JohnH

And to think, all these years I thought the term meant "Put" your money in the broker's bank account and "Call" it a day.

Would it be easier to print to PDF Factory and then rearrange it as you like?

Question answered. I got a "Restart" when I updated about an hour ago and it didn't try to reset this preference.

In thinking about how this preference change came about, it's important to note that it happened when the download required a "Restart". Now I'm wondering if this was a one-time event or if the preference is set to default back to automatic every time there's a "Restart" required. I guess we'll find out next time that happens. I have to say that overall the process has been very smooth for me. I downloaded the software (Max) from the web site last week and have updated onc3e or twice every business day. Haven't had any problems or issues (except for this minor one), and everything seems to be working just fine.

Eric: To hope that they would be selective about the Qur'an is a nice sentiment, but there's plenty of evidence that it simply can't happen. Bernard Lewis, among many other scholars, lays out some convincing evidence to back up that statement. I believe it is a grave mistake to draw parallels of this type between the three faiths. To me, it amounts to whistling past the graveyard.

I noticed that as well. I had updated earlier today, but when I updated a couple of hours ago the program restarted and during the restart it gave me a message that it was ready to start automatically updating whenever the program restarts. I rejected that screen and immediately changed the preference to prohibit it from updating except when I choose. I'll bet you thought that was the "Do You Want to See the Forms" query we always get and you accepted the automatic updates by accident. I agree with you - I only want it updating when I tell it to do so.

I decided to go a different route and just switch to Max because I use several other features of Zillion Forms in addition to W2/1099 prep. I prefer keeping the two modules separate, but I'll get used to it. On the bright side, the initial download & updates went fine (I didn't wait for the CD, just downloaded straight from the web site). Whenever you choose rollover, Max will automatically look in "1040 Office", so it's necessary to use the "Browse" button to make it look in Zillion Forms for rolling over business clients. Once you've done it a couple of times it's no big deal.

It would have been clear to them if they had been able & willing to study the teachings of their faith, rather than depend upon others to do that for them. As for us, we should always be willing to work together with friend or foe as individuals, but our government has a responsibility to recognize threats and take appropriate action against them. Labeling a mortal threat as "hysteria" is nothing more than a lame attempt to avoid the truth. Keep your head in the sand if you wish - I prefer to face reality. Incidentally, Bush's "Crusade" comment is frequently tied to Iraq, yet I recall that he made it around Sept 16, 2001. It was a terrible choice of words on his part, and it played right into the hands of the terrorists (just for clairty, those are the people we are fighting against in the "war on terror" that the left wants to pretend doesnt' exist). But can anyone provide hard evidence that he ever used the word in the context of Iraq, or is that just more of the anti-Bush hysteria we keep hearing? Incidentally, thanks for the confirmation - I'd been anticipating that it wouldn't be long before you'd start down the road toward blaming it all on Bush. I applaud the consistency that accompanies your hysteria.

I wish it were possible to believe that time might even things out. Unfortunately I don't hold out much hope for that happening, even in 200-300 years. It simply isn't possible to draw moral equivalence on this issue. Whereas the Crusaders were clearly acting in violation of the written teachings of their faith, the current crop of zealots is acting in complete agreement with the written teachings of theirs.

Yes, let's focus on the drunk, angry revelers & just ignore the religous fanatics intentionally killing innocent people because they believe they're on a Divine mission. After all, our government isn't capable of doing two things at once. What in the world does one of these have to do with the other?

You'll need to get your final answer from CCH, but based on what I see, you won't be able to prepare W2, 1099, etc with Intelliforms. All you can do is pull up a pdf of a single form and fill in employer info for a given client. (That's what they call a "Profile'.) You can't enter individual employees' information and print their W-2 forms or store information, unless you want to use it like a typewriter - one employee at a time. I think you now have to buy Max to get the capabilities which were standard Zillion Forms features in the past. Intelliforms simply does not offer the features which are basic to Zillion Forms - doesn't even come close. Now maybe it has other features which offset this deficiency, but I don't see any. I'm at a loss to understand what there is about Intelliforms that is worth the cost. If you learn differently, please post here so I won't be giving out wrong info.

The best way to encourage e-filing would be to announce they plan to audit 50% of all paper-filed returns. That's a statistic that taxpayers would understand immediately. Even if they didn't follow through with the plan, the mere suggestion that they intend to do it would achieve the desired purpose. (That MIGHT even push me over the edge).

Tom: Yes, looks like I'll be the last one to turn out the lights in the paper-filing room. The reason I say 100% of my clients will sign the Opt-Out form is this: Scenario #1: ME: Here's your opt-out form. CLIENT: Why should I sign it? ME: I don't e-file. CLIENT: OK Scenario # 2: ME: Here's your opt-out form. CLIENT: Why should I sign it? ME: I don't e-file. CLIENT: But I don't want to opt out ME: Here's your stuff. Bye.

