Randall

Found my own answer. Next month according to today's WSJ. Also, SP3 for XP is coming out soon.

When are they going to come out with Service Pack 1 for Vista? I don't need a new computer yet, but I'm hoping they get SP1 out by then.

AH HA. So ATX isn't the only company with tech support problems. I had a problem with Norton last year. UGH. As for QB, I tried to skimp one year and skip a year of upgrading. But someone had to come in with a newer version than I had. I just upgrade every year now. Same for Peachtree. I also used to let the new version override the previous version. I started to install to a different file a few years ago. I've got enough free space so I don't think I'll try to remove the old ones. But thanks for the heads up.

Is ATX the only program out there that is spreadsheet based. I'm not familiar with other programs? I've only used ATX.

Does anyone know how ATX calculates the used amount of a NOL carried forward. This is for a 1040. On the NOL worksheet, not p. 1, but the 2nd tab, called ln24, NOL, 3rd column. How is this amount calculated by ATX and where is the source? Highlight the cell, it doesn't have a jump to button. I think it just takes a short cut in the process but I'm not sure. That is, don't show any negative on 1040 p. 1 (assuming none is utilized) and then it shows none utilized on this worksheet and the full amount carried forward into the next year.

I don't know anything about William. But maybe he doesn't want to relocate to GA permanently. There's a big difference in ME and GA. Does William ski? I'd like to get up there and do some cross country skiing. I love that LL Bean store too.

micpa, After picking myself off the floor, I think I need some oxygen. I'm not sure if it was the tax return process or the costs of all the equipment.

When in the program and in the return, select add new forms. When you select the new state forms, it should prompt you to put in your disc. Insert disc and it should load the forms.

But what are overlays? Hey, I'm not a newbie anymore. I have two blocks by my name.

OhBaby. I think the price will increase every year. And for all programs. I just hope the increases are low.

And who changed this topic title (with all the original messages) and how did they do it?

I remember when I didn't do tax returns. Except my own, by hand. What are overlays?

I agree with MJG CPA. Changing now is not an option for me. If you have your install codes and can work, you should be ok. Yes, they cut the Maine support and the Georgia people are TaxWise people so the support is not going to be good, and for who knows how long. But I like the ATX product. I try to avoid calling anybody's support. First try to figure it out, user guides, the knowledge base, this forum, etc. Calling is my last straw on any software. I hope CCH doesn't drop ATX, but if they do, they do. I'll have to make a decision then.

You guys are sure CCH will axe ATX. If that happens, what makes TaxWise better than ATX? As a program? From CCH's decision point of view?

Now's not the time to change software. I haven't had any problems yet with ATX. But I don't do a lot of the early bird stuff, RALs, efiled W-2s, etc. CCH's official communication is that they are not going to discontinue ATX. They may still later. Why worry now? I know they cut the Maine tech support and moved it to GA to be run by the TaxWise people. I hope they get up to grade on this. As others have mentioned, other programs were bought out, some discontinued. It could happen. That's the nature of our business environment. I started with ATX for cost reasons. It got better each year. If I have to look elsewhere, I'll still be price sensitive. I'll check out CCH's TaxWise, but I'll also look at Drake. I'm not sure of the other lower cost programs. I thought ProSeries was pretty pricey. Cost of two or three returns, not me. I think I need to raise my fees.

But is v03 the latest (I assume)? And what does the s01 indicate?

Anyone know what the file name for the ATX Backup means? After the client name, there is _v01.bck. There's usually three listed, _v02.bck and _v03.bck and so on. Sometimes there's a _s01 in the file name. I think the software backs up several and keeps that many in the Backup file. Which one is the most recent and what is the _s01 all about?

Jumping ship on Jan 25! You are brave. I think the time to change software would be between April 15 and Dec 1. As for people using more than one program, I guess they're making the big bucks.

I haven't had any problems so far. But I've mostly only done W-2s and 1099s. I also Print/Pdf from the custom button, not the Preparer Copy button. Also, I separate my PDF files into the Fed return, State return, other categories, including the statements/worksheets. I remember when PDFing my other statements/worksheets and including the various Assets/Depreciation schedules, the PDF function would hang up. I started to PDF my Assets/Depreciation schedules separately. This made smaller files to PDF and everything worked fine.