What is a Truss integrated task?
A Truss integrated task connects a Truss project with a corresponding Karbon work item so both systems stay aligned.
It allows you to:
Link Truss projects directly to Karbon work items
Keep project status and context in sync using a dedicated integration intake/delivery task in Karbon
Manually send documents from Truss to the linked Karbon work item
Setup
This setup assumes you have already successfully synced your Karbon Organizations and People to Truss Entities and Contacts. If you haven't done that already, do that first.
Step 1: Turn on the feature in Truss
To start linking projects to work items, please complete these setup steps:
In Truss, go to Integrations → Karbon
Turn on "Truss Projects & Integrated Tasks"
Step 2: Add Truss Integrated Tasks to a 1040 Work Template in Karbon
Go to Karbon → Work Templates
Create (or edit) a 1040 template that matches your firm’s workflow
At the bottom of the page, Add Step → Integration → add both Truss tasks:
Truss - Document Intake
Truss - Return Delivery
You can drag these integrated tasks up to the appropriate slot in your workflow.
How to Link Truss projects to Karbon work items
There are three ways to connect Truss and Karbon. You can mix and match depending on your process.
Automatically link when Karbon work item creates (best for 1040 projects)
Note: this method requires your Truss 1040 projects to be created in advance - read on to see how that's done!
If your project is manually created, it will need the following in order to automatically link:
the same contact and entity as the Karbon work item
the tax year (ex. "2024") in the project name
a "1040" tag
Next, go to Karbon and create your 1040 work items using the Work Item Template from earlier.
Truss will automatically
Link the work item to a matching Truss project (this may take 60-90 seconds)
Apply the Karbon image with a link to the work item for each project
We link Truss projects and Karbon work items automatically when all of the following are true:
project has the same contact(s) and entity(s) as the Karbon work item
project name contains a matching tax year (ex. "2024")
project has a "1040" tag
Bulk creation of Karbon work items from Truss (most control / flexibility)
This is ideal if you have multiple Karbon Work Item templates (ex. one for 1120s, one for Trusts), and you want to control over which types of projects in Truss create which work items.
Start on the Active Projects page within Truss:
Select a list of projects that need a Karbon work item created. You can filter by tag as well (ex. 1120s or 1065 tag)
In the Actions dropdown, select Create Karbon Work Items
Select the Karbon work template. In addition, you can define the following optional work item settings:
Alternative Work Item Title
The default work item title is the Truss project name. If you want it to be different, provide an alternative title below. Note that an alternate title will be the same for all the projects selected.
Start Date
Due Date (manually pick a date, or check the Use Project's Due Date box)
Deadline Date (manually pick a date, or check the Use Project's Due Date box)
Select the Create in Karbon button. Truss will:
Create the work items in Karbon
Link each new Karbon work item back to the corresponding Truss project
Note: Truss cannot update a work item's dates after they're initially created, you'd need to manually update in Karbon.
Manually link (best for pre-existing projects / work items)
From Truss's project view, click the "Link to Karbon" button
Select client type that is linked to the Karbon work item
Select the client/entity to search their work items
Search/select the correct Karbon work item to link
This filters to only work items that are currently assigned to client/entity
Click Link Karbon Item
Unlinking a project in Truss
In the project, click into the project settings (gear icon)
Select "Unlink from Karbon"
When to use each linking method
Automatic linking when:
You're using 1040 Work Items
Your Karbon work items are created from another system, like Ignition
Client and contact data are reasonably clean and consistent
Bulk creation from Truss when:
You’re piloting a new Truss-based workflow and want Karbon work items created to match
You spun up a batch of Truss projects and now want them reflected in Karbon
Manual linking when:
A project didn’t auto-link as expected
Names/emails don’t match perfectly, and you don’t want to change either system’s data
To switch work item linking from contact to entity (or vis versa)
You’re resolving a one-off situation
Document Sync
We will likely be adding an automation to this in the near future, if you are interested in this, contact support!
In the project, click into the project settings (gear Icon)
Use the “Send files to Karbon” button
Truss will immediately push the current set of documents into the linked Karbon work item. This also makes them available for any downstream storage mapping (e.g., SharePoint)
Pro Tip
Most firms run the document push once: either after intake is effectively done, and/or, After delivery/e-signature is complete so the archive in Karbon reflects the final state. You can manually send documents multiple times, for any subsequent pushes, it will only send the new documents and will not reflect if any naming or adjustments had be made to a file (like renaming or AI-split).
