Randall

I agree Eric. I've looked for articles regarding technical problems with the system. I haven't found anything. Just the usual cosmetic stuff about the tile screen and no start button. Personally, I like the new tile screen. I have a touch screen and it is quite handy for a lot of things. I still use the mouse and keyboard shortcuts. One short cut people might want for the 'start button' is MS logo key + X. Pop up menu shows up that should help.

I can't guarantee no problems. I've had a laptop running W8 and done a few returns with ATX the past tax season. I recently purchased a desktop with W8 and done a few of the 2013 extended returns running W8 on the desktop. I have not noticed any problems. That's not to say there won't be problems.

Kentucky doesn't have the capital gains special rates either.

Doesn't apply to the current topic, but another reminder NOT to put real estate in a corporation.

I don't do any work in the field. I use my laptop at home, desktop at office. If I need to start doing mobile work, I'll use my laptop for now. It's an ultrabook type so not too heavy and bulky. We'll see how future models of the surface come into play.

Federal return accepted. Just sent the state return.

When efiling a 2012 return, does it usually take a long time for the process? I transmitted a return yesterday. Acknowledgement says transmitted to EFC but not yet to Agency.

I have at least one.

I agree Jack. I rarely have to go back and do an old return. And I don't take new clients who aren't current with filing except maybe one year back.

When I get a new computer, I only put the previous year ATX on the new computer for rollover purposes. I keep my old computer with the older ATX years in case I need to use that program.

I think most E&O Insurance policies require you to contact them when you are first aware there might be a potential conflict. You may want to call them and run your situation by them before proceeding further.

The tech stuff may have us all wowed into thinking we can solve all our problems. The problem is us.

My reason for not liking Apple is that they stole their name from The Beatles.

If it's the client's fault the return is late, the penalty is their problem, not mine.

Thanks Jack. I'll need that.

Just 2013. I'll use my old computer (W7) for earlier years work. And for you Jack, my new computer is W8 with touch. Ha.

Just got a new computer, loaded ATX. Which is the better way to get returns loaded on the new computer, Backup/Restore or Export/Import?

KC, maybe so. There's a lot of things unknown here. But I took some things from it in my own way. I took it that he fired the person on the spot in the field. If so, I have a negative view of that approach. I also have the perception that small firms are poor in training, assume staff know and understand more than they really do. That may not be the case here. I really don't know in this particular case. I got his point, I was just thinking maybe there's a lot more to the whole story. He may have a point about the staff person's focus but if he were saying this in a Q&A lecture format, I would have a lot of pointed questions for him as well.

He should have gone there first with the staff person to assist him. Then he might have trained him better. That kind of thing takes experience, not just a set of instructions. He doesn't say if he came up with anything better for the client.

I thought you were not eligible for the credit unless you did get the insurance thru the exchange. Not sure though.

I like the concept of insurance and having a term policy in a higher amount and a permanent policy in a lower amount. Your term policy premium is probably guaranteed for so many years. So how many more years is that premium guaranteed? Do you think you will need life insurance after that time? It also probably has a provision to convert some or all to a permanent policy without any underwriting. That provision has an expiration. So when is the expiration and how is your health if you had to go thru underwriting? These are things to consider. Permanent policies come in more than WL. There are ULs and VULs. You need to talk to your agent about the choices. With permanent policies in small amounts, I would not treat the policy cash value as something to tap into but rather merely a death benefit. Unless you have very large amounts of policy value, I would NOT borrow against it. It can and probably will come back to bite you with severe tax consequences. The very wealthy utilize life insurance and annuities. But they can afford them and therefore and take much better advantage of the benefits. The rest of us have fewer choices and unfortunately, term is the way to go. And even then, too many have no insurance or too little even if it's term.

I don't like the backup file not having the client name. But if you export the files, the export files do have the client name. I know it may be redundant, but I do both backup and export.

I always do a personal eyeball review as well as checking the final numbers with my data source forms. I especially look at line 7 total and make sure it equals the individual W2 total. If differenct, I look for the reason. Most of the time, it is my error, sometimes, it's due to the correct things coming from other than a W2.

I agree with SaraEA. Besides, if you opt for calendar year, the 2013 return would have been due April 15, 2014 unless you filed an extension. I assume the extension was not filed since you just received this info.

Besides the employee factor, the higher amount of SEP vs SIMPLE may depend on the owner's income. SEP maximum is calculated by a percentage. SIMPLE maximum is calculated by a dollar amount.