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Good for You! I did want to say, Tom, that you really should not be trying to take down the "other" board. There are many, many new ATX users over there who need every bit of help that they can get. Except in a few instances, those boards are not nearly as beyond first base as this one is. I foray over there often just to see if I can help someone out who is not asking a totally rediculous question. After all, we were all new once too. It has nothing to do with ATX and everything to do with the many software users who are lost in an endless sea. Have a little heart. Maybe you can earn yourself a gold star. :tinfoilhat:

YES! I am now bloodied by KC. I have a warning point. Tom Hollister, CA

KC knows who's been naughty and knows who's been nice!

J.B. Doesn't retirement... L :wacko: K..... G :blink: D ?

Doug, I'm afraid I'm not ANY kind of sports fan. I saw a football game one time and I figure if you have seen one, you have seen them all. Everyone thinks I am really weird, but I am what I am. I'll try not to dampen anyone's spirits. :P

I just had a lady call ans want ME to access HER W-2 from her employer web site so I could file her taxes tonight and give her a refund check tomorow...."I don't offer RALs" and we can't actually file your return yet Then I get the usual "but I saw on TV where {insert Tax Prep Company Name Here} could do it today and I could walk out with a check. I hate this time of year and constantly explaining to prospective clients that what the other places are offering is actually a loan...that comes with a price.

I have been using ATX since tax year 2003. There are very few issues in the last three years that I was not able to handle on my own because I chose to learn the inner workings of the software. Our Server is one year old. All workstations are less than 3 years old. "...rebuild your database and cleaner up the junk...?" With nearly 3,000 clients, the software would not be running if the files and structure were not pristine. Till 2012, the program used an Acess 97 database structure. We have been promised for 4 years now that CCH was going to change it to speed up the program. This year they finally did change it, and so far the indications are bleak. Maybe I am too skeptical, but the project for this "upgrade" has been 4 years in the making. That is plenty of time to have worked out all these "bugs."

-------------------------------------------------------- We will open the SFS Electronic Filing Center to receive prior year e-files (2010 and 2011) on Monday, January 7th. ATX is currently scheduled to make the extensions available on January 15, 2013 Updated 1-4-2013 Important future e-file and software release dates: Dec. 26, 2012 - IRS shuts down Business MeF e-filing until January 7, 2013. Jan. 7, 2013 - Business MeF e-filing startup. You can efile prior year 2011 and 2010 returns. Efile 2012 business returns after receiving updates Jan 15th. (see below) Jan. 10, 2013 – Release Update 12.2 for ATX 2012 and also for FAM (Fixed Asset Manager) Jan. 15, 2013 – Release EF Info for ATX business **we will allow efile when IRS begins processing (refer to the Efile Availability chart for expected delivery dates on state EF Info forms). Jan. 28, 2013 - Form 1041 e-filing startup. These forms are still filed in legacy format. Updated 1-04-2013 94x XML System Downtime The IRS issues a Quick Alert stating the following: “The Electronic Management System at the Enterprise Computing center located in Memphis, TN is currently experiencing problems. A QuickAlert will be issued when the system is available. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.” The EFC is still accepting the 94X returns and will hold them until we get information that the system is accepting e-files. If the customer has already sent 94X returns, they will not receive an acknowledgement until the IRS system comes back online. We will have to resend all 94X returns once the system comes back up. Updated 1-2-2013 -The IRS has delayed the opening of the FIRE system to accept 1099's electronically until January 9th. Here’s a link to the Fire landing page on IRS.gov: http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/e-File-Providers-&-Partners/Filing-Information-Returns-Electronically-(FIRE) We will not be turning on 1099 at the EFC until January 8th. Check the efile status of business returns on the Support Site Remember that you can use the Return Status tool on the support site to check the status of your business returns, just like you do your individual returns. Enter the EIN to see that we have received it, sent it, and/or received the ack. We allow e-filing of most MeF business returns for the current year, plus two years back. © 2012 CCH Small Firm Services. All rights reserved Internet Explorer is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation. Click below to review our privacy policy. https://www.cchsfs.com/pdf/privacy.pdf If you no longer wish to receive any future product update e-mails from us navigate to... https://support.atxinc.com Login with the user name receiving the notifications. Click on ‘subscribe’ and uncheck the notifications to unsubscribe. If you do not follow these directions, your name may not be suppressed from future e-mail notifications.

