taxtrio

Client wanted to take the "bird seed" credit on their tax return!! Said they heard about it from the Audobon Society. They said if you spend 200.00 or more on bird seed (feeding wild birds) during the year they could either get a credit / or get a deduction for it.... Tax season just started and aren't we having fun!! Taxtrio

I have not tried Scan & Fill, but I'm using the Document Manager... They did not send it in December, I finally got it about two weeks ago... Have a question about Document Manager (I've been learning it as I go.)... After scanning a document it says in red letters "no document in scanner" and freezes up. I try to click on "done" or even try to minimize the box... No good. Each time I have to alt control delete and end task to get close it down until the next client.... Any suggestions??? I'm using a xerox 152 scanner (yes, it's twain compliant). Appreciate any comments. Taxtrio

On my product list on the my atx site it shows all my software with the install codes, including the document manager and trial balance... I have emailed customer service asking when they will be shipped. Waiting to hear. Taxtrio

Received my Master Tax Guide from ATX/CCH today.... one of many packages I expect to get with my ATX this year.... It's a paperback version, but that's O.K. with me. I order my ATX in April thru TRX, and I bought the upgraded version... TTO. I usually get the Max; but at 699.00 thru TRX I thought I would splurge. I'm still waiting to get my copy of Document Manager, and Trial Balance Software for 2009... I know I won't be able to get a deal like this next year. It depends how I like the extra software and research materials as to whether I'll "splurge" again next year... Taxtrio

It's sad that it seems the IRS considered her "guilty" until proved innocent. There are many of us grandparents that have a child and grandchild living with us because they cannot make it on there own. Now with the changes in the definition of a qualified child it looks like our extended families will take another hit. Taxtrio

Fujitsu sounded like a good scanner to me too, but it's not Twain compliant. Has to be twain compliant for it to work with ATX document manager. Taxtrio

TRX-PRO would be TRX's own software... they just rolled it out in July. I got a sales call from TRX today offering their new software. He said it was based on the TAXWORKS program, worksheet based.... I told him I'm a forms based person ...ATX for me. He said I could download the program and try it out for free. Go to their website, downloads, and TRX-PRO. taxtrio

I am confused about ATX NOL Carryforward worksheet. It is showing a 15 year time line for the carryforward and is trying to disallow a NOL from 1993 as not being allowed to carry forward to upcoming 2009 tax year. Everything I see on the IRS website and in Taxbook says 20 years to use up carryforward. Am I missing something? Taxtrio

I choke at the prices these companies charge for a folder that the client will stick in a drawer and may never pull out again. My clients appreciate my "frugality".... It's back to school time and August is the time to get in on the sales. I go to a local discount store that has no limit on items such as two pocket portfolio folders. So I buy the 600 - 700 folders I will need for my one person office next year at 15 cents per folder. (up from 10 cents last year.). I print my own labels, and my retired husband puts the labels on for me. Done... ready for tax season. I just make sure I buy all one color. Each year I rotate and choose a new color. (No spiderman or barbie folders.. that would just be tacky!).... Taxtrio

I thought that it was not legal to pass the cost along (unless you are the gov't!). Here in Michigan I asked my credit card processor if I could charge my clients extra if the charged there fee. A Answer: no not legal to do that BUT ..... just like the gas stations do.... I could discount for cash!! Charge everybody 5.00 extra, and then "discount" 5.00 off their bill if they pay cash.... But it might be different in each state..... Games... why do we have to play games!! Taxtrio

