Pacun Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 In the past when I efiled early returns, I felt that I have proof that I was not using the last pay stub. I felt that I was telling the IRS... "I have the W-2 in front of me" because I was able to enter the control number from the W-2. For the last 2 or 3 years, ATX has not allowed me to enter any hyphens or spaces in that field. I have also noticed that when you enter Company names, you are not allowed to enter the Ampersand in Miller & Long. The same is true when the company's address includes c/o. All these fields are NOT used in any calculation and I wonder why ATX has pre-defined them as numeric. Any comments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelG Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 The new MEF or Modernized E-File uses XML to validate returns. The new business rules disallows certain characters from being in the return because they are used elseware in the structure of the e-file. Characters such as <>&*^ and so on will cause the Schema validation to fail. Below is an clip from what an actual MEF XML E-File looks like. Look for some of the characters mentioned above. If they are seen prematurly they can cause issues. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> -<Return returnVersion="2011v4.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.irs.gov/efile 2011v4.0/IndividualIncomeTax/Ind1040/Return1040.xsd" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:efile="http://www.irs.gov/efile" xmlns="http://www.irs.gov/efile"> <!--FriendlyName:Elections--> -<ReturnHeader atxOccur="1" atxForm="ReturnHeader" binaryAttachmentCount="0"><Timestamp atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="NoLink">2012-01-16T21:01:50-00:00</Timestamp><TaxYear atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="FormYear">2011</TaxYear><TaxPeriodBeginDate atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="XDateBeg">2011-01-01</TaxPeriodBeginDate><TaxPeriodEndDate atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="XDateEnd">2011-12-31</TaxPeriodEndDate><SoftwareId atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="NoLink">11000053</SoftwareId><SoftwareVersion atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="NoLink"/>-<Originator><EFIN atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="EFIN">011165</EFIN><OriginatorTypeCd atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="ERONonPdPrep">ERO</OriginatorTypeCd>-<PractitionerPIN><EFIN atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="EFIN">011165</EFIN><PIN atxColOff="0" atxRowOff="0" atxError="EROPIN">65432</PIN></PractitionerPIN></Originator> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacun Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 It makes sense now. After all it is not an ATX problem. Thank you for quick answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack from Ohio Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 The control number on the W-2 is only for the use of the preparers of the W-2. The IRS does not care about it, so why even enter it? Ampersand & is a control character in progrmming language, therefore the reason it is not allowed in so many places as explained so well by Michael G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanmcq Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Michael G, I must say it is great to have you here to answer these tricky software questions! Makes me realize how much I've missed William- he provided the same kind of background info that really helps us understand the programming end of things, not to mention quick help on these issues. Thank you!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tax Prep by Deb Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Michael G, I must say it is great to have you here to answer these tricky software questions! Makes me realize how much I've missed William- he provided the same kind of background info that really helps us understand the programming end of things, not to mention quick help on these issues. Thank you!!!!! Just this morning I was thinking the same thing. Meant to post, however got busy! Deb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelG Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 I worked for William for may years in Tech Support. I was the guy he went to when no one else could figure it out. William saved me my telling me to take a positioon in Development, as he knew the support days in Caribou were numbered. I will try to answer as many technical questions as I can. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanmcq Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 And we'll be happy to answer your tax questions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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