HV Ken

Know someone who’s having challenges with their current software and is looking to switch to ProSeries? Please share with them that we can get them up and running fast.... Hmmm - think they have heard about the ATX debacle?

How about going to the Database folder and using windows search? The forms are files in the database directories and are named by the form name. I think this will do what you want.

Loss of market share, lacking leadership, etc. may be true, but that still doesn't validate the assertion that there exists a culture of lying and fundamental dishonesty. That is a very harsh accusation and not sure how that can be validated.

This is found in Tools -> Preferences. There is a User Guide available to help with these things.

Thanks for the idea! That'll work good enough! It would seem if this works, the programming for the templates should be easy. The response I got from the inside is that they will see what kind of feedback they get and decide to add it in next year based on that. So how do we get the user community to give them that feedback?

Am I the only one who used return templates for creating new returns (for new clients) ? I can't find this anywhere in the new program, including the user guide. It seems this function didn't make it over to the new product. BOO!

Numbers - how do you know this about the CCH culture? I have been to CCH HQ twice in the past three years as part of the ATX Customer Advisory Board. While I admit ATX2012 has been a disaster to date, I have experienced first hand that complete opposite of your assertions. I have met many professionals there, all the way up to President Jeff Gramlich, and find your assertions to be completely inaccurate. It is one thing to be a dissatisfied customer, but it is another to attack the integrity of people.

Maybe it is the presence of multiple entires that is messing it up? 1) Try removing all but one and see if that makes a difference. 2) If that doesn't work, remove then all then see what happens the next time you add it into a return. Just a couple of thoughts/suggestions.

ATX: KB articles related to rollover or slow printing 1/31/2013 The following kbase articles may help resolve any slowness you are experiencing with opening the software, running the software, rollover process, or printing. The next update is planned for the week of Feb 4th. In the examples below, the KB article link is listed first, followed by the details of the error you are seeing. http://cchsfs-atx.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13994/kw/13994 In your ATX 2012 program you notice some of the following issues: The program opens slowly You are unable to print or returns print slowly You receive errors when rolling over returns http://cchsfs-atx.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13919 You receive the following message when opening a rolled-over return in your 2012 ATX tax software: Cannot open rolled-over return. The rollover from last year was incomplete due to forms which were out of date or mismatched. Please open and close the return in last year's program (you do not need to save it), then re-open the return in this year's program. http://cchsfs-atx.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13864/related/1 Upon opening your ATX 2012 software, you receive the error "CCHSFS Tax Preparation Software has stopped working" and the program closes unexpectedly. http://cchsfs-atx.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13867/related/1 After rolling over a return and opening it, you receive the following message: The following returns are not yet available for rollover. When you click Continue, you receive one of the following error messages, after which the program is immediately closed.: Atx2012.exe has encountered an error and needs to close. or CCHSFS Tax Preparation Software has stopped working. http://cchsfs-atx.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13778/related/1 SFS.MAX.SHELL.Loader has stopped working.

Not to mention you are on an ATX board asking about TurboTax.... TurboTax commercials say they have EAs and CPAs ready to help. I suggest you call TurboTax and let their experts help you - of course, the other suggestions of going directly to a professional are even better.

I have a client who should be ready to finish. She qualifies for the additional child tax credit, but I am unable to add Form 8812 into the return, even though it says it is installed. I am at the latest program version and all my forms are up to date. Is anyone else seeing this? Or are others having success with this? I even tried deleting the return and starting over to no avail.

I was able to talk to someone about this issue. There are two choices until a fix is provided: 1) Wait for it to appear 2) Exit and re-Enter I got the impression that this is another of the performance issues they are dealing with and will be resolved soon.

I keep my program up to date daily. Went to update today - downloading 4,895 forms! WOW!

I already wrote a letter to the VP about this very issue. I am fine putting my phone on speaker and doing something while waiting. But I had to take care of some business in a private room and heard the please press 1 but didn't make it to the phone in time and was hung up on. An absolutely terrible process - I already confirmed I was willing to wait - why do you need me to recommit every 15 minutes?

I just learned today that there is a 2nd directory now with the new 2012 version. It is in C:Program Data (which may be hidden), no matter where you installed the program. The recommendation I received from the help desk is to copy the files from old computer 1 to new computer 2 and run netsetup on new computer 2, even though it is the "server". Didn't make sense to me, but it worked.