How the integration shows up in Karbon
Once a Truss project and Karbon work item are linked, users can:
See an integration button/indicator inside the Karbon work item
Click through to the connected Truss project
View status/context (e.g., whether intake, workpapers, or delivery steps are in progress/completed)
The exact label/button text will change as the Truss workflow progresses (e.g., ready for workpapers, ready for delivery, etc.), to quickly understand where the job is without switching between platforms.
Below is an overview of the different states and actions for both integrated tasks.
Intake Task
A Karbon Work Item is automatically synced with:
Project name
Due date
Status
Other project details
Updates in Truss (like due date changes) sync automatically to Karbon after a short delay
Client-triggered updates:
Engagement letter signed → Notification appears in Karbon
Client adds comments → Comment syncs to Karbon, and button to review latest in comment in Truss (opens to comment modal)
File uploaded or submitted for review → Notification in Karbon and button to review project in Truss (opens to review mode)
Project marked as ready → Button to generate workpapers (opens to workpaper mode)
Intake task completed in Truss → Task auto-completes in Karbon
Task Completion:
Intake is automatically marked as complete when either all tasks are moved from the projects to do, or the client submits for review (signaling the project is ready for the next step or automation)
Files:
Depending on the stage of the work, when you manually send the files, you will the list of files attached (both on the task and under the Documents tab)
Return Delivery Task
Start your Return Delivery Task directly from Karbon
When you upload a return in Truss, the linked delivery project syncs automatically
Project details (name, due date, etc.) stay in sync
Triggered updates:
Start Delivery in Truss → Button to start delivery in Truss (opens the client's project with a modal to upload PDF return for assembly)
Client adds comments → Comment syncs to Karbon, and button to review latest in comment in Truss (opens to comment modal)
Task Completion:
Once clients complete e-signatures, the delivery task auto-completes (signaling the project is ready for the next step)
Files:
Depending on the stage of the work, when you manually send the files, you will the list of files attached (both on the task and under the Documents tab)
FAQs
Q: Do we have to change our existing Karbon templates?
A: No - you should use your existing tax templates and simply add the Truss integration task. For preexisting work items, you'll need to manually link them to Truss projects. Over time, some firms add Truss-specific tasks or checklists, but it’s not required to start.
Q: What happens if items are moved back into the client’s to do list after completion?
A: The intake work item in Karbon updates to In Progress and becomes uncrossed (no longer shown as complete), reflecting that there is new work to do, even though the automations have already fired.
Q: What happens if a client or work item is renamed?
A: The link between Truss and Karbon is maintained once created. However, very inconsistent naming/duplicate contacts can make initial matching harder; in those cases, manual linking can clean things up.
Q: Why isn't the Truss Integrated Task updated in Karbon immediately?
A: Typically it takes anywhere between 2-5 mins to update.
Q: Why does the Truss integrated task say 'Waiting - Awaiting Connection'?
A: The initial connection can take up to 5 mins. If the status stays Waiting - Awaiting Connection, there was something wrong with the sync. Review the steps for automatic linking:
Check that all project data is correct
Verify the contact/entity matching between systems
Try manually linking the project to the work item
Q: Can I change which Karbon work item a project is linked to?
A: Yes, you can unlink from the current work item and manually link to a different one using the project gear menu.
Q: What happens if I delete a linked project in Truss?
A: The Karbon work item will remain, but the integration connection will be removed.
Q: Can I update my Truss project within the Karbon work item?
A: Unfortunately, Karbon doesn't have the ability to manually update or change an integrated task.
Q: Can you manually link to a project while in Karbon to Truss?
A: Unfortunately, Karbon doesn't have the ability to connect to Truss projects within the work item.
Q: Does the Truss project status update the Karbon work item status?
A: Not currently, but we expect to have this option in the future.
Q: Can you manually link projects in bulk?
A: Not currently, but we expect to have this functionality in the future.
Q: Can documents sync automatically in the background?
A: Today, document pushback is an explicit action in Truss to avoid duplicates and version confusion. That said, we plan to have an automatic file sync feature available in the future.
Q: When sending documents, does it include the client's workpaper?
A: Not automatically. If you would like to include the workpaper, you'd need to either download it manually while either in Workpaper Mode or in Drive. When we rollout automatic syncing, we plan to include this feature.