Lion EA

Nice site, Catherine. That motivated me to add File Share. I'm usually able to use Mozilla FireFox. Once in a while, my site or e-mail or Site Builder or even this board acts funny under Mozilla; then I click the IE switch. The techies at Site Builder use and love Mozilla, so they'll get the kinks worked out someday.

Once had someone bring in his return with a typo on daughter's SS#, long-standing error on mailed returns. We called the IRS, and they changed the SS# on the spot on the ORIGINAL return and told me NOT to submit an amendment. Might be worth a phone call, because that might get the rebate now...

I think so. I bought last minute, as well as buying my tax software last minute, so didn't try out all the features during tax season. I think it's two separate things. One being the Tax Notebook which is an organizer I can upload for a small fee for clients to access and then download for a small fee when they're done. The other is a secure site, but haven't looked into that at all. Learning more about those possibilities is on my to-do list for after I get everyone off extension. The salesman told me to call him when I've tested out the Tax Notebook, and he'll remove the fees. It certainly does encourage clients to use e-mail to contact me.

I tried to send you a link to June's newsletter re its sites, but it's in a members-only section. So, I copied and pasted it into a private message for you. The formatting is crazy, but you can see the types of tips they give us each month and a sample of a web site of a CPA firm.

It started with EVERYTHING from ExecuSite including a generic welcome and services and more; the salesman even had my info on there. They had links like IRS and Where's My Refund and MSNBC and Money Magazine and... Right now, the newsletters down through the Dollars & Sense are mine and things I've borrowed from you guys and groups of which I'm a member like NAEA; and everything below is their June newsletters and ones I've chosen from their archives. I've been adding links of clients and family and local states' taxing authorities to personalize the links page. I wasn't trying to generate new (cold) clients as much as trying to look less "home office" for my current clients and their referrals to me. I did get about four good leads from it, though. My clients like the site. When they ask a question and I'm busy or they don't need the info then (next year's mileage rates, maybe), I can post an article from me or from the archives and send them to my site. I thought they might use the calculators, but that's why they pay me. I've used some of the calculators! My clients have complex returns and trusts and partnerships and other businesses, so I'm not trying to bring in the stranger off the street. They've used the driving directions (I wrote my address the way it works best on MapQuest) and info re my drop off places. And, some have shown their spouses who I am via my web site. I haven't added any content that costs extra. There are other "libraries" available for extra fees. I might add a logo, if I ever get around to designing one. And, now that I have a year on ProSystem fx, I might start using the Tax NoteBook feature to upload and download organizers which costs a tiny bit with each use. I'd had a domain name "under construction" for years before I discovered ExecuSite.

How many super delegates do you have, Joel? Maybe you can sell some to Hillary.

I bought the website with my ProSystem fx at much more than you pay for the website with ATX, but it's still built by ExecuSite. I love it, even at the high price. It was up and running even before I purchased; the salesman had put my specific information on for me to evaluate. As I have time, I update the pages. I can post an article I've written in Word or whatever on my Newsletters page. They change the newsletters for me the first of every month. I can pick and choose which ones I want that month. And, I can add newsletters from their archives. It works best in IE, but the techies are working on it in Mozilla FoxFire. I use FoxFire, and the website is usually fine. Technical support is wonderful. I really only needed them when I was setting up my e-mail and when I had questions while deciding whether to buy. If an old lady like me can use it, any one can. They have a one-page cheat sheet for html, if you want to edit things. I haven't used the on-line tax prep, because my clients aren't going to do it themselves. DollarsSense.com

But, if you're our judge, Joel, who will be our lawyer? Any other lawyers out there to represent us in front of Judge Joel?

Me, too. Keep us posted, KC. Or, vent to us, or whatever you need at the moment.

What a cutie! This is a good age, before they can travel all over the house and climb into something when you blink for a fraction of a second. They grow up so fast. My "boy" is 26 and my girl turns 21 in July. Enjoy.

And, JKL, YOU don't have to answer any questions, but you can ASK questions and THEY, the panel of the day, will answer them for you. They will also get back to you if they don't have the answer right then. And, you have their e-mail addresses now for when you think of a question later. The programs are also archived, so you can go back at a more convenient time to read the transcripts which usually include the answers that weren't available at program time.

South 60, but it's way out in IL with the sharecroppers. I'm just tracking in a lot of yellow pollen here in CT. Can't use my screened porch until I hose it down.

Yep, continue to vote through all eternity. But, Joel, on-line politics is much less deadly than Vegas or Chicago or NYC politics. We don't carry guns in our posts.

Congratulations, Joan!

I know. I have to beg and plead for the annual reports, especially if they were mailed separately from the consolidated 1099s. But, they'll include all those useless marketing brochures from their brokers and banks in the stack of papers they bring me.

Did she say YES?!

I had a client decide to do it herself this year. She then called last minute with problems and wanted to return to me to prepare her return. I told her at that late date she'd be on extension and had about 20 returns ahead of hers and said I'd try to get everyone off extension by the end of June. She agreed. Now, she's emailing me 'cause all her friends are shouting for joy with their rebates! Can't I speed up her return? Good grief.

Welcome. Hey, I have a bit of free time on my hands today waiting on a late client...

I was born and raised in Cook County during the tenure of the first Daley. Vote early and often. Joel, how was the second Daley?

Well, I better start posting more if I hope to catch up!

I had only one client who made use of puts and calls. His annual paperwork included some excellent explanations about how to report them. I think he trade through Schwab.

I went out on my own this year and am learning new software, too; so put lots and lots of clients on extension as I get up to speed. Many are upset about being on extension, because they're afraid they won't get their rebate. Not only do I have to explain to them about the timing, but most of my clients make WAY too much to qualify for a rebate. So, I spend lots of time talking and calming when they wouldn't have gotten a rebate if I'd filed them by 15 April, anyway!

I used to send and receive faxes from my computer with my old SNET (now AT&T) service. Then we changed our telephone service to Optimum cable along with internet and TV; and Optimum didn't play nice with my very basic fax software that came bundled with my Gateway computer. We also had a freestanding fax machine and a dedicated fax line on AT&T, plain vanilla with no extra services, and a cheap long distance service with an 800 number, all of which we decided to keep so we'd have a land line, hard-wired, for times when the cable might go out. But, I miss being able to fax from my computer when I created the document in my computer and to receive in my computer, especially when it's junk that I don't want to waste paper and toner on. Any of you out there using Optimum? Have you found a computer fax software that works with it. The two that I've tried answer ALL calls automatically or you have to manually answer all calls. (I can manually SEND, but forget since most faxes go through the freestanding machine.) With my old AT&T, even the free fax software could distinguish between faxes and voice calls, so knew when to answer. Or, should I be looking at one of the fax services that I guess are quasi-emails?

The fact that customer service sucked is a very big point, even if you didn't need it last year. Because when you need customer service and are a sole proprietor, then you really, really need service right now. No waiting on hold, no waiting for a supervisor, no waiting for a call back, you need service right now to continue that return.

I'll vote for that. (Not really, just getting my count up so I can be on the supreme court with the anonymous crew.)