Jack from Ohio

I was NOT allowed to do that at the firm I work for. We established a satellite office about 40 miles away. We wanted to use a second EFIN (the manager of the satellite office has one) to e-file from the satellite. I was told (for all it may be worth in the real world) by one person to fax a request letter on the company letterhead requesting the second EFIN to be added. We did just that. Phone call about 1 hour later, a sales representative (not the same person I spoke to earlier) informed me that we were not allowed to do that. She said the satellite office needed its own software, and that the IRS considers EFIN's to be address specific as well. She went on to say that "This requirement is new for 2007 tax year." This would mean another $1,500 for software for the satellite office. So much for "Nothing changing" or "No hidden fees." Just my experiences. I wish I could get straight (correct) answers from people at CCH. Maybe I am dreaming again...???

I used the ATX PDF creator only twice. It is very poorly engineered. I use pdfactory extensively. The files it creates are small, and it is solid as a rock. You can find this on the cd from 2004 or earlier. Navigate to the setuppdf.exe file (I think I got the name right) and run it. It will install pdfactory on your system and it acts just like a printer. Another "technical" issue that affects everyday use that was ignored since the 2005 tax season. I was told that they were going to "reconfigure" the PDF writer in ATX. :huh:

I just received this answer from a knowledgeable technician at ATX... It's a programming issue. I have reported it and we should have a fix within 24 hours. William Tasker CS Manager, ATX CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business William, Thank You for your competence and professionalism... I am still voting with my feet....

I just received this answer from a knowledgeable technician at ATX... It's a programming issue. I have reported it and we should have a fix within 24 hours. William Tasker CS Manager, ATX CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business William, Thank You for your competence and professionalism... I am still voting with my feet....

I have been on hold with support for 67 minutes now. I know what my summer will be spent doing...

I have been on hold with support for 67 minutes now. I know what my summer will be spent doing...

He just posted this on his site right above the article. I encourage everyone to post comments to this article: NOTE TO ATX USERS: OK, I get that many of you don't agree with Jeff Gramlich's assessment or my subsequent coverage of what appeared to be a fairly mundane business decision. Quit clogging my mailbox and post your comments here --- I'm opening this post to comments now.

I got this Error message when I tried to create an e-file for this return. The amount is question is other business interest entered on line 16b of Schedule C. Error: IRS e-file exclusion: Name(s) and Address(es) of person who received Form 1098 must be entered. If Other Interest amount is not associated with Form 1098, paper file this return. The only way to avoid the Error was to move the interest to line 48. Putting the interest on every possible place on the worksheet for line 16b made no difference whatsoever. The interest is interest paid on the business credit card. Any help would be appreciated. I have been on hold with tech support for 31 minutes at this point, and the technician I spoke to did not even know what Schedule C was for. PLEASE HELP!!

I wonder who does the personal tax returns for the management of CCH. I could only dream of having the opportunity to tell them... "I'm sorry, but I am having technical difficulties with my tax software, and the tech support people told me yesterday that it would be fixed in a few hours."

Read my other posts today. I have seen the same thing with other software companies I used. I just sent some $$ to the webhost, and want to thank ERC for all his time and effort. I am acutely aware of how much work it is. The level of customer service used to be a halmark of ATX. CCH does not understand it.

When I renewed my firms software, (Dec 20, MAX plus unlimited license = $1,500) I was told politely by a very young sounding lady with an almost cavalier attitude that her system cound NOT generate the installation codes, and it would have to come from some other department. This is totally opposite from ATX service. I/we are DEFINITELY voting with our feet next year. Inconsistent answers from sales people, cavalier attitudes, I would be fired from my firm for those things. If CCH is listening, or even cares, they have lost 2 six year customers. (The sales people seemed unconcerned about me expressing these thought when I talked to them)

Some things do not need further explanation. I am changing software next year, and the firm I work for will too. We have both been ATX clients since 2002. The firm I work for had 3,122 clients in 2006. But it is obvious that CCH is unconcerned. I have been on the "bought out and dropped client" list 3 times now, and have learned the warning signs. Tech support by people using Google, long wait times and it is just January, login to the "help function of the website" is a lottery as to whether it will work or not, (definitely set up by someone who has never had to use such a site) laying off seasoned, experienced, and caring workers... Need I say more? Some things need NO explanation.

I am certain that the board and all its using members will benefit by your knowledge and experience. Welcome

I used to be a cheerleader for Norton. In the past year, I have found Norton to be way way too intrusive and controlling, as well as clogging up and slowing down computer activities. I have taken a new approach. For Anti-virus I have been using Computer Associates E-trust. Only the anti-virus. I have also put in a hardware firewall and turned off ALL the software firewall and worm protection items. A simple 4 port wired router ($39.95 and made by many manufacturers) will provide firewall protection, even if you only have one computer. This eliminates the need for software firewalls, which seem to be the biggest headache with Windows Vista. CA has been offering some really good price deals ($0 after rebate) for some of their products. The computer I use as my main computer at my home office had CA E-trust on it from the manufacturer, and in over 2 years, I have not hand any issues with viruses, nor any problem with it clogging up the system.

I believe that Toshiba is still selling a line of laptops with XP Pro on them. My experiences with Vista have all been negative. Many many issues with older periphials. Printer drivers may not be available, or, as I found, the printer manufacturer simply said: "We will not be producing Vista drivers for this model." The printer was only 3 years old. My advice... JMHO... Resist Vista till there is no alternative. Laptop manufacturers have jumped in bed with Microsoft on this. Some laptops come with Vista. If you decide to uninstall Vista, and install XP, the manufacturer if the hardware does not have drivers for the new systems that are XP compatible. This I know from first hand experience. I returned the laptop, and resurrected my daughters old one from college. It is a little slow, but has XP Pro on it, and there are not compatibility issues.

