Mike D

I think that before we embark on a class action we should file an offical request for a refund with TRX based on fraud and deception. In additiont each and everyone of us should first try to claim a refund from their credit card companies and/or banks where applicable! Major reasons for my approach is cost. an attorney will most likely charge up to 50% of recoveries? Should all else fail, I would support a class action. If we have any attorney's on this board please let us know if you can be of any assistance in this regard? I will begin the list of disatisfied customers requesting a full refund from TRX. Michael M Dubin CPA TRX Customer ID# 950217. Let's all work together as there is power in numbers! Mike Dubin CPA

Mainstreet Tax Solutions is making a special offer to those that have been with TRX and as such they are selling the full version of Taxwise, not including all of the bells and whistles for $350. I spoke with Tony Cooper VP 877-220-0193. Best of luck to all for the rest of the tax season. Mike Dubin CPA

Since receiving this software that you are comparing to TaxWorks you have updated it 17 times to date and low and behold it still doesn’t work well enough to produce a complete professional tax return. States are not yet available and tested? Platform is very unstable and continues to have many issues. The same type issues appear to exist affecting the business returns and you have not yet started that cleanup process? Using this software for the 2012 tax season in my opinion would destroy my business as my clients expect and deserve professional, accurate and state of the art results! I do believe that you had an opportunity to come clean and work out a refund policy with your members which would have been the appropriate thing to do. You however chose to continue this prolonged beta test to no avail. I have serious doubts about your claim that your firm e filed 50,000 tax returns using this software for the 2011 tax year without incident? I for one am bailing and I have already started a claim for refund with my credit card company in the event that you do not wish to refund my money! I have chosen to go with Taxwise from Mainstreet Tax Solutions, http://www.mainstreettaxsolutions.com/, which will cost me an additional $350. A small price to pay for peace of mind! I wish you all the luck in the world and do hope that you eventually develop a professional tax software product that will make us all proud. Mike Dubin CPA

A colleague of mine has informed me that this company below resells Taxwise software and that he purchased the full version for a great price. MainStreet Tax Solution’s http://www.mainstreettaxsolutions.com/ Best of luck to all. Mike Dubin CPA

I recently reveived an email from Success Tax Solutions promoting this product. Has anyone heard/used of this company/product? The price for unlimited online cloud with free efiling is $199, a cd-rom desktop unlimited version including all business type entities is $299. I previewed the 2011 software and it appears easy to use and somewhat complete. I would like to hear from anyone if they have used this product in the past. Thanks Mike Dubin CPA FREE TAX SOFTWARE create an ccount and we will send you an activation code STS PROFESSIONAL TAX SOFTWARE BUILT FOR SUCCESS. 1-855-STS-TAX1 www.successtaxsolutions.com Swww.successtaxsolutions.com The Greatest Tax Software •100% Web Based - OR Desktop Install Manage Multiple Offices from any computer •All Federal and State 1040 •Forms Business Forms (1120, 1120S, 1065, 1041, 706, 709, 990, 5500 •Unlimited E-filing •Online and Desktop Check Printing •Master Tax Guide Online Free Orientation •Marketing, Technical and Tax SoftwareSupport •Training on Tax Software, Tax Preparation and how to run your tax business •Great Bank Products with Rebates Audit Protection Tax Office Business Opportunities BE YOUR OWN BOSS! TAX PREPARES, SMALL BUSINESSES, WE TEACH YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO GROW IN THIS BUSINESS. ASK ABOUT OUR IN HOUSE FINANCING. UP TO 10,000 CASH ADVANCE TO ERO'S TAX OFFICE FRANCHISING AT NO COST CONTACT US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION: [email protected] Take Part in this Business Industry BUILDING YOU BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS, STSPRO is designed to maximize your bottom line by offering an efficient, affordable, and reliable professional tax software for any type of tax office. STS PRO specializes in computerized income tax preparation, online and electronic tax filing for individual and business taxpayers who want their refund fast! Getting Started Our Support Team is here to guide you through the necessary steps to get your Software, Banking Service, and Tax Franchise, operation open and ready for business. Training and Support We are committed to making the process of becoming a business affiliate with STS Tax Service as easy as possible. Marketing When it comes to marketing, STS provides its business affiliates the most advanced tools and programs to be successful in the tax industry Continue Reading » The Opportunity and Demand is Yours! We have discovered that each year more and more people are turning to tax professionals to complete their income tax returns. Unlike other industries, the tax return preparation industry is recession- resistant. Regardless of the weather, the economy or the price of gas, Americans must file a tax return every year. Everyone understands the significance of April 15th. While other trendy or popular businesses tend to wither away in a short time, the tax preparation business doesn’t have the danger of obsolescence because people will always need to file a tax return. The opportunity is yours for the taking with our corporation as an STS Tax Service business affiliate. Continue Reading » Success Tax Solutions (855).787.8291 www.SuccessTaxSolutions.com

