Updating forms

[Sandy in WI]

How does everyone update forms? Last year I was told to download all forms even for states that I don't use.

I used to just update the forms I needed.

I have been having problems updating and was told that they are working on a fix for this. At first they blamed my satellite connection but I had customer support remote in to see that I can update forms very fast in the 2009 program.

I would appreciate any help with this issue. I finally got the update for the program to work. Thanks in advance. Sandy

[Tax Prep by Deb]

I only update the forms that I need. At the end of the year I might do a complete update, but then again why update or install for the matter every state if you are only using one or two?

Just my thoughts, never had a problem doing it this way!

Deb!

[mcb39]

How does everyone update forms? Last year I was told to download all forms even for states that I don't use.

I used to just update the forms I needed.

I have been having problems updating and was told that they are working on a fix for this. At first they blamed my satellite connection but I had customer support remote in to see that I can update forms very fast in the 2009 program.

I would appreciate any help with this issue. I finally got the update for the program to work. Thanks in advance. Sandy

Hi Sandy! I only update the Fed and WI until I need another state such as MI or Mn or whatever. Update other state forms as I need them. This has always worked very well for me. Good Luck.

[bstaxes]

I also only update the forms I need for the clients I have. If a client needs a new state or has a new fed like a corp then I add these to the update. Why update and store what you don't need?

[MAMalody]

In my case I update all federal and state forms. My business is 100% Internet based and last year included 21 states and three out of the country. I would rather be up-to-date on all forms and not have to worry about it.

[Gail in Virginia]

I update them all; memory is cheap, and when I want a form I don't want to wait for it. But then I have never had much patience...

[JohnH]

You might want to update more frequently as well, especially during these early days. I've updated three times in the past two hours, and each update contained a full screen of forms on the update manager listing. Each individual update moved fairly quickly, but I'm thinking it would have gone much slower if I only updated once.

Like gail & Mike, I just keep everything updated even though I only use a few states.

[clay]

In may case I update all federal and state forms. My business is 100% Internet based and last year included 21 states and three out of the country. I would rather be up-to-date on all forms and not have to worry about it.

How do you go about setting up an internet based tax practice?

[MAMalody]

Well, in my case, I am a niche specialist. I only do clergy and religious workers tax returns. So I have a web site (currently being revised), and specialized segment marketing. In my case, denominational publications, etc. Of course, word-of-mouth is best. All of these indicate an e-mail address for contact. When I am contacted via e-mail, that is how I respond with a return e-mail specifying how I do returns. To be honest, if they don't want to do it over the internet, fax or mail, I refer them to someone else. I send out a privacy notice, engagement letter and tax organzier via e-mail. At the first I received most of my info 50% over the internet and 30% mail and 20% fax. Today I receive about 85% over the internet, 10% fax and 5% mail. Of course, the tax returns are sent out password protected and the returns are e-filed. I picked up 38 new clients last year with this basic method. Also, last year I put on another preparer because of the need. She does not have a full load yet, but that should change over the next few years. I have found that those under 40 or 45 seem to participate more readily in this method that those over 50. I can't speak for others but it works for me.

[clay]

Awesome. How do your clients send their info to you over the internet? Do they scan their documents and then send them to you? They aren't concerned about someone intercepting their records?

[MAMalody]

Documents that are sent via the Internet are normally scanned in and sent as an attachement to an e-mail. To my knowledge none has ever been intercepted. The Tax Organizer is sent via an e-mail attachment (it is sent as a word doc that they can fill out on their computer. Additional information or questions are answered via e-mail. Out of curiosity, I would be interested if anybody has personal experience that some document has been intercepted. Technically, that is a concern of mine, however, I don't know if it is in the real world.

[kcjenkins]

I update them all; memory is cheap, and when I want a form I don't want to wait for it. But then I have never had much patience...

One reason I download all forms is that when I need them, it may be for a year that is several years old, new client with back issues, etc. I don't want to find that it is 'too late' to be able to download that old year's forms. Ad stated, memory is cheap these days, keeping those extra forms available is not a problem, even if they are never used. The one or two that you do need to use several years later is worth more than the cost of the space to save them.

I had a client come in two years ago who had moved to 7 different states over the past 6 years, and had not filed at all for 3 of the years, and needed amending on all but one of the other years. Having the forms for all those states, for all the relevant years, saved me lots of time and aggravation, and impressed the client with the speed with which I was able to get him straight with all the states involved. My fee of course reflected that.

[clay]

One reason I download all forms is that when I need them, it may be for a year that is several years old, new client with back issues, etc. I don't want to find that it is 'too late' to be able to download that old year's forms. Ad stated, memory is cheap these days, keeping those extra forms available is not a problem, even if they are never used. The one or two that you do need to use several years later is worth more than the cost of the space to save them.

I had a client come in two years ago who had moved to 7 different states over the past 6 years, and had not filed at all for 3 of the years, and needed amending on all but one of the other years. Having the forms for all those states, for all the relevant years, saved me lots of time and aggravation, and impressed the client with the speed with which I was able to get him straight with all the states involved. My fee of course reflected that.

If the archive disk that ATX sends out after Oct 15 has all the forms, why bother to download them all? If the disk does not have all the forms, then there is some merit to downlaoding all the forms.

[Janitor Bob]

Every time I update, a small Spanish-speaking man runs out from behind my computer....performs a Mexican dance...throws a Chimichanga at me...then runs back behind the hard drive. It is a tasty and entertaining event...but it can be messy.

[Lion EA]

Every time I update, a small Spanish-speaking man runs out from behind my computer....performs a Mexican dance...throws a Chimichanga at me...then runs back behind the hard drive. It is a tasty and entertaining event...but it can be messy.

Wear a catcher's mitt so you don't drop as many chimichangas.