joelgilb

Glad to hear that. Who are you. Do you work for CCH? Is this a guarantee? And if you do work for ATX, why won't the sales team give me a money back gauranteee that if CCH kills the ATX product I can get my money back rather than be switched to Taxwise or... I want to resign with ATX but don't want to be switched. HAd that happen once by another vender and won't let that happen again.

Booger: This issue for me is not that I want to switch from ATX, it's that I am still not sure ATX will exist and CCH is doing things to confirm that, by not being willing to guarantee the ATX product line. \ Good chance you may end up with Taxwise!

GOOD ANSWER!!! CCH Are you listening? Give us your reponse.

Obviously we are all upset with the CCH handling of ATX since the aquisition. And although I am skeptical that they will really address our issues, they can't if we don't take the time to let them know what they are. Haven't filled it out myself but do intend on it. Also, if the survey does not give us a place to complain, there is a place to email them on there site with sutgestions etc. I have been an avid user of this suggestion box and suggest everyone and I mean everyone do the same. They can't hear us if we don't talk to them. Also, I think it is a good idea to let them know our concerns without attacking. Suggestions are usually taken better than demands and attacks. Let's not stoop to the level they have maybe we'll get somewhere.

I believe that it is a QuickBooks problem. In 2007 and 2008 versions they have several bugs and conflicts with other software. Had to totally reformat my system and and stop using 3 programs to get certain QUickBooks features to work. Also, I noticed that initially with nothing else installed QB ran extremely fast. Once other software was reinstalled certain features, such as credit card and Billing Solutions have become extremely slow. Other software, not just ATX also slows down when QB is running.. Apparently these are known issues at Intuit, and for over 2 years they have failed to address them.

I have been doing some research here. Vonage's future is definately a question. Not only did they lose a major law suit to Verizon, they have one with Sprint for more patent infringement that they will most likely lose. There lifeline depends on them being able to get long term financing of 245 million by October of this year and with the tightenng of funds, could be a problem. I also looked into what happened Sun Rocket, one of Vonage's competitors. When they went under, a number of users did lose their number, but it appears that it was due to them not being ready and reacting quickly enough to transfer it. I have actually considered Verizon's (the CCH of phones) Voicewing VOIP product, just to insure I don't lose my numbers. I now I can port my main number, but not sure if I can port my "Virtual Number". I have an original tel # from Chicago area but added a virtual one in Las Vegas as I am relocating there and don't want to lose either. Voicewing's features are essentially the same, except it looks like I would lose the email Voicemail I have come to rely on and just get email notifications. I also have a problem going the big guy that used the axe that chopped down my tree! Looking into other VOIP providers and have found a few with features I want, but most are fairly small companies and I do not trust that they will survive at this time, so I feel my business number is to important to port them

I have had 4 phone calls from ATX asking me to renew. 2 during tax season! The last call came yesterday and I was thinking of renewing, with a big qualification. I DO NOT WANT TO BE SWITCHED TO CCH OR TAXWISE next year. So, I asked them for a Guarantee, that if they decide between now and next tax season to discontinue ATX they would refund my money and they flatly refused. What I got then was several promises that they would continue the ATX software and explanations as to why Taxwise and ATX are different customer bases.. I was told thet they found out (they should have known up front) that ATX was purchase mostly by CPA's and tax professional, where as Taxwise was more institutional, Banks, Mortgage Companies etc.. Was told that they intend to keep the base of customers separate. So, once I got the sales person to Promise several times that they would support our group of users and ATX, I again asked, "If you are promising me that ATX won't be discontinued, then it should not be to hard to give me a Money Back Guarantee should you discontinue the product.". She told me that I would have 30 days to cancel after I purchased now. And I asked if they would have a working ATX 2008 product for me to try the next 30 days. Of course the answer was no. So I said"So what good is the 30 cancellation period, if you don't have the product?" All I got we can't give the guarantee and then I asked her to discuss it with her supervisor and call me back. I also told her that I would rather lose the discount this year than find renew and find out in December that we are being switched to Taxwise or one of their other products. Now for an interesting thought. Since they fired everyone from Maine and all original ATX staff, how do we know that they are even capable of programing the new software? This product is different than the others out there. It is programed in a combination of Excel, Access and Visual Basic. I have personally tried to open the underlying Excel spreadsheet code to build custom applications for my legal practice from many of the forms and to use the formulas to link different forms together rather than the "Start Link' Finish Link". Haven't had much success. Also, trying to follow what the ATX software programmers have done with the calc sheets is not an easy task. Fixing some basic bugs during season is one thing, but writing next years package? I wonder if they are even capable of doing it without the ATX programmers they fired. Mel, what are your thoughts here? Anyway, I am considering renewing, but won't until I see they really have a product to offer. Also, as I have said before, I would purchase both ATX and Mel's product should Mel be able to create one, as unless Mel you tell us different, I would guess it would not be at the level of ATX in the first year.

These are also good points. As I said in my previous post. Do your Due Diligence and get good legal advice from a knowledgible attorney. Buying a service business does have certain risks you need to both be aware of and protect against. For instance, a lot of States do not like Non-compete agreements. So you need an attorney that understands the laws and Judical issues in your State.

