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Many beloved taxbook forum users seem to have migrated here and I miss you: RitaB and JohnH especially. Wondering if you'll accept an old (and I do mean that in a figurative sense) Drake user?

I'm going to start preparing for the upgrade tonight, and the site will most likely be down tomorrow or the next day for the actual upgrade. 

Rita keeps us all sane. We love her.

Thanks! I was missing me some RitaB humor Hope every one is winding down a little. I'm caught up with the big stuff and can finally take a little breather. (gasp)

Glad you joined us. We can be active on both forums - no problem. I havn't used ATX since the 2012 filing season, (switched to Drake and haven't looked back), but this forum and Tax Book are still my favorites. This forum still has an edge, though, because it isn''t subject to the whims of any vendor. That's powerful.

We're adding friends of RitaB to the forum???

Why not? Not everyone here uses ATX, a lot switched to Drake, or other software. We even have a sub forum for Drake specific questions! Not me though...didn't like it.

Yippee! Yes, join us, please!

Or insane, but I love her for that. Welcome! I don't use ATX. I'm here for the tax experts, to learn from the posts, to vent to people who are going through what I'm going through, for the almost always supportive posts. I ignore the ATX specific posts. And, as has been mentioned, you can get Drake specific help in one of our forums.

Of course you are welcome here! Heck, one of our mods now uses Drake. We don't mind that, as long as members don't go out of the way to knock ATX. Or Drake, for that matter. You can find honest criticism of pretty much any software, from time to time, but our major goal is to be a community that helps each other, more often with tax issues, occasionally with software and/or hardware issues, and also general friendly support and a shoulder to cry on from time to time.

The Capitalization vs. Repair Decision Tree is free. You can read the Guide, download it, or open it in an app on your smart device. And, the guide is pay whatever you want this week for downloads. I downloaded it and like its organization. There's an index, the decision tree, and then the Definitions and References follow in the order of the tree with links to the regs along with each definition. Easy to step through. http://kevmccoy.com/guide/

This year I did just use Medlin for the W2s. I will not paper file 1099s; it's a pain in the butt. Unlimited efiling should be just that.

Welcome to the forum!

New client has a 3 year gap where no depreciation was taken on their rental property. In the past I have filed Form 3115 to get automatic approval to change from an impermissable to a permissable method of accounting and take all depreciation that should have been taken. However, I have always done this when the TP sold their rental property. My question is whether I can take all of the depreciation adjustment in the current year as a 481(a) adjustment when the TP is still renting the property. I think it is OK but want to make sure. Thanks.

I have used Medlin for small business payroll for many years with excellent results. And, the cost is right.

I've taken a good look at Medlin several times. It will do the following: 1. Payroll Processing and ATF payroll recordkeeping 2. Print 94x and 1099 forms 3. Create W -3 & W - 2 efiles for transmission just like ATX 4. It will do quarterly reports for a limited number of states and a generic report for other states

Like - Click this link to Add this page to your bookmarks Share - Click this link to Share this page through email or social media Print - Click this link to Print this page IRS IP PIN pilot continues in Georgia, Florida and the District of Columbia Español IRS YouTube Videos ID Theft: IRS Efforts on Identity Theft: English | Spanish | ASL IRS Identity Theft FAQ: First Steps for Victims: English | ASL WASHINGTON – As part of an ongoing pilot program, all taxpayers who filed federal returns last year from Georgia, Florida or the District of Columbia are eligible for an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) that will help protect them from tax-related identity theft, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The pilot project is part of broader IRS efforts to combat tax-related identity theft. The IRS has an aggressive, multi-part strategy of prevention, detection and victim assistance. Stopping identity theft and refund fraud is a top priority for the Internal Revenue Service. For the 2015 filing season, the IRS continues to expand these efforts to better protect taxpayers and help victims. Georgia, Florida and the District of Columbia were chosen for the pilot because they have higher levels of tax-related identity theft. The IP PIN is a six-digit number that must be used on a tax return, in addition to the Social Security number, to verify the taxpayers’ identity. Once a taxpayer opts into this program, they will need to use an IP PIN for future year filings. At this time, there is no way to opt out of the program once you sign up for an IP PIN. A new IP PIN will be mailed to the taxpayer each year before the filing season, and the current IP PIN must be used on the tax return before it will be accepted by the IRS for processing. To opt into the program taxpayers who qualify should visit www.irs.gov/getanippin, to register and create an account. Taxpayers must also verify their identity as part of the process. You can get an IP Pin immediately even if you plan to file later in the year. Once issued an IP PIN, taxpayers need to use it to confirm their identities on all federal income tax returns filed during the 2015 calendar year. Taxpayers will receive a new IP PIN by postal mail each year. Eligibility for this program does not mean the taxpayers are already victims of identity theft. The main purpose of the program is to add an additional layer of protection to taxpayers who live in areas where tax-related identity theft is more prevalent. Learn more about the IP PIN at IP PIN FAQs for Individuals and learn more about identity theft and what the IRS is doing to combat it at IRS.gov/identitytheft. You can also read IRS Fact Sheet 2015-1, IRS Combats Identity Theft and Refund Fraud on Many Fronts, and IRS Fact Sheet 2015-2, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers and Victims. Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 27-Jan-2015

I turned away parents of my kids' classmates. The wife once told me about their refund and how they didn't make estimated tax payments. I know their lifestyle cannot be supported by EIC level income. When she asked if I was taking new clients, I told her no. The kids get lots of grants to go to college, too. Don't get me started, this is rampant here.

