Catherine

Late yesterday I found a simple return; done, printed, ready for client pickup first thing Saturday morning -- looked at it and found an item I just plain-old forgot to include. Remember thinking "Must go back and get that in there" -- and never did. So I'm re-printing it now. Sigh. My response last night? Only one sensible thing to do; catch the last hour of the local contra dance. It was fun but I sure was tired out from all the long hours and am glad I was only there for an hour! Wednesday I had my whole schedule scrambled utterly and completely on me THREE times before 11AM. By the end of the day I was an absolute wreck. Had to duck out on a quick errand to pick something up and on the way back stopped at a local church that was having quiet prayer time all week. Spent 15 minutes in the quiet and dark, on my knees, remembering all I have to be grateful for. Did me a -world- of good.

I had to go through some convolutions but finally got my forms. Something at the ATX site called "webengine" I had to download and install first. All very aggravating and utterly unnecessary. But I have my 941's now, thank goodness. That really was time I did NOT need to spend agonizing over nonsense this week. Sigh.

Trying to find Form 941 for 2012. Program says update NOT available; can't find any info on ATX site (lots for 2011 and earlier versions, though). It's April and I need my 941's!! Anyone else having this trouble? I see posts about e-filing 941's which indicates someone has the forms. :wall:

Thank you both -- getting to that point in tax season where simple questions set off a long chain of concerns that you then are too confused to sort through!

My letter next year is going to put in bold face not only my drop-dead date of March 10th, but that I must have ALL documents in house on that date. This year I got a slew of folks who dropped off in early March and when I got to their piles there was TONS of stuff missing. Now am having to remind them that the letter did say _complete_ and not partial. Lion - same issue as you with timing; too. A gazillion drop-offs in a week and a half and going through in order means the ones at the end of that week and a half now think I've been eating bonbons for a month, LOL.

Very small partnership. Two partners. Own a small private plane together and were advised to form the partnership to share expenses for the plane. Private enjoyment and personal use only; NO business purpose at all. No outside income; equal contributions to capital for upkeep etc. Partnership owns the plane now - they bought it together years ago and deeded it over to the partnership when it was formed. 50% each of value to partner's capital. Does this plane get depreciated? I should think NOT since there is no business use. But I've never dealt with a no-business-purpose deal like this and figured to run it by y'all. Catherine

My husband reports that he has often heard me muttering form numbers and tax terms in my sleep in the thick of the season. I can report many dreams of forms, numbers, returns, etc. I have _never_, however, dreamed of listening to that horrid muzak while on "ignore" with the IRS. First time I do that, I'm quitting!

Just printed out a NY return -- the IT-203 came out page 2, page 1, page 4, page 3. Really useful. Fortunately I print to pdf first and caught it (thanks to this thread!) -before- it went to the printer. Grrr!!! Even if they scramble the form order, each form itself should be in order!!!

Utterly bizarre. Go to print out a completed return with several states. The default state form printing order is this: MA M-9325 MA EF info MA 1 MA Sch B MA Sch C NY TR-579-IT MA Sch D NY EF info NY IT-203 NY IT-2 MA Sch INC NY IT-203-ATT MA Sch HC NY IT-216 MA Sch X,Y, Z, DI How's THAT for an absolute jumble!!

As friends of mine elsewhere have stated, we need a special sarcasm FONT. Then we'd all know. But you're right -- it does not come through very well in print for the most part. (A *sarcasm* or *dripping sarcasm* appended to the text would help, but is cumbersome.)

