BulldogTom

They should be taxable to the reciepient and deductible by the payer. Tom Hollister, CA

I am having a problem with the client letter. When a client selects fee collect, I can't get the "where's my refund" IRS.gov verbage paragraph to print on the letter, even though I have the box checked. The issue is that the client still wants to know when to expect the refund, and with IRS.gov being the only resource, they have to know where to find the expected date of the funding to the bank. This decision to suspend the refund cycle chart sucks on the part of the IRS. It doesn't help that the ATX letter sucks as well, and trying to explain all this crap is costing time and frustration. Any help on getting this into the letter is appreciated. Tom Hollister, CA

what you can do is use a list. They still have that feature. Put 5 on line 1 and 15 on line 2 and at the bottom it will show 20. Tom Hollister, CA

You know the client that comes in and what they tell you, and what the kids say that the parent hopes you won't hear doesn't add up? Like when she says they have not lived together all year, and the little girl asks if "Daddy is going to be home tonight" on the way out the door. I fired her. We were hoping they would not come back. She called to make an appointment and I told her no. She was not happy. I feel great. Tom Hollister, CA

Hobby income and expense netted and put on line 21. Cannot show a loss. Tom Hollister, CA

How much can she pay for you to represent her at audit...because it is likely to be coming when you find the code for Horse Racing in the schedule C. If she wants to roll the dice and give you a retainer up front, take the position. Let her pay you for the audit as well. Found money. Tom Hollister, CA

I think you need to check all the 8867 answers on your return. Be certain you are checking all the boxes. This is the first year the 8867 has gone with the return through e-file. The things that error is saying all look like the questions on the 8867. That is the best advice I can give you. Tom Hollister, CA

Pleasantly suprised so far. Only the EIC with no child issue cost me one return (and I don't like that client anyway - he is the daddy of my great nephew - so I do the return - but I charge him full price and will continue to until he puts a ring on my niece's finger - but that is beside the point). Supposedly the EIC thing is fixed as of today. All my other Fed and CA came back likity-split. May be some salvation to this year after all. Tom Hollister, CA

Dude, not trying to be mean, but Turbo Tax is a competitor to all of us on this board. We could give you the answers, but almost every person here will expect to make their living off of the amended returns you are going to have to do after you hose this return using TT. You don't know what you don't know, and that is what is going to get you in trouble. Tom Hollister, CA

It was a bug in the EIC form according to ATX board Michelle. She says they fixed it and when you download the latest form it should not happen again. Will check and see later today. Tom Hollister, CA

It has to do with the EIC form and 8867. There is something in the form the e-file does not like. They are having big problems with this at ATX right now. Tom Hollister, CA

Same set of rules as for any other business... expectation of a profit?, appreciable assets? run in businesslike manner? books and records look like a business set of books? advertising? expertise in the field? prior success in other similar endeavors? significant amount of personal pleasure or enjoyment? degree to which they seek professional help? These are the factors that they look at for any business that they suspect is not being run for profit. I have been told that IRS does not believe anyone who is operating a horse racing or car racing endeavor is in business. Tom Hollister, CA

Taxpayer is low income and qualifies for EIC even though no children. The return rejected in E-file for no children associated with form EIC. Anyone else have this rejection? Tom Hollister, CA

And now it works....at least on the one return I have where Sch. C depreciation was incorrect, it is now correct. This is a simple sch. c return. Tom Hollister, CA

I think we ought to, as a matter of principal, file and amend every one of our client returns this year. With the new MeF, we can e-file the 1040X, so why not test their system to the limit. I think 3 or 4 amends per return would be a good workout for those A-holes in Washington. Let Congress know that they really screwed the pooch this year. Break their system and let them live with the results. Tom Hollister, CA

But the IRS is not issuing refunds (or so they say) on the test returns. Tom Hollister, CA

We have been finding the same thing. Rolled over billing does not work. Must delete and reselect. Also could not make the billing work when I tried to customize it to always bill by form and print forms on the invoice. Made the software shut down, so I am clicking the boxes every time. Then tonight, I was reviewing my billing for the day, and one of my invoices came up with a totally different amount for my EIC form charge. The other 4 returns had the right amount, but this one was $5 more. Weird stuff happening in CCH LaLa land. 5 returns with the same form in them, 4 charged correctly, one for an extra $5. I really hope they get some of this crap fixed soon. I can't charge enough for this kind of frustration, and it is not my client's fault the software sucks. Tom Hollister, CA

Printers are old, but drivers are up to date. Had to update the drivers to get them to work with win7. Came up with a work around. Use PDF Complete which is on my computer and not the delivered ATX 2012 PDF printer and it works fine. But can't get it to show that printer on the filing copy in the print mangager, so I used the preparer copy, picked the PDF Complete printer, told the software I did not want to use the ATX 2012 PDF printer when the caution came up, and it worked like a charm. This software is really quirky this year. My wife had a good quote a few minutes ago "It seems like we are working harder for this software than the software is working for us." We did 6 simple returns today. Very simple. Took most of the day. I am bushed and these were very simple returns. Tom Hollister, CA

My ATX PDF is coming out as scramble forms. Nothing is legible. Any suggestions? Need to send these returns to clients for review for e-file. Tom Hollister, CA

2012ATXSUCKS, Is the software ready....good question. I have about 6 very simple returns waiting to go up this weekend for e-file on the 30th. Are they correct? I hope so. The tax and credit amounts look right to me, but I did not check them by doing the return by hand. Is the software ready to do a complex return...I don't think so. I am barred from filing my own return because of fixed assets. I have a couple returns 90% done, but they have depreciation and it is wrong. Will the software be able to perform by the time the IRS lets us e-file - my guess is yes it will. I think they are using the time they have right now to make the other forms work and pushing off the things they know can't be filed anyway. This software has a history of good performance, but the new package is not getting high marks. Tom Hollister, CA

ATX2012SUCKS, This may be a question of symantics, but are you "importing" or "rolling over" the returns from 2011 to 2012? And are you talking about the fixed assets in the tax program, or do you use the stand alone fixed asset product? Knowing these answers will help with answering your questions. There are lots of problems with 2012 depreciation calculations right now. However, I am not personally seeing any changes in the conventions or methods in the fixed asset worksheet on rolled over returns. It is just that the software is not currently calculating the right depreciation amounts. Tom Hollister, CA

Actually, it is now called a line of credit. Up to $1000. But it locks the taxpayer into doing the return with HRB. Slick marketing. And if you don't like the results of the return they prepare when you do get your W2, you have to pay back the $1000 plus pay them the fees associated with the line of credit, and pay a minimum fee for the unfinished tax return. Tom Hollister, CA

The problem with CCH is that I don't go in there from March through December. When it is time to order, I go to the website because they make me. I get all set up, get my bank app done for fee collect, and if the software works, I never come back except early in the year to check on form release dates or to see if a particular problem is solved. I can't remember to go in every 90 days for a once a year vendor and change my password. They should recognize this and work with other enhancements. I don't have to change my bank card PIN every 90 days. Tom Hollister, CA

I can still do simple payroll (5-10 employees) on a spreadsheet. For how much longer is the question. Tom Hollister, CA

Thanks for reminding me. It is getting close to asparagus season and bacon wrapped asparagus is one of the greatest dishes ever created. Tom Hollister, CA