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No problems with software here. Just clients. Standalone, Windows 7 Pro.

I might have to kill a couple of clients...

March 30th is Pencil Day! Happy National Pencil Day! March 30, 1858, is when Hymen Lipman received a patent for a pencil with an attached eraser. The eraser-tipped pencil is 153 years old today! According to the Roanoke Times in Virginia, writer Robert Linsford wrote for National Pencil Day last year that a pencil is called what it is, because: In Middle English the word, spelled pencel, meant artists brush. It was borrowed from Old French pincel or peincel, related to Modern French peinture painting. The French inherited the word from the Latin penicillus, for little tail. Also: Do you know why pencils are yellow? The emergence of Siberian graphite as the standard led manufacturers to associate pencils with the Orient by using names such as Mongol and Mikado and painting them yellow, a color associated with royalty and respect in China. We hope you have a very happy National Pencil Day today! Later on, were going to pop a bubbly and party like its 1858.

Actually, the Constitution is remarkably short and succinct. What you probably mean is that she thinks you are writing one of today's mega-tome bills that you have to pass to find out what's in them.

This happens to me, and I don't know why. Somehow, the long Sch SE gets chosen, I don't know who sneaks in here and does that. My clients can't handle the long Sch SE, I have learned the hard way. It freaks them out. Always saves them a dollar, but nooooo, I gotta print stuff over to avoid the whole conversation. Three more Saturdays, Guys.

Called my IT guy. He remoted in and followed Jack's instructions. Everything is working perfectly. Jack, thanks for taking time to post the details. It is very much appreciated.

Yep you should insist that they correct THEIR ERROR in the proper manner, with a CORRECTED 1099R.

A firecracker. Yes, that might be a good description. Something that seems fun to play with but touch a match to it an it explodes and does damage to anything around it. On second thought, dynamite might be a better comparison. You are the bomb too...just a bigger boom. Tom Hollister, CA

Hey, at least I was on the right worksheet. I'm still a firecracker, right?

Here are my latest recommendations for program updates. FIRST AND FOREMOST - I have had much smoother results by downloading the update file from the MYATX website and using it rather than doing the program update through the program. Smoother and faster. If you have a standalone, close the ATX program, Then run the downloaded update file. After installation is complete, open the program and continue as normal. With a network: ABSOLUTELY update the server machine first and make sure all computers have the ATX2013 program shut OFF. a ) Regardless if the server is also a workstation or not, download the update file from the site. b ) Close ATX on the server if it also has a workstation. c ) Run the downloaded file. d ) When complete, if there is a workstation on the server, open the program and proceed as usual. 2. Wait for at least 5 minutes before updating the program on any workstation. The server will perform a total program backup and this will cause any workstations to receive multiple "server retry" errors till the backup is complete. a ) Update workstations one at a time. b ) Close the ATX program, c ) Run the downloaded update file. d ) After installation is complete, open the program and continue as normal. 3. Wait for at least 5 minutes before updating the program on another workstation. The server will perform a total program backup and this will cause any workstations to receive multiple "server retry" errors till the backup is complete. 4. Update each workstation following steps 2 & 3 till all have been done. 5. Once all the updates are installed, program should open and work as normal. This is the process I used yesterday afternoon and it went very smoothly. Since installing the update, no issues so far.

If it is from the union it is not SS even if they call it "Social Security Supplementation". Put it on line 21.

Oh...I hear you I could go on about a new client I wish was never referred to me. To top it off .....she's an attorney ....so she thinks we are writing the constitution. If I knew her occupation before I started...I never would have started.

well that's it, after hearing what a special day it is, I am going out for a couple of cocktails. I am going to celebrate Pencil Day Eve.

No exemption from filing. The medical costs out of pocket for her will usually wipe out any taxable amount. Client's POA is misinformed.

I called in my IT guy and he installed using Jack's instructions. Everything is working well.

And, where do frikkin bananas fit along that spectrum? They have lots of fiber but are very soft.

So, a firecracker, is that the opposite of a pineapple?!

Thank you Joan, that is exactly what I was looking for. You have to do the calculation of the excess amount by hand and enter it there, but the software handles it correctly once you enter it on the worksheet for "Scholarships and Grants not included on form W2". You are the bomb. Thanks again. Tom Hollister, CA

I ran into a similar thing a year or two ago. The bank wanted to take the easy way out. We finally forced their hand on issuing a corrected 1099-R (alas, it took them two months to do it). That's what I'd suggest.

I don't want to see anyone wipe out because they could also take me out or someone else in the process. We never know when someone is driving under the influence of alcohol or some drug, Rx or other, and might be in an "altered" state, and I don't need to be a party in any way to a rage incident. I agree with Marilyn about moving out of their way. I'd rather have them ahead of me and allow some distance between me and them but where I can still keep an eye on their driving. That's easier than worrying about what some jerk behind me is doing.

That was a laugh out loud, read to the roommate one. Thank you!

Mentioning that dribbling it out to me runs up the bill sometimes helps. Some clients are incurable, but getting the extra fees makes that tolerable.

I have very few clients who are NOT missing information. I keep running notes on my WIP spreadsheet and send off one long email with questions. What ticks me off is the people who go through the list, answer one question, and then think they're done. Sorry, kids, when I send a bulleted list of questions, I need an answer to ALL of them.

I don't like working on returns piecemeal. It's a perfect recipe for making a mistake or missing something, is inefficient, and overall wastes time because then I go over the original data again on review to make sure everything is input. If I know things are missing, I don't work on that return unless I have all of the information. Having followup questions is different than those clients that want to bring most data so to get the process started. I need to be efficient and won't work like that.

"...why do you want the excess to be taxed?" Pub 970 says if you receive more in grants than you have in eligible expenses, the difference is taxable and goes to line 7 on the 1040. Tom Hollister, CA