Kea

Randall -- I've heard that TRX is working on their own program, but I don't remember the details. At this point they are selling someone else's program. They are getting a discounted price because they are buying so many at one time. They can then pass those savings to us. That gives us sole proprietors some of the advantages that the big tax prep firms have in buying power. This is my 4th year with them. I've used IntelliTax, TaxWise, ATX & now TaxWorks. The 1st change was not their fault as the program was bought out by TaxWise. Last year they offered ATX and so I was glad to go back to the program I had used for years without having to deal with CCH. I believe TaxWorks was also an option last year. TRX is no longer able to sell ATX as discussed extensively on this board last year. The conversion between programs has generally gone OK with the primary exception being depreciation. However, last year I did have to basically redo every tax return because the conversion left out so much. That was the conversion from TaxWise to ATX & they are both owned by CCH. You would think that would be the smoothest conversion. As for unemployment, I had my first one for this year yesterday. The client had the amount but no 1099G. The Texas Workforce Commission recording said that the form was not required for filing taxes. One could be mailed if requested. I looked up the EIN from last year & input that. (And all the info populated automatically!)

I agree completely about screen share problems. I will only do it as a last resort. When I first switched to TRX it was at the same time that I got my Vista computer. I was testing prior year programs (TaxWise or Intellitax -- I forget which). Well prior years were not compatible with Vista. It was a problem with MS SQL server. Somewhere along the line it started working. But then I couldn't get the new year to work (which was Vista compatible). Tech Support did a screen share & put me on hold. To make the current year work, they deleted the old MS SQL server. That made the old programs stop working & I had used the prior year for a state return. (My basic ATX program had a 3 state limit & I needed one more state.) Being on hold, they could not hear me tell them to not delete that. I also could not get control back of my mouse. I never was able to get the old SQL server back. I could never get back to that state return. I'm somewhat tech savvy (not an expert, but know a few things). I would really rather them ask me to look at what they want to know & I will be happy to tell them. I am also able to make most changes they would suggest. At least the times I've agreed to screen share since then they haven't put me on hold.

I always point out that I have no control over IRS computers. I tell them to look for it on the scheduled date & a week later. If not deposited by then, I'll help them "look for it." I've had very few calls on missing / late deposits.

I getting used to TaxWorks also. Still bumble around a little on inputs of lesser used features. So far the only thing I would have to say that I still prefer in ATX over TaxWorks is that I like the input to look like the tax form. And you can't see its calculated fields until you go into peek or review. I prefer a few features in TaxWorks - especially entering zip codes and the auto fill of the city / state. I also like the double entry of most important amounts. That minimizes typos. I only do about 100 returns per year, so my biggest issue is cost. I like having all the business returns & states included in the lower price. (OK that's only because I bought early enough to get their special.) I do very few states & only did my first 1065 this year. Not enough to justify a huge extra cost. At this point I plan on staying with TRX. But I would have said the same about ATX a few years ago until they basically chased me off with bad attitudes towards their customers & higher prices.

Let's just hope it was posted from another location.

Client moved a Roth from one brokerage to another. BUT the check came to him & he moved it to another account. 1099R shows Code J and taxable amount unknown. Since it was rolled over within 60 I'm using $0 for the taxable amount. But I'm just not sure about the rollover drop-down list below box 7. The choices are: 0 - No Rollover, 1 - Rollover to Trad IRA, or 2 - IRA to Roth. None of those is correct and I can't choose a blank line. Which one do I pick? Thanks

I haven't noticed that, but, in most cases, I haven't been inputting 2009 in the 2 year history. I've been modifying the converted 2009 in TRX before updating to 2010. I haven't noticed any obvious differences, but I'm not looking at them side by side. The main issues I've had is when something like depreciation is different in TRX from ATX (twice the error was in ATX). But I can't overwrite in TRX to make it match what was actually taken. So I've made an adjustment as an "other" expense on Schedule C so the history will match-up. Then in 2010, I adjust the depreciation previously taken to make it match up. I have made the adjustments on the 2 year history, but I don't remember the circumstances.

