Jack from Ohio

When 2013 & 2014 tax return season gets here and we have to do the documentation and calculation of the Obamacare tax, how can the IRS still have a 1040EZ? The provisions of Obamacare will weed out the "wana-be" tax preparers, not the current cornucopia of new regulations on preparers. Those of us who choose to stay up to date and informed will be in great demand.

In a very short time, you will develop deep hatred for Windows 8. Computer salespeople will tell you that the only option on a new computer is Windows 8. This is totally incorrect. Sticking with Windows 7 which has become a very stable operating system is an option.

When only 1% of returns total get audited? Reality check here. Last year 200+ returns filed from the same house with refunds going into the same bank account and the IRS has not caught the criminal?? The "smart and ethical" taxpayers already know how to find a competent preparer. It is the huge number of taxpayers that only want "cheap" that go to the "fly by night" preparers. This will not change. The testing was supposed to be mandatory by Dec. 31, 2012. There has been plenty of time for those that wish to comply. If a deadline constantly gets moved, it is no longer a deadline. The whole RTRP process is a huge joke on the taxpayers, and a money grab for the IRS from the law abiding and ethical preparers.

What is the difference? All year long, the IRS stated that you had to have 15 CPE's in order to renew your PTIN. Without the CPE's (and the only proof they requried was checking a box that said you have them) you were not supposed to be able to renew. I predict the Dec. 31, 2013 "deadline" for taking the RTRP test will also be moved or removed.

The rules will not stop the unqualified people from doing returns. They simply mark it as self-prepared. Where, in all the new regulations, is the regulation that will prevent that? They grab a copy of Turbo-Tax and prepare as many as they want. I know several very qualified and experienced tax preparers that are giving up the practice because they do not want to go through all the new regulations. Their practice is not large enough to be able to absorb all the extra expense, or make the drastic changes needed to comply with Circular 230.

1098T is provided by all accredited institutions. Plus, I mailed lots of stuff to the college when my kids were in.

I have taken over 40 hours of training each year for the past 5 years to stay up to date and informed. Now you see, I am one test away from becoming an E.A., which WILL give me additional privileges with the IRS. The RTRP test was a first grade test compared to the E.A. exams. I was comforming to Circular 230 several years before RTRP requiring me to, because it is the ethical and good business thing to do. I am offended by the requirement to spend all the money for the extra hoops for something I have already been doing for years and have nothing to show for it but the ability to add 4 letters after my name. Now I see that the IRS has rescinded the CPE requirement for 2012. They were adamant about not changing any deadlines. As such, the IRS preparer compliance division is a joke. I do not fear an audit of my clients or my office due to the things I just related. I do not fear the IRS, I have come to loathe the rulemaking department of said agency.

Did you believe the Y2K theory as well? When I have to school an auditor that state refunds are not counted as income because the taxpayer took standard deduction last year, my respect for the abilities of the IRS takes a severe nosedive. (True story)

Your expectations of the IRS are fantasy. The IRS cannot even correctly credit me the CPE credits I earned at THEIR Nationwide Forum in Chicago in August. Now answer me how all these changes are going to improve the quality of tax returns?

The tiger ate the rabbit.

I do not want the clients that want returns "done" with only their W-2. I get new clients every year where people have messed up returns by the big box stores and the "do it yourself" tax programs. I make good money correcting their errors. If a current client wants to switch and go to those places or software, I wish them good luck and say... "You'll be back." No misses yet!! When they do come back the following year, their pricing goes up. I have no appointments before Feb. 1, every year for exactly the same reasons. I have had a 10% annual increase in my personal clientele each year for the past 5 years, and looks like a 20% increase already for 2012 filing season. TT & HRB are good for my business!!

The RTRP program (I have complied with CPE and the test) is the biggest joke since Y2K. It is nothing but a money grab by the IRS. All the expense and time I spent complying has only given me one thing I did not already have.... The ability to put RTRP after my name. No additional privileges with the IRS for my clients above being unregistered. Now I see where the IRS relented and did NOT ENFORCE the CPE requirements for 2012. I also know that people who did not renew until after Dec. 31, 2012 were not even questioned about being late. (Two people in my office...) None of these steps will accomplish any of the state purpose which is "To ensure that people preparing paid returns are knowledgable and qualified to prepare accurate returns and to reduce the filing of fraudulent returns." The whole program is Male Bovine Scat!!

Additional RAM is an instant increase in speed for all functions of your computer.

Now once you install the RAM, your system readings in control panel will only show 3GB. This is a Windows XP limitation. Your system will use all of it, but won't show it.

Did you order the fastest that your motherboard will handle? BTW, RAM has become real cheap compared to 5 years ago.

Max out the RAM your system will hold. Find out the fastest RAM your system will hold and if what you have is not the fastest, replace it all. Using ATX requires the fastest and as much RAM as your system will hold. We have 10 workstations. 8 have 4GB, 2 have 8GB. Go to www.crucial.com and use their automatic scan tool to find out what your motherboard will take.

What about the learning curve for an office like I work in with 8 preparers and 2,800+ returns? Not so simple to jump around tax programs. Think of the conversion nightmare. If we only had 200-500 clients, would not be so dramatic.

Future use for Obamacare penalty uh uh uh I mean tax.

I went to the ATX 2012 Seminar and they posted this site on the board at the front of the room for everyone to see. I guess they don't like anyone saying the truth.

The reasons they are censoring their discussion board is the same reason they shut it down right after purchasing ATX. Before this tax season, the only reason I continued to do any business with CCH was the ATX software. I am waiting to pass judgment on 2012. Currently, the only problems I (and the firm I work for as well) are the program closing without warning. However, 2011 was doing the same thing. Another item about the changes for 2012. In the past 8 years, when the client list grows above 250, the program bogged down immensly. No cure. The database used was Access 97. At the firm (2,800+ returns) at the end of season, it may take a full minute and a half to open any return. This is one of the items addressed with the new design. It is also my experience, that many of the problems being talked about are caused by the user's system. Not just hardware, but all the other programs the user has running. Internet Security Suites by all manufacturers reek havoc on ATX. All the "toolbars" and the "watchover" programs do the same. If you are not somewhat tech savvy about your systems and networks, you need to hire the services of someone who does. It is 2012, and not having computer skills either on staff or available is a death knoll. I have not ever been on the other board since it was shut down. I hesitate to go there because they would probably put me in the pen with Bulldog Tom.

Subject: Due to late tax law changes, stockpiling rule doesn't apply Due to late tax law changes, the 2013 filing season for processing individual income tax returns will begin on January 30, 2013. Certain tax returns will not be accepted, either electronically or on paper, until later in the filing season. Details on affected forms are in IRS News Release IR- 2013-2. EROs and Online Providers may hold tax returns containing one or more of these forms until the IRS can accept them. EROs and Online Providers must advise taxpayers that the returns will not be e-filed until the IRS can accept the returns beginning January 30. Clearly explain to the taxpayer that this means the period for processing the return and/or checking the taxpayer's refund status cannot begin before January 31, 2013. Therefore, the e-file stockpiling rule does not apply in this situation. For more details on stockpiling, see Publication 1345 Authorized IRS e-file Providers e-filing Individual Income Tax Returns.

Taxwise is not ATX.

Cordless drill, 3/8" metal bit. Problem solved. Drill right in the center of the tumblers. Been there, done that.

"Patience Young Grasshopper!!"

Rolling over returns (other than 2 or 3 for testing) before time to prepare than ALWAYS causes issues. Did you see that returns with 4562 will not be able to be completed or filed before late February or early March? Why roll them over and increase the possibility of problems?? Never roll over until time to work on the return!