LML

Guess I didn't make myself clear. I wasn't trying to access Drake 2013 software, which I did cancel. I was upset about being blocked from accessing 2012 software, which I DID pay for. I did receive a refund from Drake for the 2013 software, no questions asked. But after several phone calls to ATX today, being on hold for a LONG time, not getting an answer during a chat support session & not hearing back on a couple of emails to my ATX rep, I am beginning to question my decision to go back to ATX..... Come on, ATX, don't do this to us!!

I didn't have that experience at all with ATX. I was able to log in, even after I cancelled the 2012 software & got a refund. Now that I'm back, when I log in, I see under "My Products" 2013, 2011, 2010 & 2009 with activation codes for those years. Nothing for 2012, which is as it should be. I had to look at a 2012 return in Drake today & it said updates were available. The software did update, so I guess I at least still have that functionality. I just don't know why Drake can't do what ATX is doing (at least for my account) and still give me access to the year(s) that I PAID for.

I hope I haven't made the mistake of my career by switching back to ATX this year. There were just too many things I didn't like about Drake last year (other than customer support), and, after evaluating ATX for 2013 for the past week or so, getting input from Jack, and reading others' comments about their experiences, I decided to come back. I sent in my refund request to Drake for the 2013 software on 12/31/13. I had a straggler 2012 corporate tax return that I finished up today & tried to e-file it on Drake. It gives me a message that authentication failed. Guess I will file a paper return, as IRS has apparently closed business filing for the 2012 season (?). Or has Drake blocked me from e-filing? I tried going in to the Drake support forum & they have blocked my account by flagging it as "inactive". I called Drake & they said that since the 2013 program is now available for download, they have blocked my access to the Drake site. I told them that I paid for the 2012 software & should have continuing access to the support forums, etc., on the site. Does this mean I won't receive any future updates to the 2012 software as well? I can still access the ATX site for all years other than 2012. Why can't Drake block my access to the 2013 software (just like I couldn't access programs prior to 2012) but not make my account inactive? I am really ticked about this.

For simple returns, Drake works very well. However, for complex partnership returns with transfers and special allocations, Drake is a nightmare. You can bring up the 1040 in form-based mode but to go to the input for Schedule A or E, for example, it just takes you to an input screen. I looked forever on the 2210 input screen for a way to suppress the form, only to find that the option is on the Name and Address input screen. Now where's the logic in that? I really like the "jump to" feature in ATX. I never had an issue about "where did that number come from??" Maybe I'm doing something really wrong. Any input would be appreciated.

Could I please receive your comments as well? I would love to come back to ATX for 2013 if the problems are fixed. I switched to Drake in March and really don't like it, other than their support. The input is cumbersome, cryptic and you have to hunt for input screens. Data doesn't show up on the input screen, even though it's really there; there is no way to override forms or print blank forms; calculations like SE income are untraceable; Schedule L balance sheets don't have totals - I could go on forever. Please, tell me ATX will work for 2013!! [email protected]