raven1818

Ken,,,,,,my problem with the whole thing is "FULL DISCLOSURE" to all clients. Per the explanation I received every client, even the up-front cash paying clients, would have to pay the agreed fee which for me would have been $7,50 per return. I don't believe many of my clients would stay with me if they found out that I was charging them monies for something they are not using. DISCLOSURE, DISCLOSURE is always a problem.

The three states that this effects are: New York, Maine and Illinois per ATX. This problem is finally being presented by ATX with its latest E-mail advertisement for 2015 renewals today. "We have determined that we WONT offer "fee collect" this year to our customers as we strictly believe that if we were to agree to this "supportive" fee we would have to disclose to all customers this fee."

I just finished talking to my ATX representative and was stunned to learn that because of a new Illinois law prohibiting ancillary bank fees on tax returns (fee collect,submission fees, etc.) that the old fee of $ 15.00 for fee collect is about to be raised for clients that use it and also per ATX the same amount will be applied to those cash paying clients the moment I E-file their returns. Because my practice has both "fee collect" clients and "cash paying" clients, I am caught having to charge both these increased fees. I think it is just a "money grab" by ATX. In the past, we purchased the MAX program so that we would not have to pay the nickel and dime fees especially for "E-filing" returns. Now all that is changed and beside getting over $1500 per year for software ATX wants to charge an extra $7.50 (which by the way they are calling a supportive charge) for each of my customers. I do roughly 300 clients per year and this extra charge would be $2250 out of my bottom line. Of course, ATX says to just pass it on as increase in fees without customer disclosure. That pretty tough to do with my clients right now--everyone is looking to SAVE money--not SPEND more. Please let me know if anyone else is having this issue. Also, after testing all other software--what is the best you can recommend.

I have new client with an old tax debt from 2002. The taxpayer failed to file the return due to a medical hardship. The IRS filed the return in 2004/5 based on the computer matching. The IRS made a mistake in counting as "taxable wage income" a 401K rollover which clearly shows on the 1099. I do have the original copies of all 2002 tax documents including w2s, 1099s, interest/dividend income. Questions to all--Is it "too" late to amend his 2002 return? We are considering preparing both an amended return and an offer in compromise. The client does not have much money and is therefore not able to use one of these companies that negotiate with the IRS. I definitely need everyone feedback on this one.

Has anyone check their final fee collect invoices after transmission to the EFC center? We noticed yesterday and called ATX regarding what we feel is a software error. After we filed several returns, we happen to open one of them and found that the invoice amount had been changed by $5 and in other instances by $10. The billed amount plus the $15 for the fee collect had been reduced for what the preparer will receive. ATX is working on the problem for a correction but we thought it would be prudent to let our fellow preparers know what is going on.

I just got a quick alert from the IRS stating that they are now accepting all returns for efiling purposes. I did go on the ATX community board and found that they were waiting for the go ahead from the IRS to start sending their "stockpile" of forms--well or course we have not been able to stockpile those returns and have been catching "hell" from our clients because they can't seem to understand that the returns couldn't be efile as of yet. Well guess what--that stupid note on page 1 of the efile form is gone and I was able to send out a return--now I'm just waiting to see if it is accepted. Anyone else tried yet??

Thank-you Lynne--I am having the same exact problem and it all started with that update 12.5

I did the 12.5 update from the website after hours and it ran well--so not that's not the problem. I just check out my system again and it will let in, review the rolled over return, but will not let me touch it. Nor will the system let me go back to any other returns that I previously put in. An error message regarding a "networking" error and that it want me to run the software I guess on the laptop as well. Because of all of the problems, I put my laptop away and decided not to touch networking issues until the software is fixed and more stable. I also have problems with the "ADMIN" features to do almost anything with the software. I finally review the new manual and found that section regarding this and will make those corrections once the software works and stops cutting off. As I stated before--if I am loosing money and I bet my bottom dollar that all of us on this board are--and I sure it's more that ATX!!!

I am in agreement with Janitor Bob. I did not purchase my software until 1/10/2013 because last year my rep told me that ATX was going to be updated and I might want to wait until all of the "bugs" were corrected. Well I remember that and did as she suggested.....however, my Max program was fine, I could "rollover" returns, complete them and everything and also set up my network laptop computer. Everything was A-OK until the 12.5 update and its been a problem since. I have tried installing all of the so call "fixes" that ATX has on its website--but here I sit and am loosing money because of this update. I don't blame everyone for wanting to leave--I've been with this company since the days of the "SABRE" roar and have never seen it this bad. I can only hope that the programmers get their act together and soon.

Thanks to everyone for responding. I ended up using the ATX feature for schedule D and added the information from the broker statement via the client "CSV" file. It worked like a dream and it even fills in the sale/cost information on the state returns where necessary. I really must say the software has greatly improved over the last 10 years I have used it.

Have any members had need to put in more than 100 schedule D transactions this tax season. I thought ATX was going to give us the ability to send attachments with the individual returns this season for our "day trader" clients. Has anyone had to deal with this problem this season. I know in the past there have been lively discussions regarding this matter.

When you go into "MY ATX" support for the e-file information, after you bring up a particular client's e-file status screen, you will note on the left hand side our "preparation fees" which is taken directly from your billing statement. I always thought this information was confidential. Perhaps maybe the only way to keep prying eyes out is not billing the client until after the e-file is sent and received back.

Is is my imagination or just the times we live in but I am noticing there are now errors on the mortgage interest and property tax statements that the banks are publishing. I know we're all in a rush but during this past week I have found vast differences between what the clients have paid towards their mortgages and what is being reported. I don't know if it is because the banks have "fired" everyone who use to verify this information or because so many people are "behind" in their payments. It sure makes a difference when a client who normally receives a refund and now ends up owing taxes. I have informed my clients to "re-verify" these statements--one just called me--and stated that because his loan was sold a "second" time four of his payments got "lost" by the servicer. Also, what up with ATX keeping up with the fees we charge? Why? They are gathering this information from our efiles and for the first time when I checked on the ATX website for client refund information--it was there. Someone else mention it the other day on this board--I think the board needs to take this up?