ATX steps backward from 2011

[grandj48]

ATX reached out and wanted to know what made this program worse than last year. I sent them a list of over 30 items, but I think we need to inform the rest of the community how many issues they created in their new iterration. I seem to find a couple every day. So lets post all the steps backwards for the rest to see.

[Mainetaxguy]

Only 30 items?!?

[Lloyd Hudson]

After the 15th me and mine could probably give them an evaluation of a 100 items that did not work correctly and none that did work consistently. Programs still crash on efile creation, forms do not update when reopening slooooow lost assets, poor communication within program, I am tired I am still a month behind

[joelgilb]

Is this ATX's way of pretending to appease us?

Personally I am not going to waste anymore of my time!

[Bob Hoffman]

Only 30 items?!?

After the 15th me and mine could probably give them an evaluation of a 100 items that did not work correctly and none that did work consistently. Programs still crash on efile creation, forms do not update when reopening slooooow lost assets, poor communication within program, I am tired I am still a month behind

Is this ATX's way of pretending to appease us?

Personally I am not going to waste anymore of my time!

ATX reached out and wanted to know what made this program worse than last year. I sent them a list of over 30 items, but I think we need to inform the rest of the community how many issues they created in their new iterration. I seem to find a couple every day. So lets post all the steps backwards for the rest to see.

Man, I must have gotten a different product than you four. WTH did I buy? It worked well. No stuff!!!

[Margaret CPA in OH]

Bob, you and I just got lucky, I guess. For that I am grateful, too. I had a few issues more than before but not much and only one thing that hasn't been solved - still hoping by the time I file in October.

[MDCPA]

Only 1 or 2 crashes entire season - stand a lone system - small practice - crashes occurred when changing printing options - otherwise not that bad. Hoping they get it all ironed out - love the product and price point.

[grandj48]

There are so many things that 2011 did that 2012 doesn't . You could just type V and various would pop up in 2011 - not in 12. IF you were a check the box designee it would fill in the form for the state in 11, not in 12. Hit efile and it will only give you the 12 efile errors to repair and then you have run it again to get the state. Software input and execution efficiency is measure by keystrokes required and 12 is much more intensive in the number keystrokes to get to the same place. Plus the really big issue is process time. For a test we did a return in 11 and 12 and it took 1/2 the time in 11.

[HUNTER]

THEY HAVE TOTALLY MISSED THE BOAT. HOW THEY CAN NOT BE THINKING OF GOING BACK TO 2011 IS UNTHINKABLE. TO TRY AND QUANTIFY THE REASONS IS MADDING.EITHER THEY DO OR WE GO TO ANOTHER VENDOR.

I AM NETWORKED WITH 6 STATIONS WINDOWS XP PRO. THE SLOWNESS IS UNMERCIFUL. TO DO EXTENSIONS OF TIME IS 10-25 MINUTES DEPENDING ON SIZE OF FILE. MOST FILES MY STAFF IS SAYING 20 MINUTES. WE ALL REMEMBER HOW EASY LAST TAX SEASON WAS WITH 2011 PROGRAM. MY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING NONSTOP TOP TRY AND MAKE UP FOR THE SLOWNESS. MY IT GUY SAYS THERE IS NO FIX TO THIS PROGRAM. WE ARE USING 12.11 SINCE WE WENT TO THIS WE HAVE SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE AND DO NOT DARE UPDATE.

HOPE YOU ALL GET THROUGH THIS AND I DO HOPE ATX IS LISTENING REMEMBER WITH 31,000 CUSTOMERS AT AN AVERAGE 1,400 PICK A FIGURE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $40,000,000 BUSINESS.

COMPETITORS ARE BEATING AT OUR DOORS TO SWITCH. I TOLD THEM ALL GOING EVALUATE IN JUNE.

[joanmcq]

12.13 is faster. But if your system is running XP, how old are the machines? ATX has always been a memory hog. My prompt to update is when ATX slows to a crawl. Last did it in 2009.

My extensions take about a minute to do.

[grandmabee]

minute to open return, add form, create efile, close return, and efile. really? you machine must be real fast. opening is so slow now with all the returns rollover and in manager.

[joanmcq]

I have less than 300 returns in the manager. But that includes adding the 8878 and creating a PDF file of it or printing it too. And creating the efile. I was zipping right along last night.

The thing that is slowing me down is the efile authorization for extensions. That's a pain in the butt. I'd have all the extensions done if I didn't have to send that to the client and wait for it to come back.

[grandmabee]

isn't it silly we can mail an extension without signature but if we want to efile we have to have an signature. I should just mail all and let them process them by hand. but I like have proof we filed extension

[Maribeth]

Well, back in the old days, I could sign the extension for the client when the 4868 required a signature. Now, I just efile the extension. I figure I still have the right to sign for the client and I am simply not going to go through the hassle of having the client sign. All of my clients going on extension know that I am putting them on extension so I have their 'virtual' signature anyway.

[jklcpa]

You don't need a signature if no money is being electronically withdrawn from the taxpayer's account.

[Maribeth]

Learn something new everyday!

[ari]

looking at my windows task manager

atx is using 519,136k

drake is using 6,652

i estimate i've lost over a month to atx this tax season;

i should be sipping pina colada's right now!

[joelgilb]

I know that not everyone had issues with speed, crashing etc, BUT I do not understand why you still don't have concerns with the new ATX, and are still not seeing things that need fixing. ATX removed a ton of important features that were part of the previous years software. These at a minimum should be on your list.

