Crank

I havent found a way to view page 2 of a document in Peek mode. You can click on different docs while in Peek mode but I can still only view the 1st page. The only way I have found to see page 2 is after doing a review of the return .... not very efficient. Taxworks actually has a default 5th pane that shows the form, the TRX version doesnt ... that's the price we pay (1 of many) for a cheaper version of TaxWorks.

If you select Non-Paid Preparer in the PO tab then it prints that in the sig section of the return with the PTIN & EIN. Not sure why it would print these since you arent getting paid.

If you select Self Prepared in the EF tab then the program generates a green audit saying "you will likely be contacted by the IRS if you choose to file without a PTIN". Last time I checked we werent require to provide a PTIN if we dont get paid and Im guesssing not many preparers charge themselves for their person return.

I asssume you mean 8879. If its self prepared I dont think you need one, but I havent really researched it in depth.

WHAT!? You mean TT isnt a better option. Thats not what the commercials say! Same with Block. And they say your return is free for all filers this year. And if they make a mistake they pay for it.

"I dont know why anyone would pay someone to do their income taxes." My response was, ummm yeah, it's not like taxes are complicated.

If you don't laugh about this stuff they will drive you crazy. :)

Yes, it is going to be a long season!

I knew I was in trouble when the first 5 returns I did in 2011 were amendments to fix Turbo Tax users missed credits....back to TY 2007 too.

I have already gotten the "but I never had to pay before" comments. And then when you explain the tax difference between two years you just know that the "glossed over" look in their eyes means that they are hearing Blah, Blah, Blah and have no idea what you are saying. Then to top it all off they say, "and I have to pay you too?"

Haha a ghost Sch C. I have one return that is showing 2 local returns after the review but only one in the input mode, they are looking into that.

For certain people, mostly myself & family members, I dont want to sign the return as a paid preparer, since I am not, and there is a check box for this on the Preparer Options form in the Xpert Tab. When you click that option the program help at the bottom states if the preparer doesn't charge for doing a tax return then he/she should not sign it. It prints "Non-Paid Preparer" in the signature box.

But, when you Review or Audit it gives an item in RED saying "Invalid Non-Paid Preparer" and when you select this box you need to input another field of which the only acceptable entries are "IRS-PREPARED" or "IRS-REVIEWED" of which this is neither.

So how do I do a return as a Non-Paid Preparer?

No, the 2 year comparison are not populating the 2009 field on for me on ATX converted returns. Also, one item wasnt showing up on the correct 2009 line and it was showing up incorrectly as a negative amount, I believe it was the total tax entry. I havent tried it in a while so it may have been corrected by an update.

You're welcome.

Settings > Control Data> Forms Tab > last radio button on left

Another quirk with converting is fields that calculate from a zip code. In Pa you are required to indicated a school district and code. TRX pulls these codes from this TP zip code field. However, the codes dont populate when you import a converted 2009 return even though the zip code carries correctly to the field. To get the state codes to populated I have to delete the zip code, click away from the field, go back and re-enter the same zip code and then the fields will populate correctly ... weird

I just noticed I am now an "Advanced Member", cool... I dont even remember taking the test. ;)

I duplicated what you did on my test return and the calcualtions carried correctly to the "Peeked" C-EZ. Sorry I couldnt help. To be sure, are you refering to the Misc Exp field in Part V - Other expenses (2nd input box)? Are you sure there are no other fields with input amounts? What about fields that carry from other forms. They have one "." in front of them. I printed a cheat sheet as to what all the symbols before the fields mean until I memorize them all.

Also, you know that there are several "Options" forms that are only under the "Xpert" Tab that affect a retun, they dont appear in the "Used" tab (which seems stupid to me). You may want to double check them for anything that could be causing this.

Or Create a 2nd Sch-c in the return with the same entries and see if it does the same thing.

I have found that it will not generate the 8879s (State also) unless there is an entry in the Date field of the Pin section, otherwise it generates 8453s.

I do a few returns, tax / rent rebates for NC. They are long time clients who have fallen on extremely hard times. And I know that when they get back on their feet they will return as a paying client.

Also, last year I had a few that I told to pay me when and if you can (i did reduce the fee too). Those people did finally pay me in full later in the year ... and I wouldnt have sent out an invoice if they didnt pay.

I feel that some poeple just need / deserve the extra help / kindness and someday helping others will come back to you many times over. Either that or Im a sucker ... lol

BTW Marilyn ... love the vanity plate.

