Wayne Brasch
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Posts posted by Wayne Brasch
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Program Version 2008.12.157 Build 11420 Release 20081111 is now able to be gotten as of 10/20/09 through the Update button on the taskbar of the ATX tax software. I updated forms today and found that the program update was also downloaded and installed.
Wayne Brasch
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I don't think I've ever used that address (Ben Salem or Bensalem). Do you know what it's used for?
Diane
Diane,
ACS is the Automated Collection Service (System) arm of IRS. I believe that address is going straight to that system.
Wayne Brasch
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I have a client who hadn't sent in their 941's since 2007. They made all the deposits, just didn't mail the 941. In the last year they have received multiple notices from IRS. The 941's were prepared. They called the IRS and the mailing address they were given was:
IRS
ACS Correspondence
P O Box 57
Mail Stop 686 South
Ben Salem, PA 19020
They have signed receipt verification from this address.
But, IRS is still saying they don't the reports or that they can't find them. Has anyone heard of this address? I'm going to have the client send the whole package of 941's, copies of notices, copy of the receipt from Ben Salem, etc. to the IRS office in Philadelphia. That's the address on the notice.
Diane
Diane,
I believe that should be Bensalem, PA.
Wayne Brasch
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Ah, but that's the rub. You have to know taxes before you know what questions to ask, and to know what the different answers mean to the outcome.
KC,
That's what a lot of tax preparers do. They ask no questions and just take what the taxpayer has given them and put that information into some tax software. They then tell the taxpayer the results and collect their preparation fee. In my opinion, no one deserves to be treated that way.
Wayne Brasch
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I noticed tonight that ATX has now made the 2009 Organizer available for download along with a program update.
Wayne Brasch
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Mike Dubin CPA,
I got a new computer this past February 1 when my old computer went down. This one now has Windows Vista Home Basic. The old one had Windows Vista Ultimate. ATX tax programs for the past several years worked very well on both of them.
Wayne Brasch
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Is there a way in the ATX program to print off a list of returns, with just names? Isn't that what preparers are required to keep, a list of their clients? Can the program help me with that?
JenMO,
In Return Manager, click on Mark All, then under Reports, click on Print Marked Client List.
Wayne Brasch
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Couple got married at the end of 08, requested the extension; now that is time to file something is wrong (I don't know what the problem might be) and the wife wants to file separate.
Would it be any issue with the IRS if they start filing separate their very first year of marriage? As for me I will be careful with any conflict of interest.
thank
Lucho
Lucho,
IRS would love for them to file jointly so that they both would be forever liable for anything that was included within that return or for what should have been included, but was not. As the others have said, though, they can't be forced to file as MFJ.
Wayne Brasch
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does atx run well on Vista???
michaelmars,
I have been using Vista ever since it became available and have ATX programs back to the 1998 year loaded on my computer and all of them work extremely well with no problems caused at all by Vista.
Wayne Brasch
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Personally, I never get a withholding refund from CA or Fed as I make sure to withhold only enough to avoid penalty... No tax preparer is likely to advise that as clients seem to shop for the biggest refund.
Funny money is all it is, delay a civil servant payroll for one day to shift the pay amount to the next fiscal year, increase employee withholding but not liability, juggle the percentage of deposits to front load the tax year, etc.
Medlin Accounting,
I have always advised my clients that, in my opinion, it would be better for them to try to break even when they file their personal tax returns. I always offer to get with them several time a year, by any means they choose, to modify their Federal and State withholdings so that they accomplish that. Most of them, though, don't want to do that-they want to get the BIG refunds. It seems to make them feel as if they beat the government. We know, of course, that is their money in the first place and they have only let the government use their money for several extra months. My Wife and I usually owe IRS just a small amount and get a small refund from GA. They just about each year offset each other.
Wayne Brasch
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So Wayne shows 12400, KC shows 11700 and mine shows 11400.
Something screwy here.
Taxbilly
Taxbilly,
I said mine shows $11,400. I got that from just entering a 2 near the top of the Planner to indicate MFJ. With no other entries then, the Standard Deduction near the bottom shows $11,400 for 2009.
