Chrisbry

Catherine, I'm still showing some from Jan 16 and 22. I'm not concerned at this point either. Chris B

If it was me and I fired the client for NON PAYMENT, I would also have stated in the letter that since they had not paid for the tax preparation, you no longer were considered the PAID PREPARER. Then I would have sent the IRS a letter stating that you are no longer considered the PAID PREPARER because of nonpayment of fees. Easily solution when courts ask for copies of return you "prepared" -- send them a copy of the letter you sent to client and IRS. Those instructions came directly from the IRS at a Practioner Liason meeting I attended in May.

I renewed yesterday -- dropped back to MAX instead of TTO. I figure the discount will pay for a tank of gas. YIKES!

Are you saying that the deposit actually went into the WRONG client's account? Yikes!

When we started getting our renewal information last month, I printed off an ATX Product Comparison Chart. I went to look at the products this morning and ALL of the products have had a price increase. My early renewal price for TTO is $1400 -- if you go to the products page it is now $1695. The chart I have said that MAX was $1065 and now it's $1110. This is just in ONE month. Is the renewal price good after the early renewal date or do they nail you to the wall with the upped price? I'm going to call today to find out what "deal" they will offer me on the MAX. If there is no incentive, then there's no point in renewing now -- I'll wait and see what goes down the rest of the year. Just thought I would mention this FWIW.

I wondered if possibly it was because they had tuition credit on both kids and it reduced their tax liability to $1140. I'm sure they don't qualify for EIC. I'm so glad I told all my clients not to count on any rebate amount until it was in their hands. I've only had one phone call.

Outstanding liability -- not a chance -- not this person. She even pays her balance due in February and her estimates are all paid for the whole year by April 15. She said the notice said something like this: Since one of you is self-employed, $xx has been deducted for self-employment taxes. I'm thinking she misunderstood something. I haven't had any of my Sch C filers call me yet that their rebate was reduced. I told her she had to be mistaken because it was based on INCOME tax not S/E Tax. She said oh no. Another one of those that thinks they know the tax system. I just didn't argue any more with her because she was basically screaming at me. I'm glad she is just a friend and not my client. Pity her tax preparer.

A friend of mine got their stimulus payment LESS about $60 for S/E tax. I hadn't heard of anything like that and asked her if she was sure. She said they got a notice a few days after the direct deposit. Of course, she was also bitching about not getting "their money" for the kids (Uh....they are 19 and 24...duh). She's not my client so I have no idea what their tax situation was. But has anyone heard of such a thing so far?

The only thing I liked about Kleinrock was the Federal Tax Bulletin -- I will miss that. I can't even recall using their research materials in the past few years. But a few years ago, it was confusing to me. I changed to the 1040 Express Answers this year and I just prefer TheTaxBook Deluxe Edition {not to mention that I didn't even receive my Express Answers until well into the filing season -- and after several calls to find out where it was -- I realize the lateness was due to Congress and their problems} But I do know that TaxBook was out the early part of January. I think the whole package for Kleinrock is rather expensive considering it is mostly all online research now. Maribeth, I will certainly check out the TaxTools -- I used that years ago.

SCL -- my practice is not large (about 150 returns) nor do I charge $125+/hr. I figure the cost per return (incl e-filing my quarterly & annual pr forms) is about $5 per client's form using ATX. I do not want a write up program but I do want everything in ONE place. I think that was rather rude of you to insinuate that those with large practices are "cheap" and that they can afford it. I'm lucky in my relatively small practice, I have very little overhead. I am not dissatisfied with ATX software; I'm dissatisfied with their lack of Customer Service. Oh and BTW SCL -- I am renewing and I will renew to get the discount. But Kleinrock & CCH can keep their "research materials". I'll go back to TheTaxBook and utilitze NATP more. Chris B

You're welcome JKL. I posted this in E-file but not sure if people are looking there since the "season" is over for now. http://www.taxtalktoday.com/ The next Tax Talk Today is May 13 It will cover Electronic services (e-file, e-services, etc) that are available. I thought I would post htis for those that are unaware of these programs. If you can't watch during the webcast, you can download the programs as a podcast to your I-pod, Zune, MP3 player, etc. and watch them later. The program is 2:00-3:00pm EST. The one in July is on Retirement Plan Pitfalls.

Since there are some here that were unaware of the Phone Forums (Free 1 CPE), here is the next one: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/articl...=158856,00.html

http://www.taxtalktoday.com/ The next Tax Talk Today is May 13 It will cover Electronic services (e-file, e-services, etc) that are available. I thought I would post htis for those that are unaware of these programs. If you can't watch during the webcast, you can download the programs as a podcast to your I-pod, Zune, MP3 player, etc. and watch them later. The program is 2:00-3:00pm EST. The one in July is on Retirement Plan Pitfalls.

