Randall

I agree JohnH. This past year caught a lot of us off guard. I didn't have the early problems and really didn't have serious problems. But I did have some minor problems and it seems the program is slower than ever. There have been minor things in the past I didn't like but I didn't feel the need to change. But now, these past things just came to the fore and caused a piling on effect so I'll be looking at alternatives. Drake has always been my probable number one choice even before this year. I've always used Oct 15 as my dividing date to change software and upgrade hardware. Of course with what happened this past year, many had to make changes in Jan/Feb. I stuck it out and will continue to evaluate thru the spring and summer working on extensions.

Richcpaman, where are you getting the 2.5%? My client is saying they are going to withhold 7.5%.

Anyone familiar with Maryland real estate sales withholding tax? Client is a nonresident of MD, inherited property in MD, tax basis $850,000. Ready to close on sale for about $917,000. They are going to withhold 7.5% of sales price, about $69,000.

Why make the decision now? Why not wait until Oct?

Yes, too late. Inherited IRAs must be a direct transfer. Quirky rule yes.

Yes JohnH, tax season doesn't really end until Oct 15. But it is the end of the deadline rush and long hours. I have more extensions and will need to work longer hours but not nearly as long as pre-April 15.

And the TOD doesn't mean it's a UGMA account. Father was trying to shift income. But the kiddie tax will offset that. And they recently raised the age for kiddie tax for full time students. This will surprise them. Most people don't know about it just like the AMT when they first get hit by it. Say what???

Is the 8879 incorrect or the payment voucher? Does the payment voucher agree witht the return and is that amount correct? Just wondering if the efiled return is correct and only the 8879 incorrect? Or can we even tell what has actually been efiled?

Me too joanmcq. I've been efiling the extensions the past few years. But those needing to send a payment, I have them come in or talk to them about the amount and send them the form thru email and they are responsible for mailing the check and form. I ask them to copy both check and form.

Rough up the paper forms so they don't get stuck together. Kind of like new dollar bills.

Hypocrisy doesn't have political boundaries.

Yes, KC, the letter of the law. That's the problem, everyone looking for a way around the rules, not realizing what they're doing as joanmcq pointed out.

I have my 'to do' things too, getting back to my normal life routine. But there's more extension back log this year so I'm still going to have to work longer than normal hours, but not too much. I'll just get to them as I can and try to get the anxious clients done first.

I've got the extensions done and I think I've contacted those who will send in a payment or those who have the money to send in a payment. The biggest hassle is the business local extensions. They want their own extension and they want a payment. After I get the extensions done, I usually run out of gas and can't get much done even while working. I'll try to get as much done today as I can and work a half day Monday, take off Tuesday.

I have a client who receives SS disability and makes $200k+ (net) thru his business. They cut him off, he hired a lawyer, got reinstated with back pay. And he's a big Obama hater and tax hater.

There could be local filing requirements, rental licensing, property tax. I have a client with property in SC. Pain in the neck.

grandmabee, that happened to me too one time. I duplicated the return so I could play around with it without losing everything. I discarded the 4562 bu lost the FA. when I added back the 4562, the FA with the assets came back (luckily). This return had several activities with depreciation. In FA, I reassigned each asset to another activity (not before used), then reassigned each asset back to it's correct activity. This worked but took some time. So far, this has only happened once. Closing and reopening the return has worked on all the other times.

I've posted my problem. It happens when I go into the print menu. When I leave the print menu, the 4562 info is gone including the 4562 statements. The fixed assets are still there under the FA tab. I close the return and re-open and everything is back. Very annoying.

I won't renew early. I'll continue with ATX for my extensions, as well as doing some on other software. I won't try to re-do my returns on another software. I think they'll get the bugs out by Oct 15. Ha! But I don't think they can fix the slowness. And the nature of the program (I'm guessing) allows for too many quirks to pop up. Drake is my leading contender. I like the comments on speed. It sounds like you can toggle back and forth between the form and the input so that doesn't sound much different than ATX.

I'll be polite but honest. I'm not renewing early. I want to continue with my extensions and see how ATX progresses. Even if I've made my decision to switch, I won't tell them that.

Still using an old Trac II. I don't remember when they came out but I've had it since then. My new printer seems to need a new cartridge more frequently. I don't want to do what Jack does. I do order from Quill and usually get a $20 off coupon. It helps a little. And after the busy season, I won't need to replace as often.

Eric, another Tom Cruise quote from Top Gun: Talk to me Goose.

You won't be able to efile the extension. But I'd put a paper one in the mail. Get the return done asap as others said. I had an LLC who elected S Corp treatment last year. Because he was an LLC the year before, I didn't have him on my March 15 radar and didn't get the extension in on time. I put a paper one in the mail. Got the return filed in May. He didn't hear anything back. I'm not sure if the paper extension got thru or IRS just didn't bother with it.

I'll seriously consider changing. Now is not the time. May is not the time. I'll definitely NOT renew early (ATX). I'll continue with my extensions and check out some other programs to compare. The Drake price is consistent with ATX Total Tax.

Thanks for the comments. Right now with ATX, all I can think about is what Tom Cruise said in Top Gun, 'I feel the need for some speed'''.