mcb39

Yes, there was a time when we were sending them all over the country with the blessing of ATX. I, myself, copied and sent out many years until ATX took the burden off of us and offered replacement disks at a minimal cost. I think I do, however, have every year since 1995....

I think I have repeatedly expressed my appreciation for this board and the creator thereof. A very happy

Birthday is truly deserved by our friend; and many, many more.

No binder or Users Guide here, either. I am not sure about anything any more.

KC, we will always be here for you as well as for each other. This year, for Thanksgiving, after the prayer, eveyone around the table said what they were thankful for. None of the things mentioned were material. Even though it's been a tough year financially and healthwise, for many, there are so many things to appreciate and most of them are free. Good friends; even online ones; would be way up there at the top of the list.

Marilyn,

I like the idea that ATX updates forms and program when they see a need to do so-even after an archive disk.

Wayne

Wayne, I like it too; just feel sorry for the folks who think the archive disk is the final wrapup for the year. Believe it or not, I know people out there who are excellent tax preparers and very knowledgeable about tax law; but know next to nothing about computers, downloading, Community forums,; etc. A very good friend of mine who also uses ATX wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about if I tried to tell her. (I would not try to tell her). She was preparing tax returns on Turbo Tax long before I ever knew how to turn on a computer. BUT, that is as far as it ever went for her. Turn it on; access the program and proceed with the knowledge that you have. She has been in the business a good long time and is successful enough to have 2 employees to help her out. Many years ago I was one of her employees. It is unfortunate, but true and one just has to wonder how many others there are out there.

Thanks, I just downloaded it. Worked just fine; but seems strange that we are still getting updates.

Is that updated since the archive disk??????????

Margaret...sounds like my house already. I have a desk in the bedroom office, but cannot find the desk so the overflow lands on the table. Just finished stuffing the turkey after working all day at part-time job. And, just think, it isn't even serious tax season yet. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Never forget to count your blessings.

I export mine to zip drives, which are also Iomega. I have had good success with importing them to another computer as long as the ATX program is installed and current. Incidentally, I also use the Iomega Rev drive and have one of the first ones. That one came with Nortons Ghost, which I use to copy the entire hard drive once a month. I do incremental backups with Automatic backup pro daily or more often during tax season. I won't rely on one backup system so certain files are backed up to certain media such as zip disks, floppy disks (all my print shop labels, Medlin accounts, etc.) For whatever reason, I don't trust CD backups; and that is probably an unreasonable bias, but strictly my own.

When I use Backup Pro, I have everything set to "do not compress". This is the same situation when I do the Ghost backup once a month (which I did last night). It asks if I want to compress files and I have always said, "No!" I have had ultimate faith in my ability to "recover" until I started to read this thread; which made me extremely nervous. I have a call in to my fix it friend who, I know, uses Rev on other clients that he has and he learned about it from me. Am hoping he is going to tell me that he has been successful in restoring the data to a new hard drive. He always says that I am the most backed up person that he knows; but he has always considered this to be a good thing.

I know that Iomega changed their backup software along the way and was always glad that I had the Ghost version. I thought I had the perfect system at last. Will keep you posted and I am sure this thread has not ended. I know that I have been able to restore programs that had corrupted files to this hard drive from the backup Pro disk.; and was very happy about that. I also agree that it is even possible to open programs and files from that disk. I am also starting to use USB jump drives more often, but have never felt safe with depending on just one backup system. :mellow:

Problem is, I'm not at home when they are open, usually. Or when I think about doing it. Jeez, where did I put that letter with the customer service number on it???

1-800-638-8291

Good Luck..........

Joan, you are going to have to call them. Apparently the system isn't recognizing any of our e-mail addresses even though they continue to send us e-mail. I bit the bullet and called and was led through it very quickly and easily. Just remember to write down the info they give you. Sometimes we just have to concede to "big brother" so that we can end the frustration and go about our business...

Just found out that HRB is moving in 1 block away from me. I think I will offer everything this year including Fee Collect. I am somewhat worried about this coming tax season but next tax season I am sure I will have old business back and new business from people that used HRB. My advertising budget has just been increased substantially.

Karen

Karen, I agree with the others who feel that your business will increase. I think that we are more of a threat to HRB than they are to us. I have been approached by both HRB and Liberty Tax this year to consider consolidating or selling out to them. I see NOTHING in either option for me and considered neither for a second. I could never do that to my faithful clients. Over the years, I have had many clients come to me FROM the franchises and know of none who left me for them. Keep up the good work and your clients will stay with you.

I have used taxaid-inc for many years for my return covers and other things. I have never been disappointed in any of their products. I was not aware, however, that they sold the uni-form paper. Thanks for the heads up. I guess I need to review the catalog. They do give nice early order discounts.

