Tax Prep by Deb

By the time everything was said and done on my costly mistake I have ended up spending about $500.00 to have two computers completely wiped and everything re-installed. The IT guy I use has a monthly monitoring service that includes beefed up security software, malware, ect.... plus monitors my computer for anything really strange and alerts him for which he can decide what to do. To make a long story short, I had my computer back and within 15 minutes of starting it up and trying to install quickbooks pro from online, my brand new super duty computer came to a near stop. After about two hours quickbooks was only about 50% done and I literally couldn't do anything else with the computer. It was after hours so I didn't want to call my tech guy, decided just to reboot the computer and then everything worked perfect. Went to pickup my laptop today from him and told him my problem, he said he knew. Apparently when I was on the opening page of the browser a Trojan tried jumping on and he was successful in blocking it. He said his software nailed it to the wall and alerted him so he was able to delete is before it got to me. I have already got my money worth! The service he is offering is what the Medical professionals are running and complies with all the Hippa regs, ect... He said the biggest problem he has with this software is that once he installs it he rarely hears from his clients. We shall give it a years run and see what happens.

That is exactly what I do, unfortunately it came from a client who by the way feels so bad, but like I told him he was just as innocent as a victim as I was. The company he works for uses Drop Box all the time so I know he would be none the wiser. I on the other hand should have known better and looked closer. I guarantee the next time I will. For now though I am left to pick up the pieces and beef up my security even more if possible. I'm actually considering not opening any emails from the computer at all until I first look at them thru my tablet. I can just through the tablet away and no harm no foul, but this other thing scares me to death almost to the point I'm ready to quit a profession that I love, I just don't know if the stress is worth the love at this point.

Thank you all for your comments. The saving grace is that it was a new computer and I was just starting to move things over. We opted to completed reformat the harddrive and start over. I am very diligent on backups and do keep more than one in different places so it will not be that difficult to restore. My biggest concern is if it is just a virus or where they after and did they get any info. I try hard to ensure safety. I encrypted my hard drive to protect encase of someone breaking in and steeling, I have an external firewall to keep others out, I password protect just about everthing, but there is the chance that something wasn't. Don't know when the bug really took hold, I do know I opened the stupid email on Friday and became aware of something just as they sent out emails to my contacts. I was actually changing my email password when the first email was returned because it couldn't be received, and within 15 minutes sent my own emails out to my contacts to hopefully keep them from opening the attachment. That I know of the only one who did was my brother but doing so on his cell phone and not any of his home or work computers, so we are hoping he's ok. I had a couple call saying they tried but couldn't open it, so don't really know if they have been effected or not, but my IT guys says they could be. So now I'm waiting to get my computer back so I can start over and hope that nothing else comes of this.

Hard lesson learned! Turns out it wasn't ransom ware but it was a big bug. Computer is brand new so my tech guy is going to reformat the hard drive and restore my operating system. Actually I am one of those who believes you can not be to careful, and I don't know why I did it, I guarantee I will be even more carefull in the future.

I hope this has not happened to any of you, but if it did I would like to hear from you what happened. I received an email from a client that was suppose to be a document he forwarded to me via drop box. Like an idiot I followed the directions and signed into what I thought was drop box via my email account. After looking at the document I thought it was a bit strange, yet still related to tax issues and sort of in character for this client, so I paid it no mind. This morning in another email account that I only use for things that are not important (never given to clients) a similar email showed up, this time however it was flagged (different email provider) as potential spam, so I did not open it. Then came the dawn. I immediately went to reset my pass word to my email account but before I could finish a flood of emails were sent to my contacts containing this same file. I proceeded to reset my password, sent a warning email to all contacts not to open it, and took my computer down to my IT guy who is currently checking it for viruses ect..... My concern is that this is going to turn out to be a Ransom Ware problem, not just an email hack. Has anyone else had this happened (I hope not, and I feel so stupid because I am extremely cautious and careful in this regard, and should have known better, as this is not how DropBox works)? Did you find out anything? I am so nervous right now all I want to do is cry, and I don't cry easy!

Atx is a resource hog. When it happens to me it is usually because I am doing something else with the computer while ATX is loading. If I stop everything and then reopen I have no problem. I found you just can't rush it.

My dad once predicted this simplified tax code: 2 lines only, 1. How much did you make? 2. Send it in!

n= No, I do believe in the near future we all will be required to re-register for e-services and that is what is going to require the "enhanced authentication". That is a totally separate issue from providing proof of e-file eligibility via the pdf upload. As a side note I took a good look at Lion's post earlier with detailed instructions on how to do this without changing your e-fin in MyATX, but I was not able to do that either because I could not log in and was unable to register because apparently this is yet another of CCH website not linked with MYATX or Intelliconnect. It was asking for my CCH account number and would not accept anything I could find so I gave up. Again I tried updated thru ATX but this is only if your number has changed, mine has not, so again I am perplexed.

