michaelmars

I also told them that I will load the 2012 program but will not touch anything on my computer to make it work, it either loads and works without tweaks or it goes in the garbage. They accepted this condition. At this point how can they hope to make 2013 work when they can't seem to fix 2012? Where the Marx letter does seem like a direct response to my post, even my ego won't allow me to believe that. The ironic thing is that at the trade show they were told by quite a few people that the program not working was forgivable, everyone blows something once in a while and is entitled to a mistake, but what was unforgivable was their lack or communication, the taking of responsibility, lack of offering of fixes, ie giving prosystem fx, full refunds, etc. I saw 5-6 heads wearing atx shirts and one guy in a suit all nodding in agreement. Now 6 weeks later, the first communication from that same guy who was nodding in his suit says nothing that wasn't already said.

Eric- I find the political banter at times funny, informative and amazing. I find the ad hominem attacks totally inappropriate. I think the hijacking of threads just plain wrong and welcome the separate forum where those of us can read, post, etc without disrupting the flow of tax talk. I just caution that some political talk, is appropriate in that it affects taxes, tax planning etc. Data mining with you reviewing questionable posts is going to be very time consuming with our current breed of new posters. Perhaps a like or report button for each post would make this self monitoring and "like/report" clicks by certain members whom you trust could go to you to generate a warning?

I posted this on the official board. Others that were at the NY trade show [hi Ken] may have a different feeling but actions speak louder than words and since the show where everyone blasted them for their lack of communication, their communication cut off totally. It's so apparent that the board moderators have abandoned the board unless they are answering people in direct emails. I haven't seen a post from ATX in the past 2-3 weeks. I spent about 2 hours at the NY trade show discussing issues with the new president and all his minions. Very specific talks about current issues, improvements, my past improvements that got implemented to the program and much more. It was a good session and everyone was taking notes of not only my comments but those of the other handful of atxer's there. Some dealt with tech issues, some with functionality, some with customer service. Although I didn't use the 2012 program, I offered to beta test the 2013 and perhaps I would come back but in any case I would evaluate the demo and give my feedback on functionality. [i have about 10 emails from the developers over the past few years where my improvements got implemented and I even got my program free one year because of the bugs I found] In order to test 2013 I would need to do a few returns in 2012 so I can see how the roll over is working. Again I was offering to do this on my own dime since I really do like logistics and testing of functionality of things. I also would love to confidently come back next year. So a clueless atx minion called me and said, "I am calling because I was told you have some issues to discuss" clueless to my 2 hours of conversation, clueless to the notes that managers of tech support, customer support and developers took and acted incredulous that I would expect the complete 2012 program for free. After expressing my shock and disgust at the fact she was so out of the loop and wasting my time with this call, I took back my offer to help atx. Well she must have spoken to the gods that be because later on I received an apology email for her lack of understanding and the next day I received the complete program in the mail. I am only posting this for those that still have hope that they are working diligently to put out a good 2013 program.

I HAVE THE same issue and just got used to squinting all tax season, even the blue borders on pages like this are so white you can hardly see them apart from the white areas

Ken - After all the BS at the tradeshow, I haven't heard from them once, except for a renewal call, and honestly after seeing all the user posts and lack of support posts on the official site, I have lost my interest in even considering using atx next year. They have had 5 months to get 2012 right and can't and I doubt then will get 2013 right with 6 months left before they ship the beta tests. I was promised the complete 2012 program so I can install it, do a few returns to use for my 2013 test, so far nothing. I really can't fathom why they continue to ignore begging pleas for help on the official site, as we discussed with them, the lack of communication is the real deal breaker.

PUT A Slot in your garage door, you won't feel any chills and the docs will be inside, YOu can even add a box to catch the mail below the slot so you don't drive over any papers inadvertently.

yes they can deduct taxes that are added to the mortgage, no different than if they paid them with a credit card.

NEXT year is going to be worse with obamacare and the tax on passive income. No one is going to be happy with their returns for 2013.

I also add 3-5% cola each year until I think the fees are just too high for what is required.

This was the perfect year to raise prices since it was so confusing and so much extra work had to be done. I had no complaints from anyone. Clients understood that each return needed extra work this year to make sure it was correct [due to fiscal cliff stuff not due to atx]

my rep is John Trammell, 1-800-945-2820 x62018. my fee was for proseries prof with research, no workflow etc. Just this week I am seeing more and more limitations to proseries though. Doing 990's it doesn't do the state filings that atx did, no instruction letters for extensions or quarterly estimates unless you use the proforma letter for all 4 quarters. Also if you just want to print out the one page of the letter you can't, you must print their whole letter package each time. They only efile about 3 states extension forms, the rest must be paper filed and you can't as is my habit, print each state's instructions on a separate page to clip to the actual form. Likewise I also needed a few states business returns to paper filed since they don't efile in those states. Efiling and auto paying estimated taxes is a real pain since you have to initiate it each quarter unlike atx where you set it up once and could forget about it, so the first few corporation I did where I offered this now became my responsiblitiy to remember to efile their payments each quarter and a few are fiscal years so a real headache for me. program is lightening fast though, haven't come across any calc errors, diagnostics are great as is customer support. Funny thought that my call to support yesterday, my hold time was longer than it was during the season, abut 10 minutes.