Hmm, Are you suggesting that tax preparers are not to be trusted? Will he cheat his clients as well as the person that buyshis practice? There are ways to protect from him continuing to serve the client base he sold and the are he agreed not to practice in, such as liquidated damages clauses requiring the Seller to pay 3 times the fee that was prev charged for any work he does that breaches the non-compete. Most jurisdictions will uphold these clauses. Besides, if he is selling a practice of 300 clients, what makes you think he will keep doing this on the side? Wouldn't he be better off not selling? That said there may be reasons to question why he is selling his practice that you should look into. Question him as to why he is getting out. Is he getting his clients in trouble and trying to bale to protect himself? Had a CPA do that recently and sell his practice to another. The new CPA is dealing with the day to day and having me represent them in front of both IRS and Tax Court. Many of the clients are in trouble. So is a good point to really look at what he has been doing and to see if his audit rate has gone up. Call the clients and talk with them and see what they think of him. Do your Due Diligence! Also, get an attorney that understands the sale of professional practices and interview him in regards to his experience. You might be surprised how invaluable he will be.

I wanna be an ATXaholics Annonymous! Please add this member level.

OMG at this rate my hair will all be falling out. Wondering if I should stop posting. Kind of walking around hunched over all of a sudden. And been forgetting things more too.

<==== Missing EX-Acctg myself!

Have gotten away without using form 8824 on this one, but Yes I agree that it probably should be reported there. Personally I think ATX has made this form more complicated than it should be though. So I hae (admititedly incorrectly ) sometimes not wasted my time uising 8824 on a simple vehicle trade in.

Whoa, I am in Casablanca, Dublin, London, Lisbon, or Monrovia (Huh where is Monrovia)? No wonder it is so late here. Must be London though, guess that's why my neighbors are speaking english with such a strange accent! Seriously, though I don't know how it changed, because I didn't change it. Oh well, fixed now Thx Eric.

And I thought you knew it all! And you don't need to be from Hawaii to know the answer to this one. the transportation area, whether trucking, boating or airlines are essentially all treated the same. Minor differences if any at best. So how is everything coming along?

Maura is correct. He only gets incidentals if the employer provides the meals. I do a number of people in the boating industry in LA as my step son lives there and is a boat captain (oil in Gulf). Many of them try to take the whole thing and accountants down there do give it to them. THIS IS INCORRECT! And IRS is now auditing several down there and adjusting their returns. Lucky for my step-son, that all his whining and complaining did not make me any more aggressive, as his return did not get adjusted on audit!

and last but not least An 80 year old lady is in a nursing home sitting in her wheel chair in the hallway. 85 year old Mr. Klein walks by and she stops him and says " I bet I can guess your name" He says, "Ok try" She pulls down his zipper, and starts playing with his genitals for about 5 minutes then puts them back in and says your Joe Klein. He looks at her and says, "That's amazing, How did you figure that out by playing with me?" She says, you told me yesterday!

Patient to his psychiatrist: Doctor, I can't remember anything! I forgot what happened yesterday. I forgot what my car looks like. I can't even remember my own name. Psychiatrist: How long have you had this problem? Patient: What problem?

One elderly couple was visiting my wife and for supper. The two women go into the kitchen for a moment, leaving us men to talk. My friend says, "The Mrs. and I went to the nicest restaurant last night." "Is that right?" the I inquire, "What was it called?" "That's just it," he replies "I can't recall. "Say, what's the name of that red flower that has thorns all over it?" "A rose?" I tel him. "YEAH, THAT'S IT!" he says energetically. He then whirls around and yells into my kitchen, "Hey, Rose! What was the name of that restaurant we went to last night!?"

n 80-year-old-couple are having problems remembering things, so they decide to see their doctor to find out if anything is wrong with them. They see the doctor and tell him about the memory problems they've been having. After a check-up, the doctor tells them that they are physically fine but might want to start writing things down to help them remember things. They thank the doctor and leave. Later that night while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. "Where are you going?" asks his wife. "To the kitchen," he replies. "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?" she asks. "Sure," he says. She says, "Maybe you should write it down so you'll remember." "I'll remember," he says "Well, I would also like some strawberries on top," she says. "You had better write that down cause I know you'll forget." "I can remember that," he says, as he begins to loose his patience. "You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries." "I would also like whip cream on top," she adds, "I know you will forget that so you better write it down." Hopping mad he says, "I don't need to write that down! I will remember just fine." He fumes into the kitchen to get the food. After about 20 minutes he returns from the kitchen and hands her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment and says, "You forgot my toast."

Really, I think it is my gray hair! Very distinguished, No?

I find it is not a good practice to review clients work for little money and high liability! Either I do it or they can find someone else

Didn't get the letter, but I am interested in a franchise. Maybe a Ben & Jerry's or a Dunkin Donuts

Ok I am posting this at 9:52 pm Cst bet it is going to show about 3 am I think I am in the Twilight Zone!!! Rod Help me IS this what a hard tax season does to us?

More than a little scary....... Did we just go through tax season or Halloween? <==== from Illinois here, soon to be Nevada though. YAAAAAAA no more State returns... YAAAAA NO MORE WINTER!!!! oooops summers will be murder, oh well POOL TIME!!!!