Leaderboard

You know the client that comes in and what they tell you, and what the kids say that the parent hopes you won't hear doesn't add up? Like when she says they have not lived together all year, and the little girl asks if "Daddy is going to be home tonight" on the way out the door. I fired her. We were hoping they would not come back. She called to make an appointment and I told her no. She was not happy. I feel great. Tom Hollister, CA

Since all I've done is complain most of the week, I thought I'd share something positive. I got through a return, created the efile, and printed. The print packets worked well and I like that a custom packet can be printed at the same time as the others. Just for Jack in Ohio I will say that printing this year's return was much faster than in previous years. I don't know why, it could be that I have updated drivers since connecting my 9 year old printer to my system. I had this set up last year though, so that might not be it. It was a simple federal return with 2 states. The entire print job took a little over a minute to finish. Letters were standard, not customized and were a little out of order, but the rest of it was perfect. I was pleasantly surprised, almost excited to have something working. I haven't tried to efile this very simple return. I hope that goes without a hitch. I really would like this to work out that ATX will be able to fix the program. I see lots of things I like and I don't want to switch. I've been using ATX for so long it's like an old friend, but this year the friend is struggling with a personality disorder and needs lots of help. lol I've been fooling around with Drake and could make it work if I really had too. I would quickly come to hate working in it though with all the in and out of the file to calculate and be able to look at the return. Having to repeatedly reopen the file after looking at the return was really annoying and seemed a waste of time. I also saw something about it that could easily lead to mistakes. Yes, there were some things I had trouble finding at first, like how to tell the program to apply the overpayment to next year's estimates. I chalk that up to lack of familiarity. However, what I really didn't like was that the input screens had boxes for entering the number that would appear on the return, but also on the same screen were boxes with +- next to them that would add or subtract to entries derived or calculated elsewhere and those figures were not to be seen. The final number including the adjustment (or they were overrides but you can't tell which is and override and which is an adjustment field) isn't shown anywhere. You have to calc the return and view it. Then to get back to input, reopen the file. I was really unimpressed with this. Depreciation had the look of being very basic. It will let you choose any method or life no matter what year is entered. It could be simply a typo, but the program gives no warning until you calc and review all the notes. If I had to use it, the data entry mode seemed better than forms entry because even in forms entry the preparer can't see the numbers appear. It still must be calc'd, viewed, and reopened. Also be aware that forms entry mode is only available for 1040 prep, not for any of the business returns. Another minor annoyance is that it didn't like that I have 2 commas in my firm name and kept given error messages. I had to delete all of the punctuation in my name to clear these errors. Sorry for the ramblings. I hope this might help others that are looking at Drake.

>>it basically telling me to treat it as a "disregarded enity not separate from its single owner for purposes<< That is only the default treatment, but NOT her only tax choice. She is a professional and has a right to competent service from her financial advisors. So get it right or refer her to someone who can. You need to discuss projected profit and loss, auto and other expenses, fringe benefits, Social Security and income tax rates, and other factors that could make Form 1120 or 1120-S a better choice, maybe even much better. Or maybe not as good. Either way, a page of interview notes can provide you peace of mind. The fastest way to begin is to download Continuing Education from someplace on the topic of Choice of Business Entity. That would at least show you the basic issues, though hardly qualify you to give reliable advice. I apologize if my tone sounds a bit stark. Even though one judge thinks tax preparers don't need to know what they're talking about.

Yep, that can be worth more in emotional rewards than you would ever get paid for the return.

>>its to late to retroactively elect corp status<< That depends (at least in part) on the practitioner's skill.

No more templates... we all used them but they are no more... But, there is a workaround that works just as good. Create a new return, First name: Template. Last Name: 1040. (or whatever you want as long as it starts with number) Because the Numbers always appear at the top of your return manager list... it will always be at the top of return manager. Now, include whatever forms, check whatever boxes, fill-in the information you would have put in the old template... Save return. Now whenever you have a new client... mark the "1040 Template", click Returns, Duplicate Return. And you have a new return ready to use for a new client. Just rename the file and you are ready to go. So if you make 6 templates, they are all there ready to use at the top of your return manager. This workaround was suggested by one of the ATX support people. Works good for me.. But I share your pain.. don't like things to change.. Taxtrio

Actually, with each passing return, I am liking the software more and more. Yes it is a little sluggish, but that will come. As has been stated a number of times, this is not the ATX of old. It is a complete revamp, and I am liking it.

And I'm finding that with the new documentation requirement on E-file (residency) that a few of my clients have been lying to me. I had a previous client call today for an appointment, asked him to bring proof that his son lived with last year and was informed that he doesn't live with him but just stays with him. I ask him that question every year and he says yes his son lives with him, now the story has changed. I will be really suprised if he keeps his appointment! Deb!

