ATX TIPS, TRICKS, WORKAROUNDS

[jklcpa]

Please use this topic for posting tips, tricks and workarounds.

I'd suggest that we use either a larger font, caps, bold, or a bright color to make the subject of the tip stand out in case a discussion ensues within this thread, something like I've done above.

 

[Abby Normal]

Creating Links Between Fields

source: http://files.cchsfs.com/doc/atx/2014/Help/14.3/Content/Both-SSource/Creating Links Between Fields.htm

Use the Start Link and Finish Link feature to create a link between two fields on any form (including schedules and worksheets). This function, represented by the Start Link/Finish Link toggle button on the toolbar above an open return, links text or numeric values from one field (source field) to another field (destination field).

After a link has been established, changes made in the Start Link field are reflected in the destination field. When checking a return for errors (Check Return), the Finish Link field (destination) will be marked as an overridden field.

Start/Finish links automatically roll over from prior year or prior period returns.

To create custom links:

1. Select the source field.
2. Do one of the following:

• On the toolbar, click the Start Link button.
• From the Edit menu, select Start Link.

3. Navigate to the destination field on any form, schedule, or worksheet.
4. Do one of the following:

• On the toolbar, click the Finish Link button.
• From the Edit menu, select Finish Link.

If it takes longer than 40 seconds to finish the link, the request will be canceled.

Destination fields have a green background.

Creating links between fields: example of source/destination fields

Canceling Relationship between Two Linked Fields

To undo the link between two fields:

1. Place the cursor in the destination (green) field.
2. Do one of the following:

• On the toolbar, click the Restore button.
• From the Edit menu, select Restore Field.
• Press Ctrl+R.

When the green background disappears from the destination field, you know the link has been removed.

Exceptions: When Fields Cannot Accept a Link

The following fields cannot be linked:

• Input or Detail Sheets
• Itemized Lists
• Circular references or mathematical loops

Whenever a field cannot be linked, you'll receive a message that will alert you to this exception.

[Abby Normal]

Enter Zero for Business Use %

Enter 0.001 to make the business use % zero.

[Abby Normal]

Entering W2 info: Auto-calc Box 3 and 5 Social Security wages & Medicare wages

If you don't manually enter wages in Box 3 and Box 5, when you enter in Box 7 Social Security tips and/or Box 12 retirement amounts, Box 3 & Box 5 wages will be adjusted automatically.

[Lee B]

When logging into the ATX Board, if the stop sign pictures pop up, don't click on the sign posts.

[Abby Normal]

Customizing 4868 before rolling over extensions

Before we rolled over clients who have not come in yet, we customized 4868.

In Customize master forms, open 1040, 1040 EF, 4868 and Comparison.
 

1. On comparison page 2, enter some amount on line 63 Total tax in the Prior Year column (This field will be restored later)
2. Link line 63 prior year to 4868 tab 1 line 4. This will show you prior year's tax if you have the Comparison form as part of the return. You can override this when your doing the 4868 later. We usually round up to the next thousand.
3. On 4868 tab 1 line 7, enter zero. (Otherwise, line 7 will flow to the 1040 as if a payment had been made. 99% of our clients are not making a payment with 4868)
4. On 4868 tab 1, check the box, Lock amounts and carry payment
5. On 4868 E-file Info tab:

• Check Practitioner PIN
• Link Taxpayer PIN, Spouse PIN, Spouse ERO entered box to the same fields on 1040 EF Info form.
• Link Date Signed to 1040 page 2 date in paid preparer section at bottom.

       6. Enter your ERO PIN.
       7. On Comparison form, restore line 63.
       8. Save!

This saved us a ton of time efiling extensions.

[Abby Normal]

Marking created extensions in efile center

Find 4868 and and check the created box. Then you can mark all and transmit.

[WITAXLADY]

what do you mean find 4868 - put that in the title?

[Abby Normal]

On 9/14/2017 at 4:10 PM, WITAXLADY said:

what do you mean find 4868 - put that in the title?

Use the Find function on the efile screen.

[Abby Normal]

Persistent Login for various CCH Tax Research websites (Intelliconnect, CodeConnect & AnswerConnect)

If you login at intelliconnect.cch.com, there are 3 checkboxes to remember your user name, password and to remain logged in. If you check all 3 boxes, you will remain logged in at CodeConnect and AnswerConnect as well.

Just make sure you don't delete any cookies for cch.com and wolterskluwer.com.

