Gail in Virginia

If the company contribution amount was included in the client's w-2 as a taxable fringe all along, then it would definitely be part of the basis. The stock purchase plan that I was in years ago worked like that - the 15% the company paid was included in my earnings each time I contributed to the plan, so my basis included the company contributions.

And even to do a paper file return with a difference like this, I would want some explanation/evidence to explain why the W-2 is incorrect. Remember, you sign the return as well as the taxpayer. But if the W-2 is actually incorrect, and the taxpayer has all their pay stubs to substantiate the difference, and the employer refuses to correct the W-2, then and only then would I paper file with a substitute W-2 and very good explanation.

Be sure before you write such a letter for yourself as taxpayer, that you obtain consent from yourself as client to disclose information about yourself. Otherwise yourself as preparer could be in a world of trouble, even if yourself as client should choose to be understanding about it.

"If you have a new EFIN, we need to know. On the Solution Center, log in as admin and click EFIN Request in the navigation bar on the left side of the home page." This is from an email I received in November from ATX. And I seem to remember a long time ago having to send them a copy of my letter from IRS approving me as an ERO. So I would say yes, you do need to provide this information to ATX. I would have thought that it was required regardless of who your software provider was.

We use Trend Worry-Free Business Security, and so far, we are not having any problems.with the software that are related to anti-virus protection.

I would go to the ATX support site, to the download center and try to update the forms from there.

Now that I can e-file VA, I finally have my first sets of accepted returns. And like you, I cannot print the history. If anyone has discovered the fix for this, please share.

The Virginia e-file forms should be available as of today, 2/2/13. They were in the testing phase with VA until sometime Friday.

ATX now has the forms available to e-file VA individual returns. I guess they passed the test!

Glad you are sticking with us even though leaving ATX. I am sure you are not the first to leave this year, and you probably won't be the last! Let us know how ProSeries works out for you.

And wasn't there a court case where casino winnings and losses at the same session could be netted?

ATX has still not received approval from Virginia for their e-filing forms. The date has been pushed back from 2/3 to 2/4 the last time I checked the download center. I don't know why they haven't gotten approval, but it is making me crazy not to be able to file both federal and state.

I installed on the server and one workstation in December, played with very little because so few forms available. Installed on other workstations early January, installed each update as it came out. We have not had the major problems I see on here. Couple of returns would not open after rollover, fixed with 12.5 update. Slow to open the first time I open a newly rolled over return. Getting used to the new print manager. We are networked, and I replaced the server over the summer, and all workstations are fairly new (within 2 years) and running Win 7 Pro or Ultimate. Server runs SBS 2011.

I like the Zebra M-402 myself. But if I am going old-school, i prefer a #3 Ticonderoga.

i got off to a rocky start, but ever since the 12.5 update I am fortunate that our software is working. It is really, really slow when I rollover and open a return, but once the forms are all updated and I re-open the same return, it is much faster. I suspect a large part of the slowness is having to convert each return from the old platform to the new, and there probably is no way to avoid that. But, like so many have said, I am not a systems person and could be wrong. Maybe the speed is something they could have fixed. Last week, I was ready to scream, pull my hair out, and ask to be converted to TaxWise, but this week is going much better.

If you are using ATX, the IRS provided identity protection pin goes on the filer info tab page of the 1040, about halfway down. Right before the direct deposit information for paper filers.

I have opened it a couple times, but it was just because the cursor was in the wrong place. I didn't mean to do it.

Jackie, I had a return that I had rolled over earlier that would not open. 12.5 was supposed to be the answer. When I first installed the update, I got a message "cannot open rolled over return." However, I deleted the previous roll over, rolled it over again, and Miracle of Miracles, IT OPENED! I don't know if this is your issue. Good luck!

You tried, Jack, but your post said "admin" not "Admin" and this year it matters!

If you will go to line 21, and bunny hop to the supporting page, Canceled debts is on the line 5 up from where you start entering your own language. This will get the income on the return. After 2011, no bunny hops.

I agree with all of the above. When you make a mess, you have to pay to clean it up.

We are networked, with Server 2011 and Windows 7 on workstations. I have only had one crash so far, while entering data on a sch. C. Lost everything on the C. Re-opened return, saved every couple of entries, had no problem. But we are mostly using the payroll program so far doing W2s and 1099s. Your mileage may vary.

We usually charge a minimum fee of $25, for up to 5 employees or contractors. Everyone over 5 is charged at $1.50 each. If we do payrolls we will do the 941 and Virginia Unemployment filing for $40, but if we don't do the payroll the quarterly reports are $75. The 940 is an additional $25. Other charges may apply if the data is not in good, usable format.

Our wild swing was last week too. On Sunday, the temperature was in the 70's - unusually warm for winter. By Thursday, it was snowing (and sticking!). This week it is very cold for our area, in the low 20's and upper teens. Should be a little warmer by the end of the week, but forecast is for a wintry mix by Friday. I will be inside anyway since it is that time of the year, so let's get this cold weather now and I will try to be ready to enjoy spring when it comes!

How would you know if they elected to be treated as an S-Corp? I think in most circumstances, I would err on the side of caution and send the 1099.