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My old HP LaserJet P2055dn is still going strong with my new Dell win10 computer. It's a model down from the duplexing model, though. It's about 45 pages per and is now my oldest piece of equipment, so I'll pay attention to what you all are using. All my HP printers have been workhorses; I pass them down to hubby when I buy a faster one. Take good care of yourself. I know you're taking good care of your sister. And, I know it's cutting into your work time and probably sleep. If clients don't understand, send them away. If they do, put them on extension or at least give them a later appointment. Prayers for your sister, you, your family, and her whole medical team! You know we're all here for you, and NOT just for taxes.

Thinking of you and your sister. What a heavy load you are carrying right now. It brings it all in perspective. Family, people first. Not sure about your printer. I have HP LASERJET PRO M402n. Last year was my first year with the printer. This year is my first year with Windows 10. I hear a steady blipping back and forth on the computer when I walk away for a few minutes and it goes to sleep. After chasing down the culprit and trying to fix it, I finally turned the sound off and it's all good now. That's the extent of my computer knowledge.

NECPA, I hold you and sister in my heart. This is surely a scary time. Despite your professional responsibilities, I encourage you to always put family first. Clients that will not understand that are not worth having. I wish you luck in finding the right printing solution.

I generally will not take on 1099's or W2s from a client who I don't do the tax return for. Just not worth it to me. For my business clients, I prepare the 1099's for free if I do the bookkeeping (it is loaded into the price I charge for bookkeeping). If I don't do the bookkeeping and just the tax return, I charge a nominal amount (like $25) if the W9's are available. If I have to chase the w9's, I charge more. For most of my bookkeeping and business clients, it is the same contractors every year so it is not a big deal to produce the forms. I just consider it customer service. Tom Modesto, CA

If you post what your issue is, there may be an answer from one of the members. Or they may tell you it requires a support call. I have been on Max for 18 years. We usually have to call support once a year for something related to the install. The rest of the questions we get answered on this board. Yes, support for ATX sucks. There is no way around that fact. But, I still like the program and I know enough to make it work for me because I have used it for so long. Welcome to the group. Tom Modesto, CA

I didn't lose too many, and I fired all the ones I didn't want. They paid me a lot of money, those PITAs, but it just wasn't enough to keep them. My business will probably disappear in a few years when I'm ready to retire because I do a lot of simple returns. They weren't so simple before last year, but they are now. So, prices went down, average per return went down, volume is still high, many more extensions, and I'm a happier individual. The tax law changes certainly hurt my business. While they helped most clients, they hurt my business. Reductions in withholding caused horrible results in my office. In short, I'll keep my full time assistant employed for the season, I live small, so life is good. And hey, isn't it time for another gathering?

With eSign, it sends the client his returns, federal and states, for review with the signature pages at the front. The small fee is per SSN, so one fee per client no matter how many states. If a married couple, I use both email addresses, but eSign combines the signatures on one 8879 and one form for each state and sends them back to me. Clients can sign on their touch screen, such as a cell, or type in their name after passing the KBA questions. If I'm sending a prior return someone lost, I upload to FileShare. I have a couple clients that like for me to keep them up there, so they can grab a new copy if they need for mortgage or FAFSA or whatever. Otherwise, after I see they downloaded and I think we're done with that year, I delete before I upload the current year. I've had clients get confused and download everything they see! I also have on FileShare -- available to all -- my engagement letter and a Goodwill or Salvation Army list of prices for used goods. Going to upload 2019 EL now. NY is the only state that will not accept electronically signed forms at all. Some states have restrictions, such as residents or full-year returns only.

NECPA, I'm praying for you, your sister, and your family. If there is anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to ask. Sorry that I don't have a recommendation for a printer because I may be shopping soon too, so I'm interested to hear from others on this subject as well.

I have been efiling my 1099s on a different program since Thursday.

^^ This way. Because it's community property each owns 50%, there's no need to elect gift splitting. Husband and wife will each file a return, and each return will report 4 gifts of 150K with no gift splitting.

I charge by the hour for these types of clients and if they are new, I get a deposit up front.

@DANR Speculation - " ideas or guesses about something that is not known". (Merriam-Webster) It is also called 'crossing your bridges before you get to them. Your second comment is an assumption. Wouldn't if be better to let Darlene speak for herself.?

