JohnH

So yesterday I finally broke down and ordered ATX for 2010. Program download and update this morning after I got my unlock code were a breeze and everything looks great. I entered payroll data and test printed W-2's for a client, and ran into a small snag. I use the Uni-Form format for W-2's, and all I see in the upper-right quadrant is the employee name & address, company name, and a statement saying "Attached is your 2010 W-2". All the boilerplate is missing. I searched the knowledgebase and couldn't find any info on this. Is there a preference somewhere that we need to select this year? Or is it just likely that ATX hasn't finished the Uni-Form yet since it isn't really needed for a couple of weeks?

Don't take the impersonal service too badly. Chances are the new management just wants to be sure you know who's boss. That's usually how these buyouts proceed, regardless of what industry we're talking about. Gotta dispel those old-fashioned, unrealistc expectations and whip those customers in line. We've got a bottom line to think about here...

Tums, Aspirin, Coffee, Xanax... On a more serious note, I learned of one of the most productivity-enhancing items in my office on this forum long ago - multiple monitors for my computers. Also a desk copy of either The Tax Book or Quickfinder (there are strong opinions on both sides for these two publications). Here's another accessory I find useful at times: OfficeSign.pdf

It's clear you want to use a single monitor, but here's a thought. You can do a second monitor without lots of fancy 3rd party software. It's the easiest and least-risky route since XP is already set up to handle multiple monitors. If displaying the prior year's return is your main interest, then the second monitor is primarily for reference anyhow, so it doesn't have to be as fancy as your main monitor. Any cheap monitor will do just fine for the second one.

Speaking of fans, many years ago I was at a medical device trade show where we were exhibiting a stand-alone analyzer which had some pretty fancy electronic innards. As a potential customer walked over to the booth, the president of the company (and brains behind the analyzer), stepped up to begin the demonstration. He always began by mentioning its quiet operation, and how the only sound you heard was the cooling fan. As he powered the analyzer up, the fan didn't start. Not missing a beat, he said to the customer "Looks like we have one of the new 'Solid-State Fans' in this one", as he just casually proceeded to demonstrate the analyzer.

I'd tell them to pay the tax and wait for IRS to send a bill for the interest and (if any) penalties. I might also tell them to expect the bill to be about $120 to $150. If they want to include an extra $100 in their payment, then the balance due after all the dust settles will be less by that same amount. Whatever small interest difference there may be due to not paying the precise amount with the amended return isn't worth what you'd charge them to do the exact calculation. (my answer would be the same if they owed $8,700, except I'd shift the comma. If they owed $87,000, it might be worth doing a more precise calculation)

Tell him he's not alone. Most of us have met lots of people in the past couple of years who wished it worked that way on almost any investment. Given that this is an annuity, I'd argue that he came out VERY well.

I absolutely MUST remember the part of line 7 in the article which says anuuities "can be the 'roach motel' of investments, where your money goes in but it's hard to get out." Best description of this financial product I've ever seen. I always tell my wife that if I'm gone and if she needs to seek financial advice, any advisor who recommends annuties should be shown the door immediately - no further discussion required because they have proven they have nothing of any significance to discuss with her. Has the client cashed in the annuity, or is he somehow thinking he can deduct the decrease in value? If it's #2, time to explain what a taxable event looks like.

I agree with Jack. Fold them if the client has a balance due, mail them flat if there's a refund.

Great scores. Something to be very proud of.

---> Wow! This is the best tip I have gotten on this forum! I plan to try it in the guest bath and powder room this Christmas get together. <--- But Jack, isn't it going to get tedious trying to keep an eye on the bathrooms and running back in there to fix the roll every time somebody finishes?

Nice videos - it's obvious why you're proud of him. I notice that the only time he's on the ground is when there's at least one defender under him.

Jack: Now that they've seen the video, I want to see how many people will admit to having tried it. (I did)

Thanks Taxbilly. I wondered what Donald Rumsfeld was doing these days. As for folding the toilet paper, I'm just glad my drill sergeant didn't know about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRHU_r9LFK4

Looks like we're all engaged in off-season weekend nonsense. Apparently nobody has an opinion about the paper towels. I certainly don't because the Air Force didn't train me in that matter. Incidentally, I know the "saluting" toilet paper sounds like something from " No Time for Sergeants" with Andy Griffith, but I swear it's true. It was one of the first things they told us in basic training 35 years ago. I still remember the drill instructor making the point, since basic training is all about paying extreme attention to detail even in simple matters. Does anyone else who served in the military remember anything like this, or was it just my drill sergeant? (whose name I still remember to this day)

I didn't have an opinion on this subject until I enlisted In the US Air Force back when I was younger. I learned this very important fact in basic training - when the toilet paper roll is hanging horizontally, it clearly MUST dispense over the top. Otherwise, it would not be possible to fold the next sheet diagonally bottom-left to top-right when you finish, thus forming a smart salute (just in case the next person to use the facilities outranks you).

Here's one discussion we had about the subject. I think there may have been others. Taxbilly provided some good links as well.

Why embarrass yourself? Consider thie - just estimate the P&I, tell the client it's an estimate, and then tell them to expect a bill about 30-45 days after they file which will make all the final adjustments. I do this and never have any complaints - they usually give me the bill to check over for accuracy, but they expect to pay more based on what I told them at the outset. They're filing late, do they really care about a hundred dollars or so one way or the other? Not if you set the expectation correctly. But it is good to know that ATX isn't getting it right, so thanks for the heads up.

I also worked in a campaign once. I was the campus coordinator for the Democratic candidate for governor when I was in college. Got to go to all the meetings with the County officials, precinct bosses, and various other big shots. Pretty heady stuff for a college sophomore. Of course, I also labored under the illusion that the election was a contest of ideas and principles rather then the raw exercise of power by ruthless political operatives. I was so naive at the time - when they started handing out the envelopes of cash for "gas money" the night before the election, I actually thought the precinct bosses were going to use it to pay for fuel to transport people to the polls...

Did you look at this site? http://www.nps.gov/nr/faq.htm#restrictions

Counting ballots - what a novel idea! Glad you were there. Just think, if you were in Illinois and these were military ballots, you wouldn't have needed to bother with any of this pesky counting nonsense. (anyhow, thanks for performing a sometimes thankless task. Poll workers are the glue holding the system together.)

Check the drop-down in the lower left corner. It should say "ATX Community". Click the drop-down in the blue square and you can choose "--ATX Community (Large Text)"

I certainly am...

Thanks for bringing this up. I just made another donation after seeing your reminder. Hope many others will be able to do the same.

Eric: Thanks again for all your efforts. We really appreciate everything you do for this forum.