Catherine

It was over before I saw it -- but who gets to EAT this monster trout??!! 64 pounds could feed quite a few of us, and trout are yummy! Catherine

MAX renewal price is $1,179, or $1,068 after discount for early renewal - which also includes the free early renewal training. https://offers.atxinc.com/Offers.aspx?id=ATX

Just went through a many-days long hoo-rah on this issue: submitted extension on 3/25 - still stuck in "Validated by EFC" status; update at MyATX says "no Federal return created". Have called tech support 3 times (so far) on this. ATX is having technical problems with e-filed extensions, and what follows is what's been recommended to me. An update of form 4868 to V26 (or higher) should be forthcoming within next day or so; check updates manually. At that point, try to get acks; the problem may go away by magic then. If it still stays in "Validated by EFC", try synching (and then, of course, having to re-mark all your completed e-files, grrr). If that doesn't work, it gets harder because you can't re-create an e-file from the return. Nor can you delete the faulty e-file. You have to _duplicate_ the return (copy of Joe Smith), create a new e-file from the copy, and submit that. I hope that will fix it. I've been waiting a week at this point (plus three long calls to tech support, where everyone has been very polite but, frankly, useless until [possibly] today [we'll know if this info works later]) for one stupid extension. If this doesn't get fixed, I shudder to think what will happen next week when I start submitting extensions for everyone who isn't finished. Paper, anyone? - Except my state _mandates_ extensions to be e-filed. Also posted this info at the ATX Communities - thought it was too important to leave other colleagues in the lurch for lack of info. Catherine

I haven't noticed this one, but there have been a number of return-specific oddball glitches this year. I've had flow-through items _not_ flow through on one return only. There seems to be a recurring problem when I do multi-state returns that the _Massachusetts_ return cover page and client letter drop all state-specific references (the cover just says "tax return", the letter says "your 2007 (missing state & form) will be e-filed", and it drops the refund/balance due lines completely) - then I have to go fix them manually. But thanks for the warning -- now I have another item to keep my eye on. Catherine

Congratulations!! It's always wonderful to have a new baby in the house. Double especially when _you_ aren't the one getting up at 2AM!! Catherine

Best to call and ask (I've found that calling first thing any morning _except_ Monday goes through pretty quick). I had one client whose return was in "validated" for days... called, turns out the Federal got munged (by their system!!) in transmission and rejected, and again _their system_ couldn't get it straight to send me a "reject". They had me synchronize (I _hate_ that, I have to go back and re-mark everyone who is completed!!) - still didn't update. Ended up having to _duplicate_ the _entire return_, re-create the e-files, and submit that way because they couldn't clear the logjam at their end, and having my e-files in "validated" status meant I can't re-create e-files from the return itself. Those two re-submitted files are now in "validated" status (resubmitted late Friday) - and if I don't get something solid (like clear acceptance or even rejection), I'll be back all over them like a bad suit - again. The e-file system is absolutely _atrocious_ this year. It would be nice to see if other CCH products are having problems - that would point to a root cause of the last-minute tax law changes usurping programmer time, and not a "we're trying to get rid of ATX by making it horrible" tactic. Catherine

Then you'd probably _love_ the Calvin and Hobbes "snowman" series done as a powerpoint presentation. I should find a way to post it for folks here... Catherine

I use it all the time. Keeps clients from mailing in their copies. Helps me remember which copy is when I've just been on a printing spree, too. I haven't noticed that they are lighter. If anything, this year is better because they've fixed the print angle on worksheets and the like that only have print at the top of the page -- last year it just truncated the watermark. Catherine

Sent in a RI piggyback e-file on Wednesday. It's been validated and cleared through the IRS -- and now it just sits. Heard through the grapevine that RI acks are taking a while -- anyone else noticed this? Does this seem "normal" for RI? had so many random e-file problems this year I'm getting jumpy... Catherine

This one baffled me the year before last, with a client in the Philippines. Turns out you put a "." in the state field, and that does something magic internal to the program so it won't refuse to create the e-file because the address doesn't conform. Had to call tech support on it (back when there was tech support available in non-geologic time), because this trick doesn't seem to be written down anywhere. Haven't done my Philippines guy yet, so haven't tried it myself this year. Catherine

All kinds of non-ATX Massachusetts e-file problems this year!! I've had _so_ many people rejected for completely specious reasons. Latest was a lady rejected because the MA e-file server "doesn't recognize primary or spouse SSN". Well, she's been divorced two years, has NOT changed her name, and e-filed just fine _last_ year. Another one got rejected for "Line items on Sch DI do not match" - except that they _do_ match. I've seen lots of other notes here for MA problems -- are others seeing more problems than usual as well? Think it's because of all the frou-frou with the new Schedule HC? Catherine

The two I submitted went through just fine. Have you checked the time/date stamp on your computer? Sometimes those go wacky, such as after a lightning storm or power outage. Catherine