Nope, they have to give me their financial information in order to prepare the return. On the due diligences I check "Business Records". Some people have spreadsheets, others Qbooks and some just numbers written on a piece of paper. I am not a Auditor, it's not my job to do their books and make sure their numbers are the same as mine

No. You ask them to write down how much they make every month and what expenses they have. If they have bank statements that's even better. Then you prepare their taxes with that information.

Subject: HOW ASPARAGUS GOT ITS NAME HOW ASPARAGUS GOT ITS NAME; MAKES SENSE TO ME... A sixth grade child was asked to write a book report on the entire Bible. Here is what he wrote; The Children's Bible in a Nutshell In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says,"The Lord thy God is one," but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, "Give me a light!" and someone did. Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden ... Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars. Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something. One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check. After Noah came Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother,Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat. Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice,lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother. One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me. After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them. After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, "Close the door! Were you born in a barn?" It would be nice to say, ''As a matter of fact, I was.'') During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve opossums.The worst one was Judas Asparagus . Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead. Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution. (Nothing bad will happen if you don't forward this, but if you do forward this delightful story you'll make someone LAUGH today, and they'll keep spreading the laughter by sending it on!!)

I'm going to shoot for next weekend.   I'm going to get the ball rolling on Saturday May 2, and hope to have it finished by the end of the day on Sunday.   That is, unless I forget, which has been known to happen.

Best to fit in around your schedule. Although we will suffer withdrawal for a day, it won't be the end of the world!

Any time works for me. I say schedule it when it is convenient for you.

Well, I am in the same boat as JJStephens. All I have heard the past few days from my new Assistant and my Husband is "You have to raise your prices!" Easier said than done, but I am working on it too.

My 1040 & Sch. A fees each go up by $5 every year, as does my per hour fee. I'm working to get the base Sch. C up to $100. That covers the cost of the software. I also started billing at full price to anyone I discount and then showing the discount in stead of just discounting off the top.

I went to a practice management seminar many years ago with my father, (he was an accountant, I started taxes working for him). One statement made my one of the presenters really stuck with me. "If you do professional work, charge a professional fee".

Thanks for your sage input. To be perfectly honest, you're telling me what I already know ... but it somehow sounds so much more valid coming from someone else! I have always felt a little bit guilty for thinking those kinds of thoughts! The majority of my clients are clergy (I'm also a part-time pastor)--I use that as my excuse for sub-market fees. Most of the freebies are either family or retired clergy who have little or no income. I also tend my waive my fee if the client is in the midst of a legitimate hardship. When I started doing this a hundred years ago I was pastoring full-time and my wife was working full-time--what I got from tax prep was gravy. Six years ago my wife suffered a seemingly minor head injury that suddenly turned into a major, life-threatening illness from which she has still not recovered. We lost her income (Social Security has repeatedly denied her disability with the excuse that other people who suffered her injury are able to work so she should be able also) and having to care for her rendered me unable to continue pastoring full-time. So now my consulting gig is all I have now (the small church I pastor contributes a very small amount). About 1/3 of my income goes to pay her med bills. That is what prompted me to search for something less expensive--these days I need to conserve every dollar I can. The truth is that I probably need to do a serious re-evaluation of my business model. Here's the pathetic part of all this (confession is good for the soul!)--part of what I do is business and personal financial counseling. I regularly counsel people like me. And they end up doing very well. If I were counseling someone like me I would be telling me to do things very differently than what I've been doing. You're right. I'm a goofus! Sounds like I have some work to do.

This is just me talking here, but you are giving your services away. You don't have a software issue (not saying ATX does not have issues, but that doesn't look like your problem). You have a business model issue. If you want to place your business in the value category below the Big Boxes, then be at 85% to 90% of their cost. You may lose a few customers in the short run, but in the long run, where are they going to go? To the big box to be treated like cattle with no off season support? How about those 990 clients? They going to go to the green box for that work? Or a CPA who is going to charge them a boat load because they have a soft heart for their profit margins and not the client? Again, positioning your practice in the value range is fine, but do some research on what the big boxes are charging, what CPA's and EA's are charging, and price accordingly. 60% of the big box store is giving it away. You seem to have a great client mix that you can work from. (Not sure why you would do 30 freebies, but that is your choice. No value judgments here). Some are captive (990's, P/S, 1120, and any of your Sch. C's & E's), so those are probably going to stay or get a real education on the going rate for business and non profit returns. The 30 freebies are not leaving either. Just my humble opinion. Have the moderators delete if you don't want to look at it again. Tom Newark, CA