Using Create-a-Chart

The Create-a-Chart tool organizes selected chunks of information into comparative charts. For example, by selecting several tax issues and then selecting various jurisdictions, you can create a chart that compares each jurisdiction's laws pertaining to each selected issue. In addition to tax issues, Create-a-Chart tools are available for comparing financial information between companies (SECPlus) and for comparing official standards documentation between standard-setting bodies such as the SEC, AICPA, and FASB (Standards Tracker). Most charts provide links to official legal documentation and analysis. Subscribers to Create-a-Chart tools can access them from the Tools screen.

To use a Create-a-Chart tool:

1. On the Tools screen, click Create-a-Chart on the left navigation bar.
2. On the left navigation bar, click the name of the Create-a-Chart tool you want to use.
3. Follow the step-by-step instructions that guide you through making selections for the chart content.

4. Click the Create the Chart button.

Chart results can be preserved or shared, using the document tools Print, Export, E-mail, and Save.

Depending on your Checkpoint subscription, you may see any of the following Create-a-Chart tools listed when you click Create-a-Chart on the left navigation bar.

State & Local

The State Tax Create-a-Chart tool compares tax law between states in four steps:

1. Select a tax type.
   
2. Select one or more chart types.
   
3. Select one or more states.
   
4. Click Create the Chart.

The resultant chart can be displayed in separate charts for each chart type, in a combined view with chart types as column headings, or in a combined view with states as column headings.

Note: On the State & Local Document screen, a Find Chart Types box is available under the the Create-a-Chart tab to help filter the chart list.

e-Filing

The e-Filing Tax Create-a-Chart tool compares electronic tax filing rules between states in four steps:

1. Select a tax type.
   
2. Select one or more chart types.
   
3. Select one or more states.
   
4. Click Create the Chart.
   

The resultant chart can be displayed in separate charts for each chart type, in a combined view with chart types as column headings, or in a combined view with states as column headings.

BNA State Tax Survey

The BNA State Tax Survey Create-a-Chart tool compares information from the most recent BNA State Tax Survey between states in three steps:

1. Select one or more chart types.
2. Select one or more states.
   
3. Click Create the Chart.
   

The resultant chart can be displayed in separate charts for each chart type, in a combined view with chart types as column headings, or in a combined view with states as column headings.

BNA Green Incentives

The BNA Green Incentives Create-a-Chart tool compares federal and state tax (and non-tax) incentives that encourage the development and use of renewable energy and promote energy conservation in four steps:

1. Select one or more incentive types.
2. Select an application (Business Use, Individual Use or Producing/Manufacturing).
3. Select one or more states.
   
4. Click Create the Chart.

You can hide columns on the chart and display just the columns you want to research, such as Incentive, Dates, and Eligibility.

Payroll Tax

The Payroll Tax Create-a-Chart tool compares payroll tax law between jurisdictions in three steps:

1. Select one or more chart types.
   
2. Select one or more jurisdictions.
   
3. Click Create the Chart.
   

The resultant chart can be displayed in separate charts for each chart type, in a combined view with chart types as column headings, or in a combined view with jurisdictions as column headings.

US Tax Treaties

The US Tax Treaties Create-a-Chart tool compares tax treaties between countries in four steps:

1. Select a tax type.
   
2. Select one or more chart types.
   
3. Select one or more countries.
   
4. Click Create the Chart.
   

The resultant chart can be displayed in separate charts for each chart type, in a combined view with chart types as column headings, or in a combined view with countries as column headings.

International Tax Rates

The International Tax Rates Create-a-Chart tool compares tax rates between international jurisdictions in three steps:

1. Select one or more chart types.
   
2. Select one or more jurisdictions.
   
3. Click Create the Chart.

The resultant chart can be displayed in separate charts for each chart type, in a combined view with chart types as column headings, or in a combined view with jurisdictions as column headings.

IBFD Key Features

The IBFD Key Features Create-a-Chart tools compare tax information between jurisdictions. A separate tool is provided for countries, international states or provinces, and US states.

Each of the three IBFD Key Features Create-a-Chart tools compares tax information between jurisdictions in three steps:

1. Select one or more chart types.
   
2. Select one or more jurisdiction.
   
3. Click Create the Chart.
   

The resultant chart can be displayed in separate charts for each chart type, in a combined view with chart types as column headings, or in a combined view with jurisdictions as column headings.

IBFD Interest & Penalties

The IBFD Interest & Penalties Create-a-Chart tool compares interest and penalties for tax law violations between international jurisdictions in three steps:

1. Select one or more chart types.
   
2. Select one or more jurisdictions.
   
3. Click Create the Chart.
   

The resultant chart can be displayed in separate charts for each chart type, in a combined view with chart types as column headings, or in a combined view with jurisdictions as column headings.

SECPlus

The SECPlus Financial Fundamentals Create-a-Chart tool compares financial statement information between companies in five steps:

1. Select a company group or provide one or more company names or ticker symbols.
   
2. Select a reporting period and time frame.
   
3. Select a financial statement.
   
4. Select one or more financial statement components.
   
5. Click Create the Chart.
   

The resultant chart can be displayed either with financial statement components as column headings or with company names as column headings.You can switch between the two displays by clicking Flip Axis.

Standards Tracker

The Standards Tracker Create-a-Chart tool compares standards documentation between selected issuing bodies (AICPA, COSO, FASB, GASB, IASB, PCAOB, or SEC) in seven steps:

1. Specify whether or not to include guidance and related materials in the chart results.
   
2. Select the date range in which activity was issued (optional step).
   
3. Select one or more issuing bodies.
   
4. Select the status of standards to be included in the chart.
   
5. Select an SEC form that is affected by the standards to be included in the chart or choose All Forms.
   
6. Enter keywords in the Keywords field (optional step).
   
7. Click Create the Chart.
   

The resultant chart can be sorted by column heading. Each standards document listed in the chart can be expanded to show summary information.

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