Catherine

I use CPA Site Solutions and get one of their basic packages; $52.50/month. Comes with 10 email addresses (of which we use three), huge file share portal, monthly e-newsletter that goes out to all clients (who have email; a couple of elderly hold-outs don't), monthly articles on-site updated automatically, various financial calculators, an available online organizer (that I don't use), integrated online payroll and accounting (that I don't use), and more. Support has been excellent on those rare instances when I have a question or problem. Took me way longer to decide which of the standard templates I wanted to use, than to set up the site once I chose it. Go look if you wish; it's www.grant-financial.com And one colleague has said good things about her new site through GetNetSet dot com and I think there is some discount for NATP members.

FWIW, the CFS calculator can take YTD earnings and withheld tax into account. But then the client needs *another* new W-4 for the next January...

CFS tax software has a cheap (about $40) W4 calculator that works pretty doggone well. You can strong-arm it (meaning, over-ride just about every field) to get a quick answer, or fill out every detail screen to fine-tune including allowing for YTD withheld tax. Or anything in between. Send new W-4 to client (and spouse), boom you're done. They have a form to hand in to HR, and it takes less time than trying to explain the nuances to clients.

I've seen a couple of these - and more than once I've seen mismatch notices, manly due to people who had changed their names on marriage or divorce and never notified the SSA.

The last couple of years I have been using EFileMyForms online and they let you e-file without ssn's. Before that, using the FIRE system, you CAN e-file as long as not more than 25% of the 1099's are missing ssn's.

Hope it works well for you!

I send them with whatever information I have. Lots of times you can find addresses online - especially for people who are (or who claim to be) running a business. Yelp, white pages online, etc. In the ssn field,leave blank or put "refused". I have never seen the IRS demand retroactive 28% backup withholding, but I *have* seen letters stating every new check must have that. Funny how oftentimes a client telling their vendor they are required to withhold 28% magically makes those w-9's appear. One client, years ago, had one recalcitrant vendor but they just kept paying anyway. I changed their QuickBooks vendor's info to print the check out to "NO MORE checks until W-9 received!" and the office lady did not know how to fix it so they were stuck. Worked like a charm in that instance, and I still chuckle over it.

The trick is to learn to see those folks, *not* as problem clients, but rather as "walking annuities". Easier said than done!

That's endemic in this job, Medlin. We sympathize!

Archival software utility fee?

I remember re-inking the ribbons; boy was THAT a messy job! We had an ancient manual typewriter at home and the ribbon was in good shape but needed re-inking on occasion.

Live stream? Web cam?

Don't know if the passwords will link between yearly versions, but this is a new IRS requirement for ALL software. Some have been more enthusiastic about putting requirements into action than others. QB does the same, now. Every three months change it; no way around it. I tell you, the more they regulate "information safety" the more I start to think it's time to go back to paper and pencil. Clay tablets and cuneiform? Those old Babylonian records can still be read (and believe it or not many of them are tax records lol).

And I'm in (long-ish) driving distance from @Lion EA so if she warns me I'll drive down to watch!

In regards to @JimTaxes' item #4, we were told that a printout from the bursar's office and/or proof of payments made from the client are also required. Why? Because it's well known that far too many 1098-T's are actually candidates for the Great American Novel and bear no resemblance to reality.

Thanks for posting the link, @JohnH - I had watched the video a couple of weeks ago. However, now that returns are coming in and I'm actively using the program it's a good time to review the new stuff.

It was my understanding (which may be totally wrong) that the under the law as passed the IRS could send letters demanding the penalty be paid, but enforcement/collection was limited to withholding refunds. I have seen clients who owed both tax and penalty get *two* letters - one for the tax portion, and a separate letter for the aca penalty portion. Perhaps they will simply stop sending the dunning letters as a cheap first step - and save us all the postage. What they do with refunds - Magic 8-Ball says "Answer hazy, ask again later"!

For the most part, we don't *have* to *imagine* it....

Historically I have seen LONG lag times for acks with e-filing W-2's and 1099's. It would be really nice to get them earlier so you know they are either done *or* there is a problem (in time to fix it). Have you tried synching with the e-file center? This early having to go back in and mark everything completed as complete should not be nearly as obnoxious a chore as it will be later.

Not at all! Sometimes we can really use some cute graphics to lift our spirits, and you always find terrific ones.

Drake answers in three rings (but not on Sunday, at all). If they need to investigate and get back to you, they do. Meanwhile, I am still waiting for the callback from ATX/CCH from Feb2013 that they promised within 48 hours. (No, that particular problem was never solved. After trying several more times, my final call was to Drake.)

Sorry Tom! The buttons and boxes I cannot help with any longer. Over-rides can be your friend...

Hi Tom, Sorry; completely forgot about this one. Capital gain gets allocated to corpus and the trustee has to make an election to distribute. See attached; I *think* you want Examples 2, 3, and 4 from section (e). Treasury Regulations __ §1-643a-3 for trusts.pdf

AND that there will be a fee for that conference. I've found it amazing (not!) how many "problems" go poof! when I tell the client there will be a fee for researching the answer. Of course, if it sounds like tax planning, I push for the conference - but toomany times yeah, they're looking for someone else to ggogle it for them and then interpret the results. For free.

We could say this about SO many situations our clients get into! (Never *our* advice, of course -- but then, it often seems that ours is the least likely to be followed!)