Chowdahead

Improving hardware make sense when the software is working optimally. This made sense in ATX 2011, ATX 2010, ATX 2009, etc. Or in any other Windows program. But this software is flawed. I would hate to see someone go out and spend $10,000 in computer equipment, and still see the dreaded "ATX 2012 program has stopped working and must be closed". When Windows 7 issues that message, it's because the program is poorly engineered. I was seeing this 15 times a day a few weeks ago, maybe more. I have performed no hardware upgrades, yet since 12.9 I only see that error message when I try to open a return in use by another user. So ATX has refined the software to work correctly. No new hardware needed. And no, I drive a 2012 Nissan Altima SL. And no amount of fuel engine upgrades or rear deck wings will make it go faster if I have four flat tires.

No, only one user can work on a return at one time, same as 2011 and all years prior. However, in ATX 2011 when I attempted to open a file already open on another workstation I would simply get a dialog box. In ATX 2012 I get a Dialog Box, but upon clicking "OK", I immediately get a Windows 7 dialog box telling me the "ATX2012 program is not responding and must be closed".

Check extremely closely in all fields on the 8863. I have seen a similar error and I ended up barely seeing an apostrophe You may need to increase your zoom settings and make sure you check each field closely.

Thanks for that. However, this publication has been in existence since 2009. I never saw XML error in ATX 2010 or 2011 becvause ATX screened for the error or had better wording programmed for the error. This is clearly a another loose-end that ATX never got to in 2012.

I have noticed considerable improvement with 12.9. I am running the same Dell w/ Intel 3.3GHz processor and 3GB or RAM as I was at the beginning of the season. Here is my experience: The Good: I can now access all of my returns without crashing. I have not crashed while printing since the 12.8 update, nor have I had any "printer errors". I can now type-search in drop down boxes again like the QuickEntry on W-2s QuickEntry dropdowns now showing certain Payers that were missing before "Remember Me" box on Login screen actually works now 8867 related errors are now showing as red to prevent creating e-file Opening returns has been speed up about 20%, but much still slower than 2011. Start-up time of the program is improved The Bad: Program crashes when attempting to open a return already open on the other workstation Creating a "New Record" W-2 input screen in a rolled-over return generates a 6th record, leaving W-2 records 2-5 blank. This is sloppy. Deleting dependents still leaves relationship type and it cannot be deleted... sloppy. On 8867 program does not automatically check "No disabled child" if I didn't select "Disabled" on the dependent entry sheet. Client letter is still a mess and I gave up and made my own letter in Word. Creating an e-file takes far too long (25-45 seconds), multiply this by 60 e-files that need to be sent, especially when each Return is already slow to save and open. Saving still takes too long (10-15 seconds) Transmitting e-files still too slow Receiving acknowledgements is still unbearably slow and 12.9 required re-download of ALL acknowledgements since Jan. 30. This took almost 3 hours. Program still exhibits more unstable behavior on workstation When installing update on workstation, the result is a dead program link on the desktop that leads to an "unfound" file. Netsetup must be used to uninstall and reinstall on workstation in order to utilize updated version. Erratic run-time errors on workstation Erratic slow return opening times on workstation

This is yet another sloppy bug in ATX 2012. In ATX 2011, you could not create an e-file if there was an invalid character in various vital fields such as this. This year, ATX 2012 allows you to create the e-file regardless of the error, and then the EFC sends it back to you with this garbled message. Why allow the e-file to even be created? And if ATX does want to allow such an error to be transmitted to them, why not send back a normal error code in plain English like, "The City field on the 1040 contains an invalid character. Remove the character and re-create the e-file and re-transmit". This is yet another efficiency-killer that wastes our precious time. This preparer had to search on this board for something that would not have even occurred in ATX 2011. This is basically the essence of the entire 2012 program.

Are you running the link produced by Netsetup on the workstation? I noticed that if I navigate on workstation to the folder on the server that houses the ATX2012.exe file (or whatever the launch .exe. is called), you will get an empty Return Manager on the workstation. You need to open ATX on the workstation using the link provided by Netsetup, then the Return Manager will be full of returns.

I have to disagree with the hardware upgrades. According to the manual the minimum is 2GB of RAM and a 2Ghz processor. This is what ATX posts in their manual. Why should a user need 6-10 times the recommended amount of RAM and 10 times the recommended processor speed in order for the program to simply function? This is not a hardware issue. I am running a Dell with an Intel Core i3 3.3GHz with 3GB or RAM and since the 12.9 update the software has been much more stable and faster. Not as fast as 2011, but creeping there, and with fewer crashes. How did that happen if I am running the same hardware as I was on Jan. 17? This is a software issue and ATX quite simply improved the software. No amount of hardware is going to fix this. There are just as many people running high-end systems that are having many issues.

