Wendy

I was on the fence, but renewed. I had an ongoing problem with MA returns being rejected for e-file as duplicated returns. EFC was seeing the extension as the return and said it was already accepted. Several calls failed to remedy the situation. Then I spoke with a very helpful young lady who at one point told me she couldn't double-check something as they had closed, but she would stay on the line until we could see some progress. She faxed me the next day, then called with a solution, then called again to make sure it worked ok. Because of her attitude and help, I decided to give them another chance. She is a level IV tech and had been with Taxwise 2 years, so at least the upper level techs are knowledgeable and helpful. I also told her I was not happy that my info was on the Taxwise website, and she said that in the not-too-distant future the website will be Taxwise/ATX and they were preparing for that.

I just called tech support again for MA return problem. It seems that EFC recognizes the extension as a filed return and rejects the return as already filed. They have to go in and open up each return. Yesterday they said they were working on the problem. Called today for another one that just popped up and tech support message says they are closed today for "employee appreciation day" and to call back tomorrow. Wendy

OK - here's some news about TRX. I just called them regarding the postcard I received touting the Pro program for $699. The rep said it's brand new and they are working with TAXWISE on it. If you go into the website and the list of business forms, it brings up Taxwise website. The pro website is trx1040.com I also asked her why they are not listed on the MA website as an approved vendor and she insisted they had many MA returns e-filed. When I asked her if they went by a different name, and was concerned why they were not listed...she got huffy and said if I was going to take that attitude they didn't WANT me as a member! And hung up on me! Don't think I want to rely on them. Anyone hear anything about the hook-up with Taxwise? I had asked her if that meant they were involved with CCH she said she had never heard of CCH. Stranger and stranger.... Wendy F. Katz EA

I got a postcard from TRX today, but the price is $699 - for TRX Pro. Hopefully it's a different program than the $299 one.

Had one go through ok last night. Today it freezes when it says it is waiting for the server.

It's still there under Welcome to the ATX. I can't believe they have started a board now after what they did 10 days before the end of last season. I wonder if they're waiting for it to be unsuccessful so they can say " I told you so" and claim there was no interest in it and they were justified in discontinuing it. Wendy F. Katz, EA

HELP! Does anyone know of a way to bypass the automated system for tech support? I was on a call for 118 minutes and on hold and the line disconnected. I do NOT want to wait in the line again. Any ideas? And while I'm waiting the phone message tells me to go online to taxwise.com.

I had an e-file reject by MA for a calculation error. Looked at form - all input flowed from federal, no manual input. Tried to override and it would not create e-file because of override. Obviously program error. Called tech support Thursday - on hold for an hour while she was "researching". Clueless. Asked her to call me back as I had a client coming in - she said she could not call back & I would have to call again. E-mailed problem as well. Actually got a return e-mail with an incident #. Called again and was told they were passing it on to programming & she would call me back Fri. Fri no call. Sat still no call, but had received an e-mail asking me to tell them how satisfied I was with my tech support contact! Called again and spoke with a sweet girl who had no clue and such a thick accent (not Southern) I could not understand what she was saying. Asked to speak to a supervisor (on hold 15 min while they were finding her). She told me that programming had not gotten back to them and we would have to wait until Monday, as they are not in on the weekend! This is TAX SEASON. Not in on the weekend? Only saving grace is that is was not a corporate return that was due this weekend! Wendy F. Katz, EA

Suggest you fly into Boston instead of LaGuardia, if you have nothing planned enroute to Plymouth. That's another 4 1/2 hr (without stops) added to your travel and taken away from your vacation. After flying cross country, that would make ME cranky. Wendy

But another thought.... Since the home was in his name only prior to transferring it to the trust, that would mean that only he qualified for the exclusion. Right? Wendy

Thank you both. I have not seen the trust documents, but this will make his day. Wendy

