Kea

KC has that designation now. She's at over 3800 posts.

Client bought a Chevy Volt in 2011 and qualifies for the $7500 tax credit. They also installed a 240V charger for faster charging time. They qualified for a "free" charger, but had to pay for installation including upgraded brakers & wiring. When looking at the instructions for Form 8911, I can only find a reference to 30% of the "property's cost." But I can't find anything that says whether that includes installation or not. The cost of the installation and upgrades was around $2500. Does this qualify for the credit? Or, since the unit itself was "free" there is no credit? Thanks!

I generated an 8879 yesterday in TRX premium. Based on last year, I did put in the "signed" date (below the e-file PINs) before going to review. Last year you couldn't get an 8879 without the date.

Sent my first one this afternoon & it was accepted by the time I checked back on it (< 1/2 hour?). That was through TRX Premium.

Taxguy057 asked this question last month and jetaxes referred to TheTaxBook discussion "Took the RTRP test in Buffalo" http://www.thetaxbook.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18646 There are a couple of posts in that thread that give a very good description of the test & procedure. I took NATP's test prep class in early December & found it helpful. I then took NATP's tutorials and practice tests on-line and started to panic. I found their tests to be quite challenging. I also read the above thread. I took the test in late December and found it easier than the NATP practice tests. But I think the practice tests helped me get back in a test-taking frame of mind.

I use MyFax. I started out with Packetel but they were bought out by MyFax a few years ago. I haven't used any other company so I really can't compare if one is better than the other, but I've had no complaints so far. I really like getting faxes in my e-mail. No more wasted paper & I can get them even when I'm traveling (as long as I have internet). http://www.myfax.com/ I hope you find a company you like.

I completely agree that word of mouth is the best advertising. If you think about it -- say you are looking for a tax preparer (or lawyer or doctor). Are you going to pick the person whose ad you saw or pick the person your friend recommended? You can help encourage your clients to send you referrals with some type of incentive. OK, that may not help much for the first year. I just never had much luck with the little advertising I did (flyer on neighborhood mailbox). Good luck!

More observations - I went back to the 2010 program to try again with the default label size. Realized this wouldn't help since you get the list before you pick which label size you want. Also tried unlocking one return to see if that would add it to the list. But while I was in the folder changing the lock setting, I saw a check box next to the folder name that said "Log to Mgmt." Ah Ha! That's why some showed up and some didn't. So I put the check mark in the folder I wanted to use and unchecked it in the others. Went back to the label report and .... No Difference! (OK, I was too lazy to try the rebuild database option. Just went to Plan B.) Fine. I liked the idea of doing it from 2011 better anyway. I had 2 clients move after their returns were finalized (that I know of). So I proformaed everytbody over to 2011 (89 returns took 22 minutes) & changed the address on those two. And when I printed (to .pdf) those two labels showed the original address. Also, I did 3 print-outs for the labels. One for the single folks (including a MFS), one for married folks with the same last name & one for married folks with different last names. Separating these was a bit of a pain because the column with the SP last name was several columns to the right of the TP Last name, TP FIrst name and SP first name. And you can't change the size of that window (where you select the names you want for your labels). I just opened the client manager from 2010 next to it so I could see SP at the same time. I also noticed that for 2 clients that passed away last year before completing their 2010 returns - those did not show up in the label report screen. I'll just do those manually to send to the executors. That's probably too specialized to try to set up an exception report when there is a DOD present (with c/o name / address). Good Luck and thanks for your observations and suggestions.

Thanks! I'll play with this again later today when I get back to my "work" computer. I'll let y'all know. I'm glad I installed 2011 yesterday. (Last year I waited 'til January.)