[Abby Normal]

Move fixed assets to another return

If you need to keep the existing return, duplicate it and add the new main form (1120S, 1065, etc.) to the duplicate file and replace the old main form.

If you don't need to keep the existing return, just add the new main form.

 

[Abby Normal]

To free up disk space in Backups

ATX backups Companies and Payers thousands of times during the year. This can easily use 7GB of drive space. You really only need the last few backups.

You can find your backup folder by running Admin Console for that year's program. It should be in your menu or you can search for Sfs.ServerHost.AdminConsole.exe in Program File (x86). The Files Settings tab shows both your File Server location and your Backup Server location.

Go into the ATX 20yy Backup folder, and delete all but the last few (I leave 10 but really 3-5 is probably enough) and delete the thousands of unneeded backups.

If you do this several times during the year, ATX will start naming the files at (1) again, so the latest backup may not be the highest number. You can view the properties of the files to see which ones have the latest date.

I just did this for 4 years and freed up about 30GB of drive space.

[jklcpa]

Abby Normal post 1/9/2020:

 

37 minutes ago, Abby Normal said:

Keep in mind some of these are personal preferences. And I have some for MD if you do that state.

Caveat: With all the form changes, I may not have fully updated my list.

Note: If you open up just the EF Info form for any signature form (1040, 1065, etc.), then add the signature form, letters will open up. Then you can customize letter options to 'will be efiled', Custom name, etc.

1040     Check third party designee on page 2 Yes
    Check to print Filers Info
    Check to print Ln 1 Wages
    Check to print Line 8 Standard vs Itemized
    Check to print Line 11a Tax Calc
    Check to print Line 12a Child Tax Credit
    Check to print Line 16 Federal income tax withheld
    Check to print line 21 Other income
    Check to print line 48 Foreign tax credit
    Check to print AGI Split
    Check to print Earned Income
    Late Filing-Override interest rates as they become available during the year.

Sch B (1040) Check to print

Sch D (1040) Check to print Tax Wkst
    Check to print AMT forms

Sch E Page 1 Check No for Did you make payments that require 1099 on Tab 1.

Home Office Worksheet Don't print Home Office Info or Expense Input

1040 EF Check Practitioner PIN
    Check ERO entered for Taxpayer (only)
    Link Date signed field to 1040 page 2 date. (Can't do with new forms in 18)
    Payment and Refund tab: check to print if not already checked.
        Check No for Protection Plus
        Add text for signature and date (see text file) Book Antigua 12
    Maining Inst: don't print
    PIN tab: check to print
    E-filed Forms: check to print

1040-ES Options check Round to 100
    Payment options online or paper check
    Check to print IRS Estimate Wkst
    Check to print Options
    Don't print est worksheet
    Don't print SE tax worksheet

1099-DIV Detail tab Add 9 lines (total of 10)
    Uncheck Add to Payer Manager
    Leave cursor in line 1
    Print Summary

1099-G Don't print totals

1099-INT Detail tab Add 9 lines (total of 10)
    Uncheck Add to Payer Manager
    Leave cursor in line 1
    Print Summary

1099R    Detail Tab Add 4 columns (total of 5)
    Uncheck Add to Payer Manager
    Leave cursor in column 1
    Uncheck to not print Summary Totals
    Check to print Summary Payers
    Uncheck to not print Code Summary

1116    Check Income Reconcilation to print
    Check AMT Reconcilation to print

2848    Page 1 check box to receive communications
    Ln 3 Enter INCOME for description and 1040 for form
    Page 2 at bottom Designation: b Jurisdiction: MARYLAND Cert#: 13934

4868    Open 1040, 1040 EF, Comparison & 4868
    Enter an amount on Comparison line Total tax Prior Year column
    Link line 15 prior year to 4868 tab 1 line 4.
    Enter 0 on 4868 line 7. Trick: Enter 1 first then change to 0.
    Check box Lock amounts and carry
    Restore line 63 on Comparison
    Efile Info-Check Practitioner PIN
    Efile Info-Link taxpayer & spouse PIN to 1040 EF
    Efile Info-Check ERO entered checkbox for taxpayer
    Efile Info-Link ERO entered checkbox for spouse to 1040 EF checkbox
    Efile Info-Enter 4/1/yy for date signed
    Efile Info-Enter ERO PIN
    Payment-Check Paper check

8283    Add 4 records for total of 5
    Do the following for all 5 records
    Type of property: Household items and clothing
    Date acquired: VARIOUS
    Date of contribution: 12/31/yy
    Type of Charitable Org: 50%
    Description: HOUSEHOLD & CLOTHING
    Condition: GOOD
    How acquired: PURCHASE
    Fair market value: 600 (this makes 'Were goods...' question appear)
    Method: Thrift shop value
    Were goods or services exchanged for the donation: check No box
    Restore Fair market value field
    Donee Summary Worksheet Don't print
    Make sure you're in record 1 before savig and closing.

