Lion EA

And, I get clients calling who ask when their son or uncle or neighbor (not clients of mine) will get their payment or why son's amount was different than his friend's, neither return prepared by me. "Is it OK if I have my son call you from FL?" Good grief.

Good luck. You'll be fine. You chose a location that people will know, whether from eating at the restaurant or noticing the new art gallery or living around the corner or.... Have hubby help you with unique signage to let people know what's coming.

Hey, Joel. I just renewed my ProSytem fx. The salesman worked out a combination of Pay as You Process based on the numbers and types of returns I did this year that will be a bit less expensive. (If I decide to e-file entity returns, I won't save as much.) $4,357 for individual and all states and e-filing individual and preparing all business entities and states, but w/o e-filing the businesses. I can add e-filing for biz at any time. I can't pay monthly as I did this year, but it's a downpayment then the rest of the "license" fee type stuff this fall then the pay as you process stuff monthly as it occurs. So, that still spreads it out over at least six payments, and probably more as I have a lot of extensions and a few fiscal year clients and many procrastinators. I did not get stressed by my software or by tech or tax support this season, and that's worth a lot of money to me.

Good Grief! Not only are we contending with mergers and acquisitions, but not companies are supplying their software for other companies to market...

When I started using ATX, they let me buy a CD for a prior year (before I used ATX) for $20. Then, when I changed computers, they unlocked my unused returns on my new computer so I could prepare some prior year returns -- similar to you, I had a couple of unused returns for a prior year or two, but had changed computers in the meantime. This was maybe during the Kleinrock reign, but before CCH.

I think you're right. Unless the corporation has future earning potential that she whats to be involved with, getting non-taxable cash as a property settlement might suit her needs better. Even securities or their house will have their pre-divorce basis attached. Cold, hard cash can be invested however she chooses. Don't settle for investments he or his family chose.

I think I have until the end of June or July for early renewal discounts, which I will take advantage of this year. Last year I was shopping and didn't buy until the end of November or during December. This year I'll invest in any training for myself and my assistant that looks good, no matter how much it costs. Last year, it was tax season and boom, on the job training. Luckily the tax support and tech support people were very available and very patient and very knowledgeable and very open to giving out their favorite tips and tricks along with answering my question of the moment. They track all calls, so when I called to ask what they'd told me two calls ago since I now had that situation come up; they were able to look it up and explain it to me! (There are also lots of built-in tutorials and on line tutorials and knowledgebase and built-in sample returns of all types, so I can explore something without trashing a client's return.)

Ultra Tax is a Creative Solutions product purchased by Thomson, now their Thomson Tax & Accounting division. Lacerte is, as we well know, Intuit. And, ProSystem fx is CCH, a company I was not ever going to trust again. I purchased EVERYTHING, well almost everything tax from ProSystem fx this past tax season for under 200 returns; but e-filing on a pay-per-return price since the break even point was over 200 returns for that. No deferred comp plan returns, but individual and all states and all other entities and multiple computers; plus e-file pay as you go. I can't find my contract, and I'm paying monthly, no interest, so this isn't an exact price; but I'm paying something in the $4,000s, maybe $4,785 PLUS the efiling of $3.20 fed and $1.10 state per return e-filed. I've been paying $341.83/month after a downpayment that was, I think, about twice that; plus whatever e-files I incur in that month. Those amounts are before sales tax. Extension e-files were $1, and entities are more, I think; but I didn't e-file any biz returns even though I thought I would and might still for those I have on extension. I'm getting a 50% discount as a small business for three years. Then my costs will increase by 20% per return each year, or something like that. If I track down my contract (which I'm trying to pull out to compare with renewal paperwork I received) I'd be glad to fax it to you.

Since she's the expert and won't ask your advice, ask her to please copy you on her letter so you can be better prepared and be learning the issues so you can help your own clients. Maybe, she'll lend you her expertise, or at least her letter. You might ask for pages 1 & 2 of her tax return and Schedule SE, too.

I just visited their web site. They DO have a per-incident price. I like the package, though, with off-site backup. Beth, since you have home-based workers, will someone be available at 3 a.m. during tax season when these technical problems seem to happen?

I switched to ProSystem fx last year and loved it in spite of the price. Now, I think I'd be saying the same thing about Lacerte or Ultra Tax. They have so many features, run so smoothly, save so much time, that they are worth every penny. I never thought I'd use another CCH product after deciding to leave ATX, but their technical support blew me away while I was testing. And, it remained outstanding this tax season. You will like a high end product, Joel. And, the frustration it saves you will make the price worth it. (I do get a 50% discount for three years, which helps a lot, too.) If your clients are not the W-2 RAL crowd, you will love high end software, whichever one you choose.

Do let us know if you need investors or really, really early reservations or any other help.

If you get TTB CD, then when you go to a topic, you can also just click to get to the code, regs, etc.

Moth balls

I still have a couple of clients under $200. I'm trying to get everyone over $300 and entities $500-600 to start. (Well, not-for-profits and 1120-H are much cheaper.) If someone asks me, I say prices start at $500 so I can eliminate the price shoppers. But, if they ask me other questions first, then I'm more realistic talking about price.

$3.99 for regular

Jainen makes some good points, especially about CA that I know little about. But, I have had a couple of clients who hadn't filed for many years and were being chased by the IRS. For one of the couples, some of the years involved SE construction; then he got hired as an employee for later years. The IRS wanted six years before they'd accept a payment plan. I did what you mentioned, filed three open years first, getting paid for each one before moving on to another. After those, went back six years and moved forward a year at a time after they paid and picked up. I tried not to have more than one year of their information at a time, but spouse would uncover things and deliver to me as she found them. They were anxious, but then slow to pick up. Ended up with some early NOLs, so had to amend years already done. Eventually found out they were filing returns but not sending in any money at all, ever. And, the spouse wouldn't change her withholding from almost nothing to something reasonable. So, when they sold their house and bought a new one, IRS got justifiably upset and seized a bank account. Couple was very upset, but they'd had lots of warning letters that they hadn't shared with me. I didn't bother telling them when I went out on my own last season. Let them whine to someone else about how poor they are.

Oh, yeah, we all had dial-up at one time or another. I live in a very small suburban/rural town, so didn't get cable until recently. It is a joy and changes your work routine. Enjoy!

If you're still here, you're still aging. Better than the alternative.

I have trouble imagining a raccoon with your underwear! Boxers or briefs? Clean or dirty? White or...?

And our insurance will pay for it, unlike alcohol or illegal drugs! Sounds like percocet and morphine help tax season stress as well as pain. Hope your pain is easing up now so you can enjoy springtime and life after taxes.

By the way, when I was struggling with registering to e-file last fall, I pulled out my handout from that phone forum and followed the directions and had the phone number for the e-help desk to call with follow-up questions. I do save the handouts.

I do a lot of them, not during tax season, though. And, Julie and everyone who hasn't tried them out, they email you materials before the forum. So, you can follow along on your computer, using a PowerPoint presentation or Adobe Acrobat, and/or print out the handouts and take any additional notes right on them. They save time for you to ask questions if you like. They are very valuable for free forums.

You're in my prayers, both your husband and you. I'll pray extra loudly in church tomorrow. What's his first name, if he won't mind? And, come vent to us any time of the day or night, so you can keep your strong, beautiful face on for your husband.

Stop delivering groceries!