JohnH

quote name="SaraEA" post="90976" timestamp="1381198093"] "Large practices with a high volume of returns should have an alternate vendor's software actually running on some computers in their office, just so they don't get blindsided by something like what happened with ATX this year." JohnH, is this really practical? Alternate software isn't free. And would returns already have to be converted to the new software so they're ready to go? That's a major hassle. And do you have to train staff ahead of time to use the alternate just in case? The whole thing sounds like a major expense to me, too much for even a large practice to absorb....

It's wasted breath - you may as well be talking to the wall. You're fooling yourself if you think it will make any difference - they know exactly what they are doing and why. Most of the time they tolerate listening because they know it makes you feel good to hear yourself saying it. And maybe you'll stick around a little longer in hopes that you had an impact. That's they way the game is played (or that's the way the customer is played) in the aftermath of most buyouts.

I'll add one other comment. I was away from the office for the past two weeks, and since I still consider myself a Drake novice, I was curious about how quickly I would fall back into the routine with the software once I returned. No need to worry though - Drake is just as logical and intuitive as ATX, once you break the dependence upon the sacred "direct entry" mentality. As I've said before, direct form entry is vastly overrated.

For the most part I've stopped commenting on ATX vs Drake, because I see how passionate some on this forum are with respect to ATX. Some of you are going to stick with ATX no matter what the cost and no matter what the risk. From a business standpoint that continues to puzzle me. I'm also astounded at the number of practices who are totally reliant upon one vendor and don't have an alternate vendor already identified. Large practices with a high volume of returns should have an alternate vendor's software actually running on some computers in their office, just so they don't get blindsided by something like what happened with ATX this year. Yet I continue to see this blind loyalty to ATX and little indication that any preventive steps are being taken. It's October folks, and the comments lead me to believe that most are just sitting with their fingers crossed, hoping all the promises will be fulfilled. But I will chime in here since you've hit upon the biggest difference between these two vendors. There's nothing in this price range to compete with Drake on speed. It isn't fancy and some of the screens aren't as pretty, but it's designed for speed. Input is fast, return management is fast, backups are fast, and updates are lighting fast. There are times when I miss the direct input on the form a little, but that becomes less and less of a problem once you get accustomed to Drake. Their Macros also aid you in designing special input keys - again making return preparation FAST. Since we sell our expertise measured in time in this business, faster speed translates into more dollars in the bank. Hard to argue with that logic. I knew within a few days of switching over that Drake was going to be my primary software going forward, not matter what happens with ATX. I now regard ATX at best as a candidate for my backup vendor, provided they really get their act together. But I'm still very much of a skeptic in that department as well. I think you're going to have to settle for lots of compromises in the future, and one of those is likely to be speed. If that's the case, then you're going to be committing to earning less over a given period of time. Some ATX diehards are willing to accept that trade-off, but I'm not. I actually wish I had switched to Drake years before I did, just so I'd be more experienced in using it today.

Congratulations Jack. Once it sinks in, your life will be changed in numerous ways. Our kids cause us to think "next generation", but grandkids cause us to begin thinking several generations out..

I still have this uneasy feeling that this whole project is about putting lipstick on a pig. But I'll be happy to find out my instincts are wrong, it that happens to be the case.

A question came up about which came first - man drinking beer or man drinking milk. Simple logic finally solved the mystery. Back before records were being kept, it is imagined that two Neandertals were coming home from the hunt. They had already finished painting the story of the hunt on the cave wall and were looking for something to do. One of them said "See that herd of animals over there? I'm going to sneak up on one of them and pull one of those long things hanging down from that sac to see what comes out of it." The other one replied - "If you'll do it, then by golly I'll drink whatever comes out". The answer is simple logic. This conversation would never have taken place if someoby hadn't been driking beer in the first place.

Happy Birthday. I won't promise not to attack you, but it won't be personal if I do.

I think you answered your own question. The instructions for the 1099-C as pretty clear insofar as who is supposed to file it. Personally, I'd never file a 1099-C for a non-paying client even if that were an option available to me, but I realize others have different views on this matter. Who Must File File Form 1099-C if you are: 1. A financial institution described in section 581 or 591(a) (such as a domestic bank, trust company, building and loan or savings and loan association). 2. A credit union. 3. Any of the following, its successor, or subunit of one of the following: a. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, b. Resolution Trust Corporation, c. National Credit Union Administration, d. Any other federal executive agency, including government corporations, e. Any military department, f. U.S. Postal Service, or g. Postal Rate Commission. 4. A corporation that is a subsidiary of a financial institution or credit union, but only if, because of your affiliation, you are subject to supervision and examination by a federal or state regulatory agency. 5. A Federal Government agency including: a. A department, b. An agency, c. A court or court administrative office, or d. An instrumentality in the judicial or legislative branch of the government. 6. Any organization whose significant trade or business is the lending of money, such as a finance company or credit card company (whether or not affiliated with a financial institution). The lending of money is a significant trade or business if money is lent on a regular and continuing basis.

