Catherine

I got a solicitation call today from TaxSlayer. The guy I spoke with was warning me about TRX "actively soliciting" new clients through this forum. Claimed there are "rules" about not trying to solicit current clients away, just for a better price. He also had "heard about" lots of tech support problems with ATX this year, "even worse than last year". That really turned me off to TaxSlayer in general, and sounded a lot like them trying to solicit me away from _both_ ATX and TRX by pretending 1) even worse tech support from one and 2) shady dealings from the other. But my, my, how word does travel here in our little cyber-village. BTW, I also got a solicitation call from ATX asking me to renew. I didn't have time to talk as they called right before an appointment I had. But the email they sent offered the standard 10% discount (and then take away half of it with outrageous shipping costs). Catherine

thanks!

:bday: and have a terrific day!

:bday:

See's chocolates are pretty darned yummy. I actually have more dark left than milk, but it was pretty even. When in doubt, I gave away the milk chocolate and I prefer the dark (figuring if there were leftovers....). I have 7 milk chocolate left and 14 dark. There were even a few clients who _refused_ chocolate! Some don't eat sugar, a couple don't like chocolate, a couple forgot to take them when they left... Catherine

I think my one remaining question is about e-filing. The only things I've really needed from ATX support the last two seasons have dealt with someone in the EFC needing to "open the back door" so that a previously rejected (but corrected) return could be resubmitted. So, Braeden: How does TRX handle these cases? Do they go to ATX for us, do we have to go to ATX, or do they somehow do the "unlocking" function themselves? I did _not_ go with TTO in the past because I couldn't justify the expense with my small practice. I've even toyed with the idea of going PPR. But to get TTO for $699 sounds terrific. Even better service to clients, streamline some stuff for me, and a better price?! Catherine

Saw a tee-shirt the other day: "Come to the Dark Side -- We have cookies!"

Aw, shucks, Margaret, you'll make me blush!! To all the others who requested chocolate -- wish I could send it to you all, but my clients got almost all of it. I bought those "Bite Back At The IRS" bars; dark and milk (from Mostad & something; they had the best price by far). People _loved_ them. Folks who don't eat chocolate took bars for their kids ("But I'm saving the label for me!"), some folks reported that they showed their co-workers. Others said the chocolate didn't last until the end of the street. But they were a huge hit. If anyone has recommendations for tweaks to the spreadsheet, I'll _gladly_ listen! Catherine

Oh, thank goodness. I can cease my piteous weeping now! ^_^

:bday:

:bday:

Congratulations, KC, and THANK YOU for all your help! You are an amazing resource and a terrific person! All the best, Catherine ^_^

Here it is. I've deleted all the personal information and most of the lines. I've left some so people can see the different ways I fill in and note stuff. One of the nice things with Excel is that you can sort in all kinds of ways -- I set up each year alphabetically, and then later on sort by Column G (Doc's received date) so that I do things in the order I got them. Once There are more than a few "completed" returns I cut them and paste them in at the bottom, so they're out of my way for "what do I tackle next?" Hope that folks find it helpful! Catherine WIP_Template.xls

Our friends at VMSUS have backup services as well, so don't forget them. I've been using MozyPro and that's been working well for me. And I know folks who are very happy with Carbonite. Catherine

Booger, you do what is right for your business! I'm sure I will muddle through somehow. Besides, going to Pro-Series doesn't mean you'll leave our forum, does it? Catherine

Have a great day!

Ditto!

One of the other issues with online backup is that the files are compressed -- so you don't need nearly as much backup as you might otherwise think. I have 21GB of backup and that is all my accounting and tax data, my own business data, letters, spreadsheets, etc, and also pdf's, jpg's, pictures, and some other random stuff as well. Catherine

How do you do that? Thanks!

Well, that didn't happen _this_ year; at least for me. All the customization I did on the master last year was lost. So I re-did the master this year, and then had to re-edit _every single doggone_ client letter for rollovers. I was, shall we say, slightly steamed about that.

How wonderful!!!

We saw some ladies at Cirque du Soleil last fall doing similar stuff; now I know where they got their inspiration. I can't imagine ever being that flexible no matter how long I worked at it.

Massachusetts forms have a horrible problem with stuff NOT flowing through properly to forms or worksheets, and this has gone on for years. It's worse in business and partnership returns even than it is on personal ones. It is a _royal_ pain. Client letter editing is worse than anything I've seen since the days of text editors. Customizing the master only works with _new_ returns, not rolled over returns. That's obnoxious. Printing -- I'd love to be able to set a default printing order. I NEVER use their privacy statement (have my own flyers instead), and ALWAYS print the return cover sheet. Et cetera. It would be great to be able to choose what I want and save a set, rather than have to click and un-click seven gazillion little boxes every time. And fix the jumping around!!! Click one box and the whole client info section flips itself around -- SOMETIMES. Grrr!!! The return cover sheets I can edit a master but not an individual -- and I want to get the individual tweaked. Put in "Amended" for amended returns. And It isn't a "Massachusetts 1 Tax Return", it's a "Massachusetts Form 1 Tax Return" -- I'd like that extra word. Again, if I do a new return from a master it works, but not from a rolled-over return. Unless I delete the letter and reinstall -- what a pain. I'd also like extension by-mail-vouchers and estimated payment addresses to be available without having to dig so deep. Some folks want to mail a voucher with a check, and the program assumes e-filing, so you have to dig for addresses. I have a "cheat sheet" for IRS and my state -- but what about the client who also needs to extend a return for, say, Pennsylvania? I don't know those addresses and ATX doesn't make them easy to find! That's all off-hand. I'm sure there's more, though. Catherine

My cousin sent me this link earlier today. The video quality is poor because it was filmed in 1944. This trio was very popular back then. The intro song is more than slightly corny, just keep watching. May I present: The Ross Sisters: http://thefunnypage.com/potato-sisters/

And mine!