Over the years and after many software conversions, I have figured out not to do bulk conversions (select all your clients at once to do a conversion). If you do one client at a time you have better control and if the software produces an error log you can track where the problem occured. You can do a few just for testing purpose but i try to convert one at a time as the calls come in for appointments. One year I did bulk conversion just to see what happens and found out that a few returns had "garbage" transferred. Except for the name i could not use any other data. I think this is true with most tax software, you are always better off to open the prior years data and run it one and then close it and then convert. I don't know why but the success rate for them seems to be much higher than not doing it that way.

>>have to consider who, and when, and how<< I don't think it's really cussing when you plan it out ahead of time.

I think it's one of the stupidest requirements IRS has. It elevates form over substance to the level of absurdity. But it does illustrate the definition of a bureaucrat as someone who takes great pleasure in telling you a perfectly logical course of action can't be done because it's "against the rules." I do agree that it raises the risks to the preparer.

Got a call from a new client yesterday. He decided that he needs a CPA to do his taxes because he's making so much money that he is paying too much in taxes. He explained that the guy that did his 2010 taxes (located in North Carolina) had him owing too much in Pennsylvania taxes. He has lived in Pennsylvania his entire life and he's in his 30's. When I asked about his 2011 taxes there was a long moment of silence. /seriously considering a line item charge for stupidity/ Havent even done one return this year and Im already stressed.

A new pirate joins Captain Hook's ship, and he begins asking questions: Pirate: Captain Hook, will ye tell me how ye got yer pegleg, hook, and eye patch? Captain: Well matey, we was havin a fierce fight and a cannonball took me leg off clean at the knee. The good doctor fixed me up with this here pegleg and that's how it's been ever since. Pirate: Captain, that explains the pegleg but will ye tell me how ye got yer hook and lost yer eye? Captain: Well matey, we was havin a fierce fight and a swordsman took me hand off clean at the wrist. The good doctor fixed me up with this here hook and that's how it's been ever since. Pirate: Captain, that explains the pegleg and the hook, but how did ye lose yer eye? Captain: Well matey, that came from a mosquito bite on my left eyebrow. Pirate: Captain, do ye mean there's mosquitos out there what can pierce yer eye? Captain: No matey, I had the misfortune of the mosquito bitin my eyebrow the day after I got me hook! ARRGH!

I fired a long-time PITA client in November over a minor payroll issue. It's always been a pretty ample fee; but never been worth the aggravation and hours spent. I am starting out this tax year with peace of mind that I don't have to deal with her. I went online yesterday because I still have access to her accounts and see that both her 4th Quarter payroll and November sales tax were filed late. "Good". I am not a spiteful person in any sense of the word, but she always knew better than I did and any little thing that went wrong was my fault. Now she will have to find a new whipping post, but I am out of it., and will not reconsider.

Time to up his fee AGAIN!!! If he agrees, you ease your aggravation. If he decides to go to someone else, you still ease your aggravation.

I have lost all sympathy for those that spend money they "think" they are going to get. I have a written disclaimer instructing clients not to spend any refund until it is in their posession. It does not work for those that choose not to be responsible. I am not the keeper of the irresponsible. It has started already this year for me too. Rant Over!! :spaz:

You are such a kiss up to KC and Eric. I would not think anyone worth their salt as a seasoned ATXer would have at least 1 warning point. OOPS - I don't have any yet. KC - GET ME A WARNING POINT....PLEEEEEASE Tom Hollister, CA

Had one call me last week and wanted to know if I could do the taxes with the last paystub. My question is where have these people been? The laws didn't even get passed until a day or two ago! It's going to be a fun, fun, year. And Oh Yea, wait until we tell them "your guess is as good as mine as to when to expect the refund"! IRS is not even giving us an idea, even they don't know because the computers have taken over! Deb!

Ouch!

I think a good rule of thumb would be to buy your tax software directly from the company rather than through a third party. Just my humble opinion.