If a client is too annoying I bury a small PITA (pain in the ass) fee somewhere in the non-detailed invoice. Not often, but it has happened.

Yes, use 5329 to show that the distribution isnt subject to the 10% tax due to disability, if I remember correctly.

Just an update if anyone is in a similar situation and needs to amend a 2007 return using ATX software and doesnt have a spare computer running WindowsXP. I finally got it installed on a Vista machine, despite ATX's refusal to support a purchased product which is still needed to do tax returns in 2011. I previously stated that I have had this Vista machine sine 9/08 and had ATX 2007 on it since that time. This summer I decided to reformat and reinstall Vista to clean up the registery.

When I attempted to install 2007 ATX it would stall at the "% install srceen". That alone showed that it will run under Vista if it got that far. After several attempts including, running the program in WindowsXP mode, turning off the Anti-Virus software and booting into Safe-mode, I quit... for a while.

My machine has two cd/dvd r/rw drives and I typically use the top one, an Optiarc, which was giving the problem so I tried the second optiocal drive, a HL-DT, and the process ran sooth as silk.

Now Im not sure why the Optiarc drive choked on the 2007 ATX software since it runs everything else just fine.

So, Bottom line if anyone cares ... 2007 ATX software runs just fine on a Windows Vista 64bit machine, contrary to what ATX tech support claims. My next attempt would have been to try to install it using Wine software with Linux Mint since I configured this machine to be a dual-boot of Vista/Linux.

Oh, and ATX, your refusal to support (or even discuss) this issue just gives me one more reason that Im glad I didnt renew with you this year(been with ATX/Saber since TY 1997) and gave TRX (TaxWorks) a try and saved about $700 while getting more forms/features.

Kea,

It seems like deleting unneeded forms from the "Used" tab is a bit quirky.

Ive been able to do it using the drop down "delete" funtion like you did but the forms dont disappear immediately like you would think they should. Try it again and after hitting delete, click on another form on the "used" tab. The deleted form should go away after a while. I think the real time calculations slow things down a bit since it recalcs everything. Also, make sure the form you are deleting doesnt have any information on it. You may want to use the clear form first, or whatever it is called.

Hopefully this helps you.

I seem to have found another bit of functionality in TaxWorks that is not present in the TRX version. TRX forms located in the "Xpert" tab (Called "Form" Tab in TaxWorks) can not be added to the "Xpress" tab (called "Common" Tab in TaxWorks) by right clicking on the form as TaxWorks allows and is noted in the TRX Help file in the "Tips & Tricks/Forms Pane" section.

So it appears that we are stuck with the forms that are fixed in the "Xpress" tab of the forms pane which in my opinion renders it basically useless.

I now have a blank form "SSPR-1040-SS / 1040PR U.S. Self Employment Tax Return" , another Puerto Rico form, appearing in returns with a Sch-SE (I think thats what causing it).

I'm am beginning to get more concerned with this issue.

Anyone else seeing this form?

Hmm, I didnt think of the obvious. Thanks :)

Crank, I think you need to bump up your fees. For the above forms I would have charged $147 and I also live in Pa.

Bert, I think you are right and I am going to up them this year. But I have such a hard time getting new business since I work out of an office in my home with no signage or advertising that I want to keep who I already have.

Thanks Lynn. Wow, those are some crazy fees. If i charged anywhere near that Im sure I would have no client base left.

Im even way below H& R Block - for a CPA no less. My average for 1040 Itemized, Sch B, State Return & 2 local returns, all efiled is about $125 - add other schedules or forms about $10-$20 per form. Between $50-$100 for an amended return. Am I too cheap? Although I do have one quite complicated return that Ive been at $300 for the last 8 years, older self employed woman that requires lots of attention. I even pick-up and drop off her return.

Ask him to supervise himself since he is a CPA. If a person prepares a return superviced by a CPA or Enrolled Agent... he doesn't need a PTIN.

I hope you arent serious on this one. That seems blatently fradulent.

Thanks George. Wow, They are >50% more than what I charge for the forms noted and in the case of the 1040 alone >200% more. ($100 vs my $30).

And today I got a complaint for charging $70 total for a 1040 & Sch C, pa state & a local return with efiles included.

Does anyone know where I could find a tax prep, per form price list. For instance what the big tax prep companies are charging. I always tell prospective clients that my services cost less than the big firms and they get a CPA too with me, but in reality I dont know what the big firms are charging. My wife thinks I dont charge enough.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks