BulldogTom

1. Schedule E for the partnership K-1 2. Check the box and put the new LLC on a Schedule C, unless she wants to be a corporation. 3. Rental info on the Sch E like you said. It is how I would do it. Tom Lodi, CA

I would love to stay with ATX, but I don't think it is going to happen. My understanding is (and the ATX staff can confirm or deny) the management of CCH Small Business is mostly from the TaxWise side. That is why we have Taxwise support people in Georgia instead of ATX in Maine. Your goals are admirable, but from what I have read in my tea leaves, this is not going to get better, and I am preparing to bail immediately when this season is over. And I will not promote their product for them until they treat me with a bit of respect. The last minute gotcha fees, the pulling of the support board, the support layoffs... none of it is something I would tell a friend to sign up for. Just my 2 cents. Tom Lodi, CA

Beth, Even if you decide that you have not started a business, all is not lost. First, those items that have a useful business life of more than 1 year will be depreciated begining the day they are placed in service. That deduction will not be lost, just postponed. Other costs, what we call start up costs, can be recouped with a §195 election. From your post, it seems like you might be able to get all of it through the first year expensing related to that section. If I remember, up to 5000 of start up costs can be expensed the first year of the business. The rest is capitalized and amortized over 15(?) years. Throw in a §179 election on the assets that are purchased, and you may be able to get a deduction for all of the costs associated with starting the business in the first year. Just a few more thoughts to consider. Tom Lodi, CA

I just did too. Wonder what will happen? Tom Lodi, CA

Beth, When a company is open for business is a facts and circumstances situation. Jainen has given you a lot of the factors that could be used to make that call. JB has done so also. Being open for business is one of those things that you know, but are not always easy to prove. Remember, you have to prove it to the IRS. Personally, I would ask - "On what day could I have walked up to your hubby and got him out to my party the next night?". If he could not have done that in 2007, he probably was not in business yet. If I can't call him today and have him at my party tomorrow (unless he is booked somewhere else), he probably is not in business yet. You are responsible for your own tax return. This is a place where you will have to work with your preparer (or make the call yourself if you are going to do this on your own) to make the best possible decision for you in light of your facts and circumstances. Keep posting here, we all owe you for your help and will do our best. If you are not comfortable with putting your tax situation in the public view, pick a couple of us whom you trust and send a personal message through this wonderful web site Eric provided. I can't speak for everyone on this board, but I would guess that we would line up to help you (or any of you ex-ATX techs helping us out). Tom Lodi, CA

We ought to all email the tech gap and tell them the truth. But then, we are not corporate america and would not be believed. If we were enron, they would believe us. Tom Lodi, CA

Awesome Dude! Congratulations. My best to you and your family. Tom Lodi, CA

I am not sure that it works that way in CA. We routinely accept a post dated check (the refund cycle chart date that they expect their refund). I have never heard that it was unenforceable. In fact, we have prosecuted a bad check and been paid by the county after the district attorney collected. That was a post dated check. I don't remember any language like you mention. Perhaps it is a local law for you. Tom Lodi, CA

Wow, KC. I have never heard you talk like this. I am one of the "hotheads", not you. I am supposed to be the one who claims the "sky is falling". If you are voicing the possibility that you might leave, ATX is history. The queen has dropped her pom-poms. Let me know where you go if you leave after this year. I am still looking at Drake, but have not been able to pull the trigger. Tom Lodi, CA

I have not run into this in a couple of years, but I remember like Eli. It was one field and the first - initial - last name all went into that field. If it was too long, you took out the initial, then all the letters but one in the first name, and then started pulling letters out of the last name. It may have changed. Tom Lodi, CA

Rita, How much of the content does CCH update for you, and how much do you update yourself. BTW, that is a pretty cool site. Tom Lodi, CA

Eli is the MAN!!!! LMAO. Elegant and to the point. Tom Lodi, CA

www.trctax.com Not very fancy. I need to update it. I have it just to say I have one. Nothing more than a vanity plate right now. It might turn into something later. Tom Lodi, CA