8582    Line 7 Mod AGI, check to print

8615    Check all pages to print

8949    Detail tab Add 9 rows (total of 10)
    Check to not print Gain(Loss) Summary

Bank Account Check use prior years
    Check show only jurisdictions in return
    Check personal
    Check No for foreign
    Check apply to all jurisdictions

Comparison (1040) Just keep open

IRA/Roth Wkst
    Mark all pages to print except SS With IRA

K1 Input (1065) Check to print PTP Summary & AMT
    Don't print Allowed Amounts and Carryover page.

K1 Input (1120S) Check calculate basis (Must have 1040 open for box to show)
    Set holding period to long-term for excess distributions in Basis section (Trick: enter
        name at top to get Basis section to appear.)
    In Basis Limitation section, check to carryover nondeductible expenses.
    Restore name field when done.
    Don't print Allowed Amounts and Carryover page.

K1 Input (1041) Don't print Allowed Amounts and Carryover page.

NOL     Mark all pages to print

W2    Detail Tab Add 2 columns (total of 3)
    Uncheck Add to Payer Manager
    Leave cursor in column 1
    Uncheck to print summary totals
    Check to print summary payers

W2G    
    Detail Tab Add 4 columns (total of 5)
    Uncheck Add to Payer Manager
    Leave cursor in column 1
    Uncheck to print summary totals
    Check to print summary payers

***************************END OF INDIVIDUAL FORMS*********************************

1041    Check May IRS discuss return with preparer
    Check to print Ln 11 Taxes

1041EF Print efiled forms

Sch D Print tax worksheet

Sch K1 (1041) Global Info: Print Page 2 K1 Codes
    Input: Entity Type I
    Print letter

1065    Check May IRS discuss return with preparer
    Options complete Schedules L, M1, M2
    Line 15 Bus Int Limitation Check box not subject
    Sch L Balance Sheet per Books: Uncheck to NOT print this worksheet

Sch K1(1065)
    Add 2nd record
    Global Info:
        Print Page 2
        Print K1 Codes
        Uncheck Print K1 letter
        Print basis statement
        Print basis summary
        Print capital summary
    Input check domestic partner
    Leave cursor on record 1

1065 EF Check Option (1) Using Practitioner PIN
    Check ERO entered
    Enter ERO PIN
    Link Date signed field to Date return prepared at top.
    Signing Inst: don't print
    PIN tab: check to print
    E-filed Forms: check to print

1120    Check May IRS discuss return with preparer
    Options Complete Schedules L, M1 and M2
    Pg 5 Q 24 Answer yes for business interest
    Sch L Balance Sheet per books Check to NOT print this worksheet

1120/S EF Check Option (1) Using Practitioner PIN (same form for 1120 & 1120S)
    Check ERO entered
    Enter ERO PIN
    Link Date signed field to Date prepared at top.
    Payment and Refund tab: check to print
    Mailing Inst: don't print
    PIN tab: check to print
    E-filed Forms: check to print

1120S    Check May IRS discuss return with preparer
    Options Complete Schedules L and M1
    Line 13 Bus Int Limitation Check box not subject
    Sch L Balance Sheet per books Check to NOT print this worksheet

Sch K1 (1120S) Global Info: Print Page 2 K1 Codes
    Uncheck Print K1 letter
    Print shareholders basis statement
    Input: Shareholder type I

1125-A Check Lower of cost or market
    Check No for question e: does 263A apply
    Check No for f any change in determining quantities, cost or valuations

1125-E Check to truncate officer's SSNs

Elections Deprec and Amort check box to Apply De Minimis Safe Harbor to Expense 263(a)
    Check box to Apply Safe Harbor for Small Taxpayers-Eligible Building Property 263(a)
    Blank Elections Copy/Paste from last year. Uncheck to print.

