RJM

Elrod, even though I generally empathize with IRS personnel, and they are almost always very helpful and courteous, and the same goes for attorneys (kinda), I have had a rough day or 2 and this made me laugh out loud. THANKS !

Yes, this happened to a client during April. I assumed either there was a bug in the ATX software (did not call texupport), or there was some special new IRS rule. I remember the reject said it was from the IRS, and that I was forced to paper-file. Never researched this, so am interested in any knowledgeable responses to the OP. -Bob

Congratulations JB ! You deserve a great mate.... -Bob

Thanks JRS- Please let me know about the 10% that Drake does not work for. What are the issues or reasons? I have been testing Drake over the weekend, and I really have a hard time with the data entry format. It seems designed for a tax office with junior people doing the input, and senior managers and partners doing review. I think the better way is the forms-based method like ATX and a few others, especially for tax offices where the senior people are doing the data entry. The forms-based is more intuitive for users who have a good grasp of taxes already, and is more efficient in that you are eliminating an interim step in the preparation process. When I started doing taxes using Prosystems fx, our office used the interview-based mode in Pro fx, with input done primarily by bookkeepers and junior staff. After some senior people started doing their own data entry, it became obvious that the forms-based mode in Pro fx was far more efficient. The total time for the senior preparer to complet a return was shortened, and for those senior people who did their own data entry, overall productivity increased. Junior staff time was reassigned to other bookkeeping-related activities normally done by the seniors, and the senior time was shifted to nearly all taxes during tax season. Still, if I had to get used to Drake's input method, think I could do it. But if there are problems with the software that you are seeing, JRS, I would like to know before I invest too much more time in the Drake review.

Hi ATXers and X-ATXers- This is Post 100 for me. Yippee ! Thought I would use this post to thank all the posters to this board, and to thank Eric also for starting it up so quickly last year. While I do not post too often, I read almost every thread, and I learn lots of new stuff on this board. So.... THANK YOU to all the devoted posters. -Bob

DevM- Yeah, I never have liked Quickbooks, but so many of my clients use it I already know it quite well. So I bought the QB Accountants Premier edition. After working with it a few months, it has many entry features that are faster than ATX CAO, and a couple features that are slower. Overall, I can turn around monthly accounting faster than with CAO, and the cost is a bit lower than CAO. I was able to use the e-bridge in CAO to convert all the Customers and Vendors from CAO; it was very helpful and easy to do. There is no direct way to reliably convert CAO transaction history, however, so I need to keep the old CAO running for a couple years, by back-dating the system date. There are a couple tricks to efficient use of QB Accts version, so if you try it and want any help just re-post here and we can discuss in more detail. One reason I decided on QB was that I can produce all the payroll returns, and e-file them if desired, also the 1099's. And this Acct's version has features that allow me to go into the general ledger and payroll calculations, and customize any unusual transactions. The main reason I have stayed away from QB in past was that it was a "black box" with the payroll module, designed for non-accountants in small businesses. It did lots of calculations in the background. The Acct's version gets rid of that "black box", so it is now more useable. Now I am glad I made the switch.

Cool !

DevM- I am in the same boat. I also tried the new ATX client write-up program, and did not like it at all, so converted payroll clients to another package. To see the historical data in the old ATX Client Accounting Office, try changing your computer system date temporarily to before the CAO expiration date, then open the program. I had to do this a few years ago due to a program bug (which was later fixed), and am doing it now to continue working on the non-payroll write up accounts.

Joel, your comments are softening my resolve to never use a CCH product again ! Still have not tested Drake, but have whittled down all the alternatives to just Drake for testing. If I end up renewing with ATX, will have a continual fear of getting bait-and-switched in December. But, if it happens (seems less likely now, though), I guess I could live with it, or switch to Drake at the last minute. KC, as far as your comments regarding the programmers' faith in an enduring product, I am not persuaded. Based on the prior whims of CCH exec's, an immediate termination of this product seems very plausible. Still, I like the ATX value for the cost. If I renew, will probably downgrade from TTO to whatever seems appropriate.

Mel, I second Lion's sentiments. You might be surprised how many of us would want to invest for a piece of the venture, or for x years of free licensing, or ? If you polled us you might find out you could work on this full time for a year or 2 with the proceeds. After that hopefully you could live comfortably on licensing fees. You never know til you ask !

ChrisCPA- Just curious about what areas ATX does better than Drake. I was planning on testing Drake in the next couple weeks. -Bob

lsowers- I too bought the useless CCH/ATX writeup package, and then later bought QB with the enhanced PR. I have been pleasantly surprised with this package. I was under the impression that to e-file 941s thru QB it was necessary to file as the "Employer", with the longer efiling ID number. So I was planning on using the ATX package at least for this quarter, because I am registered as a "Reporting Agent" for these clients, with the shorter efile ID number. Did you find a way to efile the 941s as a reporting agent? or have you been using client ID numbers for these anyway? Good luck with your fight on the 940 penalties. They are relatively small penalties, but if you are going to fight, have FUN, and let us know if CCH coughs up the penalty. -Bob

Cathy, you are hilarious when you are on morphine !