I found these posts on http://www.taxalmanac.org/index.php/Main_Page and thought that everyone on this board should be aware of what others are confronting before passing judgement. I too have some concerns however Doug is assuring us that all will be there shortly and for my $299 I am willing to wait it out and see! Happy new years to all. Mike Dubin CPA Did H&RB push TAXWORKS over the cliff? Pink Pearl (talk|edits) said: December 31, 2012 I have used Taxworks software for over seven years but I gotta tell ya...I'm getting worried...Taxworks has always been very dependable, easy to use and priced right. Today I have a useless piece of software that will not perform and no fixes in sight. Spent six hours with tech spt on Friday to get the 2012 program to open and yesterday I discover that I now cannot open the 2011 program. TAXWORKS promised a new and superior product early in 2012 but seems to have released the initial version in late December 2012 to it's customers so the customer (us) could be the beta testers.. QUESTION: Any other Taxworks users feeling the pain like me and have a plan B in sight? Larousse (talk|edits) said: 3 January 2013 I agree, Pearl. I loved TaxWorks for its excellent support. However, right now, I get their new very slick appearing screen that doesn't actually DO anything. I have our IT person scheduled to do another joint session with their tech support but, frankly, I'm about ready to throw in the towel.

As a CPA I was appalled when this was first announced. I as well as many other members voiced their opinions with the AICPA which ultimately led to the disclosure rule. If a CPA out sources and/or provides client information to a third party they must disclose these facts directly to the client. This worked for some time to quell the expansion of outsourcing, until the big 3 and others found a way around the rule. They set up offices in the countries that they outsourced to, i.e. India, where one partner oversaw all of the outsourced tax returns. This was considered kosher and remains so at the present time. The struggle continues. Mike Dubin CPA

Thanks for your response. I never requested a refund, in fact I wrote that "I will continue to review TaxExact and see if it in fact meets my needs." Under he circumstances I wish to keep my options open. I do hope that this software is as successful as you espouse because that will benefit all of us. I wish to retaim my membership with you until further notice. Thanks Mike

Ed, You are absolutely correct in that I was also assured that TRX would be offering Tax Works for 2012 before I committed to prepurchase the software in April 2012! I am not as yet certain as to which direction I will be proceeding as TaxExact at this time leaves a whole lot to be desired. The fact that I am only preparing 50 or so mixed returns for 2012 doesn't leave me much choice from a price prospective, however I do need software that is complete, accurate and that I can trust the outcomes of? I will continue to review TaxExact and see if it in fact meets my needs. Best of luck to you. Mike Dubin CPA PS: Please post your recollections of TRX's committment before you renewed your membership in April of 2012!

Doug, I'm sorry you feel that way, however I have previously used 9 different tax software products over my career and to date I have never encountered as many immediate issues with any of them until now. You have previously on more than one occasion boasted that your software is better than TaxWorks and therefore we should all trust you, well I don't wish to be a Doubting Thomas but I am not yet impressed! Many of your responses to these issues take place in the future. I for one do not wish to beta test any software during the tax season. I will however give you the benefit of the doubt and discuss my issues with customer service and let you know if they are addressed and resolved. For the record, it appears that I am not alone as to the issues with your software, so please address your responses to the entire group who appear share my concerns. Thanks Mike Dubin CPA

I just received the software this morning and proceeded to load it. It would not load from the cd so I improvised and copied the files to a temp file and ultimately it loaded. I encounteded the same problem as Don did in that the converted files did not appear. I reloaded the files using the proforma utility and they appeared. In addition within the first return I found the following issues. Failed conversions? All of my complex and multiple states didn't convert. Can't locate any state software? No training videos and/or manuals available at this time? Forms peek displays 2011 blank forms? In addition there are no forms 1041, 706, 709, 990 or 5500? Allof these forms were available with TaxWorks? You would think that under the circumstances of lack of trust issues with TRX they would man the telephones at least today! No such luck. If this is what Doug Hughes insists is much better than TaxWorks, I must be missing something? I do hope that these assues are resolved easily and amicably as my patience with this homegrown product is waring thin. Mike Dubin CPA

