Howard

Well, I'm glad that helped, and I HOPE that a lot of other folks will read your post and be inspired to use the Suggestion Box, instead of just getting on here and griping about problems. Not that it is not OK to gripe, just that it does not let the people who can fix it know that it needs fixing.

After all, the tax code is incredibly complex, and so are many of the forms, both federal and state, and there will always be some glitches. And especially with the state forms, those glitches may not show up until a complex series of combined factors come into play.

So when ever someone spots one, or thinks they have spotted one, they need to let the programmers know. The SUGGESTION BOX is how you do that. And I've always found the response to be fast, polite, and helpful.

:)

"even if you are from AR" ???????????

Explain yourself, please.

Just kidding... one of my good friends and clients just moved back from Mt. View, AR and told me some horror stories :)

May you have many more!

taxbilly

We can only hope!!

Following KC Jenkins' advice (thank you KC), I direct emailed ATX through their 'Suggestion Box' and received an ATX response as early as this morning. There was an error with the e-filing of the CA Nonrefundable Renters Credit, which was fixed this morning by a form download. Here is ATX's response:

Dear Howard:

Your concerns are absolutely valid and it has been reported that an erroneous e-file error message has been populating for this instance. This update has been pushed out this morning and thus the fix has been made.

Sincerely,

Sandy Gelb

ATX Tax Manager

CCH Small Firm Services,

a Wolters Kluwer business

May you have many more!

taxbilly

Thanks Taxbilly...I guess FL is not too bad after all :scratch_head:

Thaks, KC..yoou're the greatest, even if you are from AR :D

Happy Birthday

Thanks Lion, I just now saw this post....

Howard

According to all of my research books (even the new California Tax Quickfinder), it clearly states that for MFJ, HOH or survivin spouses, the max Nonrefundable 2008 Renter's Credit is $120 if CA AGI is $69,872 ($66,544 for 2007) or less. Even the ATX Form which drives this credit states the same limitation.

Can you please tell me why then, when I go to efile this client (his CA AGI = $66,637), I get an error message telling me that the CA AGI must be less than $66,544? This is the old 2007 limit, NOT the new 2008 limit...

I have held off efiling his CA until I can get an answer...has the limits been reduced??

Howard Owens

A client faxed to me a document published a few months ago in an AARP magazine claiming that there will be a tax break from TY 2008 - 2010, whereby singles would pay no capital gain taxes up to $32,550 in taxable income (couples $65,100) on securities held more than one year. In other words, some people would not have to pay any taxes on the cashing out of their investments.

For the life of me, I have tried the IRS website, Pub 17 for TY 2008, Latest IRS changes for TY 2008, etc, etc and can find NO mention of this. Can anyone please shine some light on whether or not this is true and where I would research this matter?

Thanks,

Howard

I too, having been the recipient of several thank you cards, 'tips', boxes of candy and the sorts, agree, it feels great.

On the converse, one of my new clients sat in my office this year, and told me, when asked of his occupation, that he, "... kills people for a living, and that he could kill me in one of four ways before I ever left my chair" !! Turns out that he is an employee for BLACKWATER Security, stationed in Iraq, a former Navy SEAL and as he defines his job occupation"...a paid assassisn"!! His Schedule C write offs included Sniper School, medical attention from a brown recluse spider bite, weapons and ammunition....

This is one client I hope to never upset

Howard

I have a rather perplexing situation:

One of my clients, who has always filed as MFS passed away last year. Upon doing his tax return, he neither owes nor receives a refund, as he was a self-employed individual who was not around long enough to make enough money to do either (I never charge for a final return, but want to get his filed none-the-less). The problem is this: The software continues to reject the IRS Efiling, as it is asking for the personal representative information, but will neither accept it on the Spouse's line, as he is MFS, nor on the Form 1310, as he does not get a refund. Yes, as always, the Spouse's name and SSN do appear on the proper spots on his return.

Where do I add the Personal Representative's information to get this to accept? I would have thought on the Filer's Info page, but it does not appear to go there, either. His Spouse has already been accepted with both IRS & CA as MFS, and his has already been accepted from CA.

Very wierd....suggestions??

Thanks,

Howard

I had four CA returns previously e-filed and filed one today. Received ACKs back on all but one of them. Two were rejected.

One rejection because of the zip code (error code stated zip code cannot contain spaces or dashes). Only thing I did was add the 4 digit extension on the return that was not present last year.

Jerry

Confused in California

I too had 5 or 6 CA efiles rejected for the zip code reason as well. In every case, I used the zip + 4 last year, as well. What I did was to reopen each CA return, remove the zip + 4, and re-efile....all have returned this morning as ACCEPTED!!

