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I am not a techy type, so take this with a grain of salt. But I have found that the issue when the software won't open is the database is not started, or it needs to be restarted. If you can get to your control panel, check the status of the database for the year in question and the year before the year in question (for some reason if the year before you want to use does not have a running database the year you want will sometimes give you trouble). If that does not work, ask @Abby Normal That is what I do when I need to confess my ignorance. Tom Longview, TX

Are these returns on extension? The reason I ask is that my state doesn't accept e-filing of its extension, so when I send the 4868, I always click the box to suppress the state from being sent just in case. Then, I always have to remember to uncheck that box when I file the returns themselves. Any possibility something like that happened? Another thing, have you checked the e-file database for these 5 returns, either through the software or Drake's online site to make sure they were sent and for the timestamps?

My understanding is that the IRS uses the DOB information in the SSA Database?

5% is still a ridiculously high number. Farms, Sch C, and rentals have very little if any matching with IRS database. I only remember one federal notice client received over the last 2 years, and that was part of the group last year that IRS admitted were sent in error. I know you think analysis is a dirty word, but if I didn't use it on returns I would have a lot more. If client had investment statement in prior year but did not provide for current year, they are asked about it. If they only give me page 1 on investment 1099 accounts, they are asked for the full tax forms. If amounts are significantly lower without a 1099B they are asked if they moved to a different brokerage. If they are at the age for RMD's and don't provide 1099R they are asked. If code W on W-2 but no 1099SA they are asked. Even if W-2 is significantly lower, they are asked. Surprisingly, some people forget a W-2. Basically, if anything is significantly different between years, I ask. If elderly people or others that get confused about investment have discrepancy I ask them to give investment adviser permission to speak with me. I required one client to set up an IRS account and print out their estimated payments as they would often have it apply to incorrect period. As far as TT simple returns not being in error, I disagree. I had one the took the amount of 401K on W2 as an IRA deduction. If they have HSA and don't input 1099SA, they are going to get a notice.

In 2023 a married couple with a 20 year old college student had Marketplace insurance (all three covered). Filed Mom and Dad and claimed Son (no college credits, full scholarship). Filed Son (who worked) and he didn't claim himself. No biggie. Well... Come this year, the son dropped out of college January 1st. Got a descent job and moved out in Feb., and bought a house. And... had a child with his live in girlfriend (does not work). Great he can file, claim himself, the child and girlfriend. He will get a nice refund. Well, Parents come this year with a 1095A in hand with Mom, Dad and Son listed on it. Delima is, I know the Sons return will be rejected once efiled and the error will say "efile database expects a 8962 or binary attachment with ACA Explanation must be present". I use Proseries and could go into the 1095A screen and check the box that No 1095A should not have been issued and attach the ACA Explanation. But, he was covered. Anyone have one of these situations ? Should I enter the parents 1095A info on his return too ? What's your take on how to handle it ?

ATX has a service you can pay for to restore efiled returns if you've lost you database and don't have any backups. ATX backs up a return every time you close it, so if you backed up those backups you can restore them.

Hello, Long story short, I'm an IT Consultant helping a tax preparer keep their system and files properly backed up. His former consultant of over 40+ years passed away last year without any documentation. I assume this will be an easy ask but I also hate assuming because we know where that leads us... So here is a little back history followed by my questions: Their machine is a Mac with Windows 10 loaded onto it via bootcamp. They were using Arcserve ShadowProtect SPX (SPX) to backup the drive regularly to USB. I also see multiple year after year instances of "ATX" and "Payroll", i.e., ATX 2018, ATX 2019 and Payroll 2018, Payroll 2019, installed on the desktop of the device. I've taken many images of hard drives for backup purposes over the years. However, I've never used ATX software before and I'm unsure of any additional software or database securities that could exist, and I want to make sure my backups do not need anything in addition to the actual data. I've taken a copy of the drive using Macrium Reflect also and I've learning the SPX backup platform as this is also new backup software to me. So my questions are as follows: 1. Is the current SPX backup software recommended by tax community or is it just merely another backup solution that previous consultant preferred? Is there an actual backup software that the community prefers over another? How is everyone keeping their files backed up? Is there anything tricky about backing up and restoring ATX/Payroll software? For example, the backup images that have been taken by Macrium and SPX are worthless because they are encrypted and tied to the installed Windows instance or something along those lines. Keeping a hard drive backup is one way of doing things but I would expect the ATX/Payroll software to also have a backup feature that could be easier to manage than backing up the entire drive and be proven to be more robust in process since it's specific to the ATX/Payroll software. Thanks for reading and helping out another preparer! ~N

You could still put the ATX server on your server and only install ATX on the two computers that access it. They would be installed as workstation only. Or you could install the ATX server on one of the two computers and share the database folder to the other user. In which case the server computer would be Server/Workstation and the other computer would be workstation only.

That is not a sufficient backup of your entire database. I highly recommend backing the entire 2018 Server folder, just in case you ever need to restore it. Backups of returns are useless unless you can download all of the forms from ATX. They don't keep those forms servers available forever. Also you'll want all your other set up info as well, like preparers, firm info, etc. etc.

I highly recommend keeping a backup of the data files, just in case. The default location of the complete ATX database is: C:\ProgramData\Wolters Kluwer Unless you changed the default locations. The folder is called ATX 2018 Server. If you have client folders with PDFs of tax returns and records, those will be wherever you chose to put them.

If the e-file database rejects it, then correct the incorrect check-box and resubmit.