New client today presented a dilemma - at least for my brain dead state. Elderly man - home in his name. Marries a widow more than 5 yrs ago and transfers the house to a Simple Trust (XXX Family Trust) with husband & wife as beneficiaries 50/50. Have to go to assisted living and sell home. He "expects" to exclude the gain. Can he? Trust owns house.... Any illumination would be appreciated. Thanx Wendy F. Katz, EA

Anyone have a problem with the MA Form 2, Sched D? I received a rejection from the state saying that the form calculated incorrectly. I have updated at least daily. I tried correcting the error (line 14) but it will not create an e-file because that line was overridden. I have been on hold for a while as they are "researching". Anyone else come across this and have a work-around? Thanx Wendy F. Katz EA

Sch R/NR Wendy

I called ATX tech support the other day and got through without too much delay. I was calling because a MA return had been showing Validated for 12 days and others had come back ok. After checking with someone else, she said they though it had been transmitted, but wasn't, and would be transmitted right away. The next day I called again as it had not changed, and the person told me "oh, it's just stuck in that mess with MA returns". Say what???? No other explanation, no other detail. I asked to speak to a supervisor and he said there were server problems and I just had to be patient. I told him I was a long time ATX user - since 1996 - and he said "well, it's just a bad tax season, and if you've been with ATX that long you've seen other bad seasons, like 2003 when the server went down." So, that was it...bottom line...just be patient. Can we tell that to the IRS and the state of MA? And to clients who are waiting for refunds to be deposited? Wendy F. Katz EA

Is there a checkmark on line 30? That would indicate that he had a low enough income to qualify for no tax status and line 31 would be blank. Wendy

I had two MA1 that I sent on 2/16 still listed as Validated. Sent several e-mails about it, with just the canned response. This morning one of them came through as accepted. Second one....not. Called tech support and amazingly got through. She had to check with supervisors etc and then admitted they had never transmitted it and would do so promptly. That was 8 a.m. this morning - still not transmitted. Also received an e-mail to send the log to ATX and they would fix the problem. No response from that action yet. Others sent since 2/16 have gone through ok - slowly - but ok. Wendy F. Katz, EA

I have a couple MA sitting in the Validated status as of the 16th as well. Others sent since have been accepted. I have synchronized several times with ATX and that does not clear the waiting ones. Wendy

Thank you so much! That was making me crazy. I was listed as being in the timezone for Casablanca...one can only dream.

The time showing on this website is 5 hrs different from EST (I am on Cape Cod, MA). Has it been set from another time zone or is there a way I can correct mine to the correct time? Doesn't take much to confuse me this time of year. Thank you

I voted to leave as is. With the busy season, who has time to look at another section for a laugh of the day? This morning I was scanning the new posts and saw KC's joke. It started the day off right - but I wouldn't have gone looking for it. Wendy

Thanks for your help. Why is it always FAMILY that presents challenges?

And me, as well...

My son works for the US Government and was transferred to Washington DC this year. The gov't arranged for the "purchase" of his former home through Sirva Relocation Services. They paid him the equity and took over the payments on the mortgage. They apparently record the deed and pay off the mortgage when the property is re-sold. There is a contract stating that they are assuming liability for the mortgage as of 9/12. This is not a 1031 exchange. The last mortgage payment my son made was in September, but the 1098 shows interest paid for the entire year in his ss#. What is the best way to handle this? Do we back out 3 mos interest and show it to Sirva's EIN? Thanks for your help. Wendy F. Katz, EA

Some things never cease to amaze me. I have been an ATX customer since 1995. Last week I e-mailed a question to their "support" and still have not received a response. But today on my answering machine was a message (caller ID said Georgia) from ATX saying that they didn't know what software I had been using, but perhaps I would be interested in trying theirs, since they offer blah blah blah. Too bad they don't know what software I use - maybe that's why they didn't respond to my question. They've learned the lesson on how to make the customer feel unimportant. Strange.... Wendy