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Everything posted by Medlin Software, Dennis
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Ugh. I know many devs use revision numbers, and I used to as well (as it is easy to auto increment in the dev tool being used) but I went back to the revision DATE, as it is plain language anyone can understand. Devs need to accept users are no longer computer experts and to not get things such as major, minor, revision, and build numbers. For me, it is much clearer, and less likely to raise a support issue, showing a message saying something like "your revision is 97 days old", rather than "your revision is 2.23.45 builds old".
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I suspect ATX is more complicated, but the process is likely similar. For me: There is an online file which contains the information which tells the latest revision. The software reads the file and compares it to the EXE data, and if not current, handles the out of date issue as needed. When I make a change, I first upload the new software, then update the data file. But, on occasion, I might miss something, or upload something incorrectly (as binary instead of ascii, or the reverse, proving yet again I am human). As soon as I am done, I test the new revision indicator and download myself. I usually catch errors before anyone else downloads, but not always. There is also an issue with caching, as the user computer could not be reading the actual current revision info, as their browser or connection is reading a cached copy of the file. This is a REAL issue, and is one of the reasons I allow manual download, and have s system in place to try to keep the download from ever being cached. I also usually leave the prior revision on my site, but not directly accessible, in case there is some need to install the prior revision (I can send a link). Has not been needed in years, but I still allow for human error. OTOH, over the years, I have had to get stricter and stricter, and do have "stops" in place for cases where the user is not keeping current. Just a thing one must do not that computers and software are treated like appliances, and are expected to do all for the user, and insulate the user from any responsibility. When I started, 90% of my programming time was for the software functions/improvements. Now, 90% of my programming time is trying to prevent user errors.
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VA and MD PTET = ATX not supporting
Medlin Software, Dennis replied to TaxMe's topic in General Chat
I have to paper file my personal return as the personal provider I use does not have the PTET form I need. No big deal. But, I think I remember here that there are pro preparer software which try to have all forms, and that the standard ATX (IIRC) sometimes does not have every possible form. -
Not a user of ATX, but I have simlar warnings in my own software. If you can manually install, try that (the check for update process may not have been updated fully). It could be a case of the process having the "update needed" flag set somewhere (likely online) and the new software not yet being automatically (or however they do it) installing. I might power cycle my computer and try again, in case there is some sort of cache which needs clearing.
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Rental Improvement Depreciation
Medlin Software, Dennis replied to Terry D EA's topic in General Chat
Just so I am not depreciated before another 20 or so years. -
I wish more would be done early to encourage use of both hands - which typing does. My first typing class was so foreign, to use my non dominant paw (other than for wrenching, which I did as soon as I could hole one). It is also a bit fun, as last week, we made our first Scholastic Book order for our grand (pre school). Something powerful about her picking her own books, and having them to touch.
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It is arguably called uncommon sense these days. Our toddler grand likes me to use air tools. She is good with hand, ear and face protection, so I let her help me. She compares it to photos of her uncle in his medical garb, she wears her car doctor getup. Different times, I learned to use the old long screwdriver as a stethoscope, and nor I have a mechanics stethoscope, and a borescope. We have 5 oil changes and safety checks coming up this weekend.
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I'd rather a school do nearly anything else. Art, music, drama, choir, ethics, more math (not the calculations, the "is that close" common sense stuff), etc. Or even training in trades, or just how to check air/oil levels (or battery charge). One which is missed is how to compare prices at the grocery (the look for the unit price, not the price per package). I learned that in grade school.
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As a programmer, I can tell you accurately and proven, when I used to try to recompile when some AV program was giving a false positive on my public software, changing something from upper to lower case, or moving one function in the order (so it would compile slightly different), would cause the AV program to consider the software safe. Even worse, depending on the compression level I select (in my setup program), some AV's would trigger. (They are often looking for a pattern, not actually opening the file and examining it, so compression, which most use, can easily fool/trigger AV.) That tells you how reliable the heuristic wild rear end guesses are, and how useless they are for the public to use. If I can cause the AV to safe my software by such simple means, a scammer pro can do so likely with automation. One can also ask an AV vendor to safe all of their software, by reputation, which is also alarming (if one wants to trust AV software). Now, I don't bother. I know there is no garbage in my files, so I do not give in. When a person says I have an issue, I refer to then to virus total, which proves a current AV shows no issues, or the issue is a random AV (and not the 50+ others virus total uses to compare). Inevitably, it is a case of heuristics, or lack of checking daily or AV updates. While I am fine with the opinion of many top experts, that modern AV is pointless with just modest safe hexing, I am good with using the AV from the OS maker (in case someone here uses my computer). The real issue these days is preventing access to restricted folders (like ransom issues) and watching your incoming/outgoing internet hits (firewall). The modern OS can help protect from ransom issues, if one enables it. For email, I let my provider wash the mail through whatever AV they use and I don't open attachments I did not ask for. For firewall, I use a really "cool" product, Firewalla. I am also of the experience and opinion one should, at all times, be ready to recover, prepared to find your computer/office missing or unavailable every single day.
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Besides the usual UI dumping scenarios, there seem to have been more than usual changes requiring a new FEIN (and thus, more than one W2 from the same "employer"). Also, with more and more ER's catching on the the rules for remote work, there are more issuing multiple W2 forms when an EE has more than one work location state (since the EE should, for many reasons, be setting up a new entity for each state, and in come cases, each work location). The TP should have handled this, but this is another questionnaire scenario for preparers, something like "Do the W2's you have show all wage income for the year - is there any chance you may have received more than one W2 for any job?"
