Jack from Ohio

Methinks that your trying to prove your innocence is making your innocence seem less credible. Ah the voices of youth! Could you have just said... "All the accusations about my company doing XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX are false. For more information e-mail me at... [email protected]." That would have sounded professional. Just the not so humble opinion of a 53 year old geeky tax preparer that has been in retail business dealing with customers for over 30 years. "Youth is wasted on the young!!"

Is this information you received from the bank? If so, could you post the info or send it to me? Seems that my FeeCollect clients all go through an "approval" process with the bank AFTER acknowledgment is received from the IRS. I have never had a rejection, but have not had a FeeCollect client with anything but an "N" debt code. I am of the mind that the debt indicator is part of their "approval" process. Just read the agreement the client has to sign....

I have great success with Fee Collect. Problem is, with the IRS removing the debt indicators, the costs from the bank will probably become prohibitive, since they will have to use ordinary channels for approval. I am waiting for the banks to drop the shoe on this one.

Great! I didn't get any such e-mail! I am supposed to be on the list!! CCH is getting on my NERVE!!!

If we start right now requesting W-9s from all vendors for our businesses and personal payments, we could tick off enough big businesses that the uproar "MAY? " be heard in Congress? I am fashioning a letter already to send to all my payees! City, County, and State government agencies as well!

To be deductible, the expenses would need to be for the taxpayer or one of his dependents. If the mother meets all requirements for and is claimed as dependent, then in my opinion, the expenses would qualify. If not a dependent, then NO.

If the IRS sends a ceritfied letter, you can bet they will know where it was delivered. So the direct answer to your question is .... YES

This arrived in my e-mail today... TRX TRX is having a moving sale. During our move we are offering our $699.99 package for only $499.99 online ONLY at www.TRXALLIANCE.COM Includes: Individual Unlimited E-File Individual State E-File Federal Business Package with E-File State Business Package with E-File Client Organizer Built – in Electronic manual Multi – Office Management Business Management Software

IRS Removes Debt Indicator for 2011 Tax Filing Season WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that starting with next year’s tax filing season it will no longer provide tax preparers and associated financial institutions with the “debt indicator,” which is used to facilitate refund anticipation loans (RALs). “As we prepare for tax season every year, we look at past practices and consider whether they still make sense. We no longer see a need for the debt indicator in a world where we can process a tax return and deliver a refund in 10 days,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “We encourage taxpayers to use e-file with direct deposit so they can get their refunds in just a few days.” So far this year, more than 95 million tax returns have been e-filed, representing more than 70 percent of tax returns. “Refund Anticipation Loans are often targeted at lower-income taxpayers,” Shulman said. “With e-file and direct deposit, these taxpayers now have other ways to quickly access their cash.” The IRS has been reviewing refund settlement products, such as RALs and Refund Anticipation Checks (RACs), as part of the Return Preparer Review released in January. Specifically, the IRS announced that it would study refund settlement products. RALs are loans secured by a taxpayer’s anticipated tax refund. Currently, tax preparers who electronically submit a client’s tax return receive in the acknowledgment file an indication of whether an individual taxpayer will have any portion of the refund offset for delinquent tax or other debts, such as unpaid child support or delinquent federally funded student loans. This acknowledgment is known as the debt indicator, and is used as an underwriting tool for RALs. The IRS announcement would remove the debt indicator starting with the upcoming 2011 tax filing season. The IRS noted that taxpayers will continue to have access to information about their tax refunds and any offsets through the “Where’s My Refund?” service on IRS.gov. RACs are temporary bank accounts established on behalf of a taxpayer into which a direct deposit refund can be received and out of which a bank typically issues a payment to the taxpayer. With both RALs and RACs, tax preparation and product fees are subtracted directly from the refund, and the taxpayer does not make any “out-of-pocket” payments. They are frequently marketed to taxpayers who do not have cash to pay for professional tax preparation services. In a related effort, the IRS plans to explore the possibility of providing a new tool for the 2012 tax filing season to give taxpayers a mechanism to use an appropriate portion of their tax refund to pay for the services of a professional tax return preparer. The IRS plans to engage with taxpayers, consumer advocates and the tax return preparer community to consider whether providing this option would be a cost-effective way for consumers to pay for tax return preparation services.

2003 was a rogue year for unlock codes. Many stories about re-install of it. I had to work through many to get to the one that worked after talking to tech support. This was BEFORE CCH was in the picture. I don't know how informed the current tech people are about the old programs.

