catax

So glad that I read this post. They have always sent the archive. I never even would have thought about it. I have had to use those archive disks when new computers are purchased.

I wanted to install my new software today. I believe I had read that I no longer could install on a peer-to-peer network on a shared drive???? Not sure if this is the case or not. This is how I have been networking the last three years. I am hoping that staying with ATX is not going to require that I purchase another computer to network effectively. So I tried to login to the official ATX Board to see if I can read about installation. I can login fine but the board will not load up for me. It is like it is not working, or blocked. So I decided to call technical support. I get a message that the phone system is experiencing "technical difficulties". I am feeling a bit frustrated. Unsure that I made the right decision to invest in this product again. But trying to remain hopeful as I really didn't like any of the other products.

I can login without a problem but when I select community board it doesn't load. It acts like it is not available. I will contact them to find out why it doesn't come up.

I have renewed. Since you are all able to log in then maybe I have been blocked. Or have a password issue. I have not been made aware of having. Also I can't imagine having been blocked as I have been more than fair with my posts and have renewed. I just couldn't find another program I liked. They all had pros and cons including ATX.

I use Square. No monthly fee can use it when I want to take a credit card. I have also taken Paypal in the past and will consider putting that on my website as well. It is a great idea. I have really liked using square. The gizmo is really easy to use. Money is directly deposited into my bank account.

I have been out of the loop. I have been behind all year due to the software issues during tax season and business growth this year. I have my new ATX software disks. Haven't wanted to install yet until I read your reviews. So I tried to login to the ATX official community board and I can't. Have they taken the board offline? I was surprised not to see a post here if that was the case.

Thank you.

How do I send Jack a PM? Just a reply? Catax

This was my thought as a possility but I wanted to make sure nothing changed I wasn't aware of. I appreciate the 2nd opinion.

I think that would depend on the state. You will have to research the rules for each state.

I have two clients that received a settlement for commisions that were calculated inncorrectly from last employer. They received 1/2 settlement as W2 and 1/2 on 1099. The 1099 lists the amount that they received in a check as other income, but there is another figure listed in box 14 attorney fees. In ATX it allows and entry for box 14 and then has another field for taxable amount. None of the clients documentation states that they received a larger award and paid attorney fees out of that award. It was a class action suit. The question is can this box 14 amount be taxable to the receiver of the settlement. All my research shows this box relating to the attorney claiming their own income. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for posting a reply. I had been looking for information without sucess. Now trying to get the information out of the client regarding when the options were earned? I hope I can get the information. Thanks

I have a client that is a US citizen that transfered from HP in the US, to HP in Mexico. It appeared to me that the options she exercised in 2006 were included in her Mexican W2. She exercised more options in 2007 and quit working for HP Mexico. It doesn't appear that her options were included in the 2007 Mexican W2. She lived in Mexico all year and qualifies for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. This is for a 2007 return. I have a 1099-B for the options she exercied. No breakdown for witholding etc like I normally she with options exercised in the US. The question: do the options exercised while living in Mexico and working for HP qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion?

Scratch that question. I missed taxtrios post and that clears it all up for me. Thanks again both of you for your responses. Nena

Thank you. One more question. The spouse that makes the distribution under the QDRO would not pay the tax? The spouse that receives the distribution would owe the tax? This situation is somewhat strange because the distribution is being made from the 401k to replace nonqualified money that the spouse took out of the joint bank account and spent when he left. So the spouse receiving the distribution is just trying to get themself back where they started. That never happens does it? Anyway clarification on the tax part of this would be helpful, thanks. Nena

I am looking at exception code 06 72(t)(2)(C ). I have a client that is divorcing and receiving a distribution from her husbands 401K via a Qualified Domestic Relations Order. I had understood that this exception code was for the spouse making the distribution from the retirement plan, but that the distribution had to stay in a rollover IRA when paid over to the other ex spouse. I didn't understand that the money could be distributed completely by the spouse required to make the payment and avoid the penalty. However, after reviewing this I am rethinking this issue because of how the other exception codes work. Can you help clarify this issue for me? To avoid the penalty does the money have to stay in a qualified account in the other ex spouses name or can it be actually distributed from the qualified account and avoid a penalty? Thanks, Nena

I experienced this same $100 scenerio. However, I didn't lose anything. I had purchased the PRS for business and trust returns. Since I have been a user of the ATX Software since 99 I had to replace my computer. Since I didn't have the forsight at the time to get the balance of my unused PRS returns I no longer have my unused returns from 00-05. When I called technical support to get these returns or to find out how to unlock 1 return for each year I was told I had to buy the $100 CD. THis is after I was on hold and transfered around for 1.5 hours. This didn't seem right to me since I had the product that I had purchased and knew that I hadn't used all of the returns. It seems worst case scenerio I should have been able to buy 1 single return for each year. When they were ATX they were able to release one return. They told me that it was not possible to purchase just 1 return. Basically I wasn't able to use the product that I had previously paid for. I felt that this was very bad service.

I realize that the net effect is the same. I just hadn't come across this before and wanted to make sure that if I did it this way it would fly. Just don't want to have a large adjustment down the road. Just wanted some confirm that if I put it on '06 that it was a legitimate way to go. Nena

Decendents estate had no taxable income until year 2006. Had large legal and fiduciary expenses in 2003. Has income associated with those expenses in 2006 & 2007. Can these legal and fiduciary fees be considered accrued and deducted in 2006 against taxable income? Or do I have to file a return for each year and carry over as an NOL? Trying to finish today. Your help is appreciated. Thanks, Nena

All my returns are rejecting. The problem with retrying is that the returns need to be recreated. I still have a lot of work to do. This is wasting valuable time. I wish it didn't reject all of the returns. And just alowed me to keep resending. Very frustrating. Nena

I got through to Franchise and they have programed the systems this year to not credit a balance due when the amout is very small. These were under $10. Since there is not a balance due in the system they send a refund check. They say it is not cost effective to bill out for small dollar amounts. I gues they thing it is more cost effective to cash checks and reprint and mail them back to the taxpayer. Nena

I have been using preprinted envelopes: Franchise TAx Board PO Box 942867 Sacramento, CA 94267-0009 In all cases the checks were processed and cleared. They sent a check back to all three of them from Franchise. I am scared now that their returns were not really received and processed even though my system says accepted. All returns were accepted on Feb 15th. Very, very strange.

Anyone having problems with CA balance due return payments being returned? I can't get through on the Practioner number. All returns were e-filed and show accepted in my system. I have three returns with balance due all in the same family and the balances were all returned by Franchise Tax Board. Any ideas. No adjustment letters sent just checks.

I just received an email from ATX that the community bulletin board is now back up and running. I really can't beleive that they take the board offline for a year. I think it is almost a year to the day and now they are finally listening and are putting it back online. It is like rubbing salt in a wound at this point for me. Just makes me mad all over again. I had finally accepted the entire transition.

Jainen, That was all I could find on it was the defination of "Car Defined for purposes of depreciation". This and the "four wheel-wheeled" vehicle definition. Which made me think not. I appreciate the feedback. Thanks, Nena