taxtrio

Yes, I second the previous post. We definitely need the efile status to show up on the return manager. Also, we need the Address to rollover with the state refund amount. It's been great that the amount rolls over but it's is a pain to have to go in and put in the address to get rid of the efile diagnostic for incomplete information. We need the comparison worksheet to show a page of the state information. We need the invoice information (the billing / fee charged information) to flow over to the Accounts Receivable Tab in Return Manager. We need a place in the invoice to mark the bill paid, and have that show up in the Accounts Receivable Tab in Return Manager also. We need more options to sort the Return Manager field. Even the old ORR Tax program allowed you to sort the returns by certain forms contained in the return. For example, you want to sent out reminders to your clients that need to pay their quarterly estimated payments, etc. The print label function needs options to allow us to print the complete address including a long apartment number and have it fit on the label..... Allow it to show up on an extra line??? If I think on this some more I'm sure I'll have more suggestions. Hope ATX is listening in.... Taxtrio

I too have asked for and put in the "suggestion box" at ATX that we need to have the ability to "link" the efile manager and the return manager. No matter how careful I am about double checking between the lists it still seems a couple of times a year I find a return that has slipped by and not been efiled. Somehow there should be a way for them to allow us to at least run a report that compares efiles with the return manager and shows them side by side. My other wish would be for the return manager to have an "efile status" column that would automatically show the status of each client's return. Taxtrio

I find it reassuring to efile. I know within a short period of time that it has been accepted by IRS. Then I know there is no problem with Soc Sec #'s , DOB's etc. And if there is a problem you know right away, can fix it and get on with your day. I hated having a client call me 6 or 8 weeks after they had filed when they got a letter saying it would be another 6 or 8 weeks after they answered the letter before they would see their refund. Good old days??? I don't think so. Find out right away, fix it , re-send it and then the client is happy. A few days delay in getting their refund is better than waiting until the summer to get it. I'll efile anyday over mailing returns. Once you get into the swing of it .... it's really a breeze. Taxtrio

No, ...not a lien on the home. Taxtrio

If I remember correctly, all income is passed thru to beneficiaries on the final K-1... therefore the 1041 shouldn't be paying taxes in final year... What say you all.. Taxtrio

I just got an email from TRX Alliance. [email protected] is my contact guy. The TRX Pro ATX 299.00 is a good package. Just doesn't include efile of business returns. the TRX Pro ATX 699.00 has more. Unlimited business efile is added as well as ATX Trail Balance software, and ATX Document Manager, and the 1099/W2 software. And with TRX you get Tax and Tech Support. (not just software support but can actually ask Tax Questions of their CPA's and EA's working there. I almost switched last year to save money... but I didn't really want to switch software's. I'm comfortable with ATX and it works well for my practice. I know that ATX allowed 3 users with the software. Last year TRX said it was unlimited users for TaxWise thru them. I will have to email Carlos and ask him how many users are allowed with their version of ATX. Taxtrio

Recently got an email from a client using Curian Clearing Broker.... managed account. 1099B printed out at 96 pages! Total gross proceeds not really that much... just a couple thousand transactions. Most are partial shares (her share of the pool of stock-- ) can't input into ATX the the small change shown on each transaction. The worksheets were not compatible with IRS format. Had client go back on the website and client was able to send me an excel file .... from that I was able to manipulate the columns into the IRS format and copy and attach to the 8453.... Thank Goodness for the 8453.... Taxtrio

LD Products and 123Inkjets are both good online suppliers for toner and ink cartridges. I've only had one from LD products that did not fit my printer. They immediately sent me a replacement. Taxtrio

I Think that the above mentioned Governmentium has become infected with the dreaded AAADD mentioned in another post!! Taxtrio

I agree, but client is very, very, impatient. Needs money to buy appliances for new house. Everything today is instant!! And they want it all, they want it now, and they want it delivered!! She wants as much as she can get as soon as she can get it.... Oh, well no reasoning with some people. Taxtrio

Talked to the IRS efile dept today.. They have absolutely no idea when 5405 will be ready to efile. They said you might as well paper file the return; she said refunds have been taking about 4 weeks when mailed in... "So many people are efiling, there is less for the paper file dept to handle lately". But another option is to only claim the 7,500.00 on the efile and then ammend for the extra 500.00. Taxtrio

I used to use paycycle , like the system. But in Feb they raised my price from 19.95 per month for the one client I had to 42.99 per month... I'm gone Taxtrio

Currently city returns are mail in's. (with very few exceptions still in trial) Taxtrio

