GeneInAlabama

I had a friend years ago that got a letter from the IRS stating that she had unreported income from California (she was in Alabama). Turns out that two people actually had the same social security number. They both applied for a social security number on the same day in the same town and they both had the same name except for the middle initial, but they did not know each other. This was back in the days when people applied for social security numbers after they were grown and started to work. Gene

In other words, ATX customer service stinks. Gene

I have clients further away than that. I use the mail, telephone, fax, email, whatever the client is comfortable with. I have many clients that I haven't seen in years. Don't give up a client just because they have moved away. Gene

I just continued on with the next number. Gene

Thanks Mel for the update on how the program is coming. I have already made up my mind that if the program is available by next tax season, I will buy it. I know it won't have everything the first year that ATX has now, but that's OK. As for the W2 and 1099 part, I'm sure I can find something somewhere. Please keep us posted. Don't let the program keep you from spending the time with your children that you need to. My son was 12 when I got divorced and he came with me. I wish I could go back and spend more time with him while he was growing up, but I was too busy trying to make a living. . . Gene

Mel, we NEED you.

My first computer in 1983 or 84 had a 10 Meg hard drive and a floppy drive. I paid $10,000 for it and the printer and software. The original price was about $13,000 but the store was going out of business and they let me have it at a reduced price. The programs were the only thing loaded on the hard drive. I had a separate floppy disk for each accounting client and had to place that client's disk in the drive to work on that client. Doing tax returns by computer came much later. I've progressed a little since then.

If you file two returns, it is an automatic audit. I don't know if they would count the unsigned return as a return or not.

When I realized what was going on, I got out.

Mel, you were right. I checked back on my old returns and the only ones I used the overlays on were with Tax Shop for the year 1990. I found that I had started using ATX for 1993 returns instead of 1994 and instead of using overlays, I printed the entire form with a dot matrix printer. For the 1994 returns, I went all out and bought a lazer printer. I have been using ATX ever since so I don't know a thing about the other programs. No, I wasn't the one you talked to about changing the format so that overlays could be used. When I first purchased the program, I remember talking to a very nice gentleman who had a deep voice. Was that by any chance you?

I remember seeing a letter that the IRS sent to a taxpayer that hadn't signed the return. I don't remember if it was an income tax return or a payroll return, but the letter stated that the return wasn't signed, but if they would sign the form that was with the letter and return it, it would be placed with the return and the return would be considered signed and filed on time. That was some time ago and I don't know if they would do that now or not.

In 1987 I worked for a CPA and one of the preparers who was not a CPA, but working toward it, bragged about preparing two tax returns for the same person, one for the IRS and one for the bank. The CPA we were working for was aware of the situation and condoned it. I didn't work there for very long.

I hope someone out there remembers the overlays with ATX. I'm beginning to doubt my sanity. The only other tax program I have ever used was a program I believe was called Tax Shop. I used it in I believe 1991 for 1990 returns for the one year and then went back to doing the returns manually because I didn't get the federal program until up in February and the state didn't come until March. I called them on the phone and that was one of two times that my wife ever heard me really get upset with someone. Later I saw an ad for ATX software which was very inexpensive at the time and tried it on I believe the 1994 tax returns and have used it ever since. That first year, I had to also buy the Microsoft Excel program to run the ATX program because ATX wouldn't run by itself. I used overlays for the Tax Shop program and am 99.8% sure that I also used them on the ATX program the first year I used it. It may have been because I had a dot matrix printer that I had to use overlays. I don't think I ever saw the monkey suit ads - - was monekyman on this board by any chance the man in the monkey suit?

I used the overlays the first year I used ATX. I believe it was for 1994 returns. Gene

I remember way back when Russia launched their first sputnik, a homeowner in, I believe Ohio, noticed that every once in a while his garage door would open on its own. It was later determined that the time the door would open coincided with the time the sputnik would pass overhead. For you younger members, a sputnik was the Russian name for a satelite. Gene

What is her basis in the egg?

I can't get one to go through either. 12:50 PM. Gene

I don't agree with frivolous lawsuits either, but I also don't believe in false advertising either. When a company advertises something and then doesn't provide it, I think something needs to be done IF it is intentional and it certainly looks like CCH is doing what they are doing intentionally. I despise deception. Gene

Thanks Taxbilly. I'll try that. I hope it works better than the national no call list. I submitted my telephone number to the no call list and it worked for a while. Now, it seems like I get more calls than ever. It makes me wonder if that agency gives those numbers to the telemarketers to call.

Hey, that gives me an idea as to what to do with all those unsolicited letters I get from credit card companies every day.

Yeah - I guess you're right. I guess I got carried away there for a moment.

What I'm wondering is how they are going to handle this? Do we claim it on the 07 tax return or will IRS just mail everyone a rebate? Are their computers capable of filtering through all the tax returns filed and determine who gets how much. How will they know who earns at least $3,000 but do not earn enough to file a return? If we claim it on the 07 return, will those who have already filed have to file an amended return and how long will it take the IRS to get the new forms out? Maybe I have missed something, but I haven't seen anything saying how they are going to do this. It looks like a terrible nightmare coming. Maybe all the smart people in government have it all worked out! I have my doubts. Gene

Seems to me that the donation is to the organization rather than to the child. You are helping the organization provide a service for the child. I wouldn't have a problem deducting it. Gene

Years ago, Paul Harvey told about two men and a women who decided to rob a convenience store in Selma, Alabama. The two men went inside to rob the store and the woman stayed in the car with the motor running. While she was waiting, she had to go to the bathroom so she locked the car while she went to use the bathroom which had an outside door. The two men came running out with the money and the getaway car was locked.

My opinion for what its worth is that the fire department is doing them a service by helping them dispose of an unwanted building free of charge. How much would it cost to have the building torn down as opposed to the cost of cleanup after the building is burned. Kinda like giving the old refrigerator that has quit working to Goodwill and them haul it off for you so that you don't have to haul it to the landfill.