Hi, Need urgent help. Previous 990-PF returns were incorrectly filed, as a Private foundation that is taxable (Box H) is checked. How do I fix it, this year and last year returns, that have to be filed? The IRS e-file database rejects it, because they have the organization correctly listed as a tax exempt non profit. But it needs to be changed going forward in ATX. This is URGENT

Try that for USPS express. USPS knows how to get it to a zip+4 "location". The problem will be there is no way to get a signature, if that is what you are after too. Priority is fine for a reasonable way to get status, but priority is barely better than stick a stamp and drop in a receptacle for actual delivery. I might even go to a USPS office and have them print the label, so you can be even more sure the address is in their system. The IRS has funky addresses too, where the address they publish is not in the USPS database (how I print postage and labels directly). The only other thing I can think of is to see if a phone call or fax to FTB will get some sort of more direct mailing address you can try. Many state employees can get mail to their building if one knows the address, floor, room, or whatever gets it out of the receiving room. Patience is tough. If the proper amount has been paid, then I would mail it several ways, and await (without worry) their next response) if any ever comes). Recently, the IRS posted a 941 to a prior (and properly reported) quarter. This resulted in a bill for underpayment for the now coupled up quarter, and a refund for the quarter the form was actually for. I called, got someone who could actually see what happened, and did "something" on their end, and asked me to send amended returns. I eventually paid a tiny amount of something (interest/penalty/stop bothering me fee) and can confirm the amounts were properly applied. I could have contested the fee, but it was not worth the time. I have copies of the original, so I am certain I did not make the human mistake, but things happen since they still accept paper files and use likely antique scan and human review to process. Maybe there was fuzz on the paper of scanner and the tick for the Q was read wrong. --- Same type of stuff every year with WC insurance. I pay a flat fee (as I do not reach their min fee), then pay again for true up for the "other" costs, then I get a refund back as it is sort of a mutual fund type deal (those in CA know what company I mean). Annoying to the perfectionists and helped me get to a "some goes out, some comes back" way of balancing WC figures.

If she has the full database, I'm almost certain that she can reinstall that year's ATX and it will work. If she just has exports or ATX backups, it will not work.

That... doesn't seem correct. But I've never left ATX, so I can't speak from experience. I do, however know that the ATX database resides on your computer, so all of your information should still be there. I'd run the database repair files, first.

Both good points. Even in a situation where the site is cached for logged out users, the TTL would be set to a low value, likely to an hour or less, so they would still see almost all of the most recent content. Then, after that period of time, the cache expires and the next hit generates a fresh copy. It would go a long way to dealing with all of the bot activity that the site sees. Every hit from one of those bots is processed like any other, which generates multiple database queries. Serving them a static file would be tremendously more efficient. In any case, I'll know more once the move is complete, and I've had time to work on the server/software configuration for a little while. There's a reasonable chance we'll be able to get away without the caching layer at all.

Hello all, We've had some (very few, but more than zero) issues where database tables have crashed during times of heavy load on the server. These load spikes are usually related to other sites that I'm responsible for that happen to share resources with the ATX Community. These haven't been significant issues, and in fact have been very easy to resolve when they arise, but it does cause brief downtime on the Forum. So, in the interest of constant improvement, I would like to move the ATX Community to its own server (VPS) with its own dedicated resources. There are other server configuration changes/challenges that I'll tackle at the same time. Because this is the only forum I maintain, I am less experienced with performance tuning for this software than, say, more standard website content management systems. All that to say, I am expecting it to be a slightly bumpy transition but with improved speed and stability in the long term. There might be as much as one or two days of downtime followed by intermittent hiccups until everything is smoothed out. I'm aiming for mid-May to get this work done, but there is no hurry on my end. If there are business reasons to put it off longer, please speak up! Thanks!

@Abby Normal Any chance you can give me a primer on how to stop and start the database? In my defense, it has been 3 years. Tom Longview, TX

Oddly, I can't find the ATX Database Repair batch files for 2022 or 2023. In the past you could edit the batch file for the most recent year, and change the year in the script, but I'm left wondering if ATX has another database repair method now.

Tom, I did an advanced search on this forum for "database" specifically posted by Joe. See if any of these helps: https://www.atxcommunity.com/search/?&q=database&quick=1&author=Abby Normal&search_and_or=or&sortby=relevancy The link is safe to click. It will take you only to the search results within this site.

I use Backblaze. It's fast, works well and it's reasonably priced. But I've heard that a database like ATX might be unusable when using an online backup because of the way both databases and online backups work. Some online service have a separate database backup option.

ATX has had memory leaks ever since the program was rewritten with a shareware database called "Raven" back in 2011, sometimes referred to as the "2012 Debacle".

I use LibreOffice and have for over 10 years, used to use OpenOffice but when they announced it would no longer be updated I made the switch. They are both open source programs and based upon an old Sun Microsystem program. I just use the Writer and Calc programs which open Word and Excel files but it has a database and other programs included. Years ago on an MS Office upgrade they wouldn't allow you to open certain file types - LibreOffice would do it so I made the switch. Also, Libre will open .numbers files I believe in case a client is using Apple. LibreOffice does everything I want except customized labels on pie-charts. I like to be able to manually move the label and it use a line to direct to the wedge - Libre doesn't allow that. I find it FAR superior to Google Sheets but my wife uses Sheets and says it's better than it used to be.

Are you looking online, or do you have the actual document? Around here, a lot of the older records (and yes, in many towns 1999 counts as "older" for records) the online database transactions are recorded with dates and names but no prices.

IRS can do the matching after the return is filed (assuming they have the manpower to do so). But going back to Sara, how are WE supposed to know when we are preparing the return? Will our software be pre-loaded to disallow the e-filing because they have the same database as the IRS? Maybe so, but that's asking a lot of the tax software.