Jack from Ohio

What kind of technician(?) tells you NOT to use back-up? So you like playing Russian Roulette with your client's tax data? <<<Skeptical>>>

I wonder how many were "self-prepared?"

I just received the same e-mail. Waiting for this year's letter from H&R wanting to buy my tax business. I have the last three posted on the wall in my office.

Using FeeCollect, there is no technology Fee. Only the $15 fee from the bank for processing the refund. The bank sends me my fees, and direct deposits the rest to the client's bank. I have long term clients that always seem to "forgot my checkbook" when they come to get their returns done, or pick-up dropped off ones. I add $20 to my fees for the service. That covers the $15 for the bank, and $5 for the one extra form I have to fill out and have signed. All other bank products (in my not so humble opinion) exploit taxpayers.

I only use FeeCollect, period.

When you get the new server, contact me. I did EXACTLY what you are planning to do. Wasted 60+ hours due to previous erronious tech support information. Finally was put in contact with a tech (forgot his name, excuse my senior moment) who ACTUALLY KNEW how the programs interact with servers and computers. He gave me the straight and FUNCTIONAL way to transfer. 1. Do not disconnect or disable the old server until after everything is set up on the new one. If you are not too far away, I would visit you and help you with it. I now know all the things NOT to do, as well as the best way to migrate the program. Do NOT use any migration programs from ANYONE!!! Jack Additional note: There will not be need to reinstall any programs that you currently have already installed.

The Payroll service allows us 200 payroll clients, including our own company. It is too pricey for my opinion, but $499 is better than the $800+ we were paying each year just to have the lates version. Currently we use 2011. We updated last year from 2009. We only bought the new version because QuickBooks tells everyone that they must have 2011 if they have Windows 7, and some of our regular clients sent files made in version 2011. I know that the salespeople use that tactic, because the salesperson tried it on me. I DID laugh out loud to her as I had 2009 open on my WIN 7 machine as we were talking. She denied it would work, but I am here to tell you, all I did was pop the CD in and install as normal.

We do NOT and never have participated in the ProAdvisor program, and we only update QBooks when we get a file from a client using a newer version than ours. Intuit and their QuickBooks sales marketing schemes are TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUSLY overpriced. We renew the Payroll service every year, and only purchase new versions of QuickBooks as needed. ProAdvisor is only bragging rights, and the ability to send Intuit money.

Ok, I read the articles. If the Governing Board sets up the fund with a specific person/event to be supported, is that not TOTAL control by the Governing Board? Examples... John Doe whose house burned down, but is a member of the church. Relief to tornado victims in the town. Haiti. Operation Christmas Child. Our church has three pastors on staff. We occasionally raise love offerings to "bless" the pastors by raising love offerings. Our church board determines the distribution of the offering between the pastors. We report the love offerings on the Form W-2 of the respective pastors. Are we handling these offerings correctly? When an occasional love offering is raised for more than one staff person (e.g., when an offering is received for a Christmas gift or for a Pastor’s Appreciation gift and the funds will be distributed to more than one staff member), if the church leadership determines the recipients and the allocation of the offering between staff members, donations to the love offering are generally tax deductible. The payment of the love offering is taxable and should be reported on Form W-2. Am I missing something here?

Acknowledgments

Church board established as a fund, "Pastor Christmas gifts" allowing the congregation to give to the fund, and claim the gift as charitable donations. At Christmas, these funds are given to him. The Governing board, each year, gives the Pastor a Christmas bonus, this is added to his W-2 as earned income and given to him with the congregational gifts. Question: Are the gifts from the congregation required to be added to the Pastor's W-2 as well? My feeling is that they represent gifts, and should not be added, but I wish for other opinions and or cites relating to this.

But will you also be the "last" to ask? :dunno:

That works as long as the computer you are using is not a true "server" with "server software" running on it. ATX programs (Especially 2010 & 2011) are NOT compatible to run using server software. If you are just using an XP or WIN 7 machine as a file server, your process will be just fine. This information comes from FIRSTHAND experience and over 60 hours of troubleshooting to find and finally fix the issues.

Check the state estimated tax payments input sheet for date input errors. Bites me several times every tax season.

2001 and 2002 will NOT pick up your files out of the database you moved. You must use the "restore" function in the program on your new computer and point it toward the old database. It may take hours depending upon how many clients and how fast/slow your computers and network connections are. Your process will work for 2003 and up. I just moved 2000 through 2010 to a new server successfully. 2000 through 2002 do NOT support network.

Do you want the directions for a single computer or for a network (2 or more sharing the same files)? To understand, you must be a little computer savvy. In order to post the instructions to cover all possibilities, it will be quite lengthy. I prefer to talk on the phone and walk you through it so as to cover all the different "quirks" that will be encountered. Different operating systems, different network setups, peer to peer or server, etc.

Send me a PM. I have the EASIEST way! I just moved 2003 thru 2010 from one server to another WITHOUT reinstalling any programs. I have the answer. Got my information from the most knowledgable tech that ATX has.

I am taking the corporation section of my E.A. exam in a few weeks. The E.A. exam is the hardest test I have ever taken. Passing the E.A. exams will save me hundreds in testing fees over the next 5-8 years.

The IRS will make each year stand on its own, due to filing them late. Therefore, one year will not flow to the next. No harm in trying, but don't hold your breath. Also, file the oldest first, wait a couple of weeks then send the next, etc. Seems to work better that way.

No harm in trying, but don't hold your breath. Also, file the oldest first, wait a couple of weeks then send the next, etc. Seems to work better that way.

Mine at home and the firm BOTH today!! Woo Hoo!!

I see it too!! Turkey, Dressing with and without oysters, mashed potatoes (Not instant), cranberry salad, pumpking and pecan pie, and lots of nap time afterward.

Congress has no idea what tax changes will be made, how in the world can ATX or ever the IRS know what needs to be in the program. If I don't get the new software before mid-late Dec, will be soon enough.

Those that are important are here. Just no issues recently except our office needs a preparer for Jan - May this year. Check the Business Development & Growth section for my post about that.

Our Union, Ohio firm has a position for an experienced tax preparer. This position is a permanent seasonal position, with a minimum of 40 hours/week, beginning February 1 and ending April 17. Some flexibility as to work schedule is available. Activities include preparation of individual income tax returns. Experience with ATX tax software is helpful but not required. Salary and benefits are competitive and dependent upon experience. Current PTIN registration is a necessity. We are located in SW Ohio. A northern suburb of Dayton. You can look up Union Ohio on any of the mapping sites and find us. For more information about our company, reply PM or e-mail to me here. Jack