SunTaxMan

I agree with Lion, etc. The recommendation depends on the (1) client and (2) situation. Who is going to do the work? How much time does the client have/how much time will the client invest? QB is my choice for those who will invest the time and effort to maintain it. Excel is "quicker on the draw," easier for many and adequate for many (especially when I share my template for Income and Expense and/or "Cash In and Out."

I have found "live chat" handy when I have a specific issue, usually with a specific company or person - like tech support with HP or McAfee. The value of live chat for tax issues is ENTIRELY dependent on WHO is online when you open the chat/post the issue. From that perspective, I think the current method is more efficient, i.e., a question can be posted and a review of responses 6 hours later or the next day, gives a "balanced" response AND that thread can be printed and filed with the client or subject involved. Live chat would be a very handy way to get an immediate answer AND to print the conversation for purpose of record a handy way to document. Constant monitoring of posts is too time consuming. I have email set to check every 5 minutes during the day, but I don't constantly monitor incoming mail. I check it probably once an hour, but notice the 'blips' on the screen when an email comes in. During tax season the reaction could be both ways, i.e.: 1. Constant monitoring would provide immediate access but, 2. Constant monotoring would be too much of a distraction. Bottom line for me, it would be interesting to try.....

Wonderful to hear news that brightened your day! My Mother had thyroid cancer - removal of the thyroid removed the cancer, with no return - she lived thirty years after that and her death was not related to cancer. Our eldest daughter had "growths" on her thyroid that were enveloping the tubes in her throat. Surgery successful, but Drs. monitoring the area eve since. Our middle son has "something" near his thyroid. You are not alone in dealing with this. and you are never alone if God is with you. Prayers continue....

I guess the rest is a good idea. I have everything done that HAS to be done by 4-15. And it really IS time to rest. Thanks to all on the board - great bunch!

Now tell us...... You really didn't tell them the returns would be done by tomorrow! Did you? Especially considering the due date was 3-15 for the 1065!

You persist in having birthdays? I have seriously considered ceasing the habit. I have trouble remembering the number - it keeps changing. Happy Birthday. And....... Thanks,

I appreciate the response. I called tech and was told "We are not supposed to be supporting prior years because of the proximity to 4-15 for 2009." I said "4-15-10 is the deadline for 2006 returns. Anyway, she led me through running repair.exe and it found NO Errors. Next step was to restart the program. Printing worked fine. I told tech support, "Apparently all you had to do was answer the phone and that corrected it!" I just can't think how often my computer guru has reminded me that, when the machnine does something stupid, just reboot! and see if that doesn't correct it. I am glad for LITTLE problems at this point in the season. Have a good day and thanks.

1040X completed in the file. Appears normal on the screen. "Print" produces only the banners for "filing copy," "client copy," "preparer copy.' No forms are printing. And yes, it really is a 2006 return, not 2009 Any ideas?

To bstaxes and MM. My Prayers also for you now and continuing. Suggestion for all of us. Put a reminder in Outlook. I have one person for whom I set a reminder to pop up every two hours. Different people and their needs are worthy of varying time intervals. It only takes a minute or two, but it is a CONSTANT, REGULAR reminder to Pray. The other suggestion is for MM and bstaxes - Take it to the Lord in Prayer - often. And spend time in God's Word. He will comfort and strengthen you as you trust Him.

Promises, promises...... And we are well aware of the value of his promises.

I enjoy a good laugh. And it is so, SO very good for us to be able to laugh -- especially at ourselves. Good, good medicine. But considering Easter - a "holiday" much more important that Christmas - no other religion in the world can boast of its leader and point to an empty tomb! HE LIVES! What a marvelous hope for today and for tomorrow.