A tax return can often be an important financial document - it's used to secure loans, on FAFSA applications, even to rent an apartment. As such, it can no longer be treated as a commodity and solely differentiated by price. The preparer's experience pays a huge part in the preparation and can go a long way in protecting a client from filing an erroneous return and getting hit with interest and penalties. If all the client has is a W-2, then maybe price matters. But when dealing with people with rental properties, sole proprietors, day traders, etc., I think the preference is with a preparer with experience and the client should recognize the value they are receiving.

Based on what I have seen, people taking advantage of this are receiving several thousands of dollars in EITC and can care less if it costs them an extra $100-$200 (invisible to them as it is taken out of "free money") to get this free money faster.

Just because you have done this for years doesn't make it the optimal approach! Seems like all kinds of extra work when instead you can set ATX up in a network mode and share the data easily that way.

On New Years Day, we were flipping channels and came across this: "If you did anything wrong, it's your own fault. You shouldn't have made out your own tax return. I told you to go down to the barber shop and get somebody to do it who knows how." Alice Cramden, The Honeymooners (1956) season 4, episode 28 "The Worry Wart"

I also added a remote deposit machine last year that scans checks and deposits remotely. The only time I need to go to the bank to make a deposit is when we are paid with cash. That is a rare occurance!

To determine if square is right for you, you have to anticipate the volumn of credit card transactions. At 2.75%, it is almost 1% higher than using a processor (like iTransact that ATX has a relationship with, which I use). So if you swipe $2,000/month, the fee with square will be $55, but only $38 with a service and terminal. Add on the $15/month fee, and you have found your break even point ($55 vs. $38+$15) is a little less than $2,000/month. If you charge less than $2,000/month, use square. If you charge more, square will cost you more money. I have also heard some concerns about the security with the square swiper. Have not done any research on that issue so don't know if it is a real concern or not. But if a credit card number that you swipe gets stolen - watch out. Finally, it is usually a violation of contract to add on a credit card fee. You can insetad establish your rate and offer a cash discount. This is essentially how the gas stations are getting away with it.

Here is the story on the IRS Return Preparer Office Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/VITYlQ Looks like ATX gets a few more days to work out all the bugs!

They just announced version 12.1 which claims to address (some of) the issues. I agree this has nothing to do with the fiscal cliff. I just hope these issues are all worked out before we start needing to prepare returns. We still have a couple of weeks before we start seeing clients.

Below are a few of the items in the 12.1 update (read the release notes for full details) · Performance Enhancements -- you will see an increase in the speed of opening returns · sfs.shell.loader.exe errors -- we have made changes to areas that were generating this area in known circumstances. This is a generic error (similar to "Your application has encountered an error and must close"). Users running on Winows XP will see a significant decrease in this error. · Reset Password for Admin Users -- If Admin users are inadvertently locked out of the system or forget the Admin password, they can use the Reset Admin Password link on the Login dialog to reset the password. See the Resetting the Admin Password (Admin Only) topic in Program Help. · Import .CSV Files into User Lists -- The Import functionality in itemized, text, or custom lists uses a general .csv import function used in other areas of the application to import existing data from a .csv file into your newlycreated text, itemized, or custom list. See the Importing Lists topic in Program Help. · "Save As" Function Added to Custom Lists -- The Save As button that appears on the Custom List Properties dialog allows you to save custom list properties as an .xml file that can be re-opened in the Custom List dialog and re-used to create new, customized lists. See the Creating Custom Lists topic in Program Help. · The SS User ID column was removed from the E-file tab of the Preparer Manager. The column is only needed for payroll forms · Note that organizers are printed out of the ATX 2011 software, not 2012. · Interviews-- We will be releasing the software feature that allows access to the Interview in the 12.1 update on January 2nd. However, the content for the 1040 interview has not been released yet due to pending tax legislation. We anticipate releasing the 1040 interview content by the end of January. You will see the following wording when accessing the interview prior to the release of the content. “We’re sorry. ATX interviews are not available yet. Please update your program often and check back soon.” · In the Jan 2nd update (12.1), you will be able to create a custom user list, save the template to be used in other returns and will be able to import your spreadsheets from prior year (through a CSV format). Next year ATX 2013 will roll over these custom user lists.

So when Jackson Hewitt says "no w-2 needed" it is really just a matter of semantics as they are actually getting and printing their w-2 electronically, and they are not filing off their last paystub. That would be nice if ATX supported that!