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Walkthrough 01 · 10 steps

Install Tax Resolution Hub
and Activate Your License

Download the installer, get past Windows SmartScreen, enter your license key, fill out the firm profile, and confirm activation. About ten minutes from zero to usable app.

Placeholder screenshots: every image block on this page is a description of what the final annotated screenshot should show. Real screenshots with arrows and circles will be added before publish.
STEP 1
Download the installer from taxhub-usa.com
SCREENSHOT 1.1
Shows: taxhub-usa.com home page with the green "Download for Windows" button visible above the fold.
Annotations:
  1. RED ARROW pointing at the "Download for Windows" button in the hero
  2. YELLOW CIRCLE around the version number shown just under the button
  3. GREEN CALLOUT box to the right of the button labeled "Installer is around 140 MB — downloads take under a minute on most connections"
Go to taxhub-usa.com and click the download button. Your browser will save TaxResolutionHubSetup.exe to your Downloads folder.
Common mistakeDownloading from a third-party mirror. Only install from taxhub-usa.com — our installers are Azure Trusted Signing code-signed and the signature will verify to "Tax Resolution Hub".
STEP 2
Run the installer past Windows SmartScreen
SCREENSHOT 2.1
Shows: Windows SmartScreen blue dialog titled "Windows protected your PC" shown when running the installer for the first time.
Annotations:
  1. RED CIRCLE around the small "More info" link below the warning text
  2. RED ARROW pointing at "More info", labeled "Click this first"
  3. YELLOW CALLOUT pointing to the "Run anyway" button that appears after clicking More info, labeled "This button only appears after step 1"
SmartScreen shows a blue warning because the installer is new to Microsoft's reputation database. Click More info, then Run anyway.
Common mistakeClicking "Don't run" and assuming the app is unsafe. The installer is code-signed — SmartScreen just hasn't seen enough downloads yet. Reputation clears automatically after a few weeks.
STEP 3
Choose the install location (default is fine)
SCREENSHOT 3.1
Shows: Squirrel-style installer progress window during first install, showing the app install path in the lower text area.
Annotations:
  1. GREEN CIRCLE around the install path line (typically %LOCALAPPDATA%\TaxResolutionHub)
  2. YELLOW CALLOUT box labeled "No prompts — TRH installs per-user, no admin needed"
  3. RED ARROW at the progress bar labeled "Usually finishes in under 30 seconds"
TRH uses a per-user install — no admin prompt, no choice of path. The app goes into %LOCALAPPDATA%\TaxResolutionHub.
Common mistakeRunning the installer as administrator. Don't. TRH is designed for per-user install; running elevated creates permission issues with auto-updates later.
STEP 4
First launch — the license activation screen
SCREENSHOT 4.1
Shows: The license activation screen that appears on first launch, with the centered "Enter your license key" input field and "Activate" button.
Annotations:
  1. RED ARROW pointing at the license key input field, labeled "Paste your key here"
  2. YELLOW CIRCLE around the "Activate" button
  3. GREEN CALLOUT below the field: "Don't have a key? Click 'Start 7-day Trial' instead"
TRH launches straight into activation on the very first run. You either enter a paid license key, or click Start Trial for the 7-day free trial.
Common mistakeTrying to use TRH without activating. Every feature is gated — activation takes three seconds, do it first.
STEP 5
Enter your license key from the purchase email
SCREENSHOT 5.1
Shows: Split view — left half is the purchase/trial email inbox showing the license key, right half is the TRH activation screen with the key pasted in.
Annotations:
  1. YELLOW CIRCLE around the license key in the email (format: TRH-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX)
  2. RED ARROW from the email key over to the TRH input field, labeled "Copy + paste, don't retype"
  3. GREEN CALLOUT near the Activate button: "Click Activate after pasting"
Copy the key from your purchase or trial email and paste it into the input. Keys are case-sensitive and include the dashes.
Common mistakeRetyping the key by hand. It's easy to swap O and 0 or I and 1. Always paste.
STEP 6
Activation confirmation
SCREENSHOT 6.1
Shows: Green success dialog reading "Activated — your license is now tied to this machine" with expiration date and a "Continue" button.
Annotations:
  1. GREEN CIRCLE around the checkmark icon at the top of the dialog
  2. YELLOW ARROW pointing at the expiration date, labeled "Save this — renewal reminders go out 30 and 7 days before"
  3. RED CALLOUT near Continue button: "Click to enter the main app"
You'll see a green confirmation with your license expiration date. Click Continue to move on.
STEP 7
Windows Defender / AV first-run prompt
SCREENSHOT 7.1
Shows: Windows Defender Firewall prompt asking whether to allow TRH to communicate on private/public networks.
Annotations:
  1. GREEN CIRCLE around the "Private networks" checkbox — labeled "Check this"
  2. RED X through the "Public networks" checkbox — labeled "Leave unchecked unless you know you need it"
  3. YELLOW ARROW at the "Allow access" button
Windows will ask to allow TRH network access for IRS transcript calls. Check Private networks only and click Allow access.
Common mistakeBlocking the prompt and then wondering why transcripts won't pull. If you accidentally clicked Cancel, open Windows Defender Firewall → Allow an app, find TRH, and re-enable it.
STEP 8
Initial dashboard load
SCREENSHOT 8.1
Shows: TRH main dashboard after first login — empty state with left sidebar (Dashboard, Clients, Transcripts, Analysis, Notices, Forms, Settings), top-right license pill, and central "Get started" card.
Annotations:
  1. RED ARROW at the left sidebar's "Clients" button
  2. YELLOW CIRCLE around the "Add New Client" button top-right
  3. GREEN CALLOUT over the license-status pill in the header labeled "Your current trial/license status lives here"
  4. BLUE ARROW at the "Settings" gear icon, labeled "We'll set firm profile next"
This is the TRH home screen. Everything you do flows from the sidebar. Before adding clients, set up your firm profile.
STEP 9
Fill in your firm profile
SCREENSHOT 9.1
Shows: Settings → Firm Profile form with fields for Firm Name, EIN, CAF Number, Contact Name, Phone, Email, Address.
Annotations:
  1. RED CIRCLE around the CAF Number field labeled "Required for 2848/8821 forms"
  2. YELLOW ARROW at EIN field labeled "Used on all generated POAs"
  3. GREEN CALLOUT at the Save button: "Save before leaving the page"
Open Settings → Firm Profile and fill in every field. TRH pulls from these when pre-filling forms, so accuracy here saves time on every later workflow.
Common mistakeSkipping CAF number. You won't be able to generate a valid 2848 without it — and you'll find out only when you try.
STEP 10
Verify activation in Help → About
SCREENSHOT 10.1
Shows: Help → About dialog showing version number, license status (Active), license type (Paid/Trial), expiration date, and machine identifier.
Annotations:
  1. GREEN CIRCLE around the "License: Active" line
  2. YELLOW ARROW at the version number labeled "Current installed version"
  3. RED CALLOUT at the machine ID labeled "Save this if you ever contact support"
Confirm activation worked by opening Help → About. You should see License: Active and the expiration date.
Done. You're installed, licensed, and ready. The natural next step is walkthrough 02 — Setting up IRS A2A so transcript pulls work on the first try.
Not legal or tax advice. This content is published by Tax Resolution Hub for educational use by tax professionals. It is not legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice, and does not create an attorney-client or preparer-client relationship. IRS systems, forms, procedures, and statutes change — always verify against current IRM guidance, the client's actual transcript, and the facts of the specific engagement before acting.