JohnH

---> What do you think atx cch will do to compensate me for these problems??? <--- They will compensate you. In just a few short weeks they will be offering you a discount to sign up early for next year.

That isn't a very encouraging sign.

What you just suggested may be their ultimate goal. But if it is, they sure chose a flawed process to pursue it.

I think we have another new participant who hasn't figured out that this is an independent forum and is not affiliated with ATX or CCH. In addition to not studying the manual, apparently he hasn't bothered to find out the facts about this forum either. (I'm not going to add a snide comment about the spell checker - that would be kinda tacky of me, wouldn't it ?)

Drake is still the best alternative, IMO. The learning curve isn't all that bad, and Drake does have a "Forms Entry" option. Cost is in line with ATX for a very comparable product in term of forms offered, etc Customer service at Drake is superb.

I'm probably going to be a test case for your prediction. Incidentally, I wonder if CCH shares your confidence. I spoke with someone today who is evaluating software vendors and he told me they offered him a steep discount (roughly 33%)

There's an additional check box on the latest version of the W-9 just for that purpose. I assume it's there to help determine if a 1099-Misc is required.

KC, you are absolutely right that the only sensible way to make a change of software is to do it at the end of the season. I agree with you in theory and in practice. However, it's also true that the only sensible way to sell software is to produce something that customers can use efficiently. When the vendor fails to do that, the user must make adjustments even if they aren't ideal. At this moment the clock is ticking for at least some of us. There has been a great deal of discussion on this and other threads about multiple problems in vastly different areas of the program. So maybe a little perspective is in order here. I'd like to ask if there is anyone on this forum who has ATX up and running, and who can state that they are ready or are already preparing returns at the pace they expect. Or is that too much to ask on Jan 22?

Drake is the most reliable alternative, has excellent customer support, and is in the same general price range. In looking at posts on other forums, the Drake customers consistently rave about the quality of their customer support. They have the most loyal customer base of any software provider I'm aware of.

All of the above answers illustrate yet again the pitfalls of preparing returns claiming EIC. Other than the occasional slam dunk, it's a specialized field of tax preparation. We are called upon to make judgement calls having nothing to do with our role as tax preparers - except for the fact that IRS is forcing those who prepare these particular type of returns to perform a function better left to Social Services professionals. It's beyond ridiculous. You original post said you are trying to send the client away by raising his fees in hopes he will leave. Why not be honest with him and tell him right now you won't prepare the return? Maybe give him a quick estimate so he can know what to expect, which might be a good incentive for him to get on to the next preparer. Hopefully he will understand your reasoning and appreciate your honesty. If so, then you've enhanced a friendship. If he doesn't understand, then you will know he's so self-focused that he doesn't care about the risks you're taking on just as long as he gets his check, in which case you don't need his business anyhow.

You probably can't increase your rate enough to make him go away and/or to make it worth your while. And the situation doesn't seem to pass the smell test. Maybe you just need to level with him. Over the past few years I've found it best to be honest with people claiming EIC who ask me to prepare their returns. I just tell them that I'm not questioning their veracity, but the huge penalties are something I'm not willing to risk. I tell them I've come to consider returns claiming EIC to be a special class of return with its own complexities. Not mathematical complexities - regulatory complexities. So they should go to JH or HRB because those companies have the deep pockets to absorb penalties better than I do.

You have my sympathy - I really mean that. My practice is small and I'm in the process of downsizing, so I can wait this out. But for somene in your situation this has to be maddening. You are absolutely right about conversions - I've done several conversions over the years and every one of them had its share of difficulties & unexpected data drops. I expect that whatever happens this season, you surely must already be thinking about how to handle things next year.

I haven't asked. But I will know in the next couple of days. I'm still willing to wait another week or so for a usable product from ATX, but I'm keeping my powder dry.

Drake I'm still holding out to see what happens with ATX. I bought a stand-alone W-2 & 1099 program just to get that task done while still waiting to see if ATX gets their act together. That's $40 I shouldn't have needed to spend, but good insurance, IMO. But if ATX isn't ready to roll by the end of Jan, I'll switch to Drake. It's an excellent alternative to ATX.

The court correctly drew a distinction between PREPARING a return and PRACTICING before the IRS. If there's an appeal, the next step should be a proper distinction between PREPARING a return and FILING a return. It's a distinction with a difference.

This has already been posted on a new thread, but it might ignite a firestorm on this one... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TAX_PREP_LAWSUIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-18-18-32-55

Try this link: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TAX_PREP_LAWSUIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-18-18-32-55 This development has the potential to cause some of our board participants to go ballistic.

Don't forget internet forms. If it happens that you need a form which isn't available in last year's MAX program and you can't yet get to it in the current year, it may be available online. Many states have fillable pdf's available for their local forms. Sometimes you can't save the data or the forms won't calculate, but at least you have something you can use in a pinch to get the report out the door.

Purrfect reply.

Your respect for IRS or lack thereof is irrelevant. I share some of your opinions about them. But the fact remains that no matter what your opinion of them may be, you'll fall in line or be out of business. You're already their data entry clerk, you've been forced to not only prepare the return but also to accept responsbility for timely filing, and you're already making decisions about such things as EIC while looking over your shoulder, so it's just a matter of time until you're their de facto auditor. I'm not trying to convince you - future Circular 230 changes will do that job. I can't help it if you insist on burying your head in the sand just because you don't like what I say. .

And you are missing the point. Stop looking at individual trees and focus on the forest fire. Improving the quality of the returns depends upon forcing you to become a defacto auditor, not making their RTRP administrative function work perfectly. All they need to do is convince you they will destroy your livelihood if you don't go along. It's coming. Let's save this thread a couple of years and then revisit who is fantasizing and who has their head in the sand.

But after the OIH deduction is simplified, will they still be able to deduct food and vet bills for their "security cat" who guards their inventory?

I don't think the RTRP program is bull at all. They just overreached a little at the outset in getting it up and running. You haven't yet seen the end result although they are telegraphing plenty of signs. Once the bugs are worked out and it's streamlined a little more, you will begin to get instructions on exactly how you are expected to audit the client's return as a part of the filing process. Of course, you can choose not to do the government's work for them, under pain of severe financial penalties and loss of the RTRP status & your livelihood. IRS knows you can't just drop a frog into boiling water - you just gradually turn the heat up until he's cooked.

Be assured I know how you feel. I've felt that way myself before... and so on and so on .... :)

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