full month)
DB175, SB175
Declining-balance 200%

Converted items—BNA Fixed Assets Desktop’s 175% declining-balance method

Fixed Assets CS doesn't have an option for a declining-balance 175% method. Assets that used this method will convert with the declining-balance 200% method. To continue depreciating the assets using 175% declining balance, create a custom method of depreciation in Fixed Assets CS.

Converted items—Asset life

In BNA Fixed Assets Desktop, you could enter any number in the
Life
field for
Property Type
,
Placed In Service Date
, and
Method
combinations; with Fixed Assets CS, you can enter only certain lives based on the type of property. For lives that are available in both BNA Fixed Assets Desktop and Fixed Assets CS, the converted method and life are the same as the method and life you entered in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop. For any lives that are available in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop but aren't available in Fixed Assets CS, the conversion application converts these assets using the following table. You may need to manually change this life by accessing the Depreciation tab and entering the proper life for any asset with a life that's not available in Fixed Assets CS.
Life entered in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop
MACRS class life converted to Fixed Assets CS
4 years or less
3 year property
More than 4 years but less than or equal to 9.5
5 year property
More than 9.5 years but less than or equal to 15
7 year property
More than 15 years but less than 16
10 year property
More than 16 years but less than 20
15 year property
22 year Indian Nonresidential
39 year property
More than 39 years but less than 40
31.5 or 39 year property

Converted items—Alternative Depreciation System (ADS) method

BNA Fixed Assets Desktop allows you to depreciate an asset using the Alternative Depreciation System code AD. BNA Fixed Assets Desktop requires that you enter the ADS life used to depreciate the asset instead of the class life of the asset. In Fixed Assets CS, you'll need to enter both the class life and ADS life to depreciate an asset. Fixed Assets CS uses the class life for the grouping and reporting of assets on Form 4562 and other reports for ADS assets.
The following table specifies how the conversion application determines the class life of an asset based on the ADS life you entered in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop.
ADS life entered in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop
MACRS class life converted to Fixed Assets CS
4 years or less
3 year property
More than 4 years but less than 10
5 year property
10 years or more but less than 16
7 year property
16 years or more but less than 20
14 year property
20 years or more but less than 25
20 year property

Converted items—Alternative Depreciation System, code ASL – MACRS Real

Asset Keeper Pro doesn't make a distinction between Non-Residential Real Property and Residential Rental Property. Assets that had an ASL – MACRS Real method and a life of 40 in Asset Keeper Pro are converted as follows:
  • If the asset was acquired before May 13, 1993, the asset converts to Fixed Assets CS with a life of 31.5.
  • If the asset was acquired after May 12, 1993, the asset converts to Fixed Assets CS with a life of 39.

Converted items—BNA Fixed Assets Desktop straight-line AS

When you use this method, in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop, you had to enter the recovery class life used to depreciate the asset instead of the class life of the asset. In Fixed Assets CS, you'll need to enter both the class life and recovery class life to depreciate an asset. Fixed Assets CS uses the class life for the grouping and reporting of assets on Form 4562 and other reports for ADS assets.
The following table specifies how the conversion determines the class life of an asset based on the ADS life you entered in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop.
Recovery class life entered in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop
ACRS class life converted to Fixed Assets CS
3 years
3 year property
5 years
5 year property
10 years
10 year property
12 years
5 year property
15 years
15 year property
18 years
18 year property
19 years
19 year property
25 years
5 year property
35 years
15 year property
45 years
15 year property
All others
5 year property

Converted items—Asset dispositions

The information located in the BNA Fixed Assets Desktop depreciation wizard in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop isn't converted. The date the asset was disposed on converts. The asset converts with a disposal method of Sold / Scrapped and a property type of 1245 – Trade or business property. To manually enter or update the information, enter the proper information for the asset in the Disposal tab in Fixed Assets CS.

Converted items—Inactive assets

Assets that don't have the
Active
checkbox marked in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop are converted as active assets. You'll need to manually enter the disposal method in the Disposal tab in Fixed Assets CS for these assets.

Converted items—Listed property

Due to differences in file structures between BNA Fixed Assets Desktop and Fixed Assets CS, assets convert as follows.
BNA Fixed Assets Desktop property type
Fixed Assets CS property type
Listed-Personal (PL)
Other business & personal
Listed-Auto (AL)
Luxury auto (Passenger)
Luxury Trucks and Vans (TL)
Van or light truck if placed in service after 2002; otherwise, the asset will convert as Luxury Auto
Clean Fuel Luxury Vehicle (CF)
Electric vehicle if placed in service after 2006; otherwise, the asset will convert as Listed Property
Sports Utility Vehicle (SV)
Sport utility vehicle if placed in service after 10/22/2004; otherwise, the asset will convert as Other Business & Personal
All other assets with a business use other than 100 percent will convert as Listed property (Non-vehicle).

Converted items—Asset ID

Asset IDs are converted to the Memo 2 field in Fixed Assets CS. Assets are renumbered sequentially during the conversion.