I handled this year even more sternly than most. My "welcome to tax season" letter that went out the 1st week of January flat-out TOLD my clients with lots of trades that they WILL be put on extension. My cutoff date for ALL materials IN-house is March 10th -- after that date, even if all you owe me is $3 in bank interest from East Podunk Savings -- no guarantees. I have five returns left to touch where the client met my cutoff date - and I have no reason to push myself to finish those if _anything_ is missing (and there is _always_ something missing. That said, I work hard and I work long. But after church this morning my husband and I went out to brunch for our anniversary and just got back a little while ago. I have found that, for me, when I am so desperately tired that I need a nap, I can sit here, caffeinate myself, and get nothing done in three hours -- or I can go take a half-hour nap, get up and get stuff done. Huge advantage to working at home - I can go conk out in my older girl's room (east side of house; dim and quiet in the afternoon), set the timer on the microwave that won't shut off until I get up and push the button. Does me a world of good. Good luck to all. I hear from too many new clients about how their former preparer dropped dead at their desk from heart attack or stroke. Age doesn't explain all of it by a LONG shot. I am determined NOT to be one of that number, ever. Please everyone here take care of yourselves; the clients can just bloody well WAIT sometimes. Catherine

Lack of rubber chickens.

Thanks, Kea & Deb!

I have also noticed this. The Print Manager has always been the weakest part of ATX. I have not noticed intra-form wrong pages (mine have all come out pg1, pg2, pg3) -- but the order sure gets jumbled!! I had been thinking one got scrambled and then it "remembered selections" to re-scramble -- but I tossed that possibility some time ago. Decided the Print Manager has gone wonkier and am keeping an eye on it. Will keep a closer eye now.

I've used an engagement letter for years that I put together from bits and pieces of a half-dozen or more samples available on the web, from folks in this group, and from other tax newsgroups. Never had anyone refuse to sign. Couple of small questions from the few who have actually read it. Separate and somewhat more detailed letter for businesses. Put a couple hours into customizing one in the off-season and it's pretty much reusable from year to year. My word _is_ my bond. Can't say the same for my clients, though - even if it's true - as I just don't know any of them well enough.

After a ridiculous amount of searching, I found the answer on the "other" ATX board. IRS "rejects" (but still processes and takes) payments that are scheduled. They only "accept" payments that are instantaneous. This has apparently been an issue for a couple of years and they just don't fix it. Nothing to do with ATX or CCH. My beef with the "other" board is that a search for the _exact_ name I finally found several threads on, turned up zilch. At the least they should make sure their in-house search functions properly.

Client was set up for payment of Fed tax due on 4/12/12. Efile came back with NO notice on the e-file ack -- but the 9325 has Box 5 checked, "payment rejected." I assume client now has to send paper check -- but I'm wondering if anyone else has seen this, and if there is any REASON for a direct debit payment to be rejected. Valid routing number, valid account number, payment scheduled for before the due date..... ???? TIA, Catherine

There is still a "Donations" button at the top of the page, next to the "MyATX" button. A good reminder to us all to make another donation!

While MAS is correct that they sometimes (frequently?) leave out "insignificant details" like missing info, not responding to repeated requests by former preparer for specific items, etc., that does NOT relieve the Circular 230 responsibility. You could consider filling out a disclosure authorization and sending that to the former preparer, along with a letter quoting the Circular 230 requirement to return all original client documents (or a copy of that portion of C230, with a big circle around that part). The letter should be polite and respectful but clear that you expect them to fulfill their obligation while leaving you OUT of any disagreement with their (former) client. Good luck.

Schedule XYZ, credit for taxes paid to another jurisdiction. ATX has an excellent worksheet.

I have clients who are doing the "back door Roth" trick. Also keep in mind those 8606's for STATE returns!! Mass. (for example) has never recognized the IRA deduction from income, so for state purposes, we have to track basis anyway. My older clients just -love- this little tidbit when I tell them. Some started contributing to IRA's when they first came out and now have to reconstruct their contributions (because they didn't know to track them).

At the very least it's better practice to send 1099's.

Had been wondering but was not going to post a query; figured you'd update us when you could. I am SO very glad to hear of his improvement!! You folks are staying on the prayer list, that's for sure.

michaelmars -- congratulations on your 1,000th post! Thanks also for your kind words. I will second your thanks to Eric and the other posters, and remind KC that we are still praying for her and Don.

Sent the "Owed" to my daughter; her comment was, "Yay! and fail pail, all at once!"