I have a Lexmark T644 that has been an absolute workhorse for me. Prints 50ppm in black and white. Toner lasts at least two tax seasons and I do a significant amount of printing. Not sure it's part of Lexmarks current line-up but it can be purchased on the market.

https://www.amazon.com/Brother-Monochrome-HL-L6200DW-Networking-Replenishment/dp/B01824JTWK

Update: After trying on my own to access and update, etc., I spent 1 hour, 58 minutes (but who's keeping track?) on the phone with a super nice agent who really tried to help without success. I kept getting to the point (5 times) where I put in my cell number for a text for 2fa and no text. Agent said it would be escalated and I would get a call back HAH! I tried the IRS2Go app but, of course, one must go through exactly the steps I was unable to complete to use that. He did say to text "In" to the IRS number which I did. No response. I turned off my cell phone overnight and this morning Voila!, a text was there - oh happy day! So I went back in and tried the whole thing again with success this time! I got a texted code! And then I could see that my account had 5! unsuccessful login attempts since Oct. 29, NONE OF THEM BY ME! That was scary to see. Not sure what, if anything to do now. I wonder if folks find us, at least me, and try to login for nefarious reasons. Retiring in 3 years. I am so sick of passwords, logins, 2fa, blah, blah, blah....

Not enough for a PITA

Abby, I use Firefox exclusively (save for IRS stuff) and wondered about that option. I have been using Adobe encrypted to 256 bit to send returns to clients for review but the signed 8879 has always presented issues except for a single client who had the capability to sign electronically and return encrypted. How do you handle e-signatures, if you do? I've just signed up to try Verifyle as mentioned by a couple of folks to utilize the e-signature capability. I did read through all the terms and privacy stuff (never, ever their fault, they can do anything, etc.) and am just concerned about the part that says they can keep and use User content, which I take to mean anything I or clients upload. I do like the Firefox temporary aspect. Guess I better get this straightened out last month!

I view it like this: https://community.atxinc.com/forums/TopicsNotRead.aspx But the main site would just be: https://community.atxinc.com/forums/

I use temporary portals like send.firefox.com and sendinc.com. I tell clients to use these same free services to send me info. Both they and I feel better knowing it's temporary and their sensitive files aren't sitting out there somewhere to be hacked.

You can't answer a question about cap gains unless you know what the other income is. Instead of speculating on the 6252, why don't you ask for copies of prior returns and a copy of the sales contract, then you will know what is going on.

Are you calling in for technical support of the product or are you asking tax questions? Whether technical or tax-related, you could try asking here. Most of our members are long time users of ATX, are knowledgeable, and willing to help. Even if its a technical issue, sometimes others here have run into the same or similar problem and have something for you to try, or may have a workaround. In addition to calling technical support, as a user you also have access to the ATX official forum where you could trying posting, and there's a Facebook group called "ATX Tax Software Support Group" that you could join. That FB group is not the one linked to in our header, although you're welcome there too.

I would want to see the return prepared in the year of sale and subsequent years. Then, if it was not properly reported in previous years insist on amending before moving forward.

Has anybody ever noticed that when the owner dies and the kids take over; as a general rule everything goes to pot? The biz gets split up, screwed up, or sold!

One that's growing, however, is representation work. As the IRS shifts more of its "analysis" to computers and low-end office drones, more returns are going to appeals - which people can't handle themselves. All the folks I know in rep work are busier than one-armed paper hangers, and getting busier.

A few years ago (for a couple of times), there have been similar postings and I have always argued that this market is going away faster than the aging tax preparers. I have said in the past that Turbo tax is a very strong competitor and if you add the IRS free efiling, we are going to be out of business really soon as clients die or stop working. The response I have gotten on this forum has been: "this year I had to amend 3 returns that were prepared in Turbo Tax.... Turbo tax keeps my business busy". Internally, I have laughed because amending 3 returns is nothing is comparison to the millions of people that used Turbo Tax. We normally amend 3 returns of our own every year, don't we? Other.... "incredible" tax preparers said "I provide service and personal care for my clients"... I told then that when Amazon came on board, retailers said that they provided personal care and Amazon was not a threat to them because of the personal touch that was provided to clients with each purchase. YOU know the answer to that. I will add something... My daughter is faster on her Iphone than myself on a computer with keyboard, mouse, keypad and huge monitor. Millenniums just click and click and can efile their simple returns while I am still verifying numbers and that the address is correct. Think about this... millenniums don't like to to wait on line at a restaurant regardless of how good the food is and what makes you think they will be willing to wait for this old man to prepare their taxes? It is like me hiring someone to help me and can only type 5 words per minute with two fingers and looking at the keyboard. In any event, I do believe this line of work if fading away and suggesting my clients to have another extra line of work is an EXCELLENT idea and we should do the same.