I agree with KC.

Does the $10 transmission fee also apply to Fee Collect. Would this be in addition to the $15 that SBBT charges? I have not renewed yet. Have 2 programs ready, and am very skittish about ATX, due to their suddenly being less than forthcoming with information. The other thing that has me worried is the way they "downsized" just before the peak of the tax season. Did someone at CCH forget when April 15 really is? Maybe the beancounter making the decisions never had any contact with income tax preparation, or flunked Customer Service 101 in school??? Just venting my frustrations... I do need to know about the transmission fee and Fee Collect. I used it last year, and my clientel seemed to like it better than any of the other options out there. I want to give a very warm welcome to Nicole and Beth. Having experienced ATX service people on here will be a huge resource. I might even send chocolates if it will help convince you to stay and help us frustrated ATX customers. Thanks so much for making your presence known.

Maybe with all the extra technical staff that CCH has, the 2007 product will be so free of bugs and problems, that the phone help staff will not be needed.... :unsure:

As I understand the system, the return will be date stamped by ATX when you submit it to them and that will be the official submission time. So any return submitted and acknowledged by ATX by midnight will be considered timely filed. The IRS will still do its drain the next day, but the return will be date stamped. Even if the IRS rejects it, the original date stamp will remain when it is resubmitted. I think that is the IRS policy.

I got this just a few minutes ago... Dear ATXer, If you prepare Ohio individual tax returns, then you know how difficult it can be to allocate income among the many taxing jurisdictions in Ohio. This task can add hours to the job of preparing a return for someone with income in multiple Ohio locations. Well, we have a solution for you. It's the new ATX Ohio Cities package, a unique program that does all the hard work of allocating income and credits among Ohio jurisdictions. Here's what it can do for you: ">Automatically carry federal and state income data to the appropriate Ohio municipal returns. >Automatically calculate municipal tax liabilities or credits for up to 75 cities on one return. >Credits flow to forms OH RITA 37, OH CCA or the OH General City form. >Create as many OH General City forms as necessary based on resident city information. >Effectively prepare and file returns in all necessary Ohio local jurisdictions. >Check local returns for errors and flag additional entries that may be needed. Just install this powerful new software along with your ATX tax preparation program and the rest is easy. Call 800-944-8883 today to order this new program for only $199. Or order it online here Either way, we'll ship it to you with your 2007 tax year program in late November. Questions? Give us a call and we'll be happy to help you. Sincerely, Your Total Satisfaction Team PS – If you haven't renewed your ATX software yet, don't delay. Does this mean that if I want to do Ohio City returns I must now spend an additional $199? So much for "no price increase over last year." CCH is making it very clear how much they appreciate their (former?) customers... Just my opinion. For all it is worth.

How is that any different than the audit experiences we have now??

The entire purpose of my post was that these people ARE stating company policy. I only asked the lady to see if there were any other discounts available. She did her job very well. The company policies of CCH are what have caused all the discontent among us long time users. I did not say or even imply that the salesperson did anything wrong. That is why I removed the names. It is my decided opinion (for whatever that is worth) that CCH policymakers have forgotten a very vital and basic necessity of a successful business. Customer Service! The teacher in my very first business class had a simple saying... "Remember, the CUSTOMER pays your paycheck. Without customers there is NO paycheck." Adhering to that concept has made my business successful, and I have not decided whether to stick with ATX or not.

Here is the e-mail I got in response to the phone call I received today asking for me to renew. I told the salesperson that I had heard of discounts being offered of as much as $300. I also told her I was reviewing other software, and wanted to know why I should stay with them. She said she would check with her supervisor about any discounts available, and get back to me. Below is the response, with names removed to protect the guilty. Mr. XXXXXX I have spoke with my supervisor and unfortunately we are unable to offer you a discount off the 2007 tax program. We can do the delay billing and not charge your credit card until November 30 2007. So if you would like to set that up you can contact me. If you have any other questions please feel free to reply or call me. Have a good day. Ms. XXXXX XXXXX Total Satisfaction Team ATX/Kleinrock CCH Small Firm Services 1-866-355-0352 P.O Box 1040 63 Sweden Street Caribou,ME 04736 [email protected]

While your intentions to help your client are honorable, and your aproach very professional and thorough, I make this next comment based on experiences at the firm I work for dealing with audits this calendar year so far. I truly believe that you will have a better chance of winning the lotto than getting the IRS to reconsider any of the closed audits. We have seen a very cold and hard line taken by auditors and even by appeals officers. This is just my opinion, and I wonder if all the expense for your services would not eat away any benefit you may get for them. You have many hours of frustrating work ahead trying to crack the shell of apathy that has become the hallmark of IRS auditors. We have had auditors (more than one) simply ignore 2lb packages of documentation (follow up inofrmation they requested) sent to them, and simply send the 90 day letter, with no explanation. Again, just my opinion, but based on real life experiences over the past 8 months.

I am curious if I have to send this information, or if ATX is the one that needs to comply. http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=172577,00.html New IRS e-file Rule July 30, 2007 New Rule for Registration of Web Sites with the IRS The IRS has established new e-file rules to enable it to more quickly identify fraud schemes including phishing. These new IRS e-file rules apply to all Authorized IRS e-file Providers, including Online Providers, Intermediate Service Providers, and Electronic Return Originators (EROs) that obtain taxpayer information via the Internet directly or through third parties in order to e-file federal returns. Providers must submit to the IRS by August 9, 2007 an Excel spreadsheet...