The only software that TRX is shipping on Dec 10 is TaxExact, which they claim is their new homegrown product, not TaxWorks! According to my most recent telephone conversation with Karen at TRX, they have not yet concluded talks with Red Gear. In addition I was further informed that should they finalize the agreement, the cost would be going up. When I previously spoke with Red Gear directly they informed me that even if they do sign an agreement with TRX, based on the new software configuration, they will not be including the asset manager! Based on price alone, I am willing to preview the TaxExact software and see if it works for me? Should they reach an agreement with Red Gear, I will assess it at that time. I would not keep my hopes up. Best of luck to all in the 2012 tax season and happy & healthy holidays Mike Dubin CPA

I have been keeping in touch with both TRX and TaxWorks and you are correct that as of today there is still no decision for 2012. I have prepared a list of all from this board as well as other boards who would be interested in potentially dealing with TaxWorks directly should TRX not be successful. To date I have seven including myself who are interested. I suggest that anyone else out there who may be interested please send me your information @ [email protected] so I can add you to the list. Let's be hopeful that something will come of this. Thanks Mike Dubin CPA

Just got power back after 4 days, not alot of fun to say the least. Just happy to be returning to normal. Hope all others are as fortunate? Thanks Mike Dubin CPA

Reporting in from Rockville Centre, N Y, south shore of Nassau County at 5:45 PM. The winds are very strong and a large part of a tall oak tree in my backyard just fell on my neighbors garage and another neighbors backyard. Thank god noone was injured! Little rain but extremely high water levels on the shore whre they evecuated everyone. To put into prospective, I reside about 1 mile north of the mandatory evacuation areas. Let's hope that this is the worst of it as the tracking models seem to be downplaying the potential for Long Island. Ironic that we just encountered an electrical surge, didn't lose power for long. I will keep you all posted. Mike Dubin CPA

Has anyone previewed the new TRX homegrown software as yet? If so would you be good enough to post your experiences for all of us who may be using it for 2012! I personally have spent little time with it as there was no conversion software for TaxWorks, (somewaht suprised that TRX dodn't concentrate their efforts due to all of the current users). In addition there were no states and or business entities to work with as well. I am still hoping that TaxWorks becomes available for 2012? Thanks Mike Dubin CPA

In my original message I did mention, "good news is that over the past few months, I have been in touch with Red Gear Tax Works directly and have suggested to them that they seriously consider retaining many of TRX members by making their own offering to all of us. In all fairness they have been quite busy with a new version of the software that appears to be even better that it was. Now that they are aware of the plight of many of their users, they might just wish to make us an offering?" I too am very happy with TaxWorks and would like to continue the relationship. For all of you out there that agree please let us know your thoughts and if you choose not to post you can send me an email @ [email protected]. The more members that we garner, the better out position to negotiate! Thanks Mike Dubin CPA

I may have spoke too soon. I took the libety to write to Doug Hughes President of TRX for the facts. He responded with the following email. Michael, The status is still the same. RedGear (TaxWorks, 1040Works, H&R Block) always play mind games with us until the last minute as they did last year trying to get us to pay more for their software than I am willing to pay. With RedGear being owned by H&R Block they have the better than all attitude, so they try as they may to sell TaxWorks but they can't sell as much as TRX does so in November they come back to the table because they need our sales to reach the goals put on them by the stock holders of H&R Block. I also know they are trying to completely redo their software to prepare it to start using it in the Block Offices so no matter what is the outcome the look and feel of TaxWorks is going to be different this year. Being quit honest our in house product is going to be 100 times better than TaxWorks this year. We are working with several of the ATX people to give them what they are looking for this year. We have added numerous worksheets, simple entry depreciation worksheets, and so many more things that were lacking in any previous software we have sold. Keep in mind no matter how much smoke RedGear blows up our dress they are totally limited to developing what the Guys at Block in Kansas City tell them to develop, however our in house product we can make the changes our customers want. If we can get most everyone over to our in house software no one will ever have to change again and I will not feel extorted by outside software companies trying to make me raise prices on you guys. Remember ATX was developed by if you need a form we will get it to you in 48 hours, so we are trying to something similar and our customers service is one of the best in the industry. You may also let everyone know if they purchased our $399.99 or higher product we are now offering FREE CPE credits up to 15 hours. We offer credits for Tax Preparers, EA, California Tax Preparers, Insurance Agents, Funeral Directors, Mortgage Brokers at a much reduced cost than anyone else in the market. example 15 hours CE credits for tax preparers $44.95. I hope this makes sense and you can explain it in a better fashion than the way I just did. Please let me know what you think and how I can get my message across to all the ATX community people. Doug Hughes I think we should all give him the benefit of the doubt and wait and see what prevails! Mike Dubin CPA

