joelgilb

About a year ago I had spoken with a couple of the tech support people at ATX. they had indicated that CCh had a team of programmers working on a new low end (compared to there high end ProFX) tax software to replace both Taxwise and ATX and allow them to merge the user databases into one product. At this time I have not heard that they have abandoned this project. Who knows; 1. It might be great, 2. It might SUCK 3. It might have the same pricing structure we are used to (although based on how CCH has been slowing debundling the software (again look at Fixed Assets) I doubt this. Still the are not Intuit and that is high Praise indeed. 4. It might be as expensive as all get out I am sure many of you agree, ATX needs a rework and CCH would not be wrong in doing just that. It has become bloated, slow, and awkward. It has become difficult to find certain inputs, which are buried several levels deep, etc. And this is no fault of CCH or the ATX people, the software has outgrown its interface (Excel & Dbase)and needs to be revamped from the ground up. Kudos to CCH on this one. Now the question is can CCH do it? Can they create a tax product that satisfies the two totally different types of user bases? Forms Based (ATX) and Input Sheet Based (Taxwise). I am actually betting they can, but not so sure I am willing to pay what they will want and have to charge to recoup the effort they are making in doing so. I am also betting the product will be compromises for both user bases. So if I have to compromise anyway, why not look at TRX repackaged Redgear? For me it is a no brainer, I get a research package I want and need for 299.99 regardless of what other pieces of the Redgear product I use. And I get to call TRX with occasional Tax questions (which btw, they are not too good at answering - they have given me at least 2 wrong answers, and I was never able to get to the companies CPA for a more complete and Accurate answer in either of those cases. No call back. If you are reading this TRX that was Not Good TRX.) Well as usual (when I get going) the long winded Atty in me has come out.

Can't even begin to agree that Tech support this year is good. Maybe better than last year, but really, that's not saying much! I still get long hold times, and I still getting tech support people that haven't a clue how to resolve my issues. And I do find it hard to believe my issues are technically more difficult than others out here.

Bought PDF Factory Pro before ATX stop supplying it with their tax software. No PDF program out that quite does what this simple package does. It is Well worth the money for the Pro version. Have 10 (yes I said 10) PDF print drivers and softwares on my PC and have found that PDF Factory consistently makes the smallest PDF files as well. Never regretted my decision to buy it

So CCH forced TRX to drop Taxwise also?

Just another thought.. What ever happened to Mel?

So they rolled it in and basically doubled the price! And PEOPLE CCH is starting to find ways to raise our prices in other ways too. For instance they Debundled the fixed asset manager built into ATX. NO MORE HISTORY! I for one am WAKING UP. Maybe it's time to say No to CCH?

Oh, and one more thing Kleinrock Research Prods add 595.00 to the ATX package purchase price. So RIA at 1/2 that is a good bargain. I have used both those products in the past as well as CCH, and BNA. Personal opinion is that RIA has just as much info and boils down technical issues into understandable English a whole lot better than CCH or Kleinrock! Now tht said, Does anyone know if ATX is still selling their Zillion forms Package? It's mysteriously missing from the Product list and now I see an inflated price on there "Intelliforms " of $879.00 that I am wondering if this replaces Zillion Forms. AND Still Not happy with CCH. Tech support takes forever to answer and when they do they have NOT ONCE THIS SEASON been able to resolve one of my issues! NOT ONE. Had to resolve them myself each and every time! ABSOLUTELY USELESS

I am with Mike, bought it 2 days ago. Don't really care about what happened last year, even if Red Gear is a Piece-O-Crap, the RIA research package alone is worth $299.99. Will review the software after season and if its not good, then I will also look for other tax software options, including paying CCH the inflated $1100 price for ATX, if they haven't finished programing their new software that is supposed to merge Taxwise and ATX into one product.

also, I think we are all assuming the grantor is still alive. If not this will change the answers.

You need to look at the trust document to determine if it is a simple / grantor's trust or a complex trust. If its a simple grantor's trust you can report everything on the Grantor's 1040. But you do need to read the document that was prepared by the attorney

In fact this kind of reminds me of a kids song. Goes something like this... Sung to the tune of Knees up Mother Brown: Fees up Mother Brown Fees up Mother Brown To your Accountant, you must go Ee-aye, Ee-aye, Ee-aye-oh If I catch you not paying I'll levy what you have left Fees up, Fees up Got to keep the fees up Fees up Mother Brown!

Well it's our government at work trying to keep us employed! Got to love them for that...

Been keeping PDF copies only since 2004. Only Have 2 file cabinets left at this point and as soon as they can be shredded they will be empty except for current WIP

besides the Unified Credit for a person dying in 2009 is $1,455,800 which exempts $3.5 million not $2 mil

be careful with writing off all sorts of expenses for these so called merchant mariners. I have a number from Louisiana and they actually work for private companies, where all the food and even some of their incidentals are paid for or provided by the company. Then they want to double dip and get it again as a tax deduction.

so is a flex fuel car, a car that runs on a giant wind up rubberband? Sound like a great alternative fuel to me!

both solutions work, but KC's solution does have a lower risk of IRS even questioning it. And if they do he can provide a full explanation.

Has anyone seen a mortgage company issue a 1099-A in a previous year and a 2nd one in 2009? Have a client whose mortgage company issued 1099-A's twice for the same foreclosure. One in 2008 and the 2nd in 2009 and for different amounts. Not sure how to handle except to add a disclosure. any thoughts? Joel

As KC said, it wasn't so bad when they istituted it and the age limit was 14. This tax was instituted to stop the abuse of the wealthy, avoiding paying tax by moving their money into lower tax brackets. Trusts, kids etc. But to raise it to the age limits that they now have has only one agenda, to raise taxes by taxing those that have little or no knowledge and voice. They are simply raising taxes while pretending they are holding the line or reducing taxes. What a surprise, Politicians that lie. Definitely time for a change, something we might very well get in the next election.

LBB I think you missed that I also indicated that they get a military settlement and Soc Sec. Most is the military settlement which shows up on a 1099R. Guess my comment on the SS confuesd the post. Sorry for that. And I am not saying that these kids should not pay tax on the military 1099R, just not at their parents' rate.

KC, Guess that is when I first started having major issues with it. As as for shooting the politicians Jainen, many of them deserve it! Although I must admit I have been always been an ultra liberal and been against capital punishment all my life. In fact I helped get a bill passed in Morton Grove Il banning hand guns, the first of its kind. The rest I'll agree with Catherine, they need to go home. Our politicians no longer care about anything but there pocket book. We vote them in based on promises they make to us, which are all based in LIES LIES LIES. Maybe that's why MA finally put a Republican into office after Teddy died (a great in my opinion). Finally telling this government they are fed up. The next election, may be when I finally go conservative all the way!

Jainen, I had read your post before and you had a good explanation of this credit. Sometimes I have found the search on this board doesn't always pull all the old threads up though. But it is better since the board has been upgraded.

Last year there was a thread on this and someone mentioned Tenenz. Placed my order early this year and received exactly what I needed! Folders with a POCKET (on the left side)! and definately more economic. Same high quality look as the Nelco folders too. Now Nelco's folders, which I also have, can handle thicker returns, but they are missing the pocket. Oh how I have missed that pocket when I only ordered from Nelco! Joel

You just made me think of another one to add to that. My step-son's step children get military settlement and soc sec because there Captain father was killed in IRAQ defending our country. Their tax is OBSCENE! is over 1/3 of the money they get to replace their father Joel

The only returns that bounce for a used Soc Sec of a dependent are other returns using the same dependents soc sec #. Of course as others have said the dependent can not claim themselves on their own return Joel