I did NOT, this year or any prior year have a "transfer fee". Have no idea to what you are referring, Tom.

Karen, I use the uni-forms from ATX which can be used for W-2; can use the same ones year after year. They are pretty inexpensive as I recall. Also, can print 1099s from the payroll module of the program. (If you are using ATX, that is.)

Dear ATXer,

Now there’s a fast and easy way to deduct your professional fees from your clients’ refunds and have the money deposited directly to your bank account.

It’s called FeeCollect, and it lets you avoid time-consuming and costly efforts to collect your fees. All you do is get the client's permission and then e-file the return. We do the rest.

FeeCollect is NOT a refund loan. In fact, it is only available to tax professionals who do not offer bank products or refund loans. And FeeCollect is free to the taxpayer. You pay the modest $15 service charge…not your client.

Here's how you enroll to offer FeeCollect:

Sign up for FeeCollect at the MyATX web site by clicking on FeeCollect under the Enrollment Center links on the left side of the page.

Complete the brief application form, then read and accept the agreement with Santa Barbara Bank & Trust (the bank administering FeeCollect).

When you receive and load your ATX software, click the Preferences toolbar button, then click the “1040 E-file” tab, and select the FeeCollect option.

In the Bank Manager, on the Enroll menu, select “Enroll for FeeCollect”. Click the Receive Acks button in that dialog to download your online enrollment status. When your status is “Enrolled”, you're done.

That's it. When you select FeeCollect for any client getting a refund, your ATX software will print the authorization form for your client(s) to sign. You can then e-file that return.

When the bank receives the refund (usually in 10-14 days), the bank will deduct your designated professional fees and then immediately deposit the rest of the refund directly to your client's bank account. The bank will then deposit your professional fees directly to your bank account after deducting the $15 service fee.

If there's a state tax refund or refunds, those funds will be deposited to your client's bank account as soon as the bank receives them.

Collecting your fees has never been easier. FeeCollect makes the process fast and automatic for you…and for your client.

If you have questions about FeeCollect, please call us at 800-638-8291.

Sincerely,

Your Total Satisfaction Team

© 2007 CCH Small Firm Services. All rights reserved.

I emailed tech support again this morning and received this reply.

"The software for the 2007 tax season should should arrive around the first week of December."

Thanks for that info. I also received my update last week. Nov 1.

Schedule E, page 1....all of the loss would be deductible against his W2 Income.

We've been around this block a number of times on the old board. I am with the "leave it alone" voters. I don't have an issue with doing some thinking for myself and also understand that enhancements come with a price tag. Those of us who remember preparing tax returns with carbon paper and a pencil are so very grateful for what we have today. I can recall the "joy" of purchasing my first copy machine. I don't consider computereze to be a license to stop studying, learning and figuring things out. I don't expect ANY tax program to do my job for me; but do so very much appreciate the help that it gives me.

Just a note to mention that I had a problem changing my new Client ID. I called Support and got an immediate response from "Michael" (wonder if this is still Michael Green) who led me through the process very simply and quickly. I appreciate having this new hurdle behind me. I can also add that ATX is not the only company who is going through these extra security changes. The payroll program where I work parttime doing the same so I imagine many others are also. As for passwords, I keep a file folder, but many times they are expired by the time I get around to using them a second time. I would rather have the inconvenience of changing passwords than have the misery of having someone hack my computer.

Marilyn,

I think it ususally comes out near the end of October.

Wayne

That is what I thought. Has anyone tried to access the ATX homepage lately. I cannot seem to get to "My ATX" where we were always able to find release dates, downloads, etc. Apparently the address I have in my favorites is no longer valid.

Shouldn't we be getting the archive disk quite soon now?

Finished with returns; but all of a sudden all of the Workmens' Comp Auditors have decided to call today. Also, finished a payroll and mailed it off only to be faxed a time sheet that came in late. You gotta wonder. However, did find time this evening to have CPU cleaned and dusted inside. Also had flat screen monitor installed. Granddaughter was right here to capture the old one, which has been working fine ever since I jiggled the plug on the VGA connection. Have a new pedestal drop box ready to install and then will start to run Organizers. I customize each one separately per the client to save on paper which has skyrocketed in price. (Along with everything else). I really liked the mini-Organizer as it made this chore so much easier. Congrats to all who finished and have a great new season. My two days of Income Tax School are coming up in less than a month....and on we go from there.

I agree with KC that certified should not be necessary. I also agree with Joan about the sending of more than one year in an envelope. We have been repeatedly warned about this at seminars. Many times two out of the three get lost simply because they are considered to be part of the whole and never get reviewed. Not that this is the right way to do things on their end; it is just the possible way and shoud be avoided if at all possible.

Just received my last three ACKS. AMEN! One day of respite.