I spoke with TRX today and they informed me that they have discontinued their relationship with Red Gear Tax Works and therefore will no longer be offering their software. They will however be offering their homegrown software which upon my review was not stellar! The good news is that over the past few months, I have been in touch with Red Gear Tax Works directly and have suggested to them that they seriously consider retaining many of TRX members by making their own offering to all of us. In all fairness they have been quite busy with a new version of the software that appears to be even better that it was. Now that they are aware of the plight of many of their users, they might just wish to make us an offering? I personally am willing to wait for their decision before I opt for any other product at this time. As a group we have quite a lot of clout when negotiating with any software vendors! Let’s try to delay any decisions until more information becomes available For those small practitioners as myself, who are not aware, Intuit is offering a pay per return online solution that they taut as Lacerte which appears to be quite reasonable. For example should this option become available in the near future for many of us, I am certain that they will listen to us very carefully and make us an offer that we can't refuse? Please visit intuitaccountants.com/ito for more information. Thanks for your understanding and patience. I will keep all of you posted as news comes available. Mike Dubin CPA

Sorry, here is the spreadsheet. Mike Dubin CPA Tax Pro Exchange Board Software Final Alalysis.xls

I prepared the attached spreadsheet for the board above and thought that some of you might have onterest in it? Please let me know your comments. Thanks Mike Dubin CPA

You can call RedGear @800-230-2322 to request locations of their seminars. I am attending May 23 in Garden City, NY at Hampton Inn Garden City, 1 North Ave. The others that I am aware of are also in the NY metropolitan area between May 22 and May 29. Haven't I read some past rhetoric from you about TRX and their ripoff policies? This sounds familiar. Hope to see you there. Mike Dubin CPA

I stand corrected as I just got off the phone with TRX who informed me of exactly what John A posted above. They suggested that I call back in August as they would be in a better position to respond at that time. So other that the assurance that I received from RedGear themselves I am not a happy camper! Intuit online accountant is looking better than it did yesterday for me. I will be attending a TaxWorks seminar on May 23 at which I will once again inquire as to the status of the TRX deal. I will keep you posted. Thanks Mike Dubin CPA

Let me allay any suspicions about TRX providing RedGear for 2012. I attended the NY Accounting & Technology Show this Wednesday at which Red Gear had a booth. I spoke to them at length and they assured me that TRX will be licensed to provide TaxWorks for 2012. In addition I was assured by TRX sales when I renewed that they would be providing both TaxWorks and their homegrown version for 2012. I am attending a RedGear seminar on May 23 in Garden City, NY where I will once again reconfirm 2012. For those of you who may be interested Intuit is offering a cloud tax preparation product that costs $7.99 each for 100 1040 returns, all states, efile, etc. They also provide business returns from $199 for 10 or $349 for 20, 1065, 1120, 1120S, 1041. They said at the show that this was Lacerte software, when I inquired subsequently they said it is based on the Lacerte platform but lacks some of the bells and whistles. In any event here is the link for those interested. intuitaccountants.com/ito Mike Dubin CPA

I just received this email from TRX. Hi Michael, TRX Software Development, Inc. NEWS!!!! WOW! What a great tax season we had this year thanks to you our valued customer. We are currently reviewing every aspect of the 2011/2012 tax season we just completed to be able to bring you an even better tax season next year. I would love to hear from you any feedback on what you liked this year and anywhere you would like to see TRX improve, so please email me at [email protected] We have currently been adding a few new elements 2012/2013 tax season to our customer experience to ensure we continue to give you great service. Here are a few things we are doing thus far: 1. Increased our Quality Assurance staff and added a new Quality Assurance Manager. These newly increased staff will be monitoring our support calls, sales calls, chat support and customer call in’s. 2. We have hired a new Head Master Tax Specialist with 15 years’ experience at H&R Block to ensure that as the new testing requirements from the IRS come into play we can prepare you for each test. She will come on board May 1st, 2012 to work not only with our tax analysts and Enrolled Agents, but to begin a newsletter to you monthly on all tax law changes, IRS requirements, and all other industry news. 3. We have hired for a newly created position Technical / Tax Support Director with 15 years’ experience in the US Army; he knows how crucial quick accurate support information is. 4. We will be extending our hours of operation during the first 3 weeks of tax season to ensure our Pacific Coast customers have support when they need it. During these first 3 weeks we will be open from 8:00 am until 12:00 am central standard time Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. After the first 3 weeks our support hours will be Monday through Saturday 8:00 am until 10:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm through March 1st. From March 1st until the last week of tax filing season we will be open from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm, closed Sunday. We will be open the final week of tax season from 8:00 am until 12:00 am central standard time Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. I look forward to your feedback, [email protected] Doug Hughes President / CEO TRX Software Development, Inc. Hope it is not just hyperbole? Mike Dubin CPA