Once again, TurboTax (and other home tax prep software) is mentioned here as a culprit. Yet the IRS keeps pushing people to file that way. Sure there are fraudulent paid preparers, but at least the IRS has their fingerprints on file and can more easily track the preparer. This may be another reason for a longer refund disbursement times for some people. http://news.yahoo.com/florida-hit-tsunami-tax-identity-fraud-122604383--finance.html

You have a comma or punctuation mark in the address field of one of the returns or w2s or 1099s.

i am having a similar issue. A client called me to verify her bank account info on her e-filed return. I can't even open the return to verify her bank info. The program force closes whenever I try to open her return on either the server or the workstation. I think the difference in levels of frustration depend on how many returns you do. I do 700-800 returns a year with one assistant. We deal with clients face-to face, If you file relatively low volume, and use this program in your own home or in your own office where you don't have to sit in front of clients, plus deal with walk-ins, plus answer the phone... the problems can be incredibly stressful. And the reason why it's chaos on the other board because the 12.8 update has caused entire offices to shut down. That's a big deal to paid preparers who have an office open to the public.

Actually, I now realize that ALL DROPDOWNS since the latest update prohibit typing. I am noticing the same on my state forms and On W-2 forms where I could easily select "RI" by pressing "R" and then "Tab". This is yet another example of how ATX programmers are doing things without thinking of how it affects efficiency! Do these people even use this program?

This is absolutely incorrect as there are Preparers with a wide range of system setups that are experiencing massive issues. I've read countless people with 12GB of RAM and quad core processors having difficulty even opening the program and keeping it from crashing. I think everyone is past blaming inadequate system hardware at this point.

I have literally 1000 companies in this drop down box. Before I could start typing the company name and it would show up and I could easily select it. Now, typing in this box has been disabled. So I have to click the drop down arrow and scroll the entire list to find the company Even worse is that the box is dynamic so it jumps left and right as the company names get longer/shorter so it's almost impossible to keep the mouse pointer on the scroll arrow! Do these people even use this program?

Well it's not really a new form. They added Pg. 4 and at the bottom of Pg. 4 it says that competing Pg. 4 is not required to be considered in compliance with Due Diligence requirements.

I have been using ATX since 2004 and they have had their issues, usually related to availability of my lil' state's forms in a timely and accurate fashion, but I am pretty tech proficient and have managed to deal with them. I've been through various debacles, including the out-sourcing tech support to India debacle, and a few major issues state returns a year ago causing people to not receive their state refunds. But this year I have decided that I need to at the very least look elsewhere. Sticking with ATX may cause my business to collapse, especially with the beta product quality of this year's software and over this debacle with the 8867. Which other program offers similar functionality to ATX and ease of use for someone who isn't a CPA? I've looked into Drake, but I hear it is a bit difficult to use. TaxWise is a CCH program as well, correct? I want to steer clear of that. What are other recommendations? I am hoping to convince one of them to let me set up for free or at reduced cost for the remainder of the season so I can at process a few dozen returns and get acclimated to it for next year.

Were you checking Pg. 4 of the 8867 since Jan. 30, before ATX started flagging it on Feb 6? Or were you just doing Pg. 3 (Yes, No, or Does not apply) boxes?

I know. However it's annoying because they always say "My <insert name of random other person> files somewhere else on the same day and got her refund already." Not to mention that I may have been delayed in transmitting a couple days because all of the problems with the software have resulted in everything taking longer to accomplish. Does the IRS still deposit specific days of the week or don they deposit any day but Sunday?

Tech support is non-existent this year. I'm thinking the entire ATX tech support staff may consist of two or three chimps. This is worse than when they moved tech support to India. After that debacle, and the subsequent apology by ATX, I thought it could never get any worse. If I had only known...

Thanks, but the link is dead.

We are sitting on Feb 14 and the phones are starting to ring from clients that I submitted on the Jan 30th: "What is going on with my refund?". My concern is that although I have all kinds of photocopies of medical records, school records, and whatever other vague documentation the IRS wants us to collect for EIC clients, I was not aware that the IRS added Page 4 to the 8867 requiring us to check off the documents we received, and that the child was not disabled. This despite the fact that on Page 3 of the 8867 it says by answering all of those questions I have complied with EIC Due Diligence requirements. ATX did not start flagging Page 4 as yellow Warning until an entire week after E-File opened up. Was this an ATX gaff or late IRS requirement? Apparently it has been showing up in Tax Wise since early January. I have read in a few places that the IRS will be suspending any returns where the preparer didn't specify on Page 4 the documents reviewed and archived. I'm just hoping that by competing Page 3 and answering "Yes" to all questions, that was sufficient. How could the IRS justify suspending millions of EIC returns because of a software vendor/preparer bureaucratic error when these people can go online to TaxAct or one of the gazillion other free web based tax prep services and enter in whatever info they want and not fall under anyone's scrutiny? Have any of your early EIC clients received their refunds yet, that you are aware of?

Actually this didn't fix the "not over 18" fee collect bug... any other ideas? I posted over in the official forum.

Thank you so much! I have a return that I have to file that I have had been holding for a couple days because I have been dreading re-doing it...

Thanks! Will do. I am already registered over there.

Wow now I find this. I recreated two returns because this very issue that I could not solve!! The client wants a paper check yet the program insists that the bank routing and account numbers must match info the 1040 E-File Info sheet, which are blank! I discarded the E-File Info form and even replaced the 1040 with a 1040A, to no avail. This is yet another bug in this program. Did ATX have actually TEST and USE this program on actual dummy returns before releasing it? Now can anyone give me the answer to the "Client is Not 18" bug using Fee Collect?