software

[TAXMAN]

Has anybody loaded it yet (2015) and your take on the installation and running overall aspects of the program?

[Jack from Ohio]

Way too soon to make any judgments about the program.  Patience.... Patience.... Patience....

[rfassett]

Just finished the install via the download center on server first and workstation second.  Installed without a hitch.  Opened on the workstation without a hitch.  Rolled over my personal return without a hitch - except it is way, way too early for any of the forms to be available - so I thought.  Turns out quite a few forms ARE available - at least in draft mode.  I have not had a chance to do anything in the program other than set it up.  But so far so good.

Not sure I have the same level of confidence in the payroll compliance module.  I installed it on the server and attempted a netsetup on a workstation and got a message that a file could not be found.  I installed the program directly on the workstation hoping that would install the requisite file.  Tried the netsetup again and got a run time error.  Tried to update forms first on the server and then on the workstation and it hangs at 51%on both of them.  I guess I will have to call tech support next week.  Let me re-emphasize, this has to do with the payroll compliance software.  The tax software installed and updated without a hitch.

Wait - taking Jack's advice, I let the forms update on the payroll compliance software hang at 51% instead of closing it out and it has now gone to over 70%.  Patience is a good thing.  None of us like it when it applies to us - but it IS a good thing.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

[NECPA in NEBRASKA]

I sent a message to my rep, because I was unaware that I was paying for 5 concurrent users for a 1 person office. I just ordered what I had before and didn't see that I was paying for more than I needed.

 

[Jack from Ohio]

54 minutes ago, rfassett said:

Just finished the install via the download center on server first and workstation second.  Installed without a hitch.  Opened on the workstation without a hitch.  Rolled over my personal return without a hitch - except it is way, way too early for any of the forms to be available - so I thought.  Turns out quite a few forms ARE available - at least in draft mode.  I have not had a chance to do anything in the program other than set it up.  But so far so good.

Not sure I have the same level of confidence in the payroll compliance module.  I installed it on the server and attempted a netsetup on a workstation and got a message that a file could not be found.  I installed the program directly on the workstation hoping that would install the requisite file.  Tried the netsetup again and got a run time error.  Tried to update forms first on the server and then on the workstation and it hangs at 51%on both of them.  I guess I will have to call tech support next week.  Let me re-emphasize, this has to do with the payroll compliance software.  The tax software installed and updated without a hitch.

Wait - taking Jack's advice, I let the forms update on the payroll compliance software hang at 51% instead of closing it out and it has now gone to over 70%.  Patience is a good thing.  None of us like it when it applies to us - but it IS a good thing.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

Before you do netstetup again, temporarily disable your anti-virus.

[Lee B]

There are some posts on the ATX Board with error messages about  having the wrong version of .Net Framework

which is halting the installation. The strange thing is that according to the posters they have a newer version of

.Net Framework than the error messages are specifying.

[easytax]

Loaded ATX 2015 into primary and backup computers (both stand alone not networked) without a hitch.  All form downloads went well, etc.

Rolled over 40 returns to test and with one error on my part, all went well but seemed to take a bit longer than prior years. The error on my part was to roll over everything after I had set preferences and such in the program. ----- HINT: since I was also rolling over my ERO and Preparer information with doing that FIRST, alone with any clients; I now have to do extra clicks to put that information into the returns already rolled over - when I open them to complete them.  HINT/HINT: roll over your ERO and preparer information first, then the full returns, etc.

One thing noticed on the returns rolled over --- although I had chosen states, the program initially said I had to add the state/local forms as a PRS unless I specifically chose them as my choices (I have a 1040 program with three states). Once I told the program I did want the states as a default; then the forms downloaded OK.

The second item (still being figured out by ATX) was while setting up "options", "preferences", under "return manager", "Tax Research Login Credentials" there is a section that states:  Your ATX package includes a CCH ® IntelliConnect ® subscription. If you don't know your login, request your CCH IntelliConnect registration email to get started.  I did as instructed last evening and today received an email giving name and acct number for IntelliConnect but no password, etc.  --- Upon contacting ATX support, they said they would track things down and call me ---- still awaiting, etc. ---- DID not know I had this with my package, so am totally lost here.

Other than the two above (one mine, one ATX) ATX 2015 is off to a decent start.   But as Jack and others state --- still way to early.

       Have a good Thanksgiving and an excellent tax season.

 

[Jack from Ohio]

I will not even load the program till Nov. 30.  More important things to do!!

[Randall]

15 hours ago, Jack from Ohio said:

I will not even load the program till Nov. 30.  More important things to do!!

Same here Jack.  I'll probably wait until mid-Dec.

[Randall]

15 hours ago, easytax said:

but seemed to take a bit longer than prior years

I have a DSL connection.  I was thinking of getting a fiber optic connection.  Not sure how much additional that will cost.  Anyone have fiber optic and notice a big difference in speed regarding downloads?

[easytax]

On ‎11‎/‎25‎/‎2015‎ ‎9‎:‎38‎:‎00‎, Randall said:

I have a DSL connection.  I was thinking of getting a fiber optic connection.  Not sure how much additional that will cost.  Anyone have fiber optic and notice a big difference in speed regarding downloads?

Your connection speed (currently whether copper wire or fiber optic) is based on what your ISP allows to pass through to your system.  Therefore a fiber optic could be as slow/fast or faster than what you have now but depends on what you are paying for. This would be true even if you had a "TOTAL" fiber optic from your ISP to your home (most homes might have a feed to the distribution point but typically are still now copper wire from the feed to the home and in most cases, copper wire throughout the home, etc.

Here is an article on li-fi (still some years away but something being worked on) --- : http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/light-based-li-fi-internet-boasts-speeds-100-times-faster-than-wi-fi/ar-BBnrQ3z?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=U147DHP .

In my area cable ISP is faster than DSL but that is due to the phone system who is the DSL ISP in this area. Just a few miles down --- a different ISP (FIOS) has a stronger and faster DSL offering for a bit less money.  It currently comes down to your supplier and the speed you pay for --- just be sure you will get all the "bang for the buck" they offer. In the case of fiber optic --- if your building does not have the "fiber", then that will be the throttling point with the final segment to you be only as fast as that segment can carry -- which may not be fiber speeds.

With that said, maybe the cost of running a full fiber system right to your computer(s) may be feasible --- only cost and availability can tell.  

Depending on what  you do --- do you really need more (currently) than maybe 15 Mbps Download / 2 Mbps Upload or 100 Mbps Download / 5 Mbps Upload ? (these speeds are from my ISP - cable modem)?  For most of my small business needs these suffice --- but again --- it depends on your needs.

Have a good season and a GREAT Thanksgiving.