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My EIC checklist is pretty short. 1) Does client qualify for EIC? 2) If yes, give them the phone number for HRB.

Have a chuckle! Then later I'll tell the one about Santa and the angel.

Because this issue has come up on this board more than once, I am attaching a document from Drake that lists all the fields from the ATX return that will be converted to Drake. If you find some line # or item missing after the conversion, check this list. If that particular field or item is not in this list then it was not converted by design. You will have to manually add the item in the Drake return. This is a rather large pdf file (24 pages). Sorry to post this on the main board but the Other Vendor sub board does NOT allow pdf attachments! May be Eric can move this to the correct area? ATX 1040 Converted Forms and Fields.pdf

Good news, Tom. Now you get to deal with someone who actually has the ability to take the facts and make a reasonable decision.

I do the same as Judy. I only use the data entry screens to push the data into the computer. Then I click on "View" to see the information on the form (the form recalculates automatically when you click on "view" so you never actually use the "calculate" button as far as I can tell). It's very simple to toggle between "View" and "Date Entry", and the program is so fast that you have the desired screen in front of you at the blink of the eye. It isn't as though you need to go through any steps to toggle back & forth in Drake. One of the reasons I say that Forms Data entry is overrated is because even in ATX, there are numerous times when you must use a data entry screen anyhow. You either have to jump to a sub-screen or jump to a different form, then back to the 1040. With a few exceptions, about the only time you truly enter info directly onto the form is when you have a small, relatively insignificant entry or when you want to force an override. And the data entry screens in ATX are varied, whereas the data entry screens in Drake generally follow a similar pattern in their layout and how you get into & out of them. So navigating the data entry screens is much easier in Drake since you are so often in familiar territory. I keep coming back to the old issue of speed. Drake is fast. This is mainly due to the simplicity & efficiency of its design and layout. There aren't many bells & whistles, so you have a program doing what it is supposed to do - produce an accurate tax return as fast as possible.

Attached is a survey completed by tax preparers who use Drake software. I am posting it for the benefit of tax preparers who use other tax prep software. Interesting results of the expectation for the 2014 season. Gearing-Up-for-Tax-Season 2014.pdf

The program cannot possibly know that Mr Pencil does a thorough interview to verify that the taxpayer is entitled to this credit. It cannot know that he requires the taxpayer to supply documentation, make copies of these document and verifies that they aren't "false documents". My program also "fills in the boxes"....but at the end....unless it has some human input....showing that I worked on the 8867....the program won't e-file. This is exactly what Mr Pencil would tell me if I posted that I ignored the 8867....and relied on a computer to do my work.

Wow.....it didn't take Mr Pencil long to learn how chill out and relax. I hope the tax police aren't monitoring this board!

Shaking My Head in disbelief of such blatant, outright ignoring of the regulations, and posting it in a public forum to boot.

Another simple summary is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Merry Christmas! There are many nice things about this time of year, but for anyone not associated with a particular Christian church, I invite you to attend one of the concerts, fellowships, or rituals in your community. Happy new year! If you don't already have your resolutions in order, may I suggest the following? I know of none better. On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.