CathysTaxes

I purchased TaxExact the last week in December 2012 for $339.94. I was not told that the software had lots of issues. The software arrived in early January with no paperwork and a cracked unsealed case. I had to call several times before I finally got a CID and a PID number in order to register the product. The only way I got through to somebody (this after being put on hold several times for hours) was to press "2" for the sales department because customer service support was not answering at all. After I got the product registered (finally), I entered in my own tax information to use as a "guinea pig" return as this was my first time using this software and I wanted to make sure I knew the software inside and out before my clients started coming in. Lo and behold, there were problems. When I previewed my return, I discovered that not only did the state return not pickup the state schedule A, but it was not updated to the 2012 forms. I have called several times to find out when Kentucky will be updated and available and the date keeps being moved back. On Friday, February 15th, they told me it would be today when it would be updated. I certainly hope so. I've had 2 client returns for 2 weeks now and have lost other customers because the software is not working--even after 36 updates unrelated to the state returns. I don't know what to do. TRX won't give refunds and I can't afford other software. I am hoping that at the federal e-file will work. So far there is no requirement that the state has to be e-filed that I know of so I will be able to do the state manually. I'm a very small business and I can't afford software that doesn't work. Does anybody know for sure when Kentucky and Indiana will be released? Also, if anyone has any suggestions for affordable software that works, I'd greatly appreciate it. I will not be going back to TRX next year and have filed a complaint with the BBB. I'm down to just 14 clients because of them and I seriously need to grow my business. Thanks.

If you used your credit card, then it should be easy for you to get a chargeback as you purchased it late December. Make sure you contact TRX and ask for a refund and return instructions. Your CC company wants proof that you tried that. Include a copy of your complaint with the BBB and if you documented your calls, tell them.

Many of us are using Taxwise. There is a discussion where TRX members were able to get Taxwise at a reduced rate.

Yea, I laughed too....I guess Bart has nothing better to do but I do. Not going to sit on this forum everyday because I have work to do...I will try to respond sooner for Bart's sake

Then why do the majority of your posts have to do with trying to market the free software? I'm busy too, but my posts are generally different because I have better things to do then to repeat myself.

Well, it looks like the changes the IRS made to Schedule C, E, and forms 1120-S and 1065 regarding the issuing of 1099s is making an impact. One sole proprietor client WHO NEVER gave me a 1099, just gave me ten. Five use his social security number and five use the FEIN. To get past the IRS matching, anyone know how I can input his FEIN into the 1099?

Hey Boss,

I'm sorry that we (TaxWorks) fumbled the ball this year. We're finally getting our feet underneath us again and those who stuck with us are gaining some momentum, albeit late. Hopefully we can regain your trust for next year.

Alex

Alex, I really liked the look and feel of TaxWorks 2010 and 2011 and I REALLY miss it. Unfortunately, the $299 price that we were getting from TRX is hard to beat.

And because I purchased it at the end of last years tax season I can not dispute it with my CC company because it is over 90 days.

That's not necessarily true. Explain that is customary to purchase the next year's tax software in advance, that December is the delivery date and by mid January, the package should be stable and the states available. Your cc company would want proof that you contacted TRX for a refund and return instructions and what the response was.

Great news.

Citicard has refunded the full purchase price to my credit card effective today.

That's a relief.

Good luck to all.

Mike Dubin CPA

^5!

You can't fix stupid.

Although many of you are not aware, the IRS is requiring that all software developers and software vendors rewrite their formatting for next year to 100% MEF. 3 software companies changed to that formatting this year, TRX, ATX, and RedGear. They are ahead of the game than those software companies that are still performing on legacy formatting. Although your competitors around you are efiling and transmitting you need to understand that next year they will ALL be going through the same struggles. CCH has announced that Taxwise is changing immediately afrer tax season is over for 2012. The IRS is not regulating just preparers but software companies too. Honestly next year the three companies that switched to MEF will be exceeding all others that have not prepared for the change. So give them a break and dont start going off on the next person that picks up the phone when you call into any of the companies because you dont understand or feel like you are being "robbed", because I can reassure assure you that it doesnt get your situation resolved any faster nor does the rep on the other end of the line deserve to be talked down to. Where is the professionalism that we all stand for? My advice is do research and ask the right questions when your business depends on them instead of pointing fingers because of the requirements that are being set upon software companies as they are required of you to do taxes as a preparer.

Your post only explains issues with efiling. What about all the issues many of us are having with a paper return? I haven't seen what's happened with ATX or Redgear (I've heard that Redgear is at least refunding their customers), but the TRX program can't even finish a simple paper return.

Is there any way to input the education expenses in one place so that we can easily see which option (tuition & fees, AOC, Lifetime Learning) reduces taxes the most? At this point I've only seen entering on each choice separately. Perhaps I'm not seeing a worksheet?

According to the Taxwise guide that I believe Taxed shared earlier, 1040 Worksheet 2 has all education stuff on it.

It took you 5 days to come up with this response. You not only are a bad spammer but you are also slow.

OMG, my soda is all over my screen! Thanks for the chuckle.

Well Mark, I am only a small tax preparer who started only 2 years ago. I have an office in Boca Raton, FL but who are you for me to prove anything to you (NOBODY). As far as I am concerned I do not have to disclose any information about myself to you or anyone else on this forum.

Plus you mean nothing to me as well, when you disappear I will disappear....I am not going to disappear because you say so. The name of my company has nothing to do with google. I am not going to waste my time and google your business either because you are a non-factor.

Why are people on this forum so mean and negative?