Howard

Sorry I didn't check back in with you all since Saturday. When I checked the CA website status was unknown. The original return today says

"rejected by EFC" the copy says "validated by EFC". My client says she checked the website just using her social and it says approved. I checked today and it was approved. But one now says "rejected" and one says "validated. I do not know what to tell you except that mine went through it was the original not the copy because I didn't submit the copy until Saturday and it was accepted on Friday according to FTB. Seems my tech support rep should have been able to determine that. However, she looked and said that it did not go through?

This is a mess and the tech support and customer service people at ATX just do not seem to have a clue about what specifically is going on. They should be sending us emails as they have in the past or post something on MYATX. At this point I am unsure what the point of MyATX is. So far I have found no information to fix any of my problems there.

GLORY BE!! My 1st 5 out of 9 CA Efiles came back through ATX today as Accepted!!!! DO WE HAVE A MOVEMENT??

Howard

Client is one of those affected by the AMT legislation....Someone remind me....When can we e-file these affected forms?

If you try to efile with this form, the error report at the bottom of the screen says that you have to wait until 02/11/08 to E-file. My guess is that it will probably be a tad sooner.

Howard

Thanks for the information on how to check this on the CA site. No luck with mine it said status "unknown". So mine are not flowing. Nena

After chacking a few of my CA clients, the FTB oes show Accepted, even though my ATX software shows the status as, "Validated by EFC". Problem appears to be on ATX's end; not FTB's

Howard

Can this year E-file married filing separate returns? I know last year it was not allowed.

thank you

That's odd... I have been successfully Efiling MFS since about 2 tax years ago...it just required the addition of one additional tax form to do so.

Howard

I'm still waiting too.

Haven't received a reply from ATX Customer Service when I complained about this two days ago either.

Jerry

I emailed ATX a question directly to William on 01/20, and yet to receive a reply back....unacceptable. Fortunately, as a 4 year user of ATX, I was able to resolve it myself. This is not why I switched from Proseries 4 years ago....WE need and pay for CUSTOMER SUPPORT.

IF I TREATED MY CLIENTS THE WAY ATX CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TREATING US, I WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS!!

hOWARD

Has anyone received any acceptance acknowldgements for California from ATX? As of 7:00AM, 1/25/08, I have yet to get any. People who are using Cal-File (free service) are having no problems.

Gene

Nope, as of 9:00 AM, I still have my same 7 CA efiles; waiting...waiting...waiting...

I'm definitely going to do the same. Tax Relief Express is looking very good to me.

I am a small one person operation and I only do about 50 returns per year. Almost all my clients e-file, so my software cost just went from $420 to $670. Had I known back in June when I renewed the software that they were going to charge me for e-filing, I would not have renewed.

Jerry

Jerry, I am here in Moreno Valley, CA, and that was the 1st thing I noticed when I renewed my ATX software last April...that there was now a charge for efiling, so I had to upgrade to the MAX package to avoid paying the efiling fees. With my 300 clilents, it woould havebeen way to costly to have paid for efiling. When I spoke with ATX about it lat April, they said that it should not change the way most of ATS's clients do business....lol

Howard

I have 7 CA returns efiled last week, and on hold, as Validated. I have resolved myself to watch them and they will clear usually by the end of January, each year.

Howard

Hee's a new one for me, that I could use your collaborated assistance on

A client/friend of mine and his business partner have spent 2K and 9K repsectively for startup costs in 2007 but his LLC did not begin until January of 2008.

How does he go about recapturing his startup costs if his LLC is not required to file their 1st tax return until this time NEXT year? Can they claim their costs in TY 2008 for startup costs paid in TY 2007?

Howard

It wasn't her choice Howard... All the tech in Caribou were let go.

That figures...I am beginning to develop a severe aprehension towards ATX. Between changing the product (to include no free e-filings unless you upgrade to Max), lowering the perks, and letting go of great Tech people like Nicole, I'm not sure where I will be going in TY 2008.

Have you found a nother great Tech??

Howard

They haven't changed it.

It's still the same old number.

You will just have to wait because they are assisting other customers.

They are supporting two tax programs so they are getting double the calls.

Nicole...Are you still with ATX Tech Support? I emailed you a question (which was since resolved), but it came back undeliverable...you are the best!!!! Don't leave us!!! Howard Owens

I just received IRS ACCEPTANCE on my 1st Federal Efile...

Hallejulah

Howard

Even though I downloaded yesterday afternoon's newest EIC Form which ATX says is the final approved version, why am I unable to create my Federal Efile, listing that form as unapproved? I looked this morning, but there is no newer form, and I even replaced my existing EIC form with the new one.