It may be worth your time to keep an old machine for the programs before 2003. If you wish to move all your old returns to your new machine, I can help you do that. I migrated to a brand new server at the firm in 2006. I migrated aprox 3,000 returns for the years 2002-2006 in the process. I have it down PAT!! Contact me, and I feel certain between us we can get it done!

The method you used. "backwards from 2009" is the issue. 1) Install the oldest program first. 2) Prepare the return for the oldest year a. Be sure to save and back-up the returns in the program. 3) Installed the next consecutive year. a. The program would have located the prior year database and connected with it. 4) Prepare the retun for that year, saving and backing up as before. 5) Repeat steps 3 & 4 as necessary. You would not be experiencing the problem you are having. I take care of 13 workstations with 10 preparers during season. Anytime we add a new computer, or a computer has issue that requires a total wipe and reinstall, I have to reinstall all the programs. We have used ATX since 2002. I am totally certain of what I am telling you! I have performed this task at least 10 times in the last 5 years. Send me a PM and I will be glad to contact you and help you.

I use Windows 7 Professional, and compatibility mode enables automatically when needed. Your problem may NOT be a Windows 7 issue, but an ATX issue. I remember tons of trouble in 2005 - 2006 with the very thing you are talking about on XP. If the ATX technician "automatically" tells you that it is a Windows 7 compatibility issue, ask for his supervisor. Repeat this process till you get the one of the three technicians that really knows what is going on. I have used this process successfully the few times I have called since CCH took them over. Most of the time, I troubleshoot and fix the problems myself. It is only when I run into a "locked" protocol that I need to call. Just my continued rant about how insensitive and downright business ignorant much of the CCH management are.

Recent posts have piqued my interest. Save the cliche's. I started e-filing (in my private practice) ALL returns that can be e-filed in 1998. I charge extra for paper filing, and suddenly the need to paper file vanished for those who were stanchly against it. At the firm I work at full time, if you take out the CP2000 where clients did not provide documents, 90% of the other notices our clients get come from paper filed returns. Especially State returns. The scanners like to move decimals. So I don't fit this thread, but I started it, so I am taking editorial privilege to post in it!

Pray tell enlighten the uninformed and courtesy challenged of us what you refer to in the underlined text? Those intellectually challenged of us are waiting with bated breath... This example just makes my point. The NUMBER ONE reason to e-file is ACCURATE transfer of information. If you calculate the time spent in printing, collating, mailing, phone calls, trips to the office for the client, time on the phone, etc... Less than 2 minutes to e-file makes a whole lot of sense.

I would be truly interested in information about how my observation is wrong?

With E-file also comes acknowledgment with a definite trackable number. If the issue is whether the return was filed or not, you have solid proof of when and where the IRS received it. All the reasons not to e-file in 2010 amount to declarations that preparers are not able to handle the technical world of this new century! Age is not an excuse.

AGREE 100%

1) Get a signed 2848 2) Call

Close all programs. Reboot. Try again. Windows 7 still needs the magic "reboot" sometimes. I have 2005 thru 2009 on Windows 7 Professional 64bit. Professional is better at old programs. If you have Home Premium, then an $89 upgrade to Pro is an absolute necessity!!

July 2, 2010 President Obama signed into law an extension of the closing date to Sept 30, 2010.

If you are not using Windows 7 PRO, upgrade to it right away. Home or Home Premium does not have all the compatibility tools for the older programs. I use Windows 7 PRO and have loaded ATX as far back as 2005. Besides, unlock codes for another ATX user won't work.

The single license will allow up to three preparers. (3 different PTINs) If you have more than 3 preparers signing returns, you will need the multiple license. If you have 3 or less preparers, you do not need the multiple license. The program will install on the network or a single machine. It will ask you when you install it.

Client has a W2 with wages and withholding in boxes 1-6. Also box 12 with code J has substantial income as well. We only calculated box 1 as earned income for calculating Making Work Pay Credit. Client received $183 per Sched M. They have pension income (not government) and Social Security. They also receive $250 Economic recovery payment. IRS increased the Making Work Pay Credit to the full amount of $550 with no explanation. Does non-taxable Third Party Sick Pay count as earned income for calculating the Making Work Pay Credit? All I can find shows the calculation from Line 7 on the 1040. Any ideas?

Could you post a link to this?