The $10 RAL transmission fee that has had me up in arms lately is even worse. ATX is taking it from me, not adding it to the client fees. Here is how it works, and you can test it yourself. I put in a simple return 1040, HOH, 2 dependents, CTC, ACTC, EIC and a RAL. My fee for prep is (for argument sake) $100. I have an add on of $10 for the application added automatically via SBBT, and there is the $10 fee for ATX. But here is the kicker......... When you go into the SBBT RAL application, ATX is doing some funny math, and my prep fee is only $80!!!!!!! They are taking there freaking transmission fee out of my prep fees!!!! And my addon for the RAL application. ATX MAX....Everything you need and no hidden fees..... YEAH RIGHT!!!!!! Am am as mad at them as I have ever been. This is just not right. Why are they playing these games this year? Now for the solution to this problem....override your fee in the application. Where ATX puts in $80 where it should be $100, just override it and put in $100. I have not transmitted a return yet, so I am not sure this will work. If not, I assume I can just up my prep fees by the amount ATX is stealing and my application fee. Just a heads up to the rest of you. Tom Lodi, CA

eeeeewwwwwwwww that smell.... can't ya smell that smell... eeeeewwwwwww that smell... the smell of death surrounds you.... Whisky bottle...brand new car...oak tree your in my way... there's to much coke...and too much smoke...look whats going on inside you.. eeeewwwwww that smell... I think that is how it goes. Tom Lodi, CA

It seems like a lot of you are registered for E-services with IRS. I have not because I just don't want to go through another hassle of setting up ANOTHER account, probably with a password, only to get spammed every day with a bunch of crap. Is e-services worth the hassle? I would like my letter, but that is the only reason so far that I would need to register for e-services. Anyone who would like to share their experiences? Tom Lodi, CA

Thanks Danielle. I forgot that I can't have a return open. DUH! Tom Lodi, CA

Help please. I want to make some chages to the billing master. Make some permanent choices (bill by form, show forms on front page of invoice). I do it every year and I think I forget how every year. Can someone please refresh my memory? Thanks Tom Lodi, CA

I just went in to check the printing on the checks and it said I was not enrolled. How did I get checks if I did not enroll? Had to go through the whole process again. New passwords (I think we should all use CCHsucks123 as our passwords - everyone of us), re enter all the info again, everything I did back in Novemeber. This must be ATX's way of keeping close tabs on who is on the websites. Then I had to run the test print and allow 2 installations of programs on my computer. This is scary. When this goes down, we are not going to get any help. Tom Lodi, CA

I got my checks today. Using SBBT. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am getting really scared about CCH. This is another "last minute suprise" from them. We are a couple of days away from starting the e-files and bank products, and they are just laying this "new process" on us. And it is not within the software anymore, but their secure website. It is out of our hands. I think this is going to be the worst season ever for bank products because of CCH greed. And what happens when the server or secure login does not work? Who will support this - let me give you a hint, they don't live in Carribou anymore. There will be no support. The phones will go dead just like the board last year. I am really worried. I am bailing on them as soon as this season is over. I cannot take this kind of stress from a corporation that is just greedy and treats its customers like they own them. I should have bailed on this company in June like I planned originally. Tom Lodi, CA

I think we all appreciate those of you who are helping out. Very sorry to hear that you were let go. CCH is making a grave mistake IMHO by letting so many outstanding Customer Focused employees go. But you are always welcome and appreciated in our community. Tom Lodi, cA

Thanks Beth. I am not happy about this, but I appreciate the response. Tom Lodi, CA

Nicole, Please allow me to beat a dead horse here. Is the $10 fee applied to any bank product, or is it just RAL's. I am putting my price sheets together and would like to make full disclosure about the transmission fees going to ATX to my clients. Thanks. Tom Lodil, CA

Are you thinking of the Federal Agency that clips federal tax refunds? I don't remember the name, but it is a code that you get when a refund is less than expected. Tom Lodi, CA

You are a great assistance, and I really appreciate your time on the board. If I sound perturbed, and slam ATX, it is not because of people like you, William, Kerry, etc, etc. The sales and support staff were always great. But management has got me stirred up right now. Thanks again for your input. Tom Lodi, CA