Catherine

MA at least _used_ to require a pre-registration with them. However, I don't know if it's still in effect. They're really pushing e-file for their own reasons. I'd say to try -- you can always warn your clients that you don't know if it will go through, and will provide a paper-filing copy if it doesn't. Also be warned that there have been lots of e-filing problems in MA this year. Some are ATX problems (the program was deleting leading "0's" in SSN's - and because of the SSN numbering system, _lots_ of MA people's SSN's start with "0"). Som e are MA problems - many associated with the new MA-HC form with the newly _mandated_ health insurance coverage that they put the MassDOR in charge of enforcing. (Other errors, too: I had a couple that just moved here rejected because their SSN's didn't match DOR records, then tried again and it went through). There have also been lots of delays in getting ack's. So good luck, but this is an even-more-frustrating-than-usual year for dealing with MassDOR (completely separately from any/all ATX issues!). Catherine

Great spreadsheet; thanks _so_ much for sharing! I had a return I was working on yesterday; put it aside (for when I had more time and energy) for just this situation. Looking forward to tackling it with better weaponry today! Catherine

How about Q for "Q Continuum" from Star Trek? There are times I would love to change a few basic physics constants... like stretching out time so I can get more stuff _done_ in the same number of hours! Catherine

You could look at QuickBooks Simple Start -- it's free, but limited as to how many vendors and clients can be entered. I have a tax client (computer consultant) I put on QBSS -- they have two or three corporate clients, and their main vendors are Staples (and equivalents), internet access, and stamps. It works _way_ better than the Excel spreadsheet they used to give me, where I could barely tell income from expense the crazy way they tracked it all. Rewards: you get clearer records for taxes. income in the "off" seasons. if you're good -- and they're not -- they'll think you walk on water. Risks: that you'll spend eight years fixing the same mistakes time and again and explaining that "available checking balance" is way different from what the bank teller says is in the checking account because the bank _doesn't know_ about those six checks you just mailed ten minutes ago. How do I know these things, you ask? You get _one_ guess. Catherine

Thanks for this tip -- as well as others who responded. In general, I don't print much of anything to _paper_ from ATX itself. I order items that need to be single-page first (cover sheet, instruction letters, etc), then all the rest -- and then I print to pdf. Once I have the pdf, I can print double-sided from my printer. Roughly half as much paper for my and my clients' files, at the price of a bit more clicking and choosing, and slightly slower printing. Glad to know I'm not the only one who sees this glitch. Catherine

Has anyone else noticed this? When I go to print, in the "Client Letters" section of the print page, I expand the choices. I prefer to print the return cover page and to _not_ print the options and privacy notice, so I need to click to check/uncheck the correct boxes. But if I click too quickly, the program _closes_ the expanded list and the _moves_ the letter section higher up in the print queue!! This has happened numerous times both this year and last (and probably before that, too, but memory gets hazy), and I am _not_ doing the highlight-and-drop thing that does rearrange the queue. It's not exactly bad -- but it is annoying to have to be careful and to have to re-arrange things when I'm not going slowly enough. And heaven knows that it just gets harder from here to go extra slow on some persnickety little detail that should just go by rote. Anyone else? Perchance any fixes? Catherine

Was just able now to send 3 returns -- but could not get ack's. Tried several times earlier w/out being able to get through at all. Will settle for sending successfully and waiting until later for ack's.

I have a one-person office and evaluated a good half-dozen packages a couple years ago before choosing ATX. I _really_ like the forms-based approach. I _really_ like being able to "drill down" (i.e. follow the "jump-to bunny") when I have a question as to where number comes from (although I _don't_ like it when the bunny hops in a circle and brings me back to my starting point!). I _really_ like the completeness of the forms -- that was the reason for ditching my prior package; there were too many instances of forms I had to fill out by hand because they were just _not_ available. I was able to do 1099's and W-2's for my corporate clients on-site instead of wrestling with their QuickBooks printing functions; much smoother, better-looking, better form "line-up" -- just better overall. When I switched to ATX, I was able to _double_ my annual number of prepared returns (and more than double the revenue therefrom) while _lowering_ my stress level significantly _and_ easing my work flow (I think those two are strongly related). I really hope that CCH keeps the ATX line, at close to the same price level, and doesn't force me out. I can't afford a pricier package for my practice. Drake was the second runner-up in my evaluations - but I really despise the worksheet-based entry system (and lack of "drill-down"!). It is not a good match with how I work and think. Catherine

I also watched part of the eclipse (eventually the need to get to _sleep_ won out), and it was really pretty. But I've tried taking pictures in the past, and they rarely come out to be worth looking at. Unless you set up a telescope, with a 35mm long-exposure camera. We have a friend who belongs to amateur telescope societies and _he_ takes some lovely pictures. But he also does several-minute-long exposures. Catherine

