Granny Coral

Are forms for 2011 and 2012 being accepted at ATX to be forward on to the Agency? Or must they be paper filed only?

Are we able to efile 2012 returns now (April 2014)? Hoping I don't mess things up by attempting to transmitting one to ATX.

I am 85 yrs old and this is my last year of my in-home tax prep business . I will be moving out of state to my daughter's where I will probably pickup a couple bookkeeping clients she has been handling. This will keep me busy enough and allow me time to visit great-grandchildren all the way from Maine to Oregon and a couple of states in between. Oh, and did I say I will have more time to handle my other passion, The Family Tree.

Anyone else have a solution to fixing the rollover problem on the 2013 ATX program? I keep getting an error saying there is a communication problem preventing data to flow.

This is not the demo but the full 1040 program.

Sounds like a connectivity problem. Check you internet connection on computer and make sure you have updated your program to lastest update.

Many thanks to all of you. I have not as yet solved the problem but am now sure it has something to do with the firewall/router/connectivity setup on my new computer with a networking to my old computer. Have a call into my trusty computer nerd to come make some adjustments. (His 1040 is one of those waiting to be eFiled, so expect he will not delay.)

I have 8 ready to eFile but when I click on transmit I get an Error message saying Failed to connect with EFC server. Have tried ever since the morning of the 15th. Guess I need to call Customer service. Worked fine last year but got a new computer and that may be my problem.

From SSA site: Individuals who were not eligible for Social Security, SSI, Veterans, or Railroad Retirement benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 are not eligible for the one-time payment.

Thanks, JRS, we needed to know that....

What confuses me is the statement in the instructions that says "Though all eligible taxpayers must file Schedule M to claim the making work pay credit, most workers got the benefit of the credit through larger paychecks, reflecting reduced federal income tax withholding during 2009." Well are the eligible to get the $400 or not. How would we know if their employer used the reduced tax tables???? I know a few who did and a couple who did not.

Well, Pedro did not say what kind of self-employment, which could be a big factor. Was she babysitting, which seems like the most likely form of SE income for a teenage mother of two? I think, tho, that most of us are picking up vibes from his post that he has some serious doubts about her facts, and that is what the nay-sayers are reacting to. So my advice would be, "Trust your own instincts, and if it smells to you, give it a pass. If it just makes you a bit nervous, ask more questions until you either feel comfortable, or decide that your first reaction was the right one."

There are some people who advise their friends on 'how to get some free money from the IRS', and some young people are easily led into tax fraud by them. Don't be a part of that path, be a source of guidance to them about what is legal and what is not. If they are honest but misled, you will prevent them from getting into trouble. If they are willfully cheating, they will at least get no help from you.

Excellent answer, KC. Your judgment and compassion are shining through. Congratulations.

Granny Coral

>>He would be better off just deleting the Sched A and going for the Standard deduction plus $500<<

Don't be so quick with that delete button, Granny Coral. It's fine for your state of TX, but here in CA we have a state income tax and the standard deduction is only $3962. We don't conform to the real estate tax deduction, so such a taxpayer would take standard on fed and itemize on the state.

Jainen,

Right you are...I am so glad I don't have your CA concerns to handle.

But let me tell you I just discovered that precious 'bunny hop' that took me right to a worksheet that completely answered all those questions. Just click on line 40 on the Form 1040 and that link will pop right up. Just another much appreciated helper from ATX.

Granny Coral.... ever learning

Granny Coral....... Which is greater??

The total of his 'regular' Standard Deduction plus the $500 RE taxes ($5950)

or

The total of his itemized deductions ($5142)

"Does he still add the 500 to the 5142 to bring it up to the 5642 which is lower than the 5950 he would get if he didn't file a Schedule A at all......?????"

Isn't the $500 already included in the 5142? why would you get to add it again?

I think you are over thinking the situation and therefore creating confusion. If the total of all itemized deductions is greater than the "regular" standard deduction plus $500.... you would choose to itemize. Otherwise use the standard deduction plus $500 in RE taxes (single) if TP paid at least $500.

Ray, You are so right...I was including the $500 twice in my thinking.

He would be better off just deleting the Sched A and going for the Standard deduction plus $500. He had paid $1635 so would be eligible to claim the $500.

But what happens when the IRS gets a copy of his 1098 mortgage interest and he hasn't claimed it. Anything?

I am always looking on down the road, wanting to make sure I don't advise him to do something that could come back to bite him.

Unfortunately, William is not currently with us. He and another fellow ATXer went off and created their own Publishing Company. They are publishing children's stories and other works from authors around the area. You are the 2nd person this week that has asked me about him - I do see him around occasionally, so when I do, I'll let him know everyone is wondering where he went.

Thanks Elrod.

You can add my name, Granny Coral, to that list of 'Friends of William'. What a guy. He got me through several tax seasons. Glad to hear he is doing well.

Be sure to tell your Sales person/whoever next time you talk to them about how awesome Ashley was. A lot of the time temp employees become perm employees through that sort of thing.

I will definitely do that. If you ever need help I hope you get her. She says she loves her job helping people. They really have a gem in her. :D

>>5450... $1635... $500 ... $5950...$3407 ... $5142... $5450<<

I don't quite follow your math, but you seem to say that a taxpayer won't always realize the full benefit of standard deduction or of itemized deductions when the amounts are close. The answer is that a taxpayer can choose whichever is best under the specific circumstances, but can not choose what might have been better under other circumstances. Sometimes one must consider state taxes to see the whole benefit.

