Jack from Ohio

It' Over!!

Since 2:00 PM, finally 135 transmitted. Probably 75 rejections tomorrow, but no rush at this point!!

The support center has posted this:

We are experiencing very high efile volume today, 14th, and expect that to continue tomorrow too of course. We are seeing more "server errors" today than usual, and there is no action needed. Simply keep trying to send your efiles. This high efile volume translates into higher call volume to the CS Dept and our wait times are much longer than usual. We have added staff, increased hours, shortened lunches, and extended our closing time to 11pm tonight.

I read this and had the best laugh of my week!!! I guess it finally dawned on someone that April 15 was coming at the same time as last year.... :spaz:

I have 60 left to e-file. Have recreated 35 TWICE!! No program updates like the error message says...

Someone is experimenting with how servers are allocated, and they chose April 11-15 to do it. More evidence of how "informed" some decision makers are.

Booger might get a clue??

Don't take it seriously, I am just getting ready to lock the doors here and turn off the phone...

Jack, I am going to have to try this. I am always amazed at how long it takes me to get extensions done. (I have done about 80.) So, do you pull the client' files and just start typing? Then you print and/or e-file the whole bunch? Seems to me all the typing would be a pain. On the other hand, it seems like I am spending a lot of time looking at the screen saying "updating." There's only so much cleaning (yeah, right) one can do while waiting on the return to open.

Open a new file, add 4868 multiple, click the multiple tab and discover just how quickly you can print extension forms.

Verify his exact date of birth.

First, possibly only, 8332 of the year. (Usually only see one or two.)

I thought I read that the 8453 and 8332 could be faxed rather than mailed to processing center but can't find any reference to that now. Anyone else recall such a thing or is my mind just so tired that I'm remembering things I didn't really read?

Elfling

Why would you want to?

This discussion is just like certain of my clients that make sure I have put my fees and their union dues on Sched A. Even when those are the only deductions subject to 2% that they have. I just smile and say that I did deduct them, and they are happy.

Still missing some 2 day old acks/rejections.

What is the logic in performing server maintenance on servers that house an income tax preparation software company's programs, in the middle of the morning, on April 10??? All indications from CCH have been that the problem was related to maintenance, and not repairs. Am I the only one who fails to see the logic?

A client referred his ex-wife to me and warned me that she was not the brightest star in the sky...oh, I think he was right! Her 8 year old son has a savings account that he didn't have last year...her mother gave it to him...well, the son had $1200 in interest this year...nice, grandma! So I did a return for the son, and he (she) had to pay tax on the amount. I explained to her about the $850 deduction and she asked me if she divided the money into two accounts, he'd only get $600 from each and he wouldn't have to pay any tax. I was very kind and told her she'd have to add the two amounts together, she didn't realize that!

AnnieR

I am certain I do returns for at least 2 of her siblings, and 5 of her first cousins.

I just pulled this post off of that "other" board:

Since I could not find anything about this issue on the website, I thought I would perhaps save you a few minutes (or several) on the phone with ATX over the recent "Server Error" issue.

Here's what was explained to me...During recent server maintenance Servers at ATX were set to receive only mode meaning you could send e-files to ATX but they could not receive updated ACK info from the taxing authorities...As a results Acks are behind.

ATX has reallocated a large number of servers to updating outstanding ACKs and a smaller number of servers to receive e-files until the outstanding ACKS are updated.

Those of you getting a server error (myself included) are getting the equivalent of an Internet busy signal when you try to send e-files to ATX because most servers are being allocated to receiving outstanding ACKS from tax authorities at the moment....NOT receiving created e-files from software users

When that process is finished...you are supposed to be able to send and receive as normal per ATX...and no I have no idea how long that will be.

Hope this helps...

Gregster

I guess the person(s) scheduling server maintenance were oblivious of the date?? It did say maintenance and not repair, so it could have been done late night? I am no longer surprised by CCH's choices of actions, but continue to be dissappointed at the truly senseless timing of their actions.

:dunno:

THEY INHERITED A FARM!!!!. No mortgage interest!!!

Ray in Ohio - I just re-read the original post. I see no indication that the inherited farm did or did not have an incumberance.

<<<$260,000.00 of which all but $2,200 went to pay off the mortgages against it and the closing costs>>>

1) Accuracy of submission. No keypunch operator to transpose or put numbers on the wrong line.