You won't see the Liberty Bell without a side trip; that's in Philadelphia. However, the fireworks in Boston are pretty amazing. You can see them from the Cambridge side of the river as well as the Boston; there's usually quite a lively crowd of students, alumni, and others from MIT all along Memorial Drive and on the dorm rooftops. But it's much less crazed than the Boston side. And there's a hillside in Arlington that has a lovely (if long-distance) view. WaterFire in Providence is pretty cool, especially with kids in tow. They have gondola rides along the canal, and these big firepits mid-river with fires after dark. Whale watches abound and can be a fantastic day trip. They leave from Boston, from Gloucester (gloss'-ter, not glok-is-ter), and Cape Cod. In Boston proper: Fanueil Hall. Freedom Trail - goes to Old North Church and more. The USS Constitution in Charlestown. Swan Boats at the duck pond (as in "Make Way for Ducklings"). The Duck Boat Tours -- on land _and_ afloat in the Charles River. Museum of Science; very interactive, lots of kid-friendly fun. Battle Road goes through Cambridge, Arlington, and Lexington. In Quincy (accessible by MBTA) there is the Adams National Historic Site; a lovely property and the home of John & John Quincy Adams (Quincy with a "z" sound, not a "c"). That's what comes to mind off the top of my head. I can get more ideas after 4/15. One thing to keep in mind is that things are smaller scale here; from Boston you can be in Providence or Worcester or Gloucester in about an hour's drive. Catherine

That could be a little harsh. They may have a semi-retired accountant who doesn't want tax filing hassles. The "accountant" may actually be a bookkeeper who isn't qualified to do returns - and knows it. But it sure sounds, at the very least, that whoever is doing the books hasn't the foggiest notion of what S-corp accounting requirements (let alone _tax filing_ requirements) are. But either _tons_ more info is needed - along with a _complete_ willingness on the owner's part to get it right - or it's time to back _away_ from this return. Running and screaming just makes them chase you.... ;-) Catherine

Even with the "regular" program (not PPR), I've had several pdf printing glitches this year. Including returns that seemed to print fine, but when I go to open them, I get a "this file is damaged" report. Re-booting has worked in all cases (so far!) for me this year. But since machines take so long to boot up, it is a pain. Catherine

I could tell that it was a server/traffic/bandwidth problem. But if no one else is noticing the issue, then it's probably a local phenomenon. Folks getting home from work and logging in to World of Warcraft.... then I can't reach the ATX servers before the connection times out. But, if others were having trouble too, then it would have pointed to the ATX servers getting overloaded. Thanks. Catherine

This sounds not right in a bunch of ways. First off - why is he not an employee of the S-corp? Next - what is the wife doing to get a 1099 instead of a W-2? Does she have other work? How much is the 1099 for -- a small sum (under a thousand or so dollars) -- or more? Next - I'd consider very carefully if you want this client. The appearance is of people (including the supposed accountant doing the books) who have no idea what they are doing, what they are supposed to be doing, and don't care all that much about getting it right. Catherine

Kathy -- There's more information needed here. "No social security tax" can mean lots of things, from the accountant is incorrect to the box checked to he's already maxed out. What does the 1099-MISC say? Box 7 - non-employee compensation? Box 1 - rents? Box 2 - Royalties? What was the person's W-2 salary? Tell us those things, and we can help. Catherine

Has anyone else noticed this? This year, I can e-file all day long and returns go through. HOWEVER -- between about 6PM and 9PM (Eastern time), I can't connect to the EFC servers _at all_. No submissions, no rejections (can't say I mind _that_ part), no acceptances, -no acks of any kind. Get a red-type "cannot connect to server" error. I could understand doing daily maintenance, or having busy times -- but several hours, _every_ evening??? So, folks, -- do I just have really bad ATX-evening karma? Or is this more widespread? Catherine

I e-filed an S-corp this morning and got the acceptances (Federal and State) back within two hours. It was my easiest e-file yet this year. Catherine

Even a _space_ character is read by the program as an "entry". Try going into both fields and hitting "Delete" - to remove any invisible entries - and then create the e-file.

You and others... <grin> In addition to the Sch INC (included in ATX when you do the return), when I paper-file a Mass. return, I also _include_ the W-2. However, you _don't_ attach it! Mass returns are scanned and machine-read (all that fancy coding on the top is the actual return info; the stuff on the lines down below is just so you can see the data is OK). The only thing people do is check the bottom of the first page for signature - then off to the machines. So likewise, do NOT staple the paper return together. Any paper enclosures (and sometimes you have to send them) go _on top of_ the return _loose_. I usually put a blank cover page and then paper-clip the whole thing together. Catherine

Pre-review comment: Just heard a comment from someone who uses TaxWise that their error checks finds potential e-file problems during the regular error check. That's one thing in TaxWise's favor -- one annoyance about ATX is that you can clear up any errors or problems, then go to e-file and discover a whole slew of other little glitches that will cause an e-file bounce. I've started running the e-file check as a secondary error check before I finalize a return. Catherine

Don't assume; ask. Lots of Canadian companies keep US-dollar accounts for paying US vendors. Others convert before sending paperwork -- you may end up converting something that doesn't need it. Catherine

It took them three days to resolve this issue, and it turned out to be both innocuous and royally annoying. Turned out the client e-file went through just fine! What happened after that is somehow the reporting-back-to-me portion got corrupted -- and once it was corrupted, I kept getting the same inaccurate results: file rejected for a variety of bogus reasons. My client got his refund check yesterday -- I hope to have the correct e-file acknowledgment tomorrow. So, for those of you with returns stuck in limbo -- be aware of this possibility. So yes it was innocuous. It also cost me too many hours over a couple of weeks. Sigh. Catheirne