JRS

This should help, it is from the CA FTB website: California e-file Program Enrollment Requirements (Individual and Business e-file) Beginning August 2007, FTB no longer requires e-file providers to submit a separate enrollment application for authorization to electronically file individual or business tax returns. Providers approved in the IRS Electronic Filing (e-file) Program are now automatically enrolled in the California e-file Program. In addition, we will automatically receive any updates that you make to your IRS account. Requirements for e-file participation: To be automatically enrolled in our e-file program, you must be an accepted participant in the IRS e-file Program. We receive confirmation from the IRS after they accept you into their program. Use your IRS-assigned Electronic Filer Identification Number (EFIN) to e-file with FTB. If you transmit returns, use your IRS-assigned Electronic Transmitter Identification Number (ETIN) with FTB. Comply with the guidelines in FTB Publication 1345, e-file Handbook for Authorized e-file Providers, and FTB Publication 1345B, Business e-file Handbook for Authorized e-file Providers of California Business Returns. Once you receive your IRS EFIN, you can verify your enrollment with California by contacting our e-Programs Customer Service at (916) 845-0353.

I have never sent final returns to any brokage house. All they need is death certificate. Good Luck. Though it has been a few years, I had two clients pass away with accounts at Merrill. They back out all charges, created a DOD account summary and requested a death certificate. The broker at the time, did all of this before he even had the death certificate. The actual paperwork was not released until it was received, but the broker sent "unofficial" copies to the executor. (Actually, hand carried them.) Maybe the high paid brokers of today don't believe in "customer service" after death!

H&R AND INTUIT http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=25958

3. IRS Increases Mileage Rates -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Due to rising gas prices, the mileage rate will increase by eight cents to 58.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2008. The new rate for computing deductible medical or moving expenses will also increase by eight cents to 27 cents a mile. The rate for providing services for charitable organizations is set by statute, not the IRS, and remains at 14 cents a mile. See news release IR-2008-82 and Announcement 2008-63.

99% of my clients want to pay upfront and would not even consider paying by credit. (I make them wait until I finish.) The remainder will wait for their refund or if they owe, will pay when their taxes are done. I only have one client who has stiffed me and declared bankruptcy, but three years later came back, paid me in full with interest and pays upfront now.

Another good site: http://www.mystockoptions.com/articles/ind...473345C32C5D08B

This site is a good learning source from the industry. Puts and calls are not as complicated as they seem. The Tax Book and Quickfinders both have good descriptions but the Options Council site gives you both the tax side and how to understand how they really work, which really helps in understanding some clients strategies. My wife uses a lot of options, sometimes over fifty in one year, but she does not use the conventional ways. http://www.optionseducation.org/

If a separately stated charge is made designated “postage and handling” or “shipping and handling”, only that portion of the charge which represents actual postage or actual shipment may be excluded from the measure of tax. I don't mean to a pita, but my brother put in 30 years with the BOE and this was one of his main complaints being a good buearocratic, he could not get them to nail us on shipping costs! On my renewal quote, "ATX Standard Shipping - PRS, W2 and ZillionForms - $39.00"

I havn't finished testing out Drake or TRW, but it seems I will be going back to ATX. I have had two problems with ATX. The first being the assine (sp) log in for the support site. After 3 months, they finally made this computer illiterate computer person able to sign on without getting locked out. The second is shipping and handling costs, especially when they try to add sale tax to the shipping. You can't do that in California. This make me believe, they are trying to get every penny from us that they can. When you analyize it, it is just the large companies trying to get everything they can get to boost the bottom line. In these times, I guess, I can't blame them - but I do. I do intend on bring up this at the CSEA Reno, Nv seminar this week, where CCH small firms has a booth!

Please let me know about the 10% that Drake does not work for. What are the issues or reasons? 10 % of my clients are heavy investors, on the edge of day traders, including my wife. The input screen for Schedule leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe, I am spoiled, but ATX figures long vs short, options (puts and calls), wash and short sales. This is the only area I have encountered any problems. It handles K-1s from PTP's with no problem and seems to handle form 6781. I inputed a few trades, including some short sales, inputed regular things, dividends, interest, wages, etc., finished the return and setup the efile folder. Big problem, it was OKed for efile. Short sales cannot currently be efiled. I am a one person office, so no big deal, but for anything larger, I would think it would be a problem. These are the questions, hopefully, I will get answered this week in Reno.