Maybe, maybe not. It's more accurate than much of the discussion we've had on this forum from both side about the issue. Insofar as the videos are concerned, they're painting with a pretty broad brush. One person's pertinent info is another's talking point (or choke point). But the fact is, somebody does have to pay for it. We won't turn people way from emergency rooms even if they can't pay. So somebody is already paying for it.

My daughter, who works in an industry directly affected by the Affordable Healthcare Act, told me about this set of animated explanations concerning the legislation. Overall, it's a fairly balanced presentation and probably something I'll send to clients who inquire about it. Your mileage may vary... http://kff.org/health-reform/video/health-reform-hits-main-street/ http://kff.org/health-reform/video/youtoons-obamacare-video/

When I first started, we would staple 3 pages of each form together with carbon between them. Top set went to IRS, middle set went in our files, and bottom set to the client. Then the carbonless sets on NCR paper came along. THAT was high tech! But they were expensive - I seem to recall about 35 cents per page. We would prepare the main forms using that paper and revert to the carbon paper sets for lesser-used schedules. The return looked like a product from a committe. For the high-few returns we would prepare them by hand, then type them on a typewriter, and photocopy them. My first copier used liquid toner, the paper came in rolls, and the copies had a gray cast to the background.

Averages tell you something, but they don't tell you everything. For example, if I place one hand in the freezer and the other hand in a hot oven , then on average I should be feeling about right. Or, as my former pastor used to reply when some would ask him what the "average" honorarium is for a wedding, funeral, etc -> "Well, the average is about $150, but hardly anybody ever gives the average."

I got 24 correct, 13 wrong for a piddly 65%. Need to brush up on my American geography and American History. World geography was fairly easy for me, except for those pesky Balkan states. Looks like I'm headed back to repeat 8th grade.

Single ply only. If you double it, the waves get trapped in the interface and can get reflected directly into your brain. Have you ever seen what happens if a piece of aluminum foil gets left in the microwave? Don't want that happening to your cerebellum. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIdv8uiGacI

The instructions can only be passed along verbally, unless you have the decryption key for the secret version. But here's a picture you can use to fashion one that works pretty well. Also, here are a couple of my friends wearing variations on the basic design. I don't have any data on how effective these versions are:

I think it's because the microwave is made in China. When it runs it sucks all the data out of my computer through the router, beaming it to the Chinese military. Yesterday they learned I have exactly $2.36 in my checking account and my house payment is due next week. But I have a simple solution. I've fashioned an aluminum foil three-corner hat that I wear to disperse the transmissions & connect a 6-ft long ground strap between my wrist and the water pipes while typing. This ground fault interrupts the process and causes their Beijing server to crash. See? It's working right now, because you can read this but the ChiComs don't have a clue what I'm up to. It works - trust me.

Can you tell us where in NC you are located?

Most of us have needed a fresh start at one point or another in life. I'd hate to think that every mistake I made would have dogged me for the rest of my career, especially since many of those mistakes were muti-faceted, complex, and often involved other people also dropping the ball along with me. I also know from personal experience that I have learned much more from my mistakes than from my successes - that's just the way things work in life. So I wish him well and hope he succeeds in his new endeavor.

You could also make a recording of dogs snarling, growling, and yelping. Then play it at full volume and say "Sorry, I've got to go right now. The dogs are fighting again!"

Your comment reminds me of a situation at church several years ago, when the director of our Child Development Center asked my advice about a payroll tax matter. There were only two ways she could handle the matter, one was wrong and the other was correct. I gave her the correct answer, but it involved extra work on her part. A few weeks later, I was speaking with another church member (who was familiar with the situation) when the director of the CDC joined our conversation. She told me she had decided to take the easier route - the one contrary to my advice. Of course she had some very good reasons in her own mind for having done the wrong thing. After she walked away, the person I was originally speaking with asked if it bothered me that she didn't take my advice. I told him the people pay me good money for advice they often don't follow, so why should it bother me if someone fails to follow my advice when it's given freely?

Well now, surely most of us make the useless entry of the "Tax Preparation Fee" on line 22 of Schedule A, already knowing all the while that the haircut is going to phase it out. But at least it keeps the client from asking...

"Oh, thanks for showing me that. Next year I'll buy a ring AND a boat. That'll be more than $12K and I can deduct 'em both. Right?"

It just means they intend to make you the scapegoat if anything goes wrong.

Much of the time, the client asks the same question because we only have this conversation with them once a year. They forgot what was said last year and so they revert to what they thought was right. And the fact is, much tax law doesn't make any common sense anyhow. So why wouldn't a reasonable person question some of the nonsense we have to tell them? I'd tell them to go somewhere else if they continually question my abilities, because I don't want a client who doesn't trust my advice. But in many cases if they take exception to the tax law, then that just tells me the client has some common sense.