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ATX Max for me as well. Tom Modesto, CA

I use the payroll program that is included as part of ATX MAX.

If I am keeping the books using QuickBooks, I use that for the W2s. I like the way ATX works for W2s and 1099s if I just do them at the end of the year and don't already have the information on QuickBooks. I have used CFS in the past, and it is adequate as well. I may check out efilemyforms based on Catherine's comments.

And like Jack and Tom, we do the same. I guess one pertinent question would be “how many of each will you be doing?”.

Y'know, just *thinking* about doing it is probably close to 85%* of the satisfaction of actually doing it, with zero Circular 230 repercussions. Plus, we all got a very interesting forum topic out of it. That help at all, or are you ready to glare at me for my cheek? (*Of course, 93% of all statistics are made up at the time of use.)

efilemyforms is what I switched to a year or three ago. Set up clients and recipients once, and it all carries forward year to year. They print, mail, and efile (including states) for $3.49 per form (then you charge your client whatever you want, to cover your login time and trouble, plus cost). And you get full pdf's (all copies, almost instantly) to download for your records - so when Joe Ninny calls in August saying he lost his payer copies, you can reprint those and charge him for that time and trouble, too. I have used QuickBooks, Drake Client Write-Up, and several other iterations over the years. These online folks have been the easiest to deal with overall.

I agree with Max' post above and about possibly escalating this to a supervisor once the case is confirmed as finished and that the client is due the refund. I also agree with Jack that trying to claim the refund on the next year's return would expose the preparer to accuracy-related penalties. Doing so would be a clear and intentional violation of Circ. 230. Additionally, doing so would go against the basic underlying premise, and one that auditors rely on, that each tax year stands on its own and that a error or omission in one year can NOT be corrected in the subsequent year. It would serve to foul up that following year also, and that is not in the client's best interest. Of course, this assumes that the preparer did not, in fact, request a credit carryover of the refund to be applied as part of the estimated taxes of that subsequent year.

Well, at least one thing hasn't been tried - form 3911. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3911.pdf This will put a trace on the refund. I have had, on more than one occasion, returns that were assigned to someone who either was moved to another location, resigned, or died. In every instance, the returns were lost including 12 of one client's 941's. I'm assuming that you got the transcripts confirming the refund. At least you can show these to the client so they don't think you are doing nothing. One thing I would have done after the second stall, is to ask to speak to their supervisor. The supe of the guy who said he couldn't do anything might have been able to do something as they have access to more info, and have much more experience than the phone people.

Quickbooks for most W2s and Drake CWU for 1099s and W2s not on QB. I prepare about 100 W2 forms and around 30 1099s.

My approach is similar to Sara & Catherine's. I run an estimate, then add a little to it. I tell the client to expect a follow-up bill from IRS for about that amount, and to send me an email or text with the final figures. My answer is almost always "That looks right. It's a little bit less than we originally estimated, so just send in a check for $ XXX.XX and you're done."

Eset NOD32 Antivirus is the only malware protection I trust and use, and it includes Spyware protection.

Sara thank you for your suggestion. The liaison in Nashville is Susan Gainous, and she is terrific. And I have communicated with her, and she will not get involved in individual cases, but has expressed interest in addressing systemic problems. If I could make a case for someone not doing their job becoming evidence for a systemic problem I would certainly do so. Jack from somewhere in Ohio compared my situation to a hopeless crusade of cleaning up all the defalcations of IRS employees. His was good advice, but I will reveal that my subject course of action did work on two different occasions with the Alabama Dept of Revenue. All of you have made good comments and have been helpful. My conclusion is that claiming unresolved issues as a prepayment toward successor year estimated taxes is really an intentional item of misreporting and a rather blatant violation of Cir 230.

Share your frustrations with the IRS liaison for your area. While they do not handle individual cases, they are interested in systemic problems and will bring them to the right people's attention. If you have several clients with refunds who are getting no attention vs. the ones who owe, tell your liaison about the missed deadlines, inaction, etc. One year all of my clients who had a deceased person on their returns got rejected because the SS# was locked by SSA. My liaison got it fixed in no time.

Thanks to everyone who has responded. There are mixed reviews, and some of the responses I predicted from the start. I would like to clear up a few items at this point to explain more of a couple situations still ongoing. (I've had this same problem 4-5 times since the IRS had their budget cut). Max' suggestion of a 3911 is quite appropriate, except for the fact that the matter is not yet out of the audit division. The 3911 would work if the refund had been approved. So long as the situation remains unresolved, the 3911 would not tell us anything. One of the problems was my fault which I had to correct with an amended return. Otherwise all the suggestions that I not prostrate myself on behalf of my clients for some situation I did not create is null. The opportunity to talk to a supervisor is not available. I can't even speak with the party charged with the responsibility of getting it done. The telephone staff is there to make sure you can't really talk with anyone with real responsibility. Judy's reply is the most "textbook" and probably the most wise for most people. John H and others believe claiming such matters as estimated taxes only befuddles the situation and makes it worse. I believe it would shed so much light on the logjam that something would be done, especially if the IRS were left holding the bag.. I believe the IRS would also be in a position to penalize me for a "clear and intentional violation of Circ. 230" if they were willing to dismiss their own embarrassment for sitting on a situation until it became rancid. I sincerely appreciate this discussion. "Edsel"

I have a policy where I don't answer any number I don't recognize, or open any emails I don't know sender, and never open a link that I am not sure of its source. They are just relentless. I have so much anti spyware and malware, and anti virus, plus CCleaner on my computers, but I still wonder what else I could do to protect everything.

They just never stop, do they?!

WHY????? Every time I open the stupid program, it runs an Update. Why doesn't the Update post the most recent interest rates when they are announced? Another annoyance of this program. Rich

I googled that phone number and got many hits where people have reported receiving the same robocall. Another scam.

Did your number match to what they have on file?

As a practical matter, the IRS does have 11,000 fewer employees and our congress keeps imposing additional mandates without any additional funding. Then everyone scapegoats the IRS for every little thing. It would be very difficult to be an IRS employee under these conditions Actually some knowledgeable observers are very concerned that the IRS may have an institutional collapse. I am afraid that this situation will get worse.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.....I know I could do this.