As a work-around I adjusted the total miles on the sold car to get the right percentage. It didn't affect anything else since there was no interest paid. Is there some reason that this wouldn't work?

TRX has a link to an asset worksheet. Just click the blue link next to the points box. It is similar to the ATX worksheet but you do have to specify that you want amortization. Would be nice if it knew to default to this when accessed from the points box. But, not a big deal to pick it from the drop down box.

Disabling UAC has helped A LOT!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I'm not going to say it got rid of all the error messages, but I can now edit a 2009 asset without getting errors almost every time I hit "enter." I don't think I've had any .NET errors in a while, either. Every once in a while I have a problem with the upgrader. But it seems to be late at night & I shut down. Seems to work the next morning. I haven't had any disappearing client issues. I hope that Terry's issue got resolved.

Schedule C client sold her car and bought a new one. She's been using standard miles. Standard miles depreciation does exceed cost of car. No problem there, it gives you a place to override the allowed depreciation. But for the business portion of the selling price it is using the current 2010 business use percentage (53%), but overall the vehicle has only been used 40% for business. I tried overwriting the percent business use, but it keeps changing it back to 53%. I tried to just enter it on the 4797, but then it just adds the gains on sale together (it doesn't show a 2nd sale, but the amount on line 31 includes both. (OK, I don't see either sale listed when I "peek" and when I "review" I get the one sale.) Any ideas how to get the correct figures to the 4797? I do like that the vehicle tab shows you the current vehicle std miles depreciation and gives you a place to enter the prior accumulation. Thanks!

Thanks Gail. I think that worked! Everything balances & the K-1s show the proper amounts from Schedule F. Actually, I had tried putting as depreciation earlier, but on the other side (just randomly playing around with the numbers). It didn't seem right, but I also knew that I didn't know enough to decide for sure. Thanks OldJack & Marilyn for helping me understand what I'm looking at & what I can and cannot do to a 1065. I'm not ready to market myself as a 1065 preparer, but I might be better at looking at them than I was last week. I might be able to answer a question or 2 & MAYBE tackle a simple one. Many thanks again to everyone. (And now I'll go back to my nice, "easy" 1040s -- until I hit another stone wall!)

The tax matters partner is the one who has been preparing it the whole time. It really is an innocent error. (I've known her ar long time -- she's family.) I may not know much about a 1065, but I do have more general tax knowledge than she does. So, I figured it was about time I learned how to help with this return. But if I adjust the current year expense to make the balance sheet correct, that gives an extra deduction on the K-1 that was previously taken. Is there a way to reconcile without affecting the K-1s? Is there a way to allocate it to some kind of misc non-deductible expense? Thanks. I'm trying to learn as I go. I apologize if my question remains too basic. But I gotta learn sometime. I really appreciate all the help on this board.

Of the $615 shown on line 13, $600 was for a bull purchased in 2008. The 2008 Schedule F has $700 as "other expense" labeled "New bull." It wasn't taken as depreciation (even Section 179), but was just expensed. [she likes to keep things simple.] She told me she doesn't do depreciation because she likes to keep things simple. But expensing it would have the same effect. So, it shouldn't be included on line 13. But I'm not sure how to correct it after the fact. I think book value should be $0, not $600. (And, no, I don't know why there is a $100 difference, but I'm guessing it was some sort of adjustment to make something balance. The 2009 return is a bit stranger. Not worth amending because tax consequences are de minimis.) I hope I'm explaining better now.