Converted items—Associations

BNA Fixed Assets Desktop associations are converted to Fixed Assets CS as follows.
BNA Fixed Assets Desktop Fixed Assets field
Fixed Assets CS field
Asset ID
Memo 2
Replacement Value
Replacement Val
Asset GL Acct #
Asset GL Acct #
Depr Exp GL Acct #
Depr Exp GL Acc
Accum Depr GL Acct #
Accum Depr GL A
Asset Type
Type
Class
Group
Manufacturer
Manufacturer
Description 2
Description 2
Description 3
Description 3
Location
Location
Tag ID
Tag #
Department
Department
Cost Center
Cost Center
Serial Number
Serial Number
Custodian
Custodian
Comments
Memo 1
Model Number
Model #
Vendor
Vendor
In addition, up to 10 user-defined entries from the BNA Fixed Assets Desktop “Field List” can be converted to Fixed Assets CS as custom associations. Choose which user-defined entries are converted in step 7 of “Create the conversion import file.”

Converted items—Section 168(k)

Fixed Assets CS automatically complies with section 168(k) (bonus depreciation) for qualifying assets. You can elect out of bonus depreciation on a single asset, per class life, per treatment, or per client.

Converted items—Business use

The current-year business use percentage entered in the Federal Tax book will convert. Prior-year business use percentages will default to 100 percent in Fixed Assets CS. If necessary, you can modify the prior business use percentages in Fixed Assets CS after the assets have been imported.

Converted items—Section 179

The section 179 amount converted in the current year even if you exceeded the limit in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop. Modify the amount as needed in Fixed Assets CS.

Converted items—ITC basis reduction and ITC codes

Due to differences in file structures between BNA Fixed Assets Desktop and Fixed Assets CS, the ITC amount and code can't be converted to Fixed Assets CS. The ITC basis reduction and code need to be manually entered in each applicable column for all assets using the ITC basis reduction. If you don't enter this information, Fixed Assets CS will continue to depreciate the asset without regard to the nondepreciable ITC portion of the basis.

Converted items—Amortization

The amortization code section number converts if the code matches one of the amortization codes that are available in Fixed Assets CS.

Date in service

BNA Fixed Assets Desktop allows a different
Placed in Service Date
to be entered for each treatment. Only 1 of these dates is converted to Fixed Assets CS. The date that shows in the last book
Placed in Service Date
field in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop is converted to the
Date in service
field in Fixed Assets CS. You'll need to manually enter the correct date in service at the top of the Asset Detail window in Fixed Assets CS for these assets if the Federal Tax book
Placed in Service Date
is different from the last book on the Depr Expense tab in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop.

Converted items—Mid-quarter

The mid-quarter convention is applied for assets in Fixed Assets CS if a convention of “MQ” or “AMQ” is selected in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop. You can manually select or deselect mid-quarter convention on a treatment-by-treatment basis after the conversion.

Converted items—Monthly depreciation

Fixed Assets CS provides an option to calculate monthly depreciation, but due to differences in the data file structure between BNA Fixed Assets Desktop and Fixed Assets CS, BNA Fixed Assets Desktop clients with monthly depreciation need to be converted as annual depreciation clients. Once the data is imported into Fixed Assets CS, you can change the calculation period to monthly or quarterly.
When you create the client in Fixed Assets CS, select
Annual
in the Calc period tab of the New Client window. Once the BNA Fixed Assets Desktop data is imported, you can change the calculation period to monthly. Select
File
,
Client Properties
, then select the Monthly option on the
Calc period
tab. Then, you can select the period to process by selecting
File
then
Select Period to Process
.

Converted items—Switch to Straight-Line field

BNA Fixed Assets Desktop uses a Switch to Straight-Line field to force assets to switch to straight line when this method is advantageous. If you have assets for which
No, Continue
or
No, Stop
was entered in the
Calculation Source
field in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop, additional data entry may be required.

Items not converted

We didn't convert the following items due to application differences between BNA Fixed Assets Desktop and Fixed Assets CS.
  • General information, such as company name, company acronym, fiscal year-end dates, and short year information. You'll need to manually enter this information when you add the client.
  • General ledger account numbers. GL asset account, GL depr./amort. exp. acct., and GL accum. Depr./amort. acct. numbers in the Detail tab in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop. You'll need to set up the journal entry accounts in Fixed Assets CS to create asset cost and corresponding depreciation journal entry information.
  • Customized depreciation reports. Custom reports are available in Fixed Assets CS.
  • Custom depreciation methods.
  • Client notes.
  • Data in the Vehicles and Listed tab.
  • Disposition information.
  • Information entered in the Type of disposition, Property code, Gross sales price, and Disposition expense and other disposal fields in the Disposition tab in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop.

Review the converted data

After you complete the conversion for a specific client, we recommend that you follow these steps to ensure the accuracy of your converted fixed assets data.
  1. Make any necessary changes identified in the “Items not converted” section of this article.
  2. Print the
    Asset Depreciation Report
    in BNA Fixed Assets Desktop.
  3. Print the
    Tax Asset Detail Report
    in Fixed Assets CS.
  4. Compare the totals for basis, accumulated depreciation, and current depreciation expense.
  5. Print and review the
    Client Data Transfer Reports
    .

Get help

If you have any questions about your converted data, access Live Chat at CS.ThomsonReuters.com/MyAccount or call CS Support at 800.968.0600 and follow the prompts. Normal weekday support is from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm ET.
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