Embedded Portal with Single Sign-On
Clients stay in your system. TaxTrex screens appear inside it and sign-in carries over, so to the client it feels like part of your own product.
What it is
TaxTrex screens are shown inside the host ERP or practice system, with single sign-on so users do not log in twice. To the client it feels like part of your product. This is the lighter of the two embedding options: you do not build screens, you place TaxTrex's screens inside yours and connect the sign-in. TaxTrex is a Swanson Reed product, and the details here are proposals until Swanson Reed confirms them.
How it works
- 1
Embed the portal
The TaxTrex screens are placed inside your system, in a section or tab that clients can reach.
- 2
Connect sign-in
Single sign-on links your users to their TaxTrex accounts, so a client who is signed in to your system is signed in to the embedded portal.
- 3
Apply your brand
Logo, colors and wording are applied, as the branding page describes.
- 4
Go live
Clients use it without leaving your system.
What you get
- One login for your clients.
- Your look and feel.
- No separate site for clients to learn.
- Less technical work than building your own screens.
What you need to have in place
Requirements are confirmed with Swanson Reed. Single sign-on providers supported are not stated on this site.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| A system clients already sign in to | This is where the portal will live |
| A sign-in method that supports single sign-on | So clients are not asked to log in twice |
| Someone who can configure the connection | Typically an administrator or developer |
| Branding assets | So the portal matches your system |
| A test group | To check the experience before launch |
How single sign-on feels to a client
When it works well, the client does not notice it. They open the R&D documentation section of your system, and it simply opens, already knowing who they are. There is no second password, no "create an account" step and no email asking them to confirm a new login. That is the whole point: each extra step is a reason not to answer a survey. If single sign-on is not working, the client sees a login screen they did not expect, which is a good reason to test thoroughly before launch.
A worked example (illustrative)
This scenario is invented. A mid-sized firm has a client portal where clients download tax documents. It adds a tab labeled "R&D documentation" that opens the embedded TaxTrex screens. Its IT contact configures single sign-on with the portal's existing sign-in service. In testing, three staff members sign in as clients and complete a survey. One finds that the tab label is unclear and the firm renames it. At launch, the first group of clients receives an email from the firm, explaining that a new section has appeared in their portal. They click, answer and go back.
Planning and testing
Spend time on the first impression. The invitation, the tab name and the first screen set expectations. Test with people who have not seen the system before. Check that sign-in works on different devices and browsers, and that clients who have forgotten their portal password are handled sensibly. Decide who clients contact if something goes wrong, and make sure that person knows the product. Document the steps so a new colleague can support it.
Limits
An embedded portal gives you less control over screens than the API route, because you are using TaxTrex's own layout. It depends on your system supporting single sign-on and on correct configuration. Access to client information should be limited by role. The portal does not decide eligibility, give tax advice or file returns. Integrations, review tiers and partner pricing are proposals until confirmed by Swanson Reed.
Integrations, review tiers and partner pricing are proposals until confirmed by Swanson Reed.
A launch checklist for an embedded portal
- Single sign-on tested on desktop and mobile, in more than one browser.
- Branding checked on every screen clients will see.
- Invitation email written, reviewed and tested.
- Support contact named and briefed.
- A way for clients to report problems quickly.
- A plan for the first month: who watches response rates, and who follows up.
After launch
Watch the first cycle closely. Look at how many clients opened the portal, how many started a survey and how many finished. If many open it and few finish, the surveys may be too long or unclear. If few open it, the invitation may need work. Ask a few clients what they thought. Small changes to wording and layout often make a large difference. Keep a note of what you changed and why, so you can see what helped.
How this option compares in effort
Of the two embedding options, the portal usually takes less work, because TaxTrex supplies the screens. Your effort goes into the sign-in connection, the branding and the testing. That does not make it trivial: single sign-on can be fiddly, and a poor first experience can sink response rates. But it avoids the cost of designing and building screens, and it keeps you on the product's own path of improvements. For many firms that is the sensible trade: less control in return for a faster start and lower maintenance.
Questions to ask your own IT contact
- Does our system support the kind of single sign-on we need?
- Who can change its settings, and how long does that take?
- Are there security rules about embedding another provider's screens?
- How will we test across devices and browsers?
Portal questions
Which sign-in systems does it work with?
Confirm with Swanson Reed. We do not state supported providers on this site.
Can clients tell it is a separate product?
That depends on branding and layout. Ask Swanson Reed what can be changed, and be open with clients if asked.
Can we embed it in more than one system?
Ask Swanson Reed. Terms may differ.
How long does set-up take?
It depends on your system. We give estimates after seeing it, and we do not promise times in advance.
Please note: Estimates and drafts are prepared by software for review by a licensed CPA or enrolled agent. This is not tax advice.
Find out what AI would cost you
Book a free call. We will map three opportunities and give you a rough idea of cost and payback.