MontanaEA

I don't get these sort of questions here or these problems. So far i just assume that since the states approve the software then they are getting what they want. I never have created 2nd returns or played other games like adding forms to returns for just a state or federal purpose and so far i never received a letter re: missing data. I also never would have even thought to see just what forms are being sent. i just assume atx worked it out with the states.

In Montana, it's nearly always better to itemize, even though you may claim standard on the federal return. I prepare Sch A for almost every return I do. That's where the state gets the itemized deduction info. If it's better to take standard on the federal, the program automatically switches the federal return, but not the state. If they don't need the federal itemized deductions to get to zero taxable income, but the federal itemized is more than standard, I check the box on the federal return to force standard deduction. You can also ck the box on the top of Sch A to force it to print, even when you're not using it. It works for me (with no duplicating of the return) but maybe the Delaware state program is different?

Thanks, grmy2h. I'll keep finagling with it. This is the first time I've had clients that are a married couple but legal residents in separate states. Fortunately for 2010 they are better off filing mfs for federal so required by Ohio so maybe when I split and do VA for her, all will be good. And I'll continue to hope mfs is the better option going forward! Or maybe he'll move to VA and find a job. Her salary from Booz, Hamilton is 50% greater than his AND they are paying for her to get her MBA from some prestigious university there.

I have one like that. I prepare a MFJ return. Then I duplicate it and prepare MFS. Then I take all the wife's stuff off the return. I efile the MFJ one for the feds, the MFS one for the state. However, in my case, the husband is the resident of the state in question. If the wife were, it would be easier to prepare the MFS return from scratch, I think.

Either way, it's a pain in the .......

I would guess the votes against it were because this was supposed to help fund the provisions of the Health Care bill. I'm not defending it, or agreeing with it - just explaining it, because KC didn't want to sound partisan. Anyway, it passed, as they all knew it would when they made their votes against it, and that's likely a good thing.

From Kea:

Tax Package link

From there you can choose the specific company -- if it's on the list. Your client will need to set up a log-in account & then add you to the list of allowable log-ins. The only info your client needs is an e-mail address, SSN & Last Name. The "unit holder" can then add other e-mail addresses.

Once you log in there are several choices down the left side. You can get a .pdf of everything that was mailed to your client (so you don't have to scan if you want to keep electronically) & you can check the tax forms entry. Those are the only 2 I've used.

Hope that helps.

What is "SOL"?

I tried to delete my post, but it didn't work - please disregard.

Just as you thought - same as the building. 271/2 for residential rental.

It's also available on the ATX support website. Click the Efile tab at the top of the page, then the tab for it appears on the far left side of the Efile page.

IRS Sch SE instructions say to deduct it on line 3, but software doesn't seem to offer spot for it on the line 3 worksheet, or as an automatic deduction to line 3. What am I missing?

I vote we just quit the birthday posts.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you, Catherine. I didn't mean to paint everybody with a broad brush and I apologize. I was really peeved at the person who hung up on the rep.

I have dealt with the public for nearly 20 years, and can tell the difference between the person strolling in off the cruise ship, and the family that saved pennies for their vacation. I just wanted to give the "cruise ship" folks on here some perspective. Not that they will listen...

Those of you who know me know I am normally not like that. The elitist tone of the post rubbed me the wrong way.

BTW, I had BBQ Chicken for supper tonight with a green salad. For dessert we had home-made banana bread.

Sorry for any ruffled feathers.

Kerry

Interesting - I just got off a cruise ship to Alaska. My impression is that, like us, a lot of those families aboard saved pennies for their vacation on that cruise ship. There goes that broad brush again.

Good morning, everybody. Had a conversation with a friend this past weekend. He asked me if employers had to

start including the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage as income on employees W-2's beginning in 2011.

I told him that I believe that this is correct.

Any input?

Thanks,

Booger

http://www.factcheck.org/2010/05/health-care-law-and-w-2-forms/

OK, so to take advantage of the opportunity for input, my two biggest gripes/suggestions are:

1. The organizer - thanks for bringing back the "Mini", but I end up having to use a hybrid. I use the main part of the mini, but need the detail in the long organizer for Sch's A, C, and E. Lumping all the medical expenses together, including unused SE health insurance, for example, just doesn't cut it. And, I don't want to see columns for multiple Sch C's on one page - too confusing for the client. So what would really work the best would be one mini-organizer, with expanded input for Sch's A, C, and E. Also, it confuses my clients to show the net from Sch C or E as "other income" from last year. Only items needing their input should be listed in the organizer, not net income from other schedules. I wish there were a way to list inputs (and last year's figures) for amounts I need on the Montana state itemized deduction schedule, like the light vehicle registration fees (LVREG), and contributions to political candidates.

