mcb39

Rita, go to Preferences, Open Return and near the bottom you will find a box to check to "Enable Payer Manager". Hope this is what you are looking for.

Taxbilly is correct that you need to update each program after you load it. Otherwise it will not accept the return files that were created on a newer version of the program. Very easy to do, but important. I don't recall there being so many updates in those early years. I have all the way back to 1999 on this computer and have seldom had any reason to use anything more than six years back. Good Luck.

Here is the e-mail that I received late this afternoon: ATX - EF, bank, and some states are available today 1/13/2011 A program update was posted to the support site Wednesday. The following forms are being posted late today (Thursday) so check later if you don't see them there yet. EFINFO--activates efile so you can begin sending to the EFC BANKRC --River City (The Republic and SBTPG are not available yet but should be later tonight.) FeeCollect CA NY IL PA OH MD VA GA Refer to the Efile Availability chart on the support site for specific state efile readiness.

Thanks KC.....that is what I needed to hear.

I probably would have laughed too, especially since I love biscuits.

If you are talking about the ATX UniForms, ATX also sells envelopes to match the forms and line up with the addresses of the employer and employee.

Terry, I, like you, have never had any results from advertising other than word of mouth. Sometimes clients walk out of here with two or three business cards and I get an occasional hit from them. It is usually the mothers that tell their kids or their neighbor lady. Sometimes it is my husband and sons who tell their customers. In reverse, I have business cards on my desk from a colleague. If someone comes in that I definitely know I am not going to be able to or want to work with; I give them her card and send them there. She is a lot younger than me; just in her second solo year and willing to put up with a lot more than I am at this point. In my engagement letter that I sent out, I mentioned that I would be accepting a limited number of new clients this year, depending on the circumstances. That sentence will do more for me than any ad on Facebook or anywhere else ever could. (This is based on my experience, and is not to be considered unnegotiable).

I believe I read that, if anything, it will slow down the process as early returns will be placed in a bin or bins. Obviously, when the green light flashes, the immediate returns will be dealt with first and those in the bin will be gotten around to whenever.

John is correct. Even though I have lived in WI most of my life, I still hate driving in a snowstorm; or even worse, freezing rain. I think it was extremely conscientious of ATX to make "any" arrangements to try to take care of us without risking lives on their part. That said, we wouldn't trade our Summers with anyone.

Monday Weather Plan 5:25 AM EST Our significant winter weather event is currently in progress. We will update the blogs, community boards and support sites on our support plans. http://www.11alive.com/ Below is our contingency plan: We are housing a core group of 50 Customer Care employees at a hotel within 2 miles of the office. We are evaluating the road conditions to determine what time we can safely get our employees to the office. We will be conducting support electronically via email, chat and the community board, rather than turning the phones on. If we have enough employees that live close to the office make it to work, we will re-evaluate our phone decision. We have added a Chat option on the left navigation panel on the support homepage. As soon as we get reps to the office and logged in, the chat option will automatically open. We are anticipating 8:00 - 8:30. We are coordinating closely with our development teams to start delivering tax season updates and states. We may be a bit more conservative than normal during these releases if we have no phone support, but our plan is to get them delivered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kim Manuel VP - Customer Relations

NEW TWIST...... Employee, my client, calls and says that her part-time employer has not been withholding SS and MC from her check for 13 years and is now demanding employee pay her back and is deducting the amount she (the employer) thinks is correct. First of all, can she do this? I think not. Where would she justify what the additional withholding is for? Long story, short.....accountant was having employer pay the entire .153; however W2's for my client show the correct amount of withholding for Ss and MC. Accountant was not withholding those amounts from the employees' checks, nor was he grossing up the pay. In comes new accountant and says this is wrong. Employer wants her money back. Who is liable? Accountant, Employer or Employee. There is also some question in my mind as to whether SSA ever even received the payments. How do I advise my client? Employer's accountant was supposed to call me, but no call yet. It also appears that the accountant might have E and A insurance to cover this. Employer doesn't want to go that route. Does anyone else smell something odd here?

If you go to "My ATX", then down the list in the left colume to "Shipping Schedule", you will see that The Master Tax Guide was available the week of December 6 and the Express Answers was availabe the week of December 27. I guess if you have ordered a program that includes these books, and have not received them, you had better call. You can also check on what you are supposed to be getting under "My Products".

Catherine, if they ever force the alphabet salad on us, I will be out of the game. Look at the example they are setting for us with thousands still not having received their PTINs; no plan in place for testing, etc. What kind of professional or organizational skills are those? How do we maintain our clients' trust when we cannot tell them WHAT or WHEN.....makes me tired.

That list is still out there and it is surprising that people actually do use it to find a preparer who e-files in their area just by putting in their zip code.

Guess I want to hang around long enough to pass the test to be a REAL registered tax preparer!

Same here........

You did not have to do anything with your ERO if you have an EFIN. You can always go to IRS e-services for professionals and check if it is active; but it most likely is. All the issues this year were in the application and payment for a PTIN (Preparers Taxpayer Identification Number), which many of us have used for years in lieu of having to put our SS# on the returns.

I called very early on and they verified that I was "good to go". Have never received a letter. I did print the web page stating that I had a PTIN.....just for insurance.

I don't have "the letter" either. However, on the website, it shows that I have a PTIN; same one I always had and when I click on PTIN, it shows a screen which says it is provisional until sometime in Dec, 2011. It is provisional because I am one of the lucky folks who have to pass the test.

All of my last years' stuff is still on the floor. SMALL home office. Spent yesterday setting up second computer with program and backups. I did get most mail out this week. Sent out a lot fewer organizers and a lot more letters. Also, sent Engagement letter to several online as an attachment. I am amazed at how many and how quickly they replied. Must make a note to get more e-mail addresses this year. My husband says that I WILL be charging more. I told him I would pay him to help me. He said, "If only I could!" as he doesn't know how to turn on the computer. However, he has graduated to a cell phone this year, so there is hope. I am not trying to make him sound dumb as he has his own business to run and has done it very well for 35 years; but all the paperwork comes to my office. Breaking son in gradually and he might actually be some help to me as he is very good with a computer. Just got a call to come into work. Flu is going around. That shoots any headway today, but sideline job is helpful until the tax returns start to flow some income once again. Will be interesting to see what everyone else is doing to be more resourceful this year.

Good friendly shot there, Eli. I was hoping that was going to be the case.

I have been watching the form since school in Nov and I have not seen it change yet. I don't think the form is ready. Somehow, it is supposed to be deducted on the SE.

Yes, it's been a long couple of days. I just installed and updated program on second computer. After I had entered all of the preparer info (again) because I could not find the way to roll it over; all I had to do was roll over one return (mine) and all the info was there. Now I have two preparers and they are both me.

HI KC.......I, too, was fingerprinted many years ago. I just happened to be talking to a client of mine yesterday who is a County Deputy. He said he hasn't taken anyone's fingerprints for years, but is going to check around. He asked me if I had filed mine off since I first had them taken. I agree that it is just something else to waste our time and money. Am having enough stress just getting ready for tax season.....purchasing supplies, senting out letters and/or organizers; trying to reduce the chaos left in my office from last year. This is getting really expensive and taking a toll on my brain. AND.....the phone is starting to ring.