Tom Phelan

I'd recommend calling the practitioner priority line (1-866-860-4259)at the IRS to find out the preferred address to send these returns. I believe the substitute returns are created out of a Memphis address, but I can't put my hands on that information at the moment. If not sent to these folks directly, the returns can be delayed for months. Of course in the interim, lots of conflicting notices can be generated by the IRS, depending on which office is looking at which return. Once you have the proper address, I would certainly include a cover letter to explain the reasons for your filing. Good luck!

I had my second taxpayer let me know that the IRS has sent a larger refund than expected. As best as I can tell, the IRS is paying out rebates for dependents with ITIN's. My understanding was that these dependents needed to have valid a SSN. Has anyone else had this expericence?

Just to let others know, in case you get a notice (bill) from the IRS for late filing of S returns, many extensions have not been processed yet, so if you file before they process the extension, the computers will generate a notice of late filing! Hold time to call about the notice is 15-20 minutes, so maybe this will save some wasted time... I am sure we all have better ways to waste our time. :P

Thanks all! I definitely will refer back to this discussion group. It is always informative, and often entertaining! It is with no small amount of trepidation that I am making the switch. Like all of you, I never feel like I have a lot of extra time to deal with non-billable issues, such as my own learning curve. I just feel like I probably would be forced into a switch in short order, so I am best off moving on my own terms. It is still possible too that I might still buy one of the ATX 1040 packages, just as a bit of a security blanket! I'll do my best to provide feedback. Cheers

I made the decision to switch to Drake for next season. ~$1,100 for their package, great support, and genuine interest in my practice. I used ATX for 7 years, and was happy with the software, but I just can't continue with a company that seems to have so little interest in anything but reaching into my pockets. No more "MyATX" that requires tech support just to log in to the website. No more "savings code" that offers no savings. No more amazing disappearing services! I am a creature of habit, so I really did not want to change software, but I can't shake the feeling that a move was going to come whether I made it or waited for CCH to force the issue even more. The worst thing that comes out of this is how my opinion of CCH has so dramatically shifted over the past couple of years. I used to consider them as the leader in tax research, and I assumed all the company's products matched the quality of the research services I had used before I went out as an independent CPA. After seeing how they have handled the ATX acquisition and transition, I would be very unlikely to give them an opportunity again. Good luck to all, and I am sure I will continue to check in at this site. Tom

I really don't feel like giving these people (CCH) another cent of my money.

Wow, which would be worse, that CCH is intentionally alienating the ATX users, or that they really ARE working at the best of their abilities?

I added my thoughts. I don't post as much as I should here, but I do appreciate the knowledge you all share so kindly. I am hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst! Enjoy the weekend!

Is anyone else out there having trouble getting logged on to IRS e-services today? Here is the link I followed: http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/article/0,,id=109646,00.html I hope there is not some browser setting I have messed up.

If the payee did not control the funds at the end of the tax year, he would not include it in income during that period. If the payor normally sends payments in the manner that they sent the 12/26 payment, then it should be considered income to the payee in the year it was received. Alternatively, if the facts were that the payee instructed the payor to send the check in such a way to delay receipt until after the end of the year, then the payee had effective control over the funds before the end of the year, and would need to include it as 2007 income. Reg 1.451-2 (b ) describes a situation where a company routinely declares dividends on 12/31, but doesn't deliver the funds until January. These dividends would not be considered income to the shareholders iuntil the year they received the funds.

I have used an HP 1320 for a couple of years. Very fast and beautiful output. The cost of the toner units was a bit shocking at first (~$130), but I have been able to get good cheap refurbished cartridges for about $30. I used to use Brother laser printers, and I still have one at home. My problem with those, despite the great low initial cost, was that the drums would wear out, and the replacement cost was about the same as a new Brother printer. I would burn through a printer every year, and I felt guilty filling up the landfills with my old Brother printers. I feel like the HP is the more economical and ecological long run answer. Maybe I am out to lunch, but I am trying to be good!

Thanks, I think this is almost certainly correct, but the fact that they have modified the credit such that it can be used even in excess of the regular tax liability (i.e. refundable) made me wonder if it might also be used to offset the liability of a taxpayer who finds themselves in the AMT for 2007.

Does anyone feel like they understand this new credit? I don't have any resource that clearly tells me whether this credit can be used by a taxpayer with a 2007 AMT liability. For example, let's say the regular tax is 50,000, and the AMT (assuming the increased exemption amount) is 70,000. If my taxpayer has an unused 100,000 AMT credit from 2003, can he use any of it for 2007? I used to feel like I could read the code and eventually understand what it means, but I don't have easy access to the code (thanks CCH), and I can't find a good reference in my office or on the internet. Any advice or citations beyond IRC Sec 53 would be greatly appreciated!

Nope, still can't access the Tax Expert Online. So it goes...

I upgraded from Max to TTO, and I have not been able to access the research portion of my order (although I have been billed!) I was on the phone (yesterday) with several people at ATX, Kleinrock, TaxWise, and was told both that they are in the process of updating (not very believable), and then I was told that my subscription would not allow me to access research until 1/1/08. I told them I was not very happy with this, or with a lot of the other changes I have been seeing under CCH's watch. The people I dealt with were pleasant enough, but nobody really seemed to know what was going on. Not very encouraging, I must say. I'll try again to see if I can access the research, I'd love to be able to finish my CPE without having to pay someone else.