Don, Even though I haven't tried rebuilding the database, I think you answered part of my question. I was trying to figure out what the ones showing had in common. They are probably the ones that were not locked. I guess I'll try unlocking them. It'll be a pain, but there's "only" 95 or so. It's better than transferring all the addresses to some other program at this point. Besides I'd have to open the tax file or .pdf to get the address anyway. Gene - do you have your completed returns "locked"? When you roll over to 2011, I'm guessing they started out unlocked. That might be a better method - just roll everything over to 2011 and do the labels from there. FWIW, I am using 30 labels per page but I did switch the Avery Label # to they one I have. Not sure if the default # would have worked. I figured there could be different sizes even if still 30 per page. Thanks!

I used TRX's TaxWorks last year and I'm now trying to print address labels from it. I found the feature in reports under the Manage button. However it only lists a few of the clients and includes some of the sample clients as well as real ones. I can go through and check which ones of this list to include so that I don't include the samples or test returns. But how do I get it to include all my clients? Specifically, I want to include everyone in the "default" folder and not the "samples" or "what-if." Have you used this feature? If so, what am I missing? I've tried making sure that the default was the last folder I had open before going to manage - reports - labels, but it still won't include all clients. Thanks and Happy New Year.

Good luck. I'm very interested to hear how the new software works for you. If it is a better program I may switch.

Thanks so much. We'll attach letter but let executor know to expect IRS notice anyway. I'm not as concerned about the interest since that's only about $35. Waiving the penalties is more important.

Client on extension passed away on 10/17/11 before filing return. Her executor is now filing the return. There is a balance due of under $1000. How should we request waiver of failure to file penalties & possibly interest? Should I just include the Form 2210 and check Box A? But that would only apply to the interest? The return will be filed showing the DOD and the c/o the executor info. But perhaps we should include a letter explaining time in hospital and DOD and politely requesting the penalty waiver? I have done several tax returns for decedents but this is the first one that is not timely filed. Thanks.

Got mine today, too (14th). Not sure when I'll install it. Hopefully I won't procrastinate too long this year!

I, too, would like to hear from test takers before I take the test. Just to get an idea what I'm in for.

I hope you are right that TRX will make a conversion utility that is as smooth as possible. But I have to admit the worst conversion I did was from TaxWise to ATX when both software packages were offered by CCH. About the only files that converted properly were the ones with only W-2s. I practically had to re-enter every tax return. But I think TRX has more reason to make an easy conversion than CCH does.

I agree with all of the above. I haven't tested their new product since April or May. I've already signed up for TaxWorks so I didn't see much point to testing their new software again this year. Maybe next year? But I'm also not interested in going through another conversion before I have to. But, hey if the new product turns out to be really good next year or in future years, it might be worth changing.

Good to know. Do you know if we are supposed to get a year-end / final CD for 2010?

bstaxes - best wishes for a full recovery of your eye tumor.

I'm just enjoying some beautiful beach views. But I still have my computer with e-mail & fax just in case any client needs to reach me. Then they feel bad for interrupting my travels. But I would rather work on projects while I have a great view than while stuck in my office. It's a trade-off I'm quite willing to make.

Yes, ours is funded through an HSA. That account is paying around 0.2% (if I remember correctly). I do have the option to put it in a mutual fund. That used to seem like a good idea, but after the way the market has been acting the last few years, I'm not going to take a chance that there will be a big sell-off right before I have a major medical incident. But I really would like to have the option of having insurance that is not based on our business. We might want to retire one of these days. (I know my clients will probably never let me "completely" retire, but it would be nice to have the option to slow down.)

Good luck finding the insurance. In Texas we can't get in the high risk pool state insurance until we've shown that we can't get insurance anywhere else & have been without insurance for 6 months. So my husband joined my business so that we could get a group policy. Price isn't bad, but the $5000 deductible each makes it almost like we don't have insurance.

Sounds like the basic idea behind TRX. But I'm up for trying to get some kind of group health insurance! Other negotiations would be good, too, but insurance is my biggest expense.

I wonder what name I'll get to use next year? But at least I don't have to worry about that for a while!