Commenting on your comments..... "He only gets the 52 or 59 rate if under DOT regs(?) OTherwise he gets 39(?)" He either IS or IS NOT under DOT regs. It appears very definitely he IS, so the $52 an $59 rates apply. __________________________________________ "He only gets meals if he's out greater than 8 hours(?)" 8 hours is irrelevant. IRS says a "day that is longer than a 'normal' workday AND one where 'rest is required.' Any day that is longer than the 'normal' workday for DOT purposes, i.e., one in which he MUST log some "off duty" time in order to complete the trip, or else be in violation for being over hours AND would, by DOT regs be required to STOP and LAYOVER at that point - i.e., he would not be able to complete the workday and be legal on his Log Book, is your 'key' to 'overnight' meal expense. My opinion, if DOT 'requires' 'rest,' and this is accomplished by taking (inserting) 'off duty' time during the work day, the taxpayer has met DOT requirements for rest and therefore meets IRS requirement for rest. The PURPOSE of DOT regs is to make sure professional drivers are "rested" on the road and not a hazard to themselves and others, because they are not 'rested.' By the way, IRS further specifies that "taking a nap on the back seat of the car does not qualify as 'rest.'" However, taking a Federally mandated "rest" period (off-duty time), in my mind does meet IRS requirements. ___________________________________________________ "and he only gets meals if he's traveled more than 100 miles from tax home(?)" The 100 miles is as irrelevant as the 8 hours. DISTANCE is not the issue, TIME is the issue. ______________________________________________ One further observation. DOT, on the log book, deals with "on-duty driving" and "on-duty not driving" time. IRS deals with "home" to "home" for purposes of the per diem for meals. "Home" is the taxpayer's HOME, not the place where he punches in and out for work. SO, for IRS purposes, the "longer than normal workday" INCLUDES commuting time - even though the commuting expense is never a tax deductible item. So to those 24 or 17 or 18 hours you mentioned, you can add the taxpayer's commuting time to determine the length of the work day.

Maybe I am a little skeptical, but after seeing "Asset History" disappear from 4562 detail, I am wondering what else they will quietly omit from next year's program and not tell us until we just happen not to find it! As far as the program AND tech support this year, I am very happy with both.

Am I hearing that authorization to file extensions is something that should be addressed in the engagement letter? I have never thought about including that little tidbit. Sounds like it might be a good thing to put the authorization with the option to (1)authorize me or (2) not to authorize me without his/her/their signature.

Have you noticed any difference in product or support or anything else between TRX and ATX direct?

Don, Your post is what I was thinking, just wasn't sure if I was remembering it correctly. Thanks By the way, where in upstate NY? We have a son in Friendship, NY (Allegheny County) and a Nephew and Niece in Rome.

No question that points on principal residence are deductible. Question.... are points paid on 2nd home deductible? thanks,

The "50/50" is a given and not in question. I am wondering if the 50/50 (rather than 49.99/50.01) precludes "more than 1/2 the year" for Head of Household status.

Taxpayer divorced. Divorce decree specifies 50/50 custody - and the very specific scheduling in the divorce decree accomplishes this. IRS said because taxpayer did not have MORE than 50% custody, he did not provide a household for dependent MORE than half he year, therefore HH status not allowed. Correct? Any way to avoid this situation? Thanks,

Had a problem. Called them about 10 AM on a Monday morning - today. I got a person on the line within 2 minutes and problem resolved within about 5 minutes. This is not what I have been hearing about tech support. Did something change? By the way, problem was one client file in my 2007 program. The file would open but all I got under tabs was a white screen. All other client files (at least the ones I tried) seemed to work fine. Tech support led me through a "purging" of the file and advised I would need to compare a hard copy to the Database folder copy to make sure all was ok.

Taxpayer bought at duplex, to "fix and eventually rent," in 2009. 1/2 ready to rent 2-1-10. The second 1/2 not ready yet - probably 4-1-10. My evaluation. ALL expenses between purchase date and "available to rent" date, i.e, purchase, RE Tax, Interest, capital improvements, and operating expenses (e.g., utilities) all accumulated and to become part of basis. Depreciation begun on 1/2 at 2-1-10. The remainder with depreciation beginning when that half ready. After "available to rent" expenses handled "normally" - taxes, interest, repairs, utilities, deducted as expenses on Schedule E. Prior to "available to rent" accumulated and capitalized. Nothing deducted prior to "availabe to rent" date - i.e., no reporting in 2009. I wondered about the 1098 for Interest. 1098 in 2009 but no reporting of 1098 Interest on 2009 returns. Mortgage Interest will be included in reporting for 2010, but it will not appear as Mortage Interest - it will be "buried" in depreciation calaculation, therefore, no problem with 1098 matching. Correct? Am I missing something? Thanks,

Church is paying "retirement" to a former Pastor. No qualified plan involved. Retirement is being paid from Church treasury. I am thinking that 1099-R is limited to qualified retirement plans, which leaves 1099-Misc. Box 3 - "Other Income" sounds appropriate. Box 7 "non employee compensation" would trigger SE - correct? Thoughts? Thanks,

Custody is joint/dual. Schedule in divorce decree, and followed, is strict 50/50 custody. Child lives with both. Time spent in each home is equal. Both spouses share "equally" in support, but taxpayer has greater income.