Judy, I hate to disagree with you but you can already printout a PDF of your efile summary page which is what ATX instructs us to do. The PDF is and always has been available. The-services log in thing is different than the efile verification. Like I said, I already Have what ATX is asking for, it's just that there is no way to upload it to them without changing my efile number again leading me to suspect that I am already verified. ATX has sent me the same info the last 3 years stating the need to verify efile info but I have never had to do it and on their website it states it is a one time process. I guess I will find out when efile service starts or if we get some more communication either from IRS or ATX.

I may do that eventually on the new computer. But the one I currently am using is 5+ years old and is showing signs of wear. I don't want to have to stop during the tax season and get one in a hurry. This way I can get it set up and get use to it before the rush.

I went to My ATX site and see my EFIN there. The only way I can see to upload my acceptance letter is to go to change my EFIN but I'm not changing anything so I do not believe this is required. I have my letter ready but I am going to wait till I send my first efile before I struggle with this. I still believe that if we are already established it is not needed. If it was I believe our EFIN number would not be showing on our info thus forcing it to be updated. I vaguely remember having to do this the first year I efiled way back in the day.

Video graphic card is NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 750Ti with 2GB GDDR5 Graphics Memory. As to Windows 10, I'm leaning that route mainly because I plan to keep this computer at least 5 years. If I need to upgrade to 10 I prefer a new install instead of a upgrade.

Actually I did go to their site and I want to go a little above due to the fact that next year's program may need even better and I don't like to replace my computer that often.

I'm getting ready to replace my main computer. It is becoming increasingly slow. It takes 20 min to boot up before I can begin working and if I leave it for a while and come back, it takes forever to pick up speed. It locks up sometimes, so I know it's just a matter of time before it dies. When I bought it I thought it was the fastest thing around, now either I'm faster or it's slower. I use it for ATX and QuickBooks mainly and I hardly ever turn it off. It has the I5 processor and 8 gigs of ram, 1TB hard drive with Windows 7 operating system. What would you suggest I do? I'm thinking I7 processor and at least 16 gigs of ram and the one I'm looking at is Windows 10. Not so much interested in brand recommendations as I have a favorite, or would you suggest having one custom made? Got a quote for one custom made and it seems high compared to what I can purchase elsewhere (I was quoted with tax around 1350.00) The one I'm looking at is 749.00. Quite a difference. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Are you sure you need to do this? This has been on my letters every year and I ignore it and have never had a problem. I think it is a form letter sent out to everyone but really only applies to first time filers thru ATX. We have already established our credentials to efile. Just my thoughts!

Yes. Also I have had problems from 2015 stating that they received the payment for 940 and 941 but didn't receive the reports even though they were mailed in the same envelope. I think IRS is having a computer glitch.

I don't think this is Intuit's doing I believe it is a law that was passed. The same thing is being implemented in ATX software this year. In the past a password was optional but starting with this year's software it will be mandatory.

No. Actually I had received a postcard with a 5% discount offered by 10/31 but when I logged on it was 10%. My rep asked if I needed any research books as I had ordered quick finder last year (Actually last year I purchased the book only so I could get a discount on the software, told him I didn't want to spend any more money so he said he thought he could get it thrown in for no additional charge so I took him up on it. I would suggest you log on to Atx and I believe on the right side of the page you will be asked to renew, click on the link and it will open up your quote and see if they have already given you a discount. Like I said my discount on my account quote was more than the postcard they sent me. If not just wait another week and check again, their offers change often.

I agree and that's exactly why I confirmed the price increase. I have every intention of passing it on.

Thought I would give you all a heads up if you don't know already. I just renewed my ATX Max software and was given the 10% discount, plus my account rep thru in an extra research book! Different this year however, is that starting in 2017 any tax return e-file for 2015 or 2014 is going to be charged an extra $5.00 transmission fee. They truly are starting to nickel and dime this program to death. Perhaps next year I will be trying out something else. Sad because I've been with them since the early days and long for them!

Thanks for your imput. Actually I had found the exact article that your provided, and believe we have good figures to go forward on.

I need a little help here. I have a client who is on the process of selling a business, S Corp, just selling assets, good will, and no compete. The sale allocation is what they are currently working on and we have definite numbers fot the assets, but are still left with 100,000 to allocate between goodwill and non compete. What would you recommend? I've never been on the sale side of this, only the purchase side and it was mainly assets so not to suee about the tax consequenses other than on the sold assets. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I smell a rat!

I have done several and not one has been challenged. I will not file it just on the opinion they are insolvent. Nor will I do the worksheet for them. I send it home with and reviewing it with them and tell them to get a separate envelope and that everything they put on the form must have documented proof in case of questions. I don't ask to see the proof, I just make sure they have kept it then I go over everything with them and finally make the determination. In my area it's not that difficult as most have to do with either foreclosures, short sales, or loan modifications. The property values here took a tremendous hit and are just now recovering, so I was pretty sure that if a home was involved they were insolvent.

Problem is getting them to move the payment to theSRP. It took my client going to the IRS office to get the payment applied. This took several months.