grmy2h

I went all in with Drake - 2013.  I never found any need to have ATX along with Drake.  When I got hung up on something I went to the official Drake board and found help every time. 

You can add a column for state acks in the PCM. 

1 minute ago, Catherine said:

 Who is it?

Will Robinson - Lost in Space.

I've posted this before but for any new comers this is a good reference to use. 

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/Documents/Report-Pell-AOTC-Interaction-2014.pdf

3 minutes ago, ILLMAS said:

JB or anyone else that would like to take the exam and if you are on Facebook, look up a person by the name of Don Overstreet, this chap has a FB page for EA candidates.

I am a moderator on that page.  I can let anyone in that wants to join.

On 2/21/2018 at 8:55 PM, Janitor Bob said:

I would like to schedule at least the first the exam so that I have some type of deadline pushing me to study. How many months of study time is reasonable before taking the first exam if I take the most unfamiliar one (business) first?

Testing for this cycle ends Feb. 28. The new testing cycle begins May 1.

Most people in our group allow 4 - 6 weeks for SEE1, 6 - 8 weeks for SEE2, 4 - 6 weeks for SEE3. This is based on 2 hours a day study time.

Decide on a study guide. Map out a study plan. Schedule a test. If you are a facebook user, we have a group where we ask and answer questions and generally help each other understand some topics better that we don’t have a lot of experience with.  

I was scared too. I had been doing taxes 38 years when I decided I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I also wanted my daughter to do it so I needed to set the example for her. 

Best of luck to you.

PS - I used Passkey book, study guide and online subscription. I was very happy with them.

Posted on Drake official board...

Helpful fact sheet here:  

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/Documents/Report-Pell-AOTC-Interaction-2014.pdf

1 hour ago, BulldogTom said:

  And I don't want to hear from any of you Texans that chili should not have beans in it.

Tom
Modesto, CA

Chili is not Chili without the beans. I haven't tried bacon but it sounds delicious.

I stayed in today. We have about 7 - 8 inches but its blowing sa hard that we have drifts of 3 - 4 feet. Power is on so I'm happy.

If my memory is correct you will need to go to the download center, download it and install it. I don't beleive that it updates from within the inital release.

I just wandered in to the download center and I see that Drake Accounting 2018 and CWU 2018 is now available.

From Drake today..........."The second installation of Drake Tax 2017 will be released on January 4, 2018. After installing this second release, you may begin preparing and transmitting returns to Drake. We will hold those returns "in queue" until the IRS begins accepting returns. As of now, the IRS has not released a start date for e-file processing. However, we will let you know that start date once the IRS announcement has been made."

4 hours ago, Sarypion said:

Did you reset the password on the website somewhere between 12/29/2017 and now?  

I reset it yesterday. I believe there was a link "forgot password". I clicked it and it sent me an email to reset it with.

I tried it today. It told me my info didn't match anything and I needed to re-register. When I tried that, it told me that there was already an account with that info.   From that it said there was a password mis-match and to reset the password. Once I did that it let me right in. 

@TAXMAN   I used Passkey Books and their online subscription. We have an IRS Exam Study Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142932752497488/ or search "IRS Exam Study Group" on Facebook if interested.

I took part 2 first, then 1, then 3 but part 2 had questions from part 1 and part 3 had questions from 1 and 2. This was 2016.

This year group members have been reporting lots of questions on basis, farming and estates.

This article gives some examples of how to figure the 20% deduction for pass-throughs.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2017/12/22/what-tax-reform-means-for-small-businesses-pass-through-entities/#319a9e266de3

This seems to work somewhat like the DPAD. It looks almost as if it's taking its place. I do believe this will be less confusing and easier to figure out.

Secure file pro is an add on, but IMO is very reasonable. https://drakesoftware.com/products/securefilepro/  Drake Document Manager comes as part of Drake.  Connect will be new this year and looks like it will work with SFP and DDM for secure communication, file transfer and esigning. 

The issue I always had was that mobile devices would not work with SFP but now it appears there will be an app. 

I believe SFP "Connect" is new this year. This is from the handouts that I saw. I can't wait to try it out!!

SECUREFILEPRO CONNECT

SecureFilePro Connect is a mobile-friendly Web application that makes it easier to serve your tax clients  who can’t make it into the office.  
For the preparer – SecureFilePro Connect features provide the tools you need to send messages to clients, gather tax information, complete returns, have forms signed, and receive payment for services. 

For the taxpayer – SecureFilePro Connect is a mobilefriendly Web application that allows your clients to provide or update basic personal information, review a prior-year summary of tax data, send messages to their preparer, receive and complete fillable PDF documents, snap and send photos of their W-2 or other tax forms (using their camera phones), sign their return electronically, and pay their bill online. 

To access SecureFilePro Connect, the tax return preparer uses the SFP Connect features in the new integrated SecureFilePro pane of the Document Manager and the taxpayer uses the new SecureFilePro Web “app”. 

I just saw the slides on SFP Connect. It looks pretty promising.   Has anyone been to an update class and actually seen it? Any opinions?

I use a NETGEAR - Nighthawk DST AC1900 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router with DST Adapter in my home office. It's on sale for 70 off at Best Buy. My favorite feature is "access control". If you set it to on, you have to approve any device that tries to connect, even if they have the password. There is also an app where you can control alot of the features, approve connections, reset the router, etc. 

Coverage is very good. It is located on my main level and I get excellent signals upstairs, basement, outside. It also has a built in guest network, which I use for household connections and the main connection for business.

I can't add anything that Catherine and JKLCPA haven't already said, and I agree it's awesome.

2 hours ago, Jack from Ohio said:

The name and SS# must match exactly what is on the SS card.  If she has an updated card, the IRS has been informed.

Not always.

My client changed her name July 2016 at the SS office, got the new card. Didn't tell me and I filed the old name. It went through without a hitch. 

I only realized the new name when I was depositing her check and I called her to ask why her checks had her maiden name yet she never mentioned she had changed it. ... she forgot about it.

10 minutes ago, RitaB said:

And way better than the salesman here who tells everybody their SEER 13 unit probably qualifies for a tax credit, yes sirree. 

No.  No, it doesn't.

We have competitors that try to pull that from time to time. I had to call one a few years ago for my tax client who insisted her units qualified. I asked for the Manufacturers Certification on the equipment and he told me he would work on getting it but in the meantime... "it does qualify".. "I said that's strange because I work at "my hvac co" and I ran the numbers and ratings and it does not qualify. I will put Ms. X on the phone now, please explain it to her."