taxtrio

Did I read the list at the bottom of the email correctly?? The efile forms won't be ready until the 29th of January? I thought it was said they would be ready on the 28th!! Ugh... Taxtrio

Only prior year BUSINESS returns can be efiled with MEF efile. Only 2012 Personal returns can be efiled now... or will be Jan 30th... no prior year personal returns to my knowledge. Taxtrio

Returns open much faster... zip! Since this afternoon update. taxtrio

Sounds great to me... just got the notice from IRS.. 5.00 per sq ft up to 300 sq feet of OIH. but for 2013 not 2012... too bad we cannot use it now! taxtrio

Ran 12.3 today. Running XP, with 4 meg ram. I rolled over my personal return. can't do anything yet in it.. so it is basically just a shell. Tried opening my return. Took 2 minutes to get to list of forms that cannot be rolled over. another two minutes after that to open return... Ugh! I have a "dummy return" with just a 1040 that I created as a new return. That took 2 minutes to open.!! Two minutes into opening my return I got a pop-up from Norton "high cpu usage"... what the heck does that mean.?? Taxtrio

If you use "the taxbook", you can go the the taxbook website and put in your password for 2012(it's printed on the inside cover of your new taxbook). And they have posted a new, very easy to read summary of the new law. taxtrio

You can go into reports in ATX and export client list to excel, then go to word and under tools mail merge. Then you can set-up the labels to include just what you want and choose the type of label. You can also just print labels from ATX reports... you can only print the basic size of label ... like the avery 5160 ( 30 per sheet). It will print all client information (that will fit on the label). I have printed labels for my client folders this way for several years. Only thing is it prints the label John & Mary Smith. Not Smith, John and Mary. But I can live with that.. taxtrio

I had not noticed that! But I already printed my labels from the 2011 ATX program.. That's where all the client's names and address are.. I don't "rollover" returns until they are coming in. But my complaint has always been that it only let's you print on size of label! Hope they fix that. Many of my address are too long to fit on the AVery 5160 labels. I have to use the 5161 labels... they are 1" x 4" 20 per page. So I have to set-up my client manager and export list to excel. My daughter is an expert in excel-- unlike myself. So once again I had to call her and have her remind me how to do a "mail-merge" in Microsoft Office. It's interesting you save the file in excel, close excel, then open Microsoft Office and go to "tools" at the top. Choose "letters & mailings". Then choose mail merge... and the fun begins! But it does work as long as you know how to use mail merge. When I called my daughter all I had to say was "Well, it's that time of year again!" She laughed and said "are you trying to mail-merge again!" taxtrio

Got it to load and install this morning. Also did download of payroll forms. Payroll program looks like last year's program... ATX Max looks updated. I rolled over my own return. Took 5 minutes to open my return..!! And it's not that big of a return. Takes a long time after it asks "rollover forms when available"... Hopefully that will change as forms are available. Overall it seems slow, moving from screen to screen. I looked at the 8867, there is an additional tab at the bottom of the screen called "due dilligence". It is a place to record additional information for due dilligence. Probably for the extra questions we have asked the client and documenting their answers.! Taxtrio

I tried to download the 2012 ATX using activation code on "My ATX" account page.... Three tries.... no go! Anybody having any success? Taxtrio

I just looked at the new 8867 for 2012. Now four pages with additional due dilligence questions. Any comments? Looks like I'm going to use more paper copying "documentation" for EIC clients! taxtrio

Don't forget to review the pub 1345 as well as the circ. 230. You don't have those available to research during the test. And practice researching pub 17 the the 1040 instructions online format! I'm so used to just flipping thru a book that it took longer to look up in the electronic format. I am reviewing using exam matrix rtrp online program to get used to the taking the test on the computer. They are giving 10 hours CEU's. So I'll only have ethics and updates to get later in the year. I am finding it very beneficial... just getting used to taking a test again... been a while. Taxtrio

