Lynn EA USTCP in Louisiana

I downloaded the 12.9 update rebooted my computer and am unable to get beyond the ATX splash screen. Big sigh...........Hard shut down of ATX then restart of the computer. After that the program opened ...... finally ..... after sitting on the splash screen for a LONG TIME.

Thanks, Lion - I'm in Louisiana. To Joan - I used Drake in 2004 and 2005 - not really my cup of tea; thanks for the info on the d/c to ATXers.

I have signed up for Fee Collect - rarely use it. And YES I do increase my fee by the $15 fee collect fee.

Lion, can you give us a 'ballpark' of the cost for Pro fx? I sent an inquiry to CCH on this program - 2 days ago - no response other than their canned thank you for your inquiry........If you prefer to send a private email - my email is [email protected] Thanks, Lynn

Tom, I do have an HSA. My take on this is that there is NO time limit for requesting reimbursement of an eligible expense. Therefore many folks might 'bank' their HSA, pay their medical bills from nonHSA funds until such time that they have a HUGE medical cost and then seek $ from the HSA. Lynn

I just had two very strange experiences in 2012. 1 - I went to go into my own tax return, in the 2012 system. When it opened the only item was the federal tax return cover sheet. I deleted the return, repeated the rollover process. Same strange occurrence. Once again deleted my return from 2012. Then I went into 2011 and got a message that forms in my return were later than forms in the 2011 program, viewed the log and it was blank. But I did a form update anyway. (Now I update the 2011, still, on a daily basis just in case.) Then opened my return in 2011, saved it and closed it. Then I went back to 2012, rolled over my own return, opened it and voila' all forms and schedules were there. 2 - Went into an 1120S return, to update the fixed assets in preparation for the personal property tax report. None of the assets were there. No big deal for me to re-enter them as there were less than 10; but I would have been very annoyed otherwise. Maybe I should have deleted the return, gone back into 2011 (as I did for my own return), etc. Wonder if anyone else is having similar strange occurrences. Lynn

My favorite software for 1040's was Crosslink by Petz.

Did you modify the client letter last year? I modify every client letter and in each case the federal client letter did not appear in the rollover. An update due out next week sometime is 'supposed' to fix this. Lynn

www.parkertaxpublishing.com/ I think they do have a trial period. Good luck with this - Lynn

Intelliconnect is CCH's research product. It is an extra subscription, with another fee. It replaced the Kleinrock research engine. I had Kleinrock and then Intelliconnect. I now use Parker Research, begun by the same folks who ran Kleinrock research. $249 for an annual subscription.

Mine kept crashing during the update process too so I closed the program and went to the ATX Support site and downloaded the update from there. Once I loaded the update the program opened very quickly. I haven't tried opening a return, yet, but instead told the program to do an update - and it downloaded 57 more forms. Now that the forms download is complete I'm in the process of opening my mother's tax return. She or more younger son as usually my test returns. So far, so good. I even figured out how to add the fricking letter and to go into letter options to tell it that the return will be e-filed. The separate privacy notice is still MIA so I have printed several from the prior year's program and made copies to insert into my client's copy of the return. I am keeping my fingers crossed the rest of the day progresses nicely.

It is under 65 for taxpayers without a child.

To find the 'manual', once your program is open, click on 'Support', then a box of choices opens; the manual is the User Guide - a 470 page pdf. I strongly urge you to change your update preference to 'manual'. I am also stand alone and get the network error message - a 'fix' for this is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday. My condolences on the death in your family. Lynn

Just yesterday I was able to e-file 3 2011 federal tax returns, no issues, all 3 have been accepted. However I continue to get rejects on the accompanying 3 state 2011 e-file returns, LA and AZ. LA tells me they are set up to accept e-filed 2011 returns but no answer from either AZ or from ATX. lynn

The main problem I am having is the intermittent "network update: An application update has been applied to the network. A restart of your application is required to apply thisupdate to your workstation. If you have any unsaved changes you will be prompted to save prior to the application restart. Then a button to click 'ok'." Note that I am not working in a networked environment. My computer is stand-alone. I have downloaded the 12.5 update, from the support website, no less than 3 times. This error will occur when first opening the program, and after 3 restarts it will seem to stay open. Then after rolling over a 1040 this network update issue happened again, no less than 3 times. Somehow my federal client letter has disappeared leaving me with federal estimated tax letter, which is worthless as this client does not require estimated tax payments. When I open the template the body of the combined federal/state letter is there, with the federal showing that it will be e-filed and the state a paper mailed return, though both will be e-filed. I have reported this issue to support. And I have also reported an issue with e-filing 2011 state tax returns - they return rejected with EFC49 - not supported. My state e-file coordinator says they are set up for e-filing prior years; NO ANSWER FROM SUPPORT ON EITHER ISSUE. And NO, I have NOT read the 470 page manual. I am scheduled to watch the webinar tomorrow, though, and will follow through with that. I am hopeful, expectant, that the 2/4 update will clear these issues.

here is the pdf 2012 EIC Worksheet.pdf

see this pdf - it's a place to start- my pdf disappeared - will try again Also see IRS Publication 3524 - EIC checklist

In my limited xperience with unions, that's it, mark the pension box on the w2. Strangely my, now former, client did not want that box marked on the w2s since it was not his company's pension. Hopefully others with more experience than me will chime in here. Lynn

Yes, the estate issues the 1099-MISC to the law firm for the amounts paid within the calendar year 2012. Lynn

I clicked on the link for the webinar and there's no spot to register, or at least none that I can find. There's a link for 'view details', then directs the reader back to the original site. Lynn

Joan, the IRS will mail you a letter with the PIN. Lynn

Another option with Drake is their pay-per-return option. I used Drake as pay-per-return the year my vendor for entity (corporations, partnerships) closed its doors. That was very affordable for me and helped me survive the transition from that software vendor until I found something that suited my needs. Lynn

This subject is also being discussed on another webboard. Sign up fee is reported to be $500. It looks like the business plan is to provide bids for tax prep. The purpose of taking bids, of course, is to drive down the cost to the client. Payments pass through Prosado, & Prosado acts as intermediary in disputes between preparer & client. It's not clear whether the brokering by Prosado is indefinite going forward. I stand by my earlier post - I still take a pass on this one. Lynn

I would never do this - it is not in my best interests to enter into such an agreement. Sight unseen I never quote a firm fee; I might give a fee range, "$xx - $yy, or more depending on circumstances". This might be an option for those just starting out in this business, in an attempt to build their client base, but as a well established tax professional, this type of arrangement would not fit my business model. These days most of my new clients are from direct client referrals. Lynn Jacobs, EA Enrolled Agent Civil Law Notary Public Kenner, LA

That's my take - those who filed before 6/14 received their credit and will not have to repay it.