Wayne Brasch
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TAXBILLY,
I have Version 12 of the 1040 Tax Planner and it shows the Standard Deduction for MFJ for 2009 to be $11,400 and $10,900 for 2008.
Wayne Brasch
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I spent more time today looking at IntelliConnect. I went through the tutorial and looked at most of the other features it contains. I liked what I saw especially as compared to other research methods. I got an email today from ATX that said, "The 2009 ATX tax program will include a link to IntelliConnect on the toolbar, like the "Libraries" link in the 2008 program". I think this research tool will be helpful to all of us who may do any research.
Wayne Brasch
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Booger,
I think for the most part since we are all numbers in the IRS computer system, this extension would be valid for both of them.
Wayne Brasch
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I looked at it for about 5 or 6 minutes one time a few days ago. It seems to have possibilities. I'm sure I will look into it more before tax filing season begins.
Wayne Brasch
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There are a number of ads for online backup. As a suggestion I would think that ATX would consider offering such a service.
PS
Would like to have a complete drive backup.
ICOUNT,
Large capacity external drives that can be used for backup purposes can be gotten for not much money. You could also use them for other than backup purposes.
Wayne Brasch
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"IRS exams will rise" so says Chris Wagner. He is the IRS SB/SE Commissioner and this announcement came out in the October 2009 edition of the CPA Magazine. For those of you who don't know what those acronyms mean: SB is small business and SE is self-employed. Along with more payroll tax audits I mentioned a couple of days ago, this should help to add to our bank accounts in that we must defend our clients in this situation. Get ready for these, too!
Wayne Brasch
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KC,
Congress is so great at helping our bank accounts, aren't they? It is amazing how complex they can make things that could be so simple.
Wayne Brasch
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Well, I would've celebrated harder if MSU hadn't lost the game in the last two seconds. 40 women (and a few husbands) who hadn't seen each other in years, wow! I hadn't been to Michigan State in 40 years. Our old house is now a fraternity house and looks and smells like every stereotype and B movie you can imagine, but the boys were nice to us when we visited. Beautiful campus. Doctor today said I'm healthy, so here's to 62 more years.
That's right and a good attitude to have! Go for 62 more!
Wayne Brasch
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Rich,
First of all, let me congratulate you on having passed the EA exam. As far as the rates you should charge clients, I would consider what would make you a comfortable living keeping in mind that you want clients to come to you instead of going to your local competitors. Depending on where you are located, preparation fees vary greatly across the country. There is no one place to go to get a list of rates. I suggest you check out rates charged by others in your area.
Also, welcome to this forum. Much can be learned from all the great people who post on this forum.
Wayne Brasch
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I would say to go ahead and file the return on or before September 15, 2009. There is no reason to give IRS any more ammunition with which to shoot at you and your client.
Wayne Brasch
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Ok I have a new nonprofit client that came to me because they received a letter claiming they haven't filed AG-990 for the state of IL. NP has been working under a fiscal agent for quite some time already and in 2008 the applied to be a 501 c3 and didn't get approved until March of 2009. I have worked with a couple of NP in the past that become fiscal agents for other agencies not yet approved by the IRS, and usually they manage and report the agencies monies on their financial statements, audited financial statements and tax return. They usually report their assets and liabilities only, but with this NP client it seems they were operating on their own, they had their books and accounting, the fiscal agent only received monies from foundations under their name, then they would give a check to them. NP director inherited all this mess and no one is able to confirm if anything was reported under the fiscal agent books/tax return. So I just want to inform the client that if nothing was reported by the fiscal agent, they would have to report it, but I am not sure if I need to report the years (without 501 c3) on form 1120, since they didn't get approved until 2009?
Thanks
My thought would be not to complicate the matter any more than it already is. File the return on a Form 990.
Wayne Brasch
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I hope all of you will have a great Labor Day.
Wayne Brasch
ATX Renewal?
in General Chat
Posted
MAS,
You should call ATX tomorrow. Some people on this forum and other forums have said that ATX is still offering discounts, even now. Give them a call to find out.
Wayne Brasch