Big scam in Detroit Michigan. On the news the other day. A group of guys were holding "Walk-a-way" seminars. They claimed they could get people the first time homebuyer credit and they would never have to actually buy a home or live in it. The scam worked this way. The "guys" would assign the taxpayer a "house".. an address at least. And sell the taxpayer a house for 80,000.00 on land contract. The taxpayer would never even see the house. The guys would then file the ammendment for the taxpayer and split up the refund with them. The guys told people that they would not have to pay back the 8,000.00 credit if the house were damaged or destroyed and couldn't be lived in. The trick was, the houses were already burned out, or torn down (vacant lots). The taxpayer would never make any payments and would "default" on the landcontracts. Pretty twisted!!! But they got caught. One of the people called the IRS and asked questions, then called the local TV station who investigated and turned information over to IRS..... One of the guys that gave the presentations at the seminar was found to have a facebook page where he was bragging about scamming the govt.... I imagine there are ongoing investations into the fradulent 1040x's filed. Don't these people realize they are on the hook to the IRS???? I got all the information above from the local news investigation... We'll probably here more about these scams as the year goes forward.... Taxtrio

And How exactly does taxing a person 2.5 percent of his AGI get him Health Insurance Coverage??? Would the tax paid go toward a goverment offered health insurance? There are a lot of people here in Michigan that are about to run out of their unemployment and can't even pay the bills they have now; how are they expected to buy insurance?

Isn't Tax Works now owned by H & R Block? Taxtrio

I signed up with TRX for the 699.00 package of software (ATX, of course). It includes Document Manager. I asked if I would be getting the 2008 software this summer so I could get used to the Document Manager.... It arrived today in the mail. I'll post again after I get a chance to try it out. Thank you Sandra at TRX for getting this to me! Taxtrio

Or you can just "export" returns from the return manager menu. Export marked returns to memory stick; then take memory stick to the other computer and "import" returns. taxtrio

Are you sure you don't mean a "wash sale". Wash sales are often noted by the broker in their detail of gains and losses... Taxtrio

First they study it, then they discuss it, then they submit a proposal, and discuss it again. If they ever finalize a proposal, it will take time and resources for the IRS to impliment it. This will all take time, no need to panic.

I believe tax treaty with Canada says canadian soc sec treated the same as U.S. social security. U.K social security is 50 percent taxable on U.S. return.... don't know about Ireland.

Single Member LLC can be treated as a S-Corp if that is the choice of the taxpayer, or it can be treated as a "disregarded entity" then it would be a schedule C. Taxtrio

check for any special treaties between U.S. and his home country. I know there are treaties about foreign social security between U.S. and Canada, and U.K. Maybe there is something specific to his country.

I agree, each state has many variables. Adjustments we as preparer have to make, the software is just a tool for us to use, the more we use it; the better we get at knowing the software and it's features. But that is not a substitute for knowing tax law. I always told my students in class that I never wanted to hear them say "The computer did it so it must be right." The computer is not the tax professional, .... we are the ones controlling the computer, our responsibility to make sure it is calculating correctly. My favorite thing about doing tax returns on the computer is the fact that it recalculates the entire return in a few seconds when the client finds an extra receipt, etc. Nice!! I love my computer! Taxtrio

Looking for comments from anyone using Document Manager and/or Scan and Fill from ATX. Pros/Cons? Does it save you time? Is it accurate? Easy to use? Tips? I signed up for the TRX 699.00 software with the document manager. I hope to save time and do less filing. I will need to buy a scanner.... suggestions? I hope this will be cheaper than hiring someone to help with the filing, etc. Appreciate any comments. Thanks in advance Taxtrio

I placed my order April... TRX said I got in before May 1st and should be good to go. "He who hesitates is lost" as they say.

Another improvement, or correction as I see it is the MI-D and the MI - 4797 that we only use when the item was purchased before October 1, 1967, yes that's right, 1967. If sold in the current year then you would need the form to calculate the gain from before that date. Michigan did not tax capital gains before 10/1/1967. If not then we do not need the form. Please ATX don't automatically add the forms to the Michigan.... not required, not needed, just in the way. Right now if you have any kind of Sch D or 4797 item, even a capital gain distribution... ATX adds the form. If you are so afraid we as preparers are going to "miss" it when needed, then add a warning in the diagnostics!! Taxtrio

You can also contact TRX through Carlos [email protected] His phone # is (866) 829-9777 ext 153 Tell him, Pam from Taxtrio sent you.