Hey Mark Dubin, CPA----IF YOU EVER DECIDE TO COME TO BOCA RATON, LOOK ME UP, hopefully I will expand my business and then you can research me on google****

Because you and that other poster are literally spamming this board and it's getting old.

Folks, I have this pasted to my credenza, i find it very helpful. Give it a try.

Thanks Taxed

Thank you cbslee.

I will look into it. Im sure they signed the required docs though. They are the type that doesnt want to know any thing about the returns other than refund or payment and would have probably signed almost anything thinking it was just to file the return.

I know the other preparer and he passes the majority of the client contact (and data input) off to his staff who aren't certified as he is. He mostly reviews returns and signs off.

Then I would suggest they close the current company and reopen a new one. I have a client who was a 1120S client a few years back (he went out of business). He was ready to start up another business but for some some lame reason he wanted to go with a Delaware Corporation (we're in IL). I told him not to and that he should discuss this with the attorney he had used for the 1120S. Well, he didn't listen. He created a single member LLC, registered in Delaware, USING HIS MOTHER'S SSN!.

I made him shut everything down and redo it in Illinois (I told him he'd have to register as a foreign corp in IL and still have to pay an annual fee and pay taxes).

I have a client that owns two well known food franchises (is also a personal friend) for the past 5 or so years. Last year the partner who was responsible for keeping the books left and handed that responsibilty off to another significant partner. Apparently the partner who previously did the books didnt leave on good terms.

Well, yesterday they dropped off a large plastic box (I know I titled the post shoebox, but it was much larger) of invoices for me to sort through to prepare their 2012 tax return.

After picking my jaw up off the floor I told them that I couldnt prepare their taxes with the documentation in this condition. I looked at it and many invoices werent clear as to what they were. I dont do writeup nor do I have the time for it NOW. Also I dont want the responsibility (and possiblle liability) for coming up with their tax numbers, even if they are signing the return. Im just not willing to take that risk.

Needless to say they left disappointed. I told them to try quickbooks but they said they werent very good with computer software. So I gave them a list of categories that had been used in previous years. I also gave them a copy of LibreOffice and a template to record the category totals.

I can believe they were operating two business locations for 2012 without knowing how they were performing and at least comparing to prior periods. Or any type of financial analysis for that matter.

I dont think I lost a client but they looked like I was speaking Greek to them. They said they would get an employee to get everything together and get back to me.

Just wondering what others would have done in a simialr situation.

I do writeups. I put these types of clients on extensions and tell them they need to bring me the receipts either monthly or quarterly if they want to meet the April 15th deadline.

Thanks Eric.

I believe if you click on Return Stage and then click Ready to File?, this locks the return.

I have had no issues with a Brother HL-5250DN laser printer.

I highly recommed this printer (or the newer model). Its a work horse for a small office and toner carts are reasonable with a good life. You can also use aftermarket toner from ebay and amazon for as low as $20. I also have a brother all-in-one inkjet for color print, copy scan & fax. The color injet carts dont last as long so they arent a good choice for high volume printing.

I am very pleased that I went with Brother printers about 5 years ago.

Crank, I agree 100%. I have a Brother HL5250DN printer also. I never thought of getting the toner from eBay or Amazon. Thanks!

The warnings are because there are so few people downloading the exe's (don't forget that each download exe has a different name) that the security program wants you to make the determination if it should be trusted.

I'm The Queen of value shopping. However, the idea is to buy quality at a good price, not to buy cheap junk.

Until this year, I felt that TRX was quality at a good price. Not any more.........

Seriously, if I knew any professional I was paying used "an inferior product", I would be changing that professional.

At this point I don't care if the TRX software ends up being superlative and they finally get all the states.

Nothing was ready on time. This is not "quality at good price".

My clients don't need to hear my problems or excuses from me. They expect me to deliver.

Totally agree here. It's bad enough the nitwits in Congress waited until Jan 2 to approve their tax package which set the IRS behind. At least since this is in the news, I can tell my clients "Sorry, you're getting education credits you have to wait to file your return", or "you're getting home energy credits and you have depreciation for this year, you have to wait until March" and not have to worry that they will run to H&R Block or another chain because they would give the same answers.

$339.94? that dosn't include the business forms does it?

Paper yes, efile no. They have a $699 (plus s&h) version that efiles business. The more expensive version had a more extensive asset depreciation system. At least, if you go by the fact that we though we were getting Taxworks, which is what I had for the past 2 years. TRX is working on it's own software, so I would have expected their software to have the same features.

The $339.94 ($299 plus S&H) was an early bird price. It's $100 off the original price.

I'm working in both software TRX and Taxwise I have already done over 30 return all of them 1040 same result in every single return (calculations) for the efile TRX is faster more friendly use except for the state CA is not available, for bank product I efile an actual return yesterday it was going thru at IRS but got an error in bank it appears as been accepted for IRS but don't be in bank so at this time not sure what should I do. That's the problem with TRX no customer support

Unfortunately, customer support used to be TRX's strong point. At least, in my experience.

_{Don't mean to pour salt in the wound here guys because I really do feel your pain, but you spend $339.94 on "professional" tax software and you're "shocked" it doesn't work? Really?? I'm having my own struggles with ATX (which, by the way, avoid at all costs as a replacement to TRX) but honestly, you get what you pay for.}

I've had four successful seasons with $339.94 software, there was no reason to believe I wouldn't get more years. TRX makes its money with the bank products and other stuff.

States are in this download

GA IL NC and CO

Too little too late. I tried to keep the faith, I really did.

I sent my request to Karen and she said NO, that I could get a credit for next year's package.

Terry, thank you for starting this. I sent a refund request to Karen and was told no, all I could get is credit towards next year. Do you really think you deserve another chance with us?

Customer # 463597