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Filing Statuses Explained: Unfiled, Filing, Filed, Paused, Issue, Skipped, and Cancelled

Understand what each status means and identify the action items required from you
Updated 21 days ago

Every filing in Kintsugi has a status that shows where it is in the process and whether any action is required from you. Here's what each one means.

Quick Reference

Status

What It Means

Do You Need to Act?

Unfiled

Created and awaiting approval

Optional (you can still review and approve, or let it auto-approve)

Filing

Approved and being submitted to the tax authority

No

Filed

Successfully submitted

No

Paused

You've put it on hold

Yes (it resumes on the date you set)

Issue

Something is blocking it and we're on it

Sometimes (we'll contact you if so)

Skipped

Intentionally not filed for this period

No

Cancelled

Will not be filed, kept as a record

No

To find any returns with a specific status, here's the navigation path: Go to the Filings tab > click the Filter button, and tick the Status you need to check out.


The Normal Path: Unfiled → Filing → Filed

Most filings only ever move through these three.

Unfiled

A filing is created in Unfiled status. This is its starting point, and it means the return exists and is waiting to be approved.

While a filing is Unfiled:

  • The total can still change as your connected platforms sync new or updated transaction data

  • You can review it, approve it early, or pause it

  • Nothing has been sent to the tax authority yet

Filings are generated on the 1st of the month. What happens next depends on your account:

  • If you're on AutoFile (the default), a filing you take no action on is approved automatically on the 5th.

  • If you're not on AutoFile, nothing is approved on your behalf. The filing stays Unfiled until you approve it yourself.

ONE EXEMPTION: Back filings (returns for past periods) stay in Unfiled until you approve them, however long that takes. Auto-Approve doesn't apply to them, so there's no 5th-of-the-month deadline pulling a back filing out of Unfiled the way there is for a current filing.

Filing

Once a filing is approved (by you or by auto-approval) it moves to Filing.

This means our team is actively submitting your return to the tax authority. Your transaction data is now locked, so the total won't change, and no action is needed from you. This status typically lasts a few days depending on how quickly the jurisdiction confirms receipt and how busy the period is.

Filed

Filed means the return was successfully submitted. You're done for that period. The transactions on it are locked, and you can view the filing and its records for reference.


Paused

Paused means you deliberately put the filing on hold to buy time for review or corrections.

You pause a filing yourself from the kebab menu (...) on the Filings page. When you do, you'll be asked for a reason and a resume date. While Paused, the filing won't be auto-approved and won't lock.

Two timing rules:

  • You can pause a filing up to the 5th of the month

  • Your resume date can be set as late as the 15th of the current month

For step-by-step instructions, see How to Pause a Filing to Prevent Auto-Approval.


Issue

Issue means the filing has been flagged because something is preventing it from being filed normally, and it needs attention before it can move forward.

This status exists so that a blocked filing is visible to you rather than silently stalling. If a filing of yours moves to Issue, our team is already aware of it.

What To Do:

  • If we need something from you (e.g., a credential, a clarification, a correction) we'll reach out.

  • If you spot a filing in issue and haven't heard from us, contact support via the chat bubble and we'll tell you where it stands and what happens next.


Skipped

Skipped means a filing was intentionally not submitted for that period. Meaning, it's an on-purpose, not a missed deadline.

This applies where an arrangement is in place for Kintsugi not to file a particular jurisdiction, for example when you file that jurisdiction yourself (you're filing outside Kintsugi). The filing is still created and retained as a record so your history stays complete.

IMPORTANT: Skipped does not mean nothing is owed. It means Kintsugi did not file that return. Any tax due for the period is still due, and responsibility for filing it sits with you. If you're unsure whether a Skipped period leaves you with an obligation, contact us before assuming it's settled.


Cancelled

Cancelled means the filing will not be submitted and has been closed out.

The most common reason is that a return is no longer needed — for example, you've asked us not to file a period, or the obligation no longer applies. Rather than deleting the filing, Kintsugi keeps it as a Cancelled record so your filing history remains complete and auditable.

A Cancelled filing needs nothing from you. If you see one you don't recognise, reach out and we'll explain why it was closed.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My filing says "Filing", will it still be submitted on time?

A: Yes. Filings approved on or before the 5th are submitted on or before the statutory deadline. See Will My Return Be Submitted on Time if It Still Shows "Filing"?

Q: My filing total changed while it was "Unfiled". Is that a problem?

A: No, that's expected. Unfiled totals update as transaction data syncs. The number locks at approval.

Q: Can I filter by status?

A: Yes. The Filter button on the Filings page and in exporting filings supports all statuses — Unfiled, Filing, Filed, Paused, Issue, Skipped, and Cancelled — plus All Statuses. You can also filter by Filing Category (Original Filings, Back Filings, or both).

Q: What's the difference between "Skipped" and "Cancelled"?

A: Both mean the return won't be filed. Skipped is a standing arrangement for a jurisdiction; Cancelled is a specific filing that's been closed out.

Q: What's the difference between "Paused" and "Issue"?

A: Paused is something you chose. Issue is something Kintsugi flagged.


Need Help?

If you can't find the answer you're looking for, click the chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of your dashboard. We're always happy to help.

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