joelgilb

You know, I looked at that chart a dozen times on Saturday and for the life of me kept missing that one section. Thx for pointing me back to it. And Now that I am fresh and rested I see it! Now if only I could get my payroll software to correctly calculate it! lol

bringing this discussion back up for an additional issue. Any body know how the additional .9% medicare tax withholding works here? Although the medical ins (wage) is not subject to SS or reg medicare, is it subject to the additional .9% WH?

John, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Was just adding a little humor is all.

Wow John, you are ahead of the game. Guess I will follow you lead and get my extensions done early this year, 03/15/2014. Well, earlier than my usual last day of filing season for corps (but only because we got the extra 2 days this year. I must say though I am impressed!

JOhn, That really sums it up well John, That really sums it up perfectly. ATX is essentially using data screens as well, just not clean and consistent ones. Like both you and Judy, I find viewing the return after entry works well and is fast. When I think about it, it took more time to get back to the forms screen to see what my input did in ATX, than it does in Drake using the view return. This really makes you wonder about the supposed advantage of forms based tax software. For example, schedule E input in ATX is all done on an input sheet and you have to go back to the form view to see what happened. Even if you start on the form, you end up drilling down to the input sheet and then having to go back to see what changed.

They have a Hotkey sheet as well, that is now available directly inside the Drake software under "Help/Navigation Help. At the bottom there is a link to the PDF for the Hotkeys.

Drake is not CCH/ATX and from my short experience does not do the things that CCH has done that caused this board to be created and needed. I see members candidly discussing Drake and its flaws on its board, with no cencorship whatsoever (except for direct attacks on Named staff or other members, which really isn't approriate on any forum - and this I only saw from posts that this had happened in the distant past). On the other had, for the most part members there are happy with Drake and you see virtually no bashing.

Just thought I would throw this out. Not that this isn't a great board, but it is really geared more towards ATX and Tax specific issues IMHO. Although Eric was nice enough to provide this Drake section, I think the Drake users here that have technical issues will find (as I have), that the Drake board may serve you better for Drake specific tech questions. I have found that the Drake board has a lot of long time and very experienced users, which has really short cut my learning curve. Also, unlike the ATX regular board (not this one), there is virtually no drama! Just my 2 cents worth, so take it for what it is worth.

Don't count on it. Still they will probably stay in business

Nope, No referral fee or any compensation for that matter, but that is OK with me. Took me years to find this DM solution, so personally all I care is they continue thrive, grow and continue to add features. BTW, might need to mention or speak with Jeff to get the price reduction.

Yes its Real! FileCenter (FC) is a Great DM! Very little compares to it at this price range. Although Drake DM is decent, it can't compare to FC 1. Scanning and OCR is built-in 2. Templates, 3. Separators (sort, autoname and move to folders automatically by using these) 4. You can use your existing File structure! No proprietory folders or file structure 5. Custom Cabinets to assist with Work Flow 6. Networkable 7. Combining is simple and you can print to the same file and append or prepend on the fly 8. Split view 9. Templates (allows creation of multiple folders simultaneously 10. Naming Conventions (auto name your files) 11. Convert multiple types of file formats to PDF 12. Emailing and protect/secure PDFs 13 Emailing. creation and protect/secure Zip files on the fly 14. Full Redaction capability 15. Typewriter allowing you to simply type on any PDF without creating boxes/fields (although it can do this as well 15. and more Yes there are some limitations to it, but as far as I can see, only the very high end DM's improve on it. Comes bundled with a Full PDF ability, well a lite version of PDF-Xchange that does virtually everything you will need. I wrote a review of version 7 here: http://gilassc.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/document-management-what-is-it-and-why-do-i-need-it/ And if you mention my name and my website they will give you a $50.00 off the $199.00 Pro version (at least they used to)

I also converted 2011 to 2012. Cakewalk and very quick. Then the few returns I had done in ATX 2012 I manually converted to have both me and staff learn Drake quickly. Thank Gawd I don't have to convert that mess of a 2012 program to Drake 2013!

looks like Mink beat me to it!

you can go here and see ATX's "ATX 2013 Preview Participants Provide Feedback -- Part 1" here: http://myatx.blogspot.com/http://myatx.blogspot.com/ No comment here as to whether I as in the 87% or the 13%.