Glad to give my input... I'm maintaining my membership with TRX but have still been using ATX... I am looking forward to seeing how your in house software compares with ATX... I hate to loose time learning a new software. Your staff has told me that it has both worksheet input or forms input (like ATX)... is he correct? I am also renewing with TRX to get the benefits of the other software available thru you... I am waiting on your payroll software. I've been assured I will have by June 2012 so I can switch from the Quickbooks payroll before my renewal date--- do you think it will be ready in June? Look forward to reviewing your software and compare it to ATX taxtrio [email protected]

Paperless is an interesting concept... Sound good; but things to consider are..... Backing-up your files is crucial... I receive a lot of offers to "back-up on the cloud" as they say. But questions that need to be asked : Where is the "cloud"? What country is it in? What are my legal rights if the company closes? What then? What's your take on the cloud? taxtrio

I had a client call me in March asking me to "forgive him"... I wasn't sure what the problem was. I knew he had not beenin yet this year. He kept on about he needed me to forgive him. I asked him again what the problem was and he said he had done his return on turbo tax this year and wanted me to forgive him. I said that it was his choice and that maybe I would see him next year. He then told me that if I would forgive him he would never stray again! I again asked him what the problem was. He then told me he had done turbo tax and messed it up and wanted to know how much it would cost for me to fix it for him..... Sometimes they have to "stray" for a year before they really appreciate us! Taxtrio

Same rules apply to the Michigan Homestead Credit.... has for years. Taxtrio

I appreciate the news about next years ATX.... I just hope they don't change it for the worse.... I like the forms based input.... I've looked at others and they just don't compare. ATX and I have an "understanding".... I can get around pretty fast. I know what it's going to do, and I know what I need to do. I still have issues with some things that are time wasters.... I hope they will fix some of those issues.... I've posted them on wanted improvements to the program each year.... We'll see if they improve it .. Taxtrio

Michigan taxes a Non-resident on income they received while working in Michigan. If he continued to live in Michigan while drawing unemployment then it would be included in Michigan return. Must file a MI 1040, and MI 1040-NR to separate texas and michigan income, pro-rates his exemption, etc, etc. etc. taxtrio

I am "my assistant"!! So I waste time comparing lists that I could be using to prepare returns. Taxtrio....

I set-up a column in return manager for "comments", I use that column to make a simple note... "mailed", or "hold", or "family", or whatever note I need to remind myself.... But it would be nice to be able to do an advanced search for a variety of things.... such as "Which clients have estimates?", "Which Clients have a Sch C.?" etc. Other tax programs have these, when will we have such features in ATX? Taxtrio

Now the IRS says will be down all night.... let's hope they get the "bugs" out of their system so we can get on with tax season. I never want to be in the first batch... but I have close to a dozen already waiting.... Taxtrio

Well let's hope the IRS get's the bugs out so we can get on with tax season... Taxtrop

Getting error on Michigan. Reads: Error: Valid characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, hyphen, slash and space. (Limited to 35 characters) I am getting it twice... one takes me to the Data Sheet for the MI 1040, and one that takes me to the Data Sheet fot the Mi 1040 CR. (Not the actual Mi 1040, or Mi 1040 CR). At first I couldn't see any disallowed characters... Until I noticed that on the Data Sheet the Software has added some commas, and periods to the address. These are not on the actual MI 1040. This is all carried from the federal 1040. example: 123 Main Street, Apt. No. 357 (this is not the actual address) Then stopped and counted the # of characters.... AH! With the extra punctuation added to clients address came to more than 35 characters..... I removed extra punctuation from the Data Sheet on both forms..... Eureka! No more error. Isn't January wonderful!! Taxtrio

Be careful of your state laws, they can effect the dependency. Here in Michigan there is a very old law on the books that says it is illegal for a man and a woman to "co-habitate" without the benefit of marriage.... Which possibly makes their relationship illegal in Michigan. The IRS in our district says you can't claim a deduction for anything (or anyone) that is illegal in Michigan. In Michigan the answer would be he could claim the children as a "qualifying relative" but cannot claim the girl friend. taxtrio

What was the outcome of the ATX advisory meeting? Did they indicate which enhancements they might make? Thanks for the update. Taxtrio