I received the Drake Demo for 2007. Installed it. #1 -- Demo for Client Write up is worthless -- you can't even set up a NEW CLIENT or see how it works to set up a client (even though I was assured that all I needed to do for 941/940's was to set up a client and fill in the form). #2 -- Did NOT like the tax input at all. I like to "view" each Form after I input the data. There is too much flip-flopping around to view the entire tax return (ie close 1040, open Sch A, close Sch A, open Sch C, etc). N/M on the removal -- I just deleted it. Now to do a registery clean to make sure it's gone.

I think that's where I'm leaning too Donna. None of the programs I have looked at have everything in a neat little package. I requested TRX to send a demo CD when I couldn't download the program -- still nothing. Drake has not responded to my specific questions regarding payroll form e-filing. Where I am at now -- I'm finding customer service non-existent any where and I think I'll stick with the ATX and crappy CS that I already know. At least I don't have to *learn* to do things differently. But I am definitely doing away with Kleinrock and the fluff & frills and will renew @ $530 less with MAX instead of TTO. And I'll keep my options open for any *new* software that might come along.

I'm still waiting on the demo CD that I requested 2 weeks ago. Oh well!

I'm curious as to how many on this board actually utilize the FREE phone forums conducted by the IRS. The reason being is that I've seen questions asked regarding the use of E-services, E-filing, etc. that have been covered under the forums. It's 1 FREE CPE for 1 Hours of phone lecture and then question/answer period afterwards. If you don't utilize the forums, could you explain why you don't? {I'm going to a Practioner's Liasion Meeting on May 7 and thought the information might be of interest to them}.

Margaret, on the Form 8655, you should put in the first date you started e-filing 941/940 for those clients -- for obviously reasons if you should need to go back and view the client's account for those periods then you will be recognized in your CAF file. You do not need to complete a Form 2848. The Form 8655 is in effect for all future years until revoked in writing by you or the client. I'm confused when you say you use the Client's IRS number ??? Are you referring to their EIN or the IRS assigned PIN number? I would not e-file under the client's PIN. You will not be afforded any kind of protection of being authorized by the client to e-file their 941/940's.

Margaret, You just need to login to E-services and get an Account Transcipt for your client. You will have to have an 8655 or 2848 on file in order to do that. If it's the 8655, you click on to REPORTING AGENT from the left menu. If it's 2848, then you do a normal Transcript Delivery. It will show that the form was received, the tax assessed and payment. I still have one ACK outstanding but the IRS shows the form received and the payment applied, so I'm not going to worry about it. If you e-file Form 941 or 940 for your clients, you should have a Form 8655 on file to CYA. One additional note -- if one is using the E-Services site of IRS and you haven't sat in on one of their phone forums on how to use the site, you should. It's free and you get one CPE.

Good News RJM -- I have efiled and received acks on all mine. I have 3 left to go. My last one, I efiled yesterday and had the ACK back same day. There is hope.

Both have been slow to respond periodically but that's my computer. I also have 1GB of RAM. I have noticed several things and I think it might have to do with a Windows XP update a few weeks ago. I ended up restoring to a previous point on my home computer it was so irritating.

Drake is batting -1,000 in Customer Service with me just to answer a question. They said they would find out the answer and get back to me. I'm guessing the answer is "NO, the only way to efile payroll form is thru the write up program". That was a week ago. Strike One. TRX is not getting an A+ either. Still waiting on the evaluation CD from a week ago when their site had problems and I couldn't download. Strike Two. At least if I stay with ATX, I don't have to learn a new software.

I'm finding that comment rather funny -- imagine checking a return before submitting it! :D

Amy, I apologize if you thought my comment was diminishing what was said about or to you (which I have no idea because I didn't see it -- it's called "I'm too BUSY doing tax returns to hang out on forums all day") because that is not what I intended it to appear as. I merely was pointing out when someone said the "internet fight" was over that most of you probably have not seen anything until you witnessed the viciousness and cat fights on some other boards. I quit an Australian Shepherd board because of the fighting. I have felt like an "outsider" from day one on this board. Not sure why I have felt that way but Booger was one that made me laugh when my days were filled with stress over all this ATX crap. Again, I apologize to you if you thought my comment was directed at you. Now, if you all will excuse me, I have a bitch session to attend on a "doll collectors' board." :rolleyes:

Yes, I tried to download it to. Their rep called me and they are sending me a demo disk.