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IRIS would be fine, anything really at this point (free). I suspect there is some lobbying somewhere to hold out as long as possible, as there is a good amount of $ being made filing for others at a cost, or charging in software per form. I look at a service every year, and it always seems to be to be about $5 per form at the customer level. I do not want to get into submitting for customers, since it tacks on responsibility for monitoring and relaying status, but IRIS worked well for my customers handling 1099 (and me too, I had one this year!).
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Starting with 1/1/24, the threshold triggering efile was reduced to an aggregate of 10 of the specified forms. With some of the rules requiring efile at 1 form, the only prudent advice at present is to efile W2 data. The IRS is said to be working on free 941 efile, which is the long missing piece for employers. Matching is one reason for the change in threshold. The client should be able to log in and at least see the total income the IRS has, maybe by comparing against their records, they can figure out what the difference applied to (if it was "real").
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"Turning off your anti-virus software is like walking outside naked....no one wants to do it and no one wants to see you do it." Somewhat. Turning off save and accurate AV is not wise for most. Not turning off the heuristic garbage foisted on unsuspecting users is worse than going outside nekkid. Heuristics are simply wild guesses as to what someone might create in the future. They are the cause of most false positives, and issues like Tom likely had. The ability to correct an issue by turning off something proves the something was worse than useless. How much time has Tom spent on this issue, caused by lousy AV? Worse yet, AV which does nothing all year is good, since most don't do stupid things, but AV which is often popping up "warnings" (usually false positives), just to get renewals, is robbery. I will say it forever, use the AV which is part of your OS provider's offerings, which is updated almost daily by the OS, and don't waste a cent on third party AV. OR, at least, update your third party AV daily, and hope they are not defrauding you (and everyone else too) with their false positives.
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We did not force cursive on our kids. We sent them to school with a typing device (can’t remember what it was called) and when they were ready, a laptop. It raised a ruckus at the school, but we did not give in. As crawlers, we gave then keyboards to play with.
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IRS Phone experience
Medlin Software, Dennis replied to Medlin Software, Dennis's topic in General Chat
And skipping the prompts to just enter the total. -
IRS Phone experience
Medlin Software, Dennis replied to Medlin Software, Dennis's topic in General Chat
I could not do it - pay someone else. I mailed the form. -
Not bad at all in this case. Calling about a CP 220. The issue, from what was shared by the person on the other end of the phone was not receiving a Q2/23 941, and two Q3/23 941. Whether or not I believe that is not material, they gave me a quick solution (file a copy of the Q2 form, and a Q3 941x. On the other hand, I don't believe the information was actually accurate, but I did not press (as I usually like to do for "fun"). I suspect they somehow read the Q2 form as for Q3, and the Q3 as a second form (which is absolutely allowed, mult forms for the same time from one FEIN). The phone rep did know about the lack of free 941 efile, and agreed with me folding 941 into IRIS or similar would be great. She actually listened when I told her what it takes to offer 941 efile (I have explored it several times), and understood why it is not currently free. Ironically, I will likely be paying someone else to efile these needed items, for expediency.
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Legally placed in home is the likely criteria. Piratically speaking, the change to guard means the former FP's no longer have to ask for permission for certain things, such as medical decisions. It is a big deal for the family, to be celebrated. Also gives them a leg up if they want to adopt. For us, we had to create a new legal standing (defacto parents) in the late 80's, to get through an adoption. Had to submit to all sorts of testing, as the county was claiming we were not actually mixed race parents. Yes indeed, it was a political issue based on race.
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Just when you thought you've seen it all.....
Medlin Software, Dennis replied to kathyc2's topic in General Chat
As a male of the species, I have no say in the matter. As a 2x adoptive parent and several decade foster parent, I have an opinion. As the soon to be parent of an MD, I have an opinion. Easy audit though, if claimed one year, and no new SSN child the next year, they audit. Will be extra awful for those who suffer some sort of issue resulting in loss of the child/embryo/whatever term GA uses. Don't forget amended returns for those who filed before realizing they qualified. -
Abandoned property (stock) proceeds
Medlin Software, Dennis replied to Catherine's topic in General Chat
And consider has the check cleared! -
It must be the use of solar power for operation, likely with some sort of small batt, is the key.
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https://cdn.intelligencebank.com/us/share/M7y7/ObeE/Ledy/original/XUS-20306-Manufacturers-Certification-Flyer-0123 This one is a solar powered skylight, with the manuf certification. I learned something new for sure.
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"Could" is the key. Means it is fluff, unless the purchaser or their reps can find the method of eligible credit. I "could" win the lottery - but I never play.
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Abandoned property (stock) proceeds
Medlin Software, Dennis replied to Catherine's topic in General Chat
Escheat is never clean. I am trying to clean up some from a few years back. (Royalties from oil/gas via tribal rights.) The one thing I have learned is planning is poor, and those who may get left with the clean up need to be proactive, in advance, and those who do not have an estate plan are doing a HUGE disservice to their heirs. Likely just an asset with a balance, more money for the bank account, is the most reasonable, unless this is the miracle case where there are documents (not likely, hence the escheat). -
1099 from college as stipend for research
Medlin Software, Dennis replied to schirallicpa's topic in General Chat
While holding down Alt, type 0162 to get ¢. Interesting topic. My maybe future DIL likely gets a stipend for services performed for her PhD advisor. They travel to and stay at an out of state location several months of the year for the research work. But, I don't ask about her finances for safety's sake.