To clarify

Basic SD for single T/P 5450

Plus credit 500 (he actually paid 1635 in RE taxes)

Total possible SD 5950

If he files Sched A he would only get

RE tax paid 1635

Mortgage Int. pd 3407

State Sales Tax 100

total 5142

But since his Sched A isn't up to the minimum he would get that SD 5450 instead.

Does he still add the 500 to the 5142 to bring it up to the 5642 which is lower than the 5950 he would get if he didn't file a Schedule A at all......?????

Should I just delete the Sched A and add the 500 to the SD and go on???????

Thanks to all for help on this issue. A very nice tech named Ashley spent an hour and twenty minutes walking me through and helping me completely revamp my program and it is running smoothly now. In fact I was able to transmit 9 eFiles and clear the decks ready for the next batch tomorrow.

It was a case that the .NET something or other was missing originally on my computer. And I can only say my wait on the phone for tech support just getting to Ashley was well worth it. She was knowledgeable as to the problem and a joy to visit with while we waited for my computer to load in all the stuff it needed to come to this final out come.

I have a question as to what happens if the following should be the case:

T/P is single with standard deduction of 5450 and pays $1635 in RE taxes ... follow the instructions as I read it you add $500 making it $5950.

But if he also has $3407 in Mortgage Interest that only then gives him a SD of $5142 forcing the $5450 to be the amt taken.

Is he required to file a Schedule A????

My brain is whirling...

Go to control panel, add install programs and check to see if you have this program. If you do not that is what the problem is all about. You must have this program to use ATX this year. If you do not have this problem you will need to contact support, and in just a matter of minutes they should have you up and running.

Deb!

Deb, you are wonderful. It is not there and neither is ATX 2008 products altho I have three precious years listed on there. Strange that I have been using the program and it shows up just fine on my Start up and also as a shortcut on my Desktop.

Curious.

I am not computer literate enough to dare to try adding the program again using the CD. I'd probably mess things up worse.

Granny Coral who keeps redialing ATX Customer Support...busy, busy signal...

And I found that to be a very annoying one more thing that we will have to be on the lookout for.

Thankfully they have just corrected that glitch. It shows up as a correction on 1040 EF iinformation form when I just updated.

Now if I could just get thru to tech support about my other glitch on the eFile Manager tab. Busy, busy line.

Granny Coral

Just sent a client back out the door from bringing me his Form 1098 which didn't have the property tax paid info on it. He just called me to give me the amount after he had called them. Ain't we got fun. Thanks for the reminder.

Granny Coral

When I first installed my program I had a problem and called tech support who asked me if I got your specific error message, but I couldn't even get to the point were you are at. The problem I had was with the NET Framework 2.0. He helped me get this problem fixed and everything seems fine now!

What puzzles me about yours however, is that this problem just showed itself. Mine was right from the start, the very first time I tried opening the program.

Deb!

I don't have anything called NET Framework 2.0 on my computer as far as I know. The problem showed itself the first time I tried to click on the eFile Folder Tab after I had prepared them and went to make sure they were ready to transmit. I do see that they are all indicating 'created' (that is in the background behind a smaller window with that Error Message). And all I get is a busy signal at ATX. I will keep trying...I must.

Granny Coral

1040 EF is now available.

taxbilly

It may be ready but it has caused a glitch on my program. I created several (5 in fact) efiles but when I clicked on the eFile Tab to make sure they were all marked 'created' and I get this weird message saying:

Message Failed to Load

Program is unable to continue because an error occurred while attempting to display message.

Key Service/Enrolment Prompt

Error: object variable --with Block variable not set.

Please contact Customer Service.

Well, fine but then it pitches me right out of the program and shuts it down. I reopened and tried updating but it didn't correct it and I have been restarting the program all day trying to get it to clear up, to no avail.

Yes, I will try calling in the morning since I can't get that darn MyATX to accept my password no matter what....

so I can not even send them an email question. What a bummer.

Any suggestions besides just praying and hoping for the best?

According to MYATX site, the 1040 series has been approved for e-file, however the estimated release date is 1/15. Check back on Thursday and it should be available then.

They usually do not release the e-file info form until then so that we don't prematurely send them returns that have to sit there and waite till the can begin processing them to IRS.

Hope this helps!

Deb!

That is probably true but it sure puts us in a bind when our client's files are only partly ready because they lack the direct deposit info that can only be put on through that form. So here we sit and wait.

They use to let us at least get them ready and just kept us from transmitting them until ATX was ready.

Ok, I'll stop gritching and atleast thank you for answering my question.

Thanks Deb!!!

Granny Coral

:bday: Hope it is a great one.

Granny Coral

:bday:

Granny Coral wishes you the best

:bday: Best of everything zeke...hope it is a great one.

Granny Coral

Am I the only one waiting for this form to be released? I can't prepare for eFiling until I get it, so I am sitting here with a half dozen or more waiting for me to fill in their bank info for their refund. Cannot do anything more until I get that form.

Am I just being impatient? I am sure we had it much earlier last year and the years before.

Granny Coral