I was re-reading the posts here I realized I may not be explaining correctly or possibly reading correctly. The 2 assets are still showing as "other assets" on line 13. Even though the cost had been written off, there is no depreciation shown on the balance sheet. It still shows the $615. It should have the asset listed on 9a and depreciation on 9b. This would decrease the Total Asset line by $615. It will also reduce the total of the partnerers' capital accounts by $615. When I first read OldJack's and Marilyn's answers I thought by "bottom line" they were referring to the K-1. Now, I'm thinking they mean the Total Assets (and Total Liabilities &.Capital) That figure does change. That's why I'm trying to figure out how to reconcile without impacting the K-1s. So I know I should correct the balance sheet; I'm just not sure how (or if) to justify changing the prior year ending balance to the current year prior balance. Or if there is a way to reconcile it without impacting the K-1s. Thanks

I just want to make sure it's OK to change the 2010 beginning balance even if that means it won't match the previous year's ending balance. I realize I'm sounding a bit paranoid, but I just don't want to mess it up. I haven't done a 1065 before, so I don't have a feel yet for priorities. (Also, I think my client will probably be concerned about the mismatch. I just want to make sure I will correct when I reassure her that it's OK.)

Thanks OldJack. Just to make sure I understand -- you are saying I should change lines 9 and 13 on the beginning balance portion? Even if that would be different from the ending balance on the 2009 Form 1065? It would change the beginning balance of each partner's capital account. But the K-1s would not be affected and that's what's most important. I have her asset list with original basis & everything fully depreciated. These 2 items were not previously in the line 9 totals. The net of 9a and 9b would still be $0. (hummm, I wonder what depreciation method was used back in the 1970s for the farm buildings and equipment? -- Doesn't matter, basis is all $0 now.)

Yes, I know I can note it on the file. It's just a extra step -- granted a small one.

Tax Matters partner has been preparing 1065 manually for approx 40 years. I'm taking it over this year. The balance sheet includes 2 assets that were written off previously. A total of $615 was included on line 13 ( d ). But it seems to me (and I am new to this) that lines 9a ( c ) and 9b ( c ) should each be increased by $615. How can I "fix" this? I don't think I can change the beginning 2010 balance sheet -- it should match the ending 2009 balance sheet, right? I can show it in the right place on the 2010 ending balance, but then how do I reconcile it? I considered showing it on line 7 of the M-1, but it isn't a K-1 item (and it shouldn't be). I apologize if this is too basic a question. I did take an accounting class in high school and remember a few basics. But I just don't know how to "fix" a previous problem. I don't really want to amend because I don't want to open a can of worms and tax implications are de minimis. Thanks Edit -- Or, do I just ignore it until if / when the assets are sold? Then try to figure an adjustment at that time.

I filed and still showed him in the house for all 12 months. It was accepted. Now I just have to remember to take him off next year. Neither ATX nor TaxWorks has a field for DOD on the dependent page. I wonder if others do? Not a big deal as long as it works without it. Thanks

Thanks for that. That's now 2 e-file errors that I am getting that someone else is processing fine. I would think it must be something I'm doing wrong, but the red e-file error messages are very clear. And there's no way those would be written that way only on my copy of the software. I really don't understand what could be different. In my case I didn't try overwriting the description. That shouldn't have made a difference because my message stated clearly that the code could not be greater that 999000.

It worked for me last year in ATX. I switched to TaxWorks and I am having that problem in their 2009 program. I think I will have the problem in 2010, too, but really haven't worked on that one, yet. Even with a different program I am watching this thread for suggestions.

I agree that they have to have a log. The ones who find their logs on my ceiling don't get the deduction. Just curious about what others are doing about cell phone logs since they are no longer "listed."

I've always just left my preparer info in there. No, I don't pay myself. But I've just never worried about leaving it in. Maybe I'm just lazy. I also don't remove it from the returns I do for family for free. Even if not paid, I still take credit or blame for preparing it.

Client's father had been living with them for several years. No income besides Social Security & she paid for (almost) all his support. He passed away in March 2010. I didn't see anything on the dependent sheet to indicate date of death. It shouldn't matter because he is still determined to live with them for 12 months (right?). I would just have to remember to take him off the return next year. Do I need to show date of death somewhere? If so, where? Will they match up to Social Security records? Thanks