To name just a few:

1. Spreadsheets

2. Ability to Unprotect forms

3. Ability to Customize calculations

4. In Cell calculations

5. Import of Quickbooks

6. Import of W-2's

7. Full Featured FAM with complete history past and future (here I may be at a loss, since I now buy the Stand Alone FAM, I get that inside ATX also, so don't know what those of you that did not buy that see.)

8. Ability to make custom Modules and full featured Templates by integrating forms and customizing the links and formulas simultaneously. (I had personally built a custom incorporation package using several of the above features)

9. Ability to Export Forms to Excel (I used to find this feature invaluable now I have to download a PDF and laboriously create the form, and without the ability to link across to other forms)

10. Ability to see the Calc Sheet to determine both why something is happening and FIX programing mistakes quickly, before ATX can do the same (Multiple times I found I could manipulate the calc sheet to fix or add a feature - GONE NOW)

[Jack from Ohio]

I know that not everyone had issues with speed, crashing etc, BUT I do not understand why you still don't have concerns with the new ATX, and are still not seeing things that need fixing. ATX removed a ton of important features that were part of the previous years software. These at a minimum should be on your list.

To name just a few:

1. Spreadsheets

2. Ability to Unprotect forms

3. Ability to Customize calculations

4. In Cell calculations

5. Import of Quickbooks

6. Import of W-2's

7. Full Featured FAM with complete history past and future (here I may be at a loss, since I now buy the Stand Alone FAM, I get that inside ATX also, so don't know what those of you that did not buy that see.)

8. Ability to make custom Modules and full featured Templates by integrating forms and customizing the links and formulas simultaneously. (I had personally built a custom incorporation package using several of the above features)

9. Ability to Export Forms to Excel (I used to find this feature invaluable now I have to download a PDF and laboriously create the form, and without the ability to link across to other forms)

10. Ability to see the Calc Sheet to determine both why something is happening and FIX programing mistakes quickly, before ATX can do the same (Multiple times I found I could manipulate the calc sheet to fix or add a feature - GONE NOW)

Don't hold your breath!!!

[mcb39]

You don't need a signature if no money is being electronically withdrawn from the taxpayer's account.

I was glad to see this post because none of mine are signed either, but none of them are going to owe. They all knew they were going on extension. Still had people calling tonight. One lady said, "I have been calling you all day and it just rang and rang." I said, "That is because I had the phone unplugged." OH???????????

[SCL]

THEY HAVE TOTALLY MISSED THE BOAT. HOW THEY CAN NOT BE THINKING OF GOING BACK TO 2011 IS UNTHINKABLE. TO TRY AND QUANTIFY THE REASONS IS MADDING.EITHER THEY DO OR WE GO TO ANOTHER VENDOR.

I AM NETWORKED WITH 6 STATIONS WINDOWS XP PRO. THE SLOWNESS IS UNMERCIFUL. TO DO EXTENSIONS OF TIME IS 10-25 MINUTES DEPENDING ON SIZE OF FILE. MOST FILES MY STAFF IS SAYING 20 MINUTES. WE ALL REMEMBER HOW EASY LAST TAX SEASON WAS WITH 2011 PROGRAM. MY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING NONSTOP TOP TRY AND MAKE UP FOR THE SLOWNESS. MY IT GUY SAYS THERE IS NO FIX TO THIS PROGRAM. WE ARE USING 12.11 SINCE WE WENT TO THIS WE HAVE SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE AND DO NOT DARE UPDATE.

HOPE YOU ALL GET THROUGH THIS AND I DO HOPE ATX IS LISTENING REMEMBER WITH 31,000 CUSTOMERS AT AN AVERAGE 1,400 PICK A FIGURE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $40,000,000 BUSINESS.

COMPETITORS ARE BEATING AT OUR DOORS TO SWITCH. I TOLD THEM ALL GOING EVALUATE IN JUNE.

THERE IS NO GOING BACK TO 2011...GET OVER IT.

6 NETWORK STATIONS AND STILL USING XP...GO FISH.

UPGRADE TO WIN7 IF YOU CAN FIND IT...NO WIN8...IT WILL BE YOUR NEXT UPGRADE NIGHTMARE.

[Lloyd Hudson]

I can attest to fact that OS and or age of machines or servers has nothing to do with the interoperability of the software program.

In desperation we upgraded all 3 workstations to win 7 64 bit, with SSD, New server with ssd dedicated only to ATX 2012. Still agonizingly slow. Memory hog? this thing never releases memory, and approaching 1 gig it will crash every time. Lose track of what your intending to do, clients wanting whatif scenarios, not a chance. All in All, while I do not have final numbers and won't for a few weeks, I suspect that this program costs us 30,000 dollars this year. (and it is only April 15, 6 months to go)

[joanmcq]

I kept my task manager open on the other screen to check usage and restarted the program whenever memory got over a gig. With 12.13 it slowed at that point, but didn't crash unless I tried to open a second return, and then it just wouldn't open the second one.

[TaxCPANY]

I have less than 300 returns in the manager. But that includes adding the 8878 and creating a PDF file of it or printing it too. And creating the efile. I was zipping right along last night.

The thing that is slowing me down is the efile authorization for extensions. That's a pain in the butt. I'd have all the extensions done if I didn't have to send that to the client and wait for it to come back.

Likewise, so I went back to the 'old school' method of snail-mailing hard copies of Forms 4868 fronted with a letter listing all clients by name & SSN, in a single batch via USPS -- Certified Mail (but, now, "digitial" receipt requested). Saved me HOURS.

[grandj48]

We just ask them for an email with a 5 digit number - checked with my contacts at OPR and they said it should suffice.