Gail in Virginia

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That's the form. There is such a narrow range between having to file at all and making too much to benefit from this credit, that I don't think in 30 years of doing taxes I have ever had anyone actually be able to use it.

In my versions of 2007 Word and 2007 Excel, I have the choice of saving the file as a 2007 version or as a 97-2003 version. That other version can be opened by earlier programs.

But you have to make that choice, if I am not mistaken the default is to save in the 2007 version.

Compatibility is another issue with Office 2007. Files created with it cannot be opened by earlier versions unless you download a patch to allow you to open those files. Until you mentioned it, I did not think about that issue

I still like Office 2003 because it is almost just like Office 2000, and I did not have to re-learn how to use it. Office 2007 works the same in many ways, but has a very different look and anything that I am used to using on the toolbar seems to me to be in a different place and I have to hunt for it.

That said, my son loves Office 2007. One feature that he showed me, that I have to admit is great for a student, is that it will now format footnotes and works cited using any of a number of standard methods, such as MLA. However, I have not found much use for that in my practice. There may be other upgrades that I am not aware of because I am still sticking with my 2003 until I upgrade computers.

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We use a 2015n at my office with no problems with ATX. The n just means it can hook directly into the network rather than having to be hooked to a computer. Paper capacity is about 250 sheets in the tray, it has an auxiliary feed for envelopes or forms, and it has been very quiet and trouble free for us. We used it all last tax season, and so far this year so I don't think compatibility will be a problem.

If he provided you the correct address last year, and it was your error that you did not change the address on the tax return, I would probably offer to write a letter to the mortgage company on my letterhead explaining that. I would think that they would take this as an explanation for the discrepancy, and move on to other ways of checking that this is actually his primary residence. I would also file the 2008 return as early as possible to correct the address with both federal and state taxing authorities, assuming you are in a state with an income tax. Other than this, I don't think there is much you can do, unless you follow RoyDaleOne's advice and file the change of address notice with IRS and provide a copy of that to the mortgage company.

You can buy various pre-printed tax forms from STAPLES. It says on the packet you get from Staples "injet & laser compatible." My question was: does the Social Security Administration and the IRS accept these forms filled out with an injet printer or must you use a laser printer?

You can use an ink jet printer, a typewriter, or a laser printer with the pre-printed forms like you buy from Staples. SSA will accept them. They will even accept handwritten forms as long as they are the pre-printed type, but they sure do look suspicious to most people any more.

Not to mention that if you begin doing the balance sheet the very first year, then if you have to start doing balance sheets you have good beginning balances to work from.

It would depend on whether the dependency is subject to the Gross Income Test. If they are a dependent child under age 18, or under age 24 and a full time student, then the fact that they drew unemployment might not matter. For other dependent questions, normally if gross income is greater than $3000, you cannot claim the person as a dependent. There are exceptions, such as for your dependent child who is disabled.

I don't recall getting a user's manual last year. Most of the time this forum is more help that any manual anyway, so I could be mistaken.

Considering the "work" history of most politicians, they only know how to throw bricks, not lay them and probably aren't sure which end of a pitchfork to use :lol:

I had never noticed those particular buttons, but right under the last post in the section are the words <<Next Oldest Website Discussion Next Newest >> and if you click on the forum title in that group it brings you back to the list of topics. So apparently there are lots of ways to navigate these pages. Thanks ERC ;)

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Catherine, you should be sure rchinchilla sees that cartoon - he wanted to know how ideal tax software would work! B)

I haven't checked ATX's estimate calcs yet. Spidell raised the same questions as the Tax Advocate did regarding withholding. The law was written without addressing the fact that withholding is applied on the same basis as federal. What a mess. Is it time for an armed revolution yet? shall I storm the capitol with torches and pitchforks?

How many torches and pitchforks can you carry? Maybe the state can sell them to raise enough money to issue refunds! :spaz:

I bet sending them an IOU to pay your taxes would work out well, now wouldn't it? :rolleyes:

:bday: and many more!

I sometimes roll over when they make their appointment if I am trying to look it over before they come in or work on things like depreciation before they actually arrive in the office. I can always delete it if they don't show, and even re-rollover if needed. But usually I roll it over when they are walking down the hall to my office.

I am with Marilyn on the subject of when we get busy. We have been mailing out our newsletter, preparing W-2's, doing bookkeeping, and a few fiscal year-ends that are due now. There really isn't a slow time anymore, but the pressure eases from May 1 to October 1 for our office.

I have no idea which way it will go this year. We will probably leave some clients the same and raise fees on others simply due to the fact that their circumstances changed, requiring us to spend more time on their returns. Of course, that will be seen as a price hike by some of them even though our rates will probably not change.

We are prepared for the possibility that we will lose some clients, but so far we have been gaining rather than losing. I am just pessimistic enough to not believe that can last.

What I wasn't prepared for was losing one of our part-time, seasonal employees. She had been doing some preparation and a lot of checking returns, but she decided that with the downturn in the stock market, she could no longer afford semi-retirement and she has accepted a position full-time with another firm.

But if that is the worst business set-back we face in the current economy, I will count my blessings and go on.

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I am with KC. I learned to do taxes by filling out the forms in pencil, and I am uncomfortable if I can't see the form and how it is being filled out as I go. Much as I might yell at ATX's bunny, I really love that rabbit!