Kea

I got it last summer to use with my iPod Touch (think smart phone without the phone). So far I've only just done some test runs. You do need to practice swiping to make sure you do it perfectly level. I haven't used it with any clients, yet.

They may have discovered a vulnerability. But I think it's just that lots of companies have found a cheap e-mail list from IRS. I've gotten a whole lot more advertisements in my e-mail in the last year or so.

Thanks Taxed. I'm glad that's already updated. that will help me with a few more 4th Q estimates. (I only have one client who uses actual costs vs std miles.) I plan to download the updates today and start getting serious with my testing. I wanted to let some of the bugs get squashed first to minimize my chance of unnecessary headaches and frustrations. Has the prior year conversion improved yet? I have several clients in multiple TaxWorks folders (amendments, what-ifs, etc) and would like to specify only bringing over the ones in the "completed" folder.

>> posted here last year (or the year before?) << It says it was October 2008. My, how time flies!

It also helps to be able to print the "detail" info. When I "print to .pdf" my copy of the tax return, I'll usually include the "detail" sheets so I can see how I got the entered totals. Typical detail sheets are for a list of charity contributions, propery tax, sales tax (to show if client added car sales tax to the default). I know the depreciation form isn't ready from IRS, but can we get the car worksheet yet? (OK, I admit I haven't downloaded today's update yet - so maybe it's already there.) I was working on a 4th quarter estimate for one of my organized clients and didn't see a place to input business miles for stardard mileage calculation. This is another area where I use the detial worksheet. The car expense can be composed of std. mileage, tolls, parking, and interest. Thanks

I keep mine in a large fire-proof safe in a locked closet. This is also where my laptops go when I'm not home (er, at my office ).

For the size of my practice, the TRX pricing fits my budget & I recognize the limitations of that. I have only done some minor playing around in the 2012 software because I am waiting for the majority of the major bugs (listed by others) to be ironed out. Then I'll do more major testing. I am very hopeful that everything will run smoothly in the next week or so. However, if the software is not usable at that time, I may have to "jump ship." I truly dread the idea of having to find a new software at the last minute right before clients start coming in in late January. I really hope that won't be the case! Will the Forms 3520 and 3520A be available in Tax Exact? I only do one each per year, but it would be helpful if they were part of the software.

I agree that the Sch D import is important. More and more clients have many stock sales.

Hi Doug, I believe his question is about comparing a client's prior year tax return to the current year. I use this report as well so that the client can help catch errors as well as for planning issues. For example, I'll ask if it seems reasonable that their wages went from $75K to $80K and they can say "Yes, I had a raise" or "No, they cut my hours so my wage income should be less." Then I can go back in and look for a typo or point out some other reason the wage income was higher. I believe this feature is in most tax programs. At least it is in TaxWorks, ATX, Intellitax (OK, "was in Intellitax"). Hope that helps.

Thanks for checking for me.

Where do you find the tracking number on the members' website? Thanks

When I called yesterday to see what they would be shipping me, they said they were still working on it. If I understood correctly, they were still waiting for Red Gear to make a final decision. I've also been using TaxWorks and was concerned about learning a new software, too. The person at TRX said that TaxWorks was making big changes to their software for 2012. So even if I got TaxWorks I would be learning a new software. I, too, hope it stays TaxWorks because I don't want to have to do the whole conversion thing again - especially the ones with depreciation!

How about this one? CLOAD ... (sorry I don't remember the last of that command line)

Best wishes for the best possible outcome of your surgery.

Deduction (if applicable) is lower of FMV at time of donation or his basis. If the items were given to him, his basis is the same as the "givers" -- probably not $0. That may be hard to determine, but since the items have appreciated in value, that is the amount he would need to use.

I don't remember form numbers - I look them up! But I did have to do one this year (in October - was that really just last month?). I had 2 or 3 others that had foreign accounts / assets, but they were under the limits. One client even had a large, beautiful house built in the Philippines. I thought that would trigger this form. But since it is only valued at around $70K no form required! The US dollar goes a long way in the Philippines.

Catherine is referring to the new Form 8938. Check the instructions for your specific case. The general rule is that the form is required if the total of all foreign assets are greater than $50K ($100K if MFJ) at the end of the year or over $75K ($150K if MFJ) at any time during the year.

Warning messages are gone! Thanks Eric!

This site is supposed to help address the problems: http://www.fvap.gov/ I don't know a lot about it, but did hear a discussion on the radio a week or 2 ago (I hope I get the right website). From what they were saying, if you didn't get your absentee ballot, you could print it from this website. Again, I don't claim to be an expert, but it sounds like it is a step in the right direction.

You're welcome. It just didn't sound right to me -- especially the part where they suggested sending in ballots 8 months in advance. So I looked to see what the commenters were saying. I, too, was glad it wasn't real. But that just shows how good the satire is. It has to have an element of "believableness." I'm amazed at the times that articles from The Onion get passed on as real. The best way to know those are satire is because it was in The Onion.

It's satire. (Many of the comments refer to it being satire and why it can't be true.)

Voted Oct 22nd -- but only once.

Glad y'all are OK.

I'm glad it wasn't any worse. Hope it wasn't too cold while the power was out.

Speaking of people today not understanding basic mathmatical symbols: On a trip to a convenience store, I noticed a jar of gum with a sign that said ".5¢". I causually mentioned that that said the gum was one-half a penny. The next time I went there, they had edited the sign. It then said ".05¢". So, if I buy one, how do I get change for my penny? I guess it's just better to buy 20 for a whole penny. Sorry, but that is just my biggest pet peeve. I really wish people knew how to use a decimal point and / or that a ¢ is different from a $. Rant over.