I'm probably not going to make you feel better. In my other line of work I do a lot of business with small companies, most of which eventually grow into bigger companies or are bought out by their competition. It is a 100% certainty that the "economies of scale" they brag about will always be squeezed out at the expense of customer service at all levels - never fails. The new management always sends out emails and letters about how much their customers mean to them and nothing significant will change, while at the same time they're handing out pink slips. They can usually pull this off due to two important reasons: 1) the growth process eliminates competition so the customer has less choices, most of which are just as big and just as impersonal as the existing company; or 2) the new team functions as "seagull managers". They fly around making a lot of noise, crap on all their employees & customers, collect their bonuses, and then move on to the next buyout, leaving it to somebody else to clean up the mess behind them. The mess rarely gets cleaned up. However, none of this means that you should or shouldn't do business with the new company. I generally resign myself to accepting a lower level of customer service and focusing strictly on the performance of the product. Not because I like it or approve of it, but because that's just the way the business world works.

What do you have to lose? I just gave them $1,100 yesterday for the same product, so I'd say you are being offered a very good deal (unless there's some hidden provision such as it expiring on Apr 1, 2010 and they pull the plug on you with no warning. Nah, no need to worry - these nice folks wouldn't do something that crass & unbusinesslike).

Something that made the radio & TV reports today in my hometown. Jerry Orr, the plainspoken Airport Director for the Charlotte, NC airport was asked in an interview why there are so many delays in getting new security screening devices operational. He replied - "...it all boils down to who should be lookin' at you naked." Here's the link, and what really gives the phrase its punch is Jerry's classic southern accent. After the commercial ends, skip forward about halfway through the story. Jerry is the guy in the brown jacket. http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=128873&topVideoCatNoB=168978&topVideoCatNoC=135991&topVideoCatNoD=139409&topVideoCatNoE=139408&clipId=4417681&autostart=true

--> Your paranoia about "being manipulated into working as an extension of the IRS or a stealth auditor" is way off base. <--- You've got to be kidding... ========================================================== As for my comment about the "Opt Out", let me be more precise. If one is offered then I guarantee that 100% of my clients will sign it.

Keep drinking that Kool-Aid. Your government appreciates your full cooperation.

I agree with the above, but I'd also conference the client in when calling IRS. It eliminates one other potential obstacle (where's the POA?) and gives you a chance to say to the person at IRS "I assured (the client) before we called that you folks are reasonable when it comes to working out these situations." I've never yet had one to say "No we're not!".

Additional info if anyone is interested. From what I've been able to determine after several calls to CCH/Kleinrock and ATX, Zillion Forms as we know it is a goner. Despite the hype, Intelliforms has nowhere near the functionality of Zillion Forms. (I would say I'm surprised that their promo material was misleading, but I'd be lying). If you were using Zillion Forms on a standalone basis, you now have to buy Max in order to get the same functionality. Cost for Max is within $50 of the cost of Zillion Forms plus 1040 Office. So there isn't much price difference, but you can't keep the two separated as neatly (personal tax & business tax), as was possible using the old method.

Yes. Both your comments are among the many reasons I've resisted e-flinging all these years. If I wanted to become an agent of the government, I'd have applied for a job with the IRS. I'm not interested in being manipulated into working as an extension of the IRS or a stealth auditor, but that's clearly where this process has been headed since day 1. I was hoping the process wouldn't reach completion until after I retired, but it looks like the pace is stepping up. I'm prepared to jump on the bandwagon for the final few years if I'm absolutely forced to do so, but it will be for the sole purpose of preserving my small practice while preparing it for sale. Right now I'm just hoping there will be some sort of administrative relief - maybe an "Opt Out" form. If they offer it, then every one of my clients wil be signing it. We will see.

I think he missed at least one. My nominiation for #1 is the silly notion to force tax preparers to e-fling beginning in 2011.

Try entering "w2" without a hyphen or space. However, all that comes up is a blank single-screen form, just like the pdf you'd download off the IRS web site. No print options, no Uni-Form selection, and no way to enter data for multiple employees or to save data for future retrieval. I also loaded an 1120, filled in some info, and then loaded a NC corp form in the same client file. It ran out to the web to retrieve every form, but then didn't autofill the basic info on the state form when it opened. Looks like a joke to me - maybe I'm missing something...

Don't know how many on this forum have been using Zillion Forms as a separate package purchased through Kleinrock, but if so then you need to know there's been a huge change. I'm saying this assuming I understood what I was told this morning by customer support and what I've discovered after wasting half the morning fiddling around with the program. The promo information says IntelliForms from Intelliconnect is "essentially ZillionForms with some enhancements and a new name." and that it will be "almost identical to Zillion Forms". Well, the first "enhancement" I discovered is that it won't bring over employee information from the 2008 W-2 forms. It will import limited basic info for the "Profile" for the employer, but not the indiviudual employee name, ssan, address, etc from the prior year. Anything BUT identical, if my experience is any guide. If anyone else uses this setup and finds that I'm wrong on this major issue, I'd appreciate your correcting me before I cancel.

Thanks for clearing that up.