That's good news Chris... I needed some, because my ATX accounting program just told me I am locked out of it in 30 days. Good thing I have been converting all my accounts to another accounting package, Quickbooks Premier for Accountants. Don't like QB much, but the Accountants version does allow me to override all the "black box" payroll entries without a problem. And the package is less expensive than the new CCH/ATX accounting package, which was written for HRB offices. Margaret, good luck ! One thing I learned from a poster on this board was to go to the IRS efile site and look up the return status. This helped me figure out which Q4 returns really did get filed. CCH did manage to lose 2 of my 940 returns which were timely filed last quarter, and I had to re-transmit them in March. I paid the late filing penalties cuz it was not worth the effort to seek reimbursement from CCH. If ATX cannot locate your original 941, it's possibly lost, and you may need to re-transmit just to get it over with.

Thanks taxit... maybe I will try it then.

Has anyone been filing Q1 941's electronically yet? Could you let me know if you are getting ACKs back? I was planning on paper filing for this quarter, but if the e-filing appears to be going well I will try e-filing again. Last quarter was a real adventure !

Joel, I also use vonage for 4 lines, and think their features are the best and best value. If they go under, I believe the business would stay intact, and be rescued with shareholders losing all or most value. It is a valuable business and to throw it away completely does not seem reasonable. Hope I am not overly optimistic (like I was with CCH's recent purchase).

The real tough part is adjusting for WI HSA account capital gains and losses. I don't think there is a WI form for making these adjustments fairly, and identifying them as HSA adjustments. All you can do (I think) is manually override in a WI Sch D. I will probably ask the Dept of Revenue how to handle these this summer. I have lots of clients who use HSAs as additional retirement accounts, never drawing down the balances. So far, have had no cap gain or loss, but it will likely happen this year.

Joelgilb... I just ordered Drake demo and downloaded Taxslayer, and both of these have married write-up programs (inexpensive) with e-file payroll return capability. Will be testing them briefly soon, in earnest in July probably, and will comment then.

Oh No ! No payroll return forms in other tax packages ? That's one thing I need. If the feds ever set up an on-line payroll return facility like we have in WI this would not be a problem. I am still determined to stay away from CCH next year, so will weigh all the alternate options.

I really like Ultra Tax, but cannot afford it, so I will test TRX Pro, Drake, and Tax Slayer soon. I like the comments about TRX, ie that they do a respectable conversion from ATX files. Any forms I can't get from these lower-price packages I will download from states/IRS and do by hand. There is NO WAY I will use ATX or any CCH products again !

JKL, all my 940's and 941's were filed 3rd and 4th week of January. So, yes, they were on time. I have not contactred CCH regarding the penalties because the amounts are so small. It would not pay for me to sit on hold with them to resolve this. I am just glad only 2 returns were assessed, because nearly all were transmitted to IRS long after the due dates, even tough timely filed. ATX and IRS had a deal to abate any penalties on returns which were time-stamped at ATX before due dates, even though not transmitted to IRS until weeks later. However, I believe for the last 2 940's, ATX lost the files, so I had to re-transmit with March time stamps. This is probably why IRS assessed me. Will decide on the ATX package within a few days, as soon as last return is out. Have had way too many problems with CCH, and although I really like the ATX basic program, it just is not worth the grief of dealing with an owner that obviously is clueless when it comes to tax preparer priorities (eg message board, firing support before the season, ignoring requests for assistance, dropping support for the legacy accounting system without notice, etc). Am trying to implement the new ATX accounting package right now. It is a product which is designed for HR Block. It has been customized for ATX clients in the last few months, including the link to the ATX tax program, and the conversion from the old ATX accounting system. If the first client conversion goes poorly, I am dropping all CCH products immediately. For accounting, I will write my own custom Excel-based package (have done it before for employer). New Excel pivot tables are awful good. For tax, I will try Tax Slayer, Drake, and TRX Pro (Orrtax). I also plan on buying Mel's package, if it exists.

Hang in there Silverbelle..... It's almost over !

I am definitely filing paper this quarter. I just received my last ACKs for 12/31/07 940's 3 weeks ago. Already received 2 late penalty notices and paid them. I will wait and see what kind of luck you all have with Q1 before I e-file these again. I bet I wasted 20 to 30 hours screwing around with ATX e-file problems last quarter, right in the middle of tax season.

Quoting Rodney King..."Can't we all just get along? Let's sing Kum-ba-ya and hold hands. Mahatma Booger Thanks Booger... you crack me up sometimes ! -Bob