It takes a little learning, but Drake really does a better job on complex partnership allocations than ATX. I found I had to go to the additional screens and really set things up correctly so that Drake would handle all the calculations including the partnership basis issues. For instance, Drake also does a much better job on things like the 754 election (adjustment to inside basis for certain partners). With ATX I had to do all sorts of work arounds and customize the underlying calculations by editing the Excel Spreadsheet in the ATX software, something that could not be done in the 2012 software. I suggest really working through the additional pages and talking with Tech Support, they helped me immensely.

Would like to switch completely from CCH. How much is the FA program from Thompson Reuters?

Most definitely Yea, Parker is $249.00 per year and it's explanation leaves something to be desired. Sounds like Checkpoint is the way to go for only $89.00!

Personally, I think ATX's recommendations of 2.8ghz, suggest that they really don't understand CPU's. Had friends that had little or no trouble with very old, very slow PC's, with only minor speed issues (much slower5 than the PC's I list below). Further a lot depends on the CPU manufacturer, multi-threading, high end graphics GPUs and other factors. CPU speed certainly isn't the only issue. AMD used to have actual lower CPU ghz speed ratings for some chips that were actually faster than the same rated Intel chip. To avoid consumer confusion on the speed, AMD sold these CPU's using a higher than actual CPU rating to allow a more direct comparison to the Intel rated CPU chips, even though they actually ran at a lower ghz.. Now I have an older PC with an Intel Q6600 2.4ghz Quad Core CPU (CPU Benchmark 2979) and now a new PC with an Intel I4770 quad core (CPU Benchmark of 10,101), essentially 3.4 times as fast. I must say that ATX 2012 runs better on the I4770 (still like crap though), but ATX 2013 runs at virtually the same speed on both machines.

Judy: Now that you are not using ATX, any ideas as to what to use to do payroll returns? Was trying to avoid buying Superforms, and not really up to speed on the Drake CWU; and well I just want to produce the returns. I know I can create a fillable PDF, but seems like too much work for me and the small number of returns I have.

Drakes fixed assets converted perfectly for me as well. I do have a few comments about the FA module though: The Fixed Asset Manager (FTM) is not as strong as some of the profressional FTMs. but I find it is sufficient for my needs. With ATX 2011 and earlier (not sure about 2012 as my ATX 2012 integrated with the external FTM), I had to buy the full FTM to get history and future depreciation lapsing schedules. ATX input (IMHO) made it easier for those with less expertise to easily choose the correct asset methods and lives ,by hiding some of the more technical issues in depreciation behind menu choices. With Drake, I feel you need to understand asset classes, depreciation methods and assets lives a little better. This one can be taken as a strength or a weakness though. My personal thought is that Drake, forces preparers to better understand the depreciation rules and insure that the correct methods and lives are used, and is therefore a strength, not a weakness.

What do you get in the checkpoint subscription? I have Parker now, and want to see if this adds anything. Also, I was planning on getting a Quick Reference guide and something like the Master Tax Guide as well, so was looking at TTB. If Checkpoint fits that bill I might add it to my Parker subscription (http://www.parkertaxpublishing.com/).

Thought maybe you were disenchanted with Drake. Me, I also renewed Drake. Not saying I was a beta tester, but guess I did not see anything in ATX 2013 that would make me want to repeat the experience. BTW, have you been on the Drake Board? If so, what is your nick over there (you could PM it to me if you don't mind)?

Aren't you happy with Drake?

Both ATX 2012 and 2013 have CSV import features for the 8849, but I do not know the format required for the spreadsheet import. My guess is that it has to be identical to the columns in the 8849.

Like Gail said, it helps to justify the independent contractor status vs employer - employee relationship. It also helps the contractor to deduct business expenses where they would not exceed the 2% itemized deduction limitation or if they can't itemize.