Janitor Bob

This why I paid extra to keep XP instead of 7 on my last PC

Friday, January 11, 2013 <a href="http://myatx.blogspot.com/2013/01/122-update-program-crash.html">12.2 Update -- Program Crash (Update 1:38 PM) 1:38 PM We have pulled the 12.2 update for both ATX 2012 and Fixed Asset Manager. Event logs that we have received from you are indicating that it is an issue with having a client letter attached to a return that you have modified. I need to ask some questions about getting you back to 12.1 and will post here again soon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We are currently analyzing a possible cause of the program crashes you are experiencing after updating and installing update 12.2. Possible Cause: Having a client letter that you have edited and/or updated attached to the return. Solution: We are researching a solution Posted by Kim Manuel at 1:17 PM

I'm scared of ATX 2012....So far, all I have done is create one 1040EZ return so I could give a client a refund estimate. I did roll over my personal return (had to go back and re-open it in 2011 before it would open).....I guess I should just be happy that my program opens at all.

Lenny the Pirate was upset that I never post about him any more and he threatened to hide my honey nut cheerios if I did not mention him in on here....Here ya go Lenny

based on the problems I am seeing here and on the other ATX community, I think I will hold off on installing the 12.2 update. I sure hope ATX gets things right soon. I still do not understand why they tried to change the program so much. Sure there were things that could be improved and additional features that many users wanted.....but why attempt to fix what wasn't broken? now we have expensive software that MAY be good at some point, but is essentiallly useless right now. I just hope it is not still useless a week from now.

Thanks for sharing KC

This client does not owe any back Federal taxes or other debt...she just had the one state tax debt. Her previous year returns were all refunds and 2011 will be refund as well. I just wondered if there was some "flag" in the IRS system that holds refunds until all returns are filed. This is the only delay reason I can think of since IRS has already acknowledged the refund amount and held out and sent the debt amount to the state tax agency.

I am working with a client to get current on her taxes. a few months ago, we finally got her 2010 return filed....Federal refund of $8,000. Received letter from IRS on Dec. 7th stating that they would be holding $2.000 of that refund to offset state taxes due from 2009. We knew this and I was happy to see that their refund amount and amount due to state agreed with my numbers. However, it has been several weeks and client has not received a refund check for the remaining $6,000. We have not yet filed her 2011 return (which will also be a large refund). Would the IRS be holding the $6,000 refund until her 2011 is filed? Maybe I am expecting too much, but since we received letter from IRS notifying of refund amount and amount held for state tax on Dec. 7th, I expected that client would have received her remaining refund by now.

My cursing worked! Got mine in the mail today!

What a lot of chains do around here is advertise that they can get you a fast refund with just your last pay stub. What they then do is complete an "ESTIMATE" of your refund (sometimes even using prior year tax program/forms) and then provide a loan (RAL) to the taxpayer...of course chargring a large fee. The client usually signs away and never sees their actual refund...it goes direct to the chain. I had one young kid come in last year to see if I could help him (I could not because it was too late) because he went into an "Instant Refund" place with his last pay stub....They estimated his refund at $350....he walked out with a check for $190. Lesson Learned....a fool and his money...

@!#@!!!

Same here...perhaps I should throw in some profanity to maintain my bad boy rep.

unfortunately, with ATX this year (so far) rolling over a return and rolling over a USEABLE return are two very different things!

I just updated the ATX program and a little man wearing a diaper ran out from behind my computer....started to perform what looked like a waltz...then had a siezure and exploded in flames. Wow....ATX has some serious issues to get worked out. I need some airfreshener now.

I received the Master a few weeks ago...but not the the Express answers...I honestly do not expect that until late Feb or March....after half of my returns have already been prepared. Maybe they will drop the "Express" from their title this year...maybe change it to "Thank Congress for Better-late-than-never Answers"

Good point...most of these clients are annoying complainers that "price-jump" to different preparers every year based on who can look the other way and provide the biggest/fastest refund.

This is even later than the Jan 22 I had expected.....I understand, but many of my "gotta have my refund NOW" clients will not.....meaning I will lose some to the chains that offer RALs

I just had a lady call ans want ME to access HER W-2 from her employer web site so I could file her taxes tonight and give her a refund check tomorow...."I don't offer RALs" and we can't actually file your return yet Then I get the usual "but I saw on TV where {insert Tax Prep Company Name Here} could do it today and I could walk out with a check. I hate this time of year and constantly explaining to prospective clients that what the other places are offering is actually a loan...that comes with a price.

My PC is 4 few years old....only 2 GB RAM.....but still...I have never had a program (including ATX in prior years) use as much RAM for an extended period as the 2012 version. MAX 2012 is grinding my PC to an almost total halt...using 98% of my avail RAM for a VERY long period of time. I will go home and update this evening....hoping whatever updates are available will help the situation.

Open MAX 2012, walk away...eat lunch...have a nap....back to MAX 2012 if it is finally open. Open your return.....Eat Dinner, do laundry....then back to the return once it is finally open. I really do not have this kind of time.....ATX, this MUST improve.

I just got my W-2...here it is....Can you do my taxes right away? I need my refund by next weekend so I can get my car out of impound.

Thanks...yes, she is well below the income limit. However, now I have new twist. The client informs me that the roof on one of the rental properties had a huge leak (storm damage to the roof) near the end of 2011 and was vacant for all of 2012. She was doing some work on the roof and other repairs in 2012, but it essentially was not, in her opinion, fit for a renter at any point in 2012...so she turned away a few prospective renters this past year. Does this disqualify it as rental activity for 2012? For 2012, she will have zero rental income and only a few expenses (depreciation, utilities, minor roof tarping, etc). I do not want to claim this rental loss for 2012 then be told by IRS if audited that since no renters and not seeking renters in 2012, that the 2012 rental loss in disallowed. If I cannot claim this rental activity for 2012, what do I do with the Sce E and expenses?

I plan on installing the 2012 program this evening.....hoping all goes well!

However, she did actively participate, so she can use up to $25,000 of rental losses as offset to W-2 income.

My client has two rental homes that she had previously actively maintained, so any losses were active as opposed to passive. However, beginning in 2012, client was spending the majority of her time at a new job out-of-state....only coming home to work on the rentals approx. one weekend each month. I am thinking that because of this, the losses (if any) on these rentals will beconsidered passive and can not be used to offset W-2 income?