ari

if he rec'd 25k, that's alot of $$...isn't he in the business of renting out his truck - sch c?

if you are getting killed with atx, you can switch to Drake

there are 3 main things to facilitate this

1. you can sign up for their $285 plan for 19 return to start out, as opposed to paying $1,500 to committ to unlimited use

2. if you have a question, call - they will answer your question immediately;noone else can do that for you right now

3. for individuals they have somewhat of a form based input and that will help out tremendously

- just hit control G - this is the most important info for your transition

I am going back and forth between ATX and Drake

Big returns I use on Drake b/c can't handle crashing

Small returns i use both

Ari

i've heard good things about Pro Series

I don't love that they market a product that is a competitor

but i think they may have form based input

and my friend speaks quite well of hte program

and the price is right;

it's cost is in the 2-5k range

seems like the others

profx

lacerte

ultratax

are more than that

so i got those 3 at the top

then proseries middle priced

then drake which is only around 1,500

and that's pretty much it

not sure about tax act

.......it's an oligopoly not too much competition; and now there will be even less

Your post doesn't really have quite enough info to give specific suggestions. Here's some general info that might be helpful.

Clergy have dual tax status--that is, they are almost always considered a employee for income tax purposes but are always (100% of the time) considered self-employed for social security tax purposes. Therefore, their employing church should not withhold SS or Medicare tax on their salary. They to, however, have to pay self-employment social security tax on their earnings (including housing allowance) unless they 'opt out' by filing Form 4361. Use the clergy worksheet to determine the amount subject to SECA tax.

Form 4361 can be filed by clergy with a deeply held religious conviction that it is inappropriate to receive govt benefits (e.g., social security benefits) related to their service as a clergy person. The deadline for filing is the due date of the second tax return on which the person has at least $400 of clergy-related earnings.

Hope this helps. If I misunderstood your post, perhaps you could give a little more info.

good info..many thanks..interesting..i have never come across this before.

thanks again,

ari

can you get a credit for something like this even though not personal residence? ck 5695

good info; thank you; this is a good client's Mom; i'm happy to tell her no need to file;

but this year she's going to have to file and i'll explain if no stock sales in the future;

no need to file then...and there is no fwt on soc sec

tks again

all of the above...except 990's

big clients/ small clients

...i still like forms based better

....and i like atx's ability to put notes in a cell for current year

and future years....that's a big ticket for me...and drake doesn't

have a wonderful layout for leaving notes that you want carried forward each year;

basically i take extensive notes on clients; when they're talking, i'm typing

what are you using?

same lady as my last question

got 3000 in wages

none of this was subj to soc sec or med

she's a minsiter in christian science

Never worked on a minister before

Woudl anyone know if i have to file this form 4361?

have a 65+ year old client

if i add up her interest and dividends it's around 10k

she has social security of 12k

and she has stock proceeds of 3k (not sure of basis)

direction say if income is under $11,200 she doesn't have to file

.....i'm wondering if i don't file, how would the IRS know if there

was a 0 cap gain or there is a 3k cap gain putting me over the threshold

requiring filing.

basically, when there are proceeds, how does that come into play

in ascertaining the need to file in this situation?

thank you,

ari

• do you have to file a timely return to use the unified credit?

i agree Drake is providing a good program and excellent service.

the excellent service is what allows me to make the transition

any question, i can call and get someone in 15 seconds

i don't have to wait 30 or 40 minutes

if you signed up for ACcounting Today or something like that, they may ask what software you use..and whamo

now they got you.

this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these softare companies

48,000 disgruntled users

the last minute tax laws coupled with the new e-filing requirements

and the weak mgmt of atx.....i don't know what the hell they did.

seems rudimentary to every programmer out there to use oracle or sql

database..and not this raven............how long have they known something is wrong

i think they should have looked for a ceo with a tax and software background

these companies are going to be offering goodies that atx is going to have a hard time to compete with

only problem....it's an oligopoly...there aren't too many software providers

and a company like profx and lacerte are probably out of the picture bc of their price

so that leaves drake and proseries predominantly

Going full blast with Drake.

It's a good program.

Calculates and moves lightning quick.

Biggest facilitator for me is to

go to one of the data entry screen

right click on an empty space

then go to Form Based Data Entry....

and whamo....now have similiar to ATX

though I miss not being able to put cells in notes

Nevertheless, working with Drake it's like driving a sports car

...it moves and calculates blazingly fast.

guess what...at some juncture when you update the forms, it's going to update the software version also;

i think i read phil drake sold the company to his workers for $1

i think the company is owned by the employees

is their program in DOS; i've used the program; i don't know if dos or windows..how distinguish..it looks old, but works quite well and efficiently

it's almost as if a real accountant wrote the program

Maineguy you bring up a good point....how can ATX offer so much for so little..the answer is they can't!

Maybe when they were in Maine they could.

Drake seems to be able to; I think they're employees own the company; it's interesting they're so successful!

They're also in small town USA where the costs of staff are not the same as big city tax software companies

i thought they sent the email implying ok now 12.11 is really ready; that the other one went out prematurely.

i'm running fast on 12.10...not going to change.

maybe i'll try on one of my other laptops that don't use just to see how it does

FloridaMan I missed you...you are one funny accountant!

I say go to Drake

1. takes 1/2 hour to convert software over - that's unbelievable

2. sign on for their $285 program..which gives you 17 programs

3. then as soon as you have a quetion, call...and wnen you have another question call....they are clearly overstffed their;

I'm not saying abuse the sytem, but they are overstaffed with qualfieid people to jump on these opportunities.

They're a good all amerian company...charge a more than fiar price, they put out a good product, and the support knows their stuff.

if you 've got a question, they'll have an answer in about 2 minutes, that will be well communicated to you.

impressive company

I am looking for 50k practice in Rockland/Westchester NY