In theory, the reduced federal withholding should be offset by the 400.00 refundable credit to be shown on the 2009 return. (work for pay credit?). The problem is that people may get more than they are entitled to, and then the 400.00 credit (or lack of one) will leave them in the hole! For example: If a married couple (both working) has "married" on their W-4"s. The new federal w/h tables will give them each double per week. Not 10.00 per pay, but 20.00 per pay. (The tables are once again assuming that if you are married that your spouse doesn't work..... Single tax table takes out only 10.00 per pay. Definitely need to re-work the W-4's. Also some may not qualify at the end of the year because of income limits... One spouse makes over 75,000 and the other makes under 75,000. for example. When you combine their income for the year they may be over the limit. And the kids that don't think their parents are going to claim them.... well they will probably owe ... and it goes on and on. They made this sooooo simple! Taxtrio

Have had many discussion with a client regarding the fact that he gets no refund from federal this year. His small construction business had a large loss. Nothing paid in, just a loss, no credits. He keeps calling me saying that the government always sends him a refund and that I must be missing something. He said he want to ammend the return to claim the 50 cents per mile that the government GIVES HIM for driving his car for the business. That we should have claimed that instead of the actual expenses! He keeps insisting that the government will pay him a check for the business miles he drives and says that Liberty Tax says they can ammend the return and get it for him. I told him "great, go there". They obviously haven't seen the return. Maybe we should all just go out and drive our cars for "business" and let the government pay us! Taxtrio

Michigan full year resident cannot exclude income on the NR. Only part year residents can use that schedule. Michigan taxes ALL income of a resident unless specifically excludable by Michigan Law. i.e. pension, e bond interest and the like. If MA is taxing him on the unemployment income also then he can claim a tax credit for income tax paid to another state. Because the income is "double taxed" you can reduce the Michigan taxes by claiming a credit for the MA tax paid on the same income. (Must attach a copy of the MA return to the Michigan.) Taxtrio Michigan

My old friends that still work at Block are not happy about the fees and this year they are completely locked out of any way of override the fees, and here in Michigan ... no more coupons. They used to try and lower the price one way or another in the program to try and save the client... They tell their District Managers that clients are leaving and complaining of the prices. The management tells them the same thing each year: "It's not the price, it's the service. If you gave better service there would not be any complaints". It's not the preparers, it's the corporations mind set these days. It used to be a great place to work 20 to 30 years ago. But ever since Henry and Richard Block retired and CEO's are running the place it's just not the same. Very stressful to work for HRB now, many of there best have left or are about to. Taxtrio

But letting him continue to keep himself on the "payroll" costs him more in the long run. I'll bet he is paying unemployment (fed and state) payroll taxes on himself this way... Taxtrio

I finally got the foreign tax credit to work without the 1116!! Fill in the 1099-Div with all foreign tax information. ATX will have added the 1116 that you don't really need if the amount is small. Go to 1040 page 2, line 47 (foreign tax credit) and click on the "jump-to" bunny. On the worksheet that comes up you can click on the box for Form 1040 to the right of the line 2 for dividend worksheet. The instructions at the top of this line 47 worksheet says to mark where you want to claim the foreign taxes, Sch A or 1040. Then go and delete the 1116. The credit will still be on line 47 ... but no 1116 needed. Wish I had figured this out last week!! Taxtrio

Be careful with that highlighter... just underline the figure with the highlighter... If you completely highlight the amount and they scan the document into their records (as the state of Michigan does) then is show up on their system as BLACK! Michigan says NEVER highlight documents we send to them and never put post-it notes on the forms (They don't remove the post-it's when they scan them thru, and it just covers up part of the document! I agree highlighting can be great, but be careful how you do it. Taxtrio

Make sure you mail the return and the W-7 to the address in the W-7 directions. I will work and when the ITIN is issued they will then process the return. Read the directions for the W-7.... took a couple of months, but it did work out ok in the end. Taxtrio

My friends and former co-workers at HRB .... also "refugees".... I like that! Some of them say they work for "Slaves-are-us". Ha Ha. I keep telling them "There is life outside of Block". Taxtrio

Thanks for all the comments! Nice to know I'm not the only one with questions. Taxtrio

Ok Obama signed the new law yesterday... Now what... The new housing credit is really a credit. For 2009 they don't have to pay it back. Good! It's now 8,000.00 instead of 7,500.00... also good. Question is, what about people that have already filed their returns for 2008 but bought in 2009 and claimed the 7500.00 old credit. Will the IRS send them more money (500.00 if they qualify?) Will they have to ammend their 2008 return to get the extra 500.00? Or will they have to wait till 2009 return to get that. Will we be getting an updated form for 2008 return that show the new credit as well as the old one? I had a potential new client call this a.m. asking if she could file for the credit this week even though she won't close on the purchase of the new home until March 5, 2009. ?? The more I think about this thing, the more questions I have! Taxtrio

In Michigan I always file a Michigan return if there is a Michigan address. If you don't file the Michigan and show all the income earned in another state; then later, sometimes a lot later-- Michigan will just send you a heart-stopping bill for the Michigan tax on your AGI (less one exemption). This can really get the clients attention. Clients don't like getting these kind of letters, so I prevent it by just filing the Michigan. Problem prevented. Taxtrio