 

 

[jklcpa]

How to search for shortcuts:

On 8/1/2019 at 3:12 PM, DBerg said:

if you click the help icon in the toolbar () you will be taken to the help contents (I think it is the same thing that shows the release notes). Once this is open you can search for "shortcuts" and you should see all the Keyboard Shortcuts

I did not see anything for Next form or Forward, but I could have missed it.

 

 

[jklcpa]

SHORTCUTS:

On 8/1/2019 at 4:29 PM, Abby Normal said:

One secret code I just learned this year is F9 to recalculate.

A next form code would be great. I often use Ctrl+o to bring up a list of open forms to move between forms. It's especially useful to jump to 1040 (or first form) or fixed assets because Ctrl+o followed by up arrow and enter takes you to fixed assets, and Ctrl+o, enter takes you the first form.

Having a mouse with forward/back buttons on the side works for forward and back in ATX.

I use Alt+p to bring up the list of pages in a form. Hitting up arrow takes you to the last page, just like in the Ctrl+o list. I call this the mobius strip feature.

The user manual has most of the shortcuts.

One of the main selling points for me in ATX the ability to move quickly among the hundreds of pages in a tax return.

This is my list of ATX shortcuts on a stiky note on my screen:

ATX Shortcuts

(Ctrl+)
E Error check
F Add forms
I Itemized List
O Open forms List
P Print
R Restore field
S Save
T Add note
Z Undo

(Alt+)
P Pages of form
E,E Create efile
R,R Print page

F3 Form Instructions
F9 Recalculate

Above quote was taken from this topic here:  https://www.atxcommunity.com/topic/22308-are-there-atx-shortcuts-not-listed/

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by jklcpa
added link to other topic

[jklcpa]

For more info on a return's e-file rejection (note that Jack's response below related specifically to a dependent's SSN causing the reject)

15 hours ago, Jack from Ohio said:

Go to MyATX website.

choose e-file status

click on rejection information.

In the lower left corner of the box that comes up, will be the SS# related to the error.

 

 

[Abby Normal]

Most recent addition to my Customize Master Forms list:

8889    Stmt - Page 1 Link line 14c to 15 in both columns so line 15 Qual medical exp = distributions

I have never had one where the HSA distributions were higher than the medical expenses paid that year. I did this after a noob preparer entered a 1099-SA and didn't know to go to the 8889, so the taxpayer showed other income plus penalties!

[Abby Normal]

Pro tip: Delete the 1099G for tax refunds and just enter the refund on the worksheet, if it's even taxable. We haven't had one taxable yet this year, due to SALT limits or just not itemizing last year.

[Abby Normal]

Useful Function Keys

F2 Highlight entry toggle
F3 Form Instructions
F4 Mark/unmark as Estimate
F6 Jump to
F7 Crossreference
F8 Calculator
F9 Recalculate
Shift+Ctrl+F12 Deprec Calcs

[Abby Normal]

And, of course, F1 is Help like it is in almost every program.

[jklcpa]

Program has encountered an error and needs to close occurs in ATX because the print spooler fills up. Below is a procedure to clear the print spooler and avoid this error until the spooler needs clearing again.

 

On 2/18/2021 at 4:53 PM, HV Ken said:

Whatever you do, don't click on CLOSE PROGRAM. This will cause you to lose any unsaved work. Instead, "X" the error window, save your changes, then close the program as you normally would.

 

THEN, clear the print queue as shown below. Note that this will delete ALL print jobs in the queue and will restart the spooler.
 

22 hours ago, Abby Normal said:

You could put this in a bat file and put a shortcut to it on your desktop. Or even this more complete version that clears the cache too:

You can clear the print queue using commands like this.

Select Start.
Type Command.
Right-click “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator“.
Type net stop spooler then press “Enter“.
Type del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\* /Q then press “Enter“.
Type net start spooler then press “Enter“.

I found a batch file you can download:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/90615-reset-clear-print-spooler-windows-10-a.html

 

 

[Abby Normal]

Short Year Rollover for Final Business Returns

After completing the current year return, go to the Rollover Manager and select the Last Month/Quarter tab (it doesn't even look like a tab until you click on the words). Then find the return you completed and roll it over. When you go back to Return Manager, you'll see two returns with the same name, except one will have (rolled over) after the name.

When you open the return, you'll see that the beginning balance sheet matches the ending balance sheet for full year return and the beginning accumulated depreciation on all assets will be the ending amount from the full year return, and any carryovers will be correct.

Then, before doing anything else, enter the final short year dates on the main form. Prepare the final short year return as usual and efile it.