And they say they have improved the software?

Rita, have you tried going into Preferences, then Print, click View/Edit Print Packets? Within each packet you can mark three ways (default, always or never).

I have dinked around with the letter trying to figure out how to increase the top margin, and it is really a small problem considering everything. I mean, hey, I have a letter, some do not, right? I gave up because everything I do is like having a slow motion out of body experience on this program. If you know offhand, would appreciate a quick tip. Not asking anybody to read the manual, it's not that big a deal. I am just a little anal about putting out crappy looking letters. I know, I can make my own on a word processor. Would like to use the one I purchased from ATX. Sorry I am snippy. And the next person who comes in here and says, "Bet you are gettin busy, huh?" is leaving on a stretcher. Happy Groundhog's Day.

Rita, I finally set up letters using the templates because the client letter looks so bad. The margins on the templates are awful - too close to the left side and too far from the right side -- not "centered" on the page at all. It looks like crap but I am going to use it for this year. I checked in the manual and it says that the Page Setup function is not functional at this time. So I guess that means the margins are what they are and we will have to live with what we've got for this year I will say that I am liking ATX2012 and I bet that 2013 is going to be a fantastic product. Maribeth

In case ATX is reading, one thing has bothered me for a couple of years: Having to recreate e-files every time I sneeze, go to bathroom, go to fridge to see if something edible magically appeared, etc. NO, I DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.

Rita, I know exactly how far behind you are. My inbox is running over and I have spent two days trying to get a WI return to e-file. I finally filed the Federal and will sit on the State and get on to other things in the hopes of better things ahead. I have to agree with jklcpa that I have never had printing speed problems from the start and I have done nothing with my printer. (The print manager is another matter); have wasted a lot of paper and toner. Am now printing my copy on the back of the wasted sheets. Aside from that, FWIW, I have a brand new system this year with Win 7 64 bit. I did bump the Ram up to the max of 16G once we knew we were having issues with the program and returns opening. On the other hand, my laptop is two years old with the same system except that it maxes out at 4G Ram. The funny thing is that there isn't a noticeable difference in the opening of the Program or the returns. I have not tried to print with that one yet; which will be to a different printer, but also a HP. I don't have the time or money to shell out for a different program, nor do I want to. Losing ATX would be almost like losing an appendage. I have to believe that they will get it fixed. That belief is based on the fact that I have been able to complete three returns (simple, of course) from creation to ACK. Have had to do some workarounds, but that is nothing new.

IRS did the typical thing that a bureaucrat does when a decision goes against them. They overreacted by claiming the decision would shut down the RTRP program and cost millions upon millions of dollars. When you have virtually unlimited resources at your disposal, you can make a really big mess of things with no financial consequences and no personal accountability.

Several people have posted that this happens when you still have the return open and are trying to transmit. I haven't had that, only from what I've seen others have posted on the official forum. Try closing the return and try to resend.

This is from ATX support site, don't know if it will solve your problem but it did mine. Re: PAPER CHECK E-FILING ReplyQuoteFavorites Thanks ATXMichelle. I will try that, but I found this on another forum, and it worked for me: I had this problem today. I looked at Fed 1040 pg 2, boxes for RTN & ACCT # were all "XXXXXXX"... I had checked the box in print preferences to "mask" sensitive client information on client copy. That will put "XXXXX" instead of the RTN and ACCT# when there is DD information.. But in my case it was a IRS check.. Worked fine last year.. not working right this year. So I closed return and went back to preferences and unchecked that box. (click Apply).. then reopened return. "XXXX"'s still on pg 2 of 1040.. So I printed the 1040 pg 1 & 2 and the filer's infor page. Then I deleted the 1040, (scarry I know but stay with me). Then I added the 1040 back to the return in Add forms. The 1040 was back and the "XXX"'s were gone. Had to re-input the clients Soc Sec amounts-- but surprisingly the names, address, DOB and SS#'s were back. (it was a rollover return). I had to do this same thing with 8 other returns. If the client was "new" not rolled over; then I had to re-input the names, address, soc sec #. Print what you might need before you delete!! I won't check that box again this year. Taxtrio Response from ATX 25 minutes ago 112085 in reply to 112061 ATXMichelle CCH Small Firm Services Posts 103 Re: PAPER CHECK E-FILING ReplyQuoteFavorites Good afternoon, To fix the fields for paper check printing: Select Print to open the Print Manager dialog, then close the Print Manager dialog. You do not have to print anything. That should fix the issue. We have a fix for this issue in the next update. Thank you, ATXMichelle

It is obvious that you do not understand taxation of an S-corp and should consult a tax expert for tax return preparation. No joke!!

You are in very dangerous waters and should consult a professional directly with cash in hand. You are working way beyond your pay grade. And I am being nice.