Get your CCH Axcess e-file statuses through an API

What you can build on CCH Axcess

• Get e-file statuses

  Build this

  Reads the returns listed in the Electronic Filing Status System for a filter you choose, with each return's status and status category.

  Takes

  Tax year, status category (optional), status (optional)

  Returns

  Return ID, taxing authority, status, status category, status date

• List rejected returns

  Build this

  Reads the Rejected Returns Report in the Electronic Filing Status System: which returns the IRS, the DOL or a state rejected, and why.

  Takes

  Tax year, rejected since (optional)

  Returns

  Return ID, taxing authority, rejection code, rejection description, rejected date

• Get a return's e-file history

  Build this

  Opens one return by its return ID in the Electronic Filing Status System and reads its e-file history, every status it has moved through.

  Takes

  Return ID

  Returns

  Return ID, history entries with date, status and taxing authority

• Mark a rejected return as paper filed

  Build this

  Opens a rejected return in the Electronic Filing Status System and changes its status to Paper Filed in the Change Status window, for the taxing authority you name.

  Takes

  Return ID, taxing authority

  Returns

  Return ID, taxing authority, new status

Automate CCH Axcess with a workflow

A workflow runs your methods as one process, with nobody at the screen. A schedule or a call from your own system starts it, the steps run in order, and the result arrives in your inbox or in the systems you already use.

• New e-file rejections, every morning in tax season

  Build this

  Starts

  Every weekday at 7:00

  Step 1

  List rejected returns for the current tax year from the Rejected Returns Report.

  Step 2

  Keep the returns that were not rejected on the last run.

  Step 3

  Email you each one with its return ID, taxing authority, rejection code and description.

• Uploaded returns still waiting to be released

  Build this

  Starts

  Every weekday at 16:00

  Step 1

  Get e-file statuses for the current tax year in the Not Released category.

  Step 2

  Keep the returns whose status is Ready to Release by Customer or "Upload Failed, please re-process".

  Step 3

  Email you the list so a preparer releases or re-uploads them.

• Accepted returns, posted to your practice system

  Build this

  Starts

  Every day at 18:00

  Step 1

  Get e-file statuses for the current tax year in the Accepted category.

  Step 2

  Keep the returns that were not in the Accepted category on the last run.

  Step 3

  Post Return ID, taxing authority, status and status date to your webhook.

You can run a workflow by hand on every plan, Free included. Schedules and webhook triggers come with the paid plans, from $29 a month.

Once built, one call from your code

Once you have built a method, it is one POST to /v1/runs from your backend, or a tool an AI agent calls over MCP. This is what “Get e-file statuses” would look like.

curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "method": "login.cchaxcess.com/get_efile_statuses",
    "input": {
      "tax_year": 2025,
      "status_category": "Not Accepted"
    }
  }'

{
  "status": "completed",
  "data": {
    "tax_year": 2025,
    "returns": [
      {
        "return_id": "2025I:ACME0412:V1",
        "taxing_authority": "Federal",
        "status": "Rejected",
        "status_category": "Not Accepted",
        "status_date": "2026-11-10"
      }
    ],
    "count": 1
  }
}

An example with invented data, not a ready-made endpoint. The method exists in your organization once you build it, and its name, inputs and fields follow your request.

CCH Axcess’s own options

Wolters Kluwer offers the CCH Axcess Open Integration Platform: APIs in its Open Integration Kit, with OAuth2 token authentication and a developer portal. Inside CCH Axcess, the Electronic Filing Status System exports one return's e-file history, or a batch of returns, to an Excel spreadsheet.

Read on November 12, 2026: CCH Axcess Open Integration Platform support, Export eFile history from the Electronic Filing Status site, Status codes in the Electronic Filing Status System.

Signing in to CCH Axcess

Each person signs in to CCH Axcess with their own password, which expires every 90 days. A forgotten password is reset with your security question or by your firm administrator. With Fous you sign in once through CCH Axcess's own sign-in with your own account, and the login is sealed with AES-256, never returned by the API or written to logs.

Worth knowing

Uploaded is not released

A return in Ready to Release by Customer has been uploaded but goes to the IRS or DOL only once it is released. Upload Failed and Upload Canceled sit in the same Not Released category.

Five status categories

Every status sits in one category: Not Released, Released, Not Accepted, Accepted or Paper Filed/Not e-Filed. Not Accepted splits into Rejected, Stopped - Action Required and Stopped - CCH Reviewing.

History covers three years

The e-file history can be pulled for the current year and the two prior years. Wolters Kluwer recommends saving the oldest year before it is removed.

Paper Filed hides earlier rejections

Setting a return to Paper Filed by Customer prevents seeing its previous rejections. Read the rejection details before you change the status.

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