After attending Drake's 4 hour seminar and then watching a few of the webinars, you will definitely learn more watching the webinars. The four hour CPE class gives a very good overall look at Drake, but the online education is a lot more in depth. AND at the price of gas, if the CPE is not important, I would opt out. I will add, there were a few Drake customers at the class that did help in my decision to consider Drake. As of yet, I have a few unanswered questions that I will ask their reps at a CSEA seminar in Reno this week. The program works great for 90 % of my clients, but the other 10 %, including my own, it might not work and I will go back to ATX, albeit begrudgingly.

That's Why I Love This Board!!! Everyone is eager to help even with non-tax issues. Some of my greatest computer fixes have come from this board as well as the old community. My opinion however, is that everyone is soooooo much more helpful on this board than on the previous one. Deb! MUCH MORE HELPFUL THAN ANYOTHER BOARD!.

Quoting from Pub 17, "You cannot deduct any expenses for attending a convention, seminar, or similar meeting for investment purposes." Unfortunately, that pretty well sums it up. I have had more than one client "fall" for the "fast talking pros." It is sad that these people can get away with this, but you can't prove that their theories don't work. They always seem to be able to "prove their track record," and they leave the client thinking the seminar or whatever is a deductable investment expense.

I can't comment on it, but it is located in the client write up program, which is separate from the demo.

From the IRS: An entity is considered to be a sole proprietorship for Federal tax purposes if an individual operates his or her business through a domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) owned solely by the individual and does not elect for that LLC to be taxed as a corporation using Form 8832 (PDF), Entity Classification Election. In such a case, the LLC is disregarded for Federal tax purposes. Generally, the disregarded LLC should not request its own EIN. However, the owner of a disregarded LLC may choose to have the disregarded LLC pay all employment taxes and file employment tax returns with respect to wages paid to employees performing services for the disregarded LLC using the disregarded LLC's own name and EIN. This was brought up on the IRS phone forum today. The first IRS person said yes, then was overruled. This "used to be a requirement, but no more."

I havn't watched the Webinars. I did go to the four hour seminar a couple of weeks ago. It is basically a four our trip through their software. I got a better insight into Drake and the software. I will watch one of the webinars sometime this week and post my comments. The 4 hours CPE was a no brainer for me, as it was only 15 minutes away. As to a commute of an hour, you probably got the same thing over the Internet, though the ability to ask questions and have them show us the answers was good.

I am definitely NOT a techie, but I do follow Apple, though I have a PC. Check out the link on Leopard, it says it will run your Windows applications at "native speed", whatever that means. http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html

If I renew by May 31st, I am automically entered into a drawing for $3k, 2k, or 1k. That still is not enough incentive to renew. This according to the email I just received.

Website from the IRS where you or your client can check on the status of their rebate check https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet?app=IRACTC

Minimum for 1040A is $50. I don't have any EZ's, unless a client's kid. 1040 Sch A/B starts at $150 now, courtesy of ATX price increase. I do regular clients' kids for free and depending on the type of return, also their parents. Very small practice and this, for the most part, covers my expenses and CPE. It also leaves enough for me to stock up on JD Single Barrel, for stress relief. There are a few CPAs in town that start at $250 to $300, but they think their clients live in San Francisco. AND, the clients think so, too.

I tried two downloads and they both failed. Currently, calling is not an option, hopefully, next week./ Thanks.

How long did you wait for the demo? I have been waiting for one since April 14.

Have your daughter keep a look out for Clearwire. We were told the same thing about DSL and Cable, not in our lifetime, but Clearwire came in. Now we have broadband, faster than basic DSL. Clearwire uses cell towers and we never have had a problem AND it took about a minute to install and equipment was free. Cost is around $45.

I am going to try Drake. Drake is giving a seminar near me in May, on how to use their software and I actually get CPE for going!

I am a little concerned about their response time. I have sent two emails requesting a demo, since the download went side ways. It has been over two weeks and no response.