2) Electronic and trackable Acknowledgement, usually within 1 or 2 days.

3) Quicker processing of the returns.

4) Many states only allow Direct Deposit with e-file.

5) Less postage, paper, toner etc.

6) Less time copying, colating, stapling, trying to get 13 pages into a #10 envelope.

7) No mistakes about where the return gets sent.

8) No doubt if the return was "sent" or not.

I had been using ATX since 1998 until this year. After the problems last year and the fear of CCH discontinuing MAX at some point, I decided to look at other programs. I found a gem of a program that works perfectly for my business and only at $299. It's called TRX Pro and it's has some tie in with Orrtax. I loved ATX for many years, but being proactive really has paid off and my profilt line is showing.

How many clients do you have?

Yes, I checked the KB, but nothing I found there helped. And no, not on a network, just lil ol me. I use a CD for my backup.

It's not the end of the workld, I can still Export returns, but it's annoying and it does bother me that there are no more automatic backups.

Change the location of your backup to a folder on your hard drive, then copy the files in that folder to your CD.

I have never found a way around it. I belive it is an IRS requirement that a date be entered for e-filing. Paper file will allow you to use various in both boxes.

Edited by Jack from Ohio. (even though a moderator did NOT tell me to)

I am not upset with ATX. I am pleased as can be with the software.

I have much dislike for the way CCH has treated us, and the silly corporate decisions.

The "bashing" has not been toward ATX, but toward CCH.

...although I will admit that sometimes they pay for lunch instead

be sure to put that on your 2106....

Yes we can e-file 1040A but only with SS and Wages or Self employment under $400 nothing else can be included with the Stimulus 1040A except you will have to over ride and put at least $1 into return so there is an amount on the AGI line of the return and we can put checking or savings info for a paperless refund. Right? Now my question is if these people have retirement income do we just not report it on this form if it is not taxable? Is this just an informational return and we will not be in trouble for not reporting on the 1040A Stimulus return all the income if it means no tax I guess if you put $1 in to make it e-fillable that is also false information but the IRS says to do this on the web site. Anyone out there e-filling leaving stuff off the return?

Yes

One of my co-workers pointed me to this site. I work in Tech Support, not Customer Service. The difference(this year specifically) is that Technical Support handles and fixes errors that occur within the software. Customer Service takes care of form questions, how-tos, actual tax-related questions and various other non-technical problems.

That being said, if you have an error in the software, feel free to ask and I will try to help. Unfortunately, typically, all I can help with is errors, software functionality, and maybe answer a few "Why does this happen" questions. I am here of my own accord in an un-official capacity and you can ask questions/listen to me at your own risk.

Are you going to attempt to answer the questions posted in the other thread? Or do you need to ask permission??

Double Ditto to what Bulldog Tom said.

There is much better "tech support" from people who frequent this board than any I have seen from the "New and Better" CCH.

Anyone asking questions here in an unofficial ATX community should, of course, be wary of responses you get. The first and best thing to do would be to actually call in for support and speak to a rep in an official capacity.

Please pardon my skepticism, my three calls to tech support early in the season handled by "support personnel" that did not even know the purpose of Schedule C. (which is what I was having issues with) This resulted in being sent to two other "support personnel" in turn, and neither one of them knew what the purpose of schedule C was. I spent 108 minutes on this call and found the workaround (not the fix) on my own.

You must excuse my skepticism...

Yea, this could be a number of problems. I see the runtime 91 errors from time to time and to be honest, they can show up anywhere and unfortunately they are not very descriptive. I reccomend running NetSetup first, making sure the software is not set to be running in compatability mode(I've seen it, I promise). If that fails, I would uninstall from Add/Remove programs and then reinstall the software. If that fails too, we would typically reboot the computer into Safe Mode and try it again to rule out the possibility that another program is interfering with ATX. If we determine that nothing is interfering at this point, I would have you call in so that we can clean out the entire program(salvaging the data of course) and reinstall it from scratch

I doubt the validity of this person's technical knowledge. Deleting the program by using the add/remove function has NEVER been the correct way. Your client's data is at risk if you do that.

This "person" has not answered a single question with any sense of real knowledge about the program.

What was the rationale for making such a drastic reorganization immediately before the start of the season?