Catherine

Yes, software is needed for that but if you have good backup software now that might do it. I use Acronis True Image and it does cold metal restore. I've heard good things about Symantec Enterprise Ghost Solution Suite 2.0 and something from Maxtor, as well.

I looked at the Sony Reader, Kindle, and Nook (and color Nook, too) (available at the Sony store, Staples, and B&N, in order). A friend highly recommended the Sony - but his need was to be able to put approach maps on the reader (he's a pilot) easily. I was underwhelmed. The e-ink "flashes" with every page turn - and it's a good long flash. I found it annoying - and I found the Sony controls annoying (but don't recall details). The Nook had the same flash issue but not as badly, and the controls, though not intuitive, were OK once I got the quickie tutorial in the store. I really liked the color Nook (with a "live" screen there was no flash), but I didn't like the steep price upgrade or the MUCH shorter battery life (8 hours versus 4 weeks for B&W). I surprised myself by liking the Kindle very much. The e-ink "flash" was more subdued and MUCH faster, the controls more intuitive to my mind. So I have a Kindle on my Christmas list -- and a couple of dozen free e-books ready and waiting (Jane Austen, Sir Walter Scott, William Blake, Bill the Bard, all kinds of good stuff out there for free).

I thought I was getting all the email announcements from ATX (heaven knows my email box gets clogged with them from both ATX & CCH!) but none of these sound/look familiar at all. Perhaps they have a separate list for folks who have used bank products, or you answered an interest email at some point in the deep and distant past (or I answered an opt-out one equally long ago). Interesting.

With most online backup services, you choose the folders and data you want backed up when you set up the back up. You may choose, for example, to not pay for the space to have your music backed up at work when you have it all at home too. Once you choose the backup set, that set will get backed up every day. I have all my client files backed up daily, and the data folders with all the .atx files as well. Online backups do NOT, generally, include executable (program) files. Data only. So it's still a good idea to have a local backup that will do what is called a "cold metal restore" -- that is, able to restore to a brand-new machine with all your program files as well as data. So if you come in one morning to find your machine stone-dead (or hit by a meteorite & there's just a blob of metal where it used to be), you get the basic machine ready to go from the local restore, then your data up to yesterday's automatic backup time from the online source. That's the theory, anyway, and I know of at least one tax office that used something very similar to that kind of system to very good effect in mid-tax-season a few years ago. May none of us ever need to test the theory!! Catherine

Someone recommended printing Form 9325 for each client as proof of e-filing (ATX adds info if it's open in the return), but that only gives Federal. I've been printing the ack history as a pdf - gives total history Fed & all states. I put the pdf in the client folder on my computer. I hope I don't need another copy of everyone's under a heading of "2009 ack histories" - what a pain.

I've never mentioned it because I've never heard of it. In your copious free time (hah - hah) tell us about it (or where we can find more info ourselves). Thanks!

Hope you have a VERY

Eric - hope you have a VERY And THANK YOU for everything you do for us.

YES -- but I think you will qualify for the under-10 free registration, as you are paid only for five. I do about 2 NY returns a year and so have to do the free registration nonsense. Need to go look up my login information so I can go online and do that. Caterine

Hope you have a VERY

The day I don't learn something new is the day to bury me, LOL. Margaret, you are NOT officially old. You've just crossed an artificial threshold. There was (still IS, for all I know) a wonderful gentlemen on a tax forum I used to frequent (but pretty much don't anymore) who was still going strong and working at 102, bless him. He'd think of you as a young whippersnapper. Catherine

You do need to have the pictures on the computer -- but if you have USB, you can put pictures from the camera on the computer. If you use film (I still do sometime), you can get a CD with all the pictures. Once the files are on the computer, when posting go to the "Attachments" under the place where you type. Click on "Choose File" and choose the picture's file name, then click "Attach This File" -- wait until it tells you it's done. Finish the post. Done. This procedure works for ANY file you want to attach - spreadsheet, document, picture, pdf. The one limit is how big the picture file is. Some cameras make really BIG files. You can usually make them much smaller just by reducing the number of colors through whatever picture-editing software you have available. Catherine

Thanks to everyone for all the nice words, but.... how to do what?

Adorable!!

I've attached a couple of the formal portraits from the wedding ball on November 6th. Hope folks like them! Catherine

Hope you have a VERY

Hope you have a VERY

Most likely true - especially if they start off with annuities -- but I have seen a few rare situations where it was not only the right thing but just about the only thing that would do what the individual needed. Then the trick is to find one that doesn't gobble up in fees anything it might possibly earn. Catherine

Go here: Pub 3112 and find all the info you need. Do it NOW, because they require 45 days to process an EFIN before you can actually e-file returns. The EFIN itself is a six-digit number. Catherine

My software arrived yesterday, as well. It's currently sitting on a shelf watching me sort papers and re-set for the coming tax season. That usually gets done in _May_, but this year was ridiculously busy. The thing I really like about PayPal is that there are NO monthly fees (and no machine to lease or buy, either). I only pay a fee when someone uses it. Considering that I have about two people a _year_ who pay electronically, a set monthly fee would swiftly make it more reasonable for me to do those two returns for free! YMMV. Catherine

Just posted a topic in the TRX section about an email I got from them today. Those who used TRX last year should read it, especially if you have office staff to take care of routine matters -- it might trip you up.

I've told TRX representatives several times by phone (they keep calling me) that I will NOT be ordering from them for tax year 2010 software, and that I have already purchased software elsewhere. So today I got this by email, sent from TRX "Customer Relations": Hi Catherine White, We are reaching out to you to remind you of a balance due amount of $328.95 for the purchase of your tax preparation software this year. Your software is scheduled to be shipped December 10th, however your software will not ship until the balance due is paid in full. Please call 866-829-9777, option 2 to discuss balance and payment options. We look forward to supporting you and assisting you in making this your best tax season yet! *If you have already contacted us regarding payment arrangements, please disregard this communication. Thank you, TRX Customer Relations Department Figured folks would want to be on the lookout in case you have an office manager who might send out payment before talking to you..

2010 tax year Engagement, Tax.doc Here are drafts of this year's forms. The funny margins on the letter are due to the requirements of my stationery. Catherine 2010 Checklist - short organizer.doc

It is possible with PayPal to get and personalize the "DONATE" button instead of the "BUY NOW". The "DONATE" can be changed to "PAY NOW" or "PAY HERE" or whatever you want. Then your client can enter the amount of your bill, and pay you by direct debit or credit card. I worked with my web site folks to tweak that button, and somewhere I have the HTML code for it. If you can get the code, just look for the "DONATE" text and substitute your preferred text, and then use that piece of code for your button. You can see my button at grant-financial.com in case you're interested. Hope this helps, Catherine

Hi Dan -- I pretty much use the same engagement letter and document checklist every year; I update the year at the top and make any other year-specific changes required. (For example, when MA started requiring the 1099-HC for proof of health insurance, I added that to the checklist, and change the note on the letter to address some specific item that folks have asked about or is in the news.) If you need a new copy of either (or both), reply back and I'll put 'em up as files.