kcjenkins

Well, Don, I looked at it, and if I am any judge, it will never beat ATX with customers. The IRS users have no choice, but for those of us who buy our own software to use ourselves, it is much more clumsy and I would never choose it over ATX. It may be fine for those with small practices, lots of simple returns, who just want to save a buck anywhere they can. But it has no where near the functionality that ATX has, for dealing with complex returns. I do not see it replacing ATX, and I really do not see CCH being dumb enough not to know that those programs serve different markets. At least I sure hope they are not that dumb. I'd look for another company if that were my only choice.

I'm with Hughes Net, which used to be DWay. It's actually the only option I know of, in this part of the country, at least, when you can't get cable or DSL. It's much better than dial-up. But not as fast as DSL or cable. And weather CAN be an issue, although I have found that even when my TV sat reception is bad, the internet connection has worked, so far at least. [Knocking on wood] If you're moving to the boonies, you really don't have any choice, do you? Just make sure your sat is located well, for max avoidance of things like tree limbs, etc.

LOL I love it! Thanks for the laugh.

could be as simple as you including that period after the middle initial.

I agree with Jainen, I always start with one person's return, enter it if I did not do the original, just as it was done, then save, then select 'Amend return' from the Return Menu. and it will create a new return with all the original data in the Col A, and you are ready to add the second person's data. That is then explained on Page 2.

That s not eactly true, you know. Tax Wise has 9,300 customer accounts. He is inflating the numbers by advertising USERS instead of PROGRAMS SOLD. KC

I'm staying with ATX, for now. It's still the best deal for our practice. I've been using TTO for several years now, so the price change was very moderate, and the added features well justify those. I will NEVER use an Intuit product. If it gets to the point that there is no other choice, I will retire and do something else with my time. KC

And because the amount is included in wages, it does NOT reduce basis in the house.

A South Carolina farm wife called the local phone company to report her telephone failed to ring when her friends called - and that on the few occasions when it did ring, her dog always moaned right before the phone rang. The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile lady. He climbed a telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialed the subscriber's house. The phone didn't ring right away, but then the dog moaned and the telephone began to ring. Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found: 1. The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire via a steel chain and collar. 2. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose. 3. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the number was called. 4. After a couple of jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate. 5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring. Which demonstrates that some problems CAN be fixed by pissing and moaning.

Ditto.

I think you just have to choose, no matter what basis you use. You may choose to keep the one you like the best, personally, or you may choose to keep the one with the more expensive return, or you may simply toss a coin. But either way, you can then recommend someone you trust, to the other person. But if there is a conflict, you have to protect yourself, and your reputation, in order to be fair to yourself and your family. When it comes down to it, there is always a way to make the choice, once you realize that a choice must be made.

Which of course is true, as anyone who suffers in springtime from their pollen polution can attest. Which just points out the fact that many things cause both good and bad side effects, and life is all about balancing those effects.

Marilyn, the main problem arises in the year of the divorce. In later years, as Wayne said, it's mainly a matter of making sure you do not share anything from one side to the other, just as with any two unrelated clients. Unless, of course, there are issues over who claims the child, etc. But in the year of the breakup, it is impossible to advise them both without some ethical conflict between what is best for one vs the other, and that is why some preparers simply will not do both returns. I will if the issues are simple and both of them understand the tax effects of their decisions. But it can be a problem, especially where they are 'in the process' at year end, and it may be that what is best for H is not best for W, or vice versa.

Yes, but please don't tell Al Gore, or he will be wanting to sell us even more 'carbon credits' to cover Mars as well! Sad, isn't it, that the 'global warming' data tracks almost perfectly with the track of sunspots, much better than it tracks with any combination of human inputs, and yet that is ignored, simply because there is nothing we can do about sun spots, so that can not be used to convince us that we need to change in the way the 'global warming' hucksters want us to. It's all about giving governments more reasons to control us, folks, it's that simple. I remember back in the 50's, when the theme was 'the coming ice age'. That too was about wanting reasons to control who, what, and where, people could do ______ [fill in the blank]. Nothing changes. Politicians know the easiest way to get more control is through fear.

:bday:

:bday:

Ditto. :bday:

Let us know what you learn, John. We might all learn something new.

While a 1040X may do just fine, when there are no issues relating to the unfiled year, it still does not 'start the clock'. That is why I prefer to go with filing an original return, even if I do not actually know that there are issues. Too often, when a year was not filed, there do turn out to be at least some issues. I'd hate to find out several years later, that the clock had never been started, and there really are issues that are going to bite the client.

That was my thought, too.

Joan, CYA just the same, with advice in writing, to get legal representation.

She can roll it over, but if she needs to use the money now, she can take it out as periodic payments, and that way it will only be taxable as she takes it out. She should discuss this with the trustee, bank, investment adviser, etc.

Good thinking, John. I'm going to get out a bottle of Zinfandel myself, just to be safe.

An excellent and valuable post, Montana. Thanks for sharing that with us all. I'm going to save that one, for sure.

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