Speaking of divorce... My daughter wanted a Barbie doll and not knowing much I went to the toy store and asked for help. The salesman said we have Malibu Barbie for $22.95 with beach towel and surfboard. We have Hollywood Barbie with 2 designer outfits and a small poodle for $26.95 and we have sports Barbie with a tennis racquet, golf clubs and a bowling ball for $24.95. We also have divorced Barbie for $300.95. When I asked why so expensive he said divorced Barbie comes with Kens house, Kens car and Kens boat.

nothing faces the client, one monitor has current year, one prior year and third has qb file open etc.

except for admin staff, all of our professionals only have laptops with docking stations, 2-3 monitors per desk. we replace each laptop every 3 years because they start to slow down and get cluttered with so much old software and downloads etc. Increasing memory and speed are also reasons to upgrade often. Afterall this is our work tools and should be as advanced as you can afford. Monitors only get upgraded when they wear out. There are studies that say most people use around 15 programs for work but cpa's use more like 40 and this really slows the machines. Having to be compatible with clients I have quickbooks 2009-2012, 8 years of atx and now 2 years of proseries. likewise payroll and sales tax programs, tax tools, research programs, 6-7 years of client data [dupl on network and laptop] amortization software, f/a/m, office, word, audit programs, writeup-workpaper programs both my current and prior, some client specific progams so they can send me a file to work on, etc etc etc.

I am paying proseries $2000 for their complete [higher end] package] locked in for 5 years. Includes everything they have and all efiles.

I would put it on sch c as appropreiate, don't forget some of the fee goes on A for the rest of the return

Thanks Ken, it was great hanging with you too. As for CCH, i agree with Ken's assessment but i am very skeptical by nature and not too trusting. All the people there were in sales so they know how to push the corporate line. I did like that they took copious notes on our feelings toward their handling of 2012 and notes on enhancements we would like. Not once did i hear any excuses or justifications for how 2012 was handled, they appologized and each and every one of them separately stated that they know that if 2013 isn't working as it should then they are out of business. The only minor hedge on their whole mea culpa thing was they did say that "stand alone people didn't seem to affected" but this wasn't offered as an excuse or defense. They did promise that in 2013 there would be greater intergration between federal and state returns. Perhaps auto update on the return manager of efiling status. We also debated a bit on different support options so that perhaps more advanced users or users of there more expensive products could get routed differently or that certain customers get tagged as being knowledgable enough that when they say to first tier "i need second tier" they get it without jumping through hoops and wasting time with the 1st tier folks. I complained that the KB's are useless because so many searches come up with fixes or workarounds for prior years programs and they admitted that they should be year specific so we could search only in the year we are working on. One very nice enhancement promised is the roll over of a Preparer file so that your custom letters, print options etc will roll year to year. Although they were aware that i switched to proseries for 2012 they invited me up to there breakaway room and later on to their private cocktail reception. They added me to a list to get a beta test version of 2013 in November so i will see how it is, they also promised to send me an updated version of 2012 complete with the latest updates. I said i would look at it but not if i have to a single thing to my computer to get it to run other than just install it. I tried to drink enough to equal the extra cost i had in changing to Pro Series but only Ken can tell you how i did. [their liquor was middle shelf not top shelf but not crap!!!!

told you ken that you would like it. My only problem is that some forms that i consider basic aren't available. thanks for that contact info you sent me the other day.

Along with the change to free tracking they also make it mandatory for you to bring the package to the post office, we used to use priority with confirm and drop them in the mailbox. So its now free but totally inconvenient.

HOW can anyone sell their files and not keep copies? those files are hers and believe me if there is a lawsuit by client or audit [some can go back 7 years] how can she ever hope to defend herself. Either she is a moron or you are getting a snow job.

I JOINED THIS YEAR TOO

my extension is easy, whatever is in my bank on 4/15 gets sent off.

I include a copy of the list and a SASE asking then to send it back to me with the date received stamp on it. Always get them back!

did anyone see the article where a school for the deaf wants a 3 y/o to change his name or spell it out because the sign for his name looks like finger gun? the world has gone crazy.

THIS is by bordering town, totally unbelievable but I made a contribution to his legal fund. I also told my daughter that she can;'t count on her fingers anymore. 1-she raises her thumb and 2-she raises her pointer. I am serious that I told her not to count like this anymore.