2. Printing - it would save SO much time if we could save our forms to print selections as a default, and not have to reselect them every time we print. Also, the printing can be a little quirky sometimes. Just this morning, I had a return that would only print the first page of the 1040 until I left ALL the pages selected. I don't know why - it happens once in a while.

3. The questions could stand going over. There are a couple of weirdos in there that apply to no one I know. I always edit the questions in my organizer, but it would be nice if I didn't have to. And if I have to edit them, it would be nice if it were easier to do.

OK, so that turned into three, not two suggestions. Also:

4. It would be helpful if we could search our client files for all the returns that contain a particular form or schedule.

5. The update forms report drives me nuts, and I end up ignoring it. We need to be able to leave the completed tax returns out of it.

6. There should be a way to print the Form 8879 WITH the DCN on it before we create the e-file, so that the copy the client signs has the DCN on it. I refuse to create the e-file until I have the Form 8879 signed in case there are any changes to the return, and so that I don't somehow accidently send the e-file before I get the authorization.

OK, so to take advantage of the opportunity for input, my two biggest gripes/suggestions are:

1. The organizer - thanks for bringing back the "Mini", but I end up having to use a hybrid. I use the main part of the mini, but need the detail in the long organizer for Sch's A, C, and E. Lumping all the medical expenses together, including unused SE health insurance, for example, just doesn't cut it. And, I don't want to see columns for multiple Sch C's on one page - too confusing for the client. So what would really work the best would be one mini-organizer, with expanded input for Sch's A, C, and E. Also, it confuses my clients to show the net from Sch C or E as "other income" from last year. Only items needing their input should be listed in the organizer, not net income from other schedules. I wish there were a way to list inputs (and last year's figures) for amounts I need on the Montana state itemized deduction schedule, like the light vehicle registration fees (LVREG), and contributions to political candidates.

2. Printing - it would save SO much time if we could save our forms to print selections as a default, and not have to reselect them every time we print. Also, the printing can be a little quirky sometimes. Just this morning, I had a return that would only print the first page of the 1040 until I left ALL the pages selected. I don't know why - it happens once in a while.

3. The questions could stand going over. There are a couple of weirdos in there that apply to no one I know. I always edit the questions in my organizer, but it would be nice if I didn't have to. And if I have to edit them, it would be nice if it were easier to do.

It's carrying the SE medical ins premiums to both lines 4 & 13 on my sch K's.

I've never used it, but ATX does have an interview mode. Just click on the "Navigate" tab, then on "Interview" to change from direct input on forms mode to interview mode.

I had to synch twice and didn't lose my completed tags - indeed a great improvement. However, I lost my backup tags so that, when I backed up to my portable hard drive and my flash drives, it backed up EVERYTHING, not just the newer returns.

From the Form 8878 instructions:

When and How To Complete

Use this chart to determine when and how

to complete Form 8878.

IF e-filing . . .Form 4858, and the taxpayer is not authorizing an electronic funds withdrawal

THEN . . .Do not complete Form 8878

No - the Govt Retiree Credit was for 2009 only.

Just curious - has anyone received a renewal offer (early-bird discount) from ATX yet? I ordered the program thru TRX last year and thought maybe that's why I haven't heard anything from ATX?

I live in Lodi Maribeth. It is one of the great wine producing areas in CA. Miles and miles of vineyards. The Mondavi winery is 2 miles from my home.

I am also dying to visit Jud's. I saw it on the travel channel. My wife says that burger will kill me. But any 2lb burger with a pound of bacon, 8 slices of cheese, and a pound of sauted mushrooms has to be something to try once in your lifetime.

Tom

Lodi, CA

Well, that pretty much answers the question about how active he is.

I too would like to know how to link the 2 so that they auto fill. I fixed my master to put it there but I have hit retore to get there. A link would work better if the X is in the box. Thank you to who ever can tell us how this is done.

Click on Forms tab, then on "customize master forms",

Select both the 1040 and the 1040 EF Info forms to open,

Put your cursor on the source field and click,

Click on "Start link"

Put your cursor on the destination field and click,

Click on "Finish link"

I did the same thing, but I have to click on both boxes and "restore" to get the program to recognize the inputs.

65 down 470 to go!!

Customize your 1040 with two links. The phone number from two lines below on the 1040, pg 2, and the pin from the federal ef info form. Then you don't have to restore.

http://www.tax.com/taxcom/features.nsf/Articles/0DEC0EAA7E4D7A2B852576CD00714692?OpenDocument

According to Tab 15, pg 15-35 in my "1040 Express Answers", which I got with my ATX software, ND accepts e-filed returns for residents, nonresidents, and part-year residents.