I've been having the same problem, as well. Since 8:30AM (EST) every time I try I get the error. Came here to see if anyone else had, as well. So it must be on their end, not ours. Wonder if they're having weather-related problems? Heard there was sleet and ice in the southeast. Catherine

I have actually done it _both_ ways for one return -- and can't get rid of this duplication no matter what. And in the other return, I have no asset entries whatsoever, and just filling out the worksheet doubled the depreciation number. Which is why I suspect a program glitch. I've also had some other problems with itemized lists adding correctly on the worksheets and then _not_ flowing through to the form or schedule and having to put them in as overrides. Lots of oddball little quirks and glitches this year. Some I can live with, but I really don't like having to override numbers that should flow from itemized list or worksheet straight to a form or schedule. Catherine

Hi all -- I have a bizarre error showing up on two different returns. Updating the program doesn't fix it. Form 8829, business use of home. When I enter the depreciation information on the worksheet for Line 41, it properly calculates the current year depreciation. So far so good. But the number that actually shows up on Line 41 of Form 8829 is _doubled_ the amount on the worksheet??!! Anyone have any ideas of things I can try? I've tried deleting the form and re-installing it, I've tried deleting all the entries and starting over, and anything I could think of. I'm stuck unless I override. I'd prefer to not do that. Help would really be appreciated. TIA, Catherine

I've been trying myself and getting the same error. Plus, I haven't been able to access the NAEA online tax research service. The common thread there is that both sites require the use of Internet Explorer. Since I never use IE except for these two sites (and complain to the powers that be mightily about it!), I've been assuming it has been an IE problem. Every site I've tried to access through FireFox has worked just fine all day. Catherine

Well, here you may have found the/a problem. I have several friends who are IT people, and the problems and incompatibilities and crashes caused by using VISTA are legion. I'm still using XP Pro and have had no problems at all printing to pdf. Catherine

There's another program called pdf995 that is shareware - you can pay $9.95 for it, or use it free and just click past their ad. It works great; I've used it for years. Just install, then choose pdf995 as your printer.

I've never liked marshmallows. But graham crackers with slightly softened chocolate -- oh, now, _that's_ tasty. Catherine

Received in '07, counts in '07. Clients choice to not go to bank in '07 doesn't count. Catherine

I have a sole proprietor who uses an EIN (no employees). So the 1099's she gets all have the EIN instead of her SSN. The Schedule C also shows her EIN. However, the default for 1099's is to use the SSN. In order to show the EIN, I have to override. Is this going to cause this client to not be able to e-file? Thx, Catherine

I was at the Mass EA Society meeting last Thursday and we had as our speaker the brand-new MassDOR commissioner. She said that they (=MassDOR) have been slow getting vendors authorized this year as a result of the changes _they_ had to make after the Federal changes. But they have approved vendors covering 95% of last year's e-filers, and hope to have several other vendors approved in the next week or so, covering 99% of last year's e-filers. Does that help? Catherine

Did you know the CCH service has a special price for ATX users? $495 for a year for the site, all the "fixin's", email, domain name, everything. You can take a look at mine, www.grant-financial.com Catherine

How wonderful! Congratulations! My "toddler" is 17 and my "newborn" is 14 - and helping me with taxes again this year! You think you're never going to get through those first six weeks or so... and then you blink three times and they're off to school. Tell her to _enjoy_ this new little one. And to sleep whenever the baby sleeps - and keep that up for the next 4 years, LOL! Catherine

Hi to all -- I do use the ATX client letters. I know how to edit up a template and format the letters the way I like (my firm information centered, one field deleted, another in boldface; no rocket science). And then start a new return from that template; hey-presto! -the letters are the way I want. However, it is _royally_ annoying to have to manually re-do the letters for _rolled over_ returns. Am I missing something obvious and stupid, like (for example) a way to open a rolled over return with a template and _not_ lose the rollover information? Would really appreciate any clues. Thanks! Catherine

I've been using the Copy(1), Copy(2) when working with current-year returns, mainly because I try a couple things in quick succession and can then pick one and be done - and don't need to keep the others. With projections, I've been using names like "Sell Rental Smith" or "Buy Rental Smith" or "Mary BTW (back to work) Smith" so I know what they mean. Those stay for reference (but won't get imported next year). Thanks for all the advice and info. Will keep it all in mind as I get amendments and other changes. Catherine

Well, that works so long as the one you eventually want to keep was the _first_ one. On one client, tried three different ways to treat one income source. Turned out Copy(2) of Smith, John & Mary was the best for taxpayer. Used that one, deleted the ones that didn't work out -- and then couldn't figure out how to rename the one I wanted! Had visions of them living forever as Copy(2) of.... Catherine

Thanks, all! Thought I'd tried clicking on the return name with no luck, but had looked in vain for the "Rename Return" file menu choice. didn't realize the return had to be _open_ to get at that! One of those silly, little things.... Catherine