ATX Software

[Black Bart]

Zip & Support

I've had trouble using 3 1/2 drives to move files from one computer to another also. I ended up purchasing two external zip drives - one for each computer. This solved the problem since a 100mg zip can hold several large ATX tax return files.

I didn't realize that ATX support was in India. I haven't called support in two years because I never received practical answers to my questions. There were cases where I called support and I new more than the support tech. The biggest downside to ATX is the lack of support. When I do have questions I usually post the question on the ATXers web forum.

Ahem...sorry to reveal my ignorance, but...what's a zip drive and where do I get one?

Re.: India--Not all their support is there. Sometimes you get an American, but about 2/3 of the time you get an Indian. You can simply say "I'd like to talk to someone in the United States, please" and they will transfer you. Unfortunately, even though they're easier to understand and don't read responses right out of the manual, they generally don't have any answers either. They just tell you the latest thing their superiors have told them to hand out. The one used most is this: "Have you downloaded the latest version of such-and-such?" And, yes, it's not unusual at all to know more than the support person you're talking to. Dang, I miss Lacerte. I never got anybody less than EA quality there.

I'll try checking with other posters to their forum. I didn't do that at all this year because the first year I had ATX, they, unbeknownst to me, subscribed me to their message board and it was literally filled with hundreds and hundreds of junk emails. I couldn't find the answers they said they had emailed to me. That's another standard dodge, by the way, to get you off the phone by saying they'll email the answer to you, which, of course, is not worth two cents.

[Matt Sova]

How do you get anything done??

Let me get this straight, with ATX you have to know which forms you have to put the amounts on? Then go to each form and enter the amounts??? How do you possibly get anything done? That, as I have always viewed it, has always been the problem with inexpensive tax software. Inexpensive = inefficient. Now if I can knock out a return in 30 - 40 minutes due to the efficiency of my software and bill $225 for the return, I'll take that every day over billing the same amount for a return that takes me 90 minutes to complete but I saved $2,500 on software.

Matt

[Hoosier]

Zip

Ahem...sorry to reveal my ignorance, but...what's a zip drive and where do I get one?

I would describe a zip drive disc as a 3 1/2 floppy on steroids. The external drive plugs into the USB port on most computers. I purchased my externals for around $100 each. A 100 meg disc is maybe $12. You can buy the external zip drives at most office supply stores such as Office Depot or Staples. I've seen them at Sam's also. The zip discs can be found at these same retailers and also K-mart, Wal-mart, etc. Moving files is as simply as using a 3 1/2 floppy, just a different drive letter on your windows explorer. Hope this helps.

[Chief]

Direct E-filing to IRS

Linda,

The modem is no longer necessary to file direct to IRS. You can use your cable modem now. I think maybe this changed last year (2004).

I like TS Pro ' s software because it makes you remove many of the rejection causes before going any further with the return.

[veritas]

Disks

It sounds like you need a network for your office. Have you looked into connecting your computers?

[OldJack]

Let me get this straight, with ATX you have to know which forms you have to put the amounts on? Matt

Matt.. ATX has what they call the "Interview" for newbees that goes step-by-step telling you what to enter and putting it in the proper place. For a pro it is worthless and slow. Input on forms is fast and you know it is in the right place when you put it there and see it calculate on the form and related forms. Many of the forms have "input" screens like turbotax or a database such as input for Sch-D automatically puts all those entries on the correct short term or long term continuation schedules.

All forms open in your return has a tab on your screen as would an excel spreadsheet so going to say Sch-D is just a click on the tab or if you are on the 1040 pg 1, you can click on the line where the total from Sch-D is shown and it will take you to the form. You can click on almost any total amount and it will take you to where it came from. Entering directly on the forms should be much faster than software that doesn't. ATX gives you a free demo of the previous year if you would like to try it but it does take a huge amount of your hard drive and memory to run. You could find out more on the ATX website.

A good thing about ATX-MAX is that EVERY form used by the IRS and most State forms and free efile are included at the same price of about $1,000. Therefore you can do all types of entities and as many returns as you wish, such as corporation, trusts, estates, W2 & payroll reporting, 1040s, etc with the same program.

[veritas]

Anyone of you wonderful people tried Drake?

I had Drake one year in conjunction with Lacerte. We wanted it because it was more advanced at that time for electronic filing. Lacerte improved in that area and it no longer made sense to have two programs.

[sea-tax]

Speaking of backing up files have you all tried , Jump drives instead of zip or cd. I purchased a 2 gig jump drive from office depot and backed up 400 or so clients personal and corporate etc and it worked great. They are so light and easy to carry around, most come with a cord you can slip around your neck.

Just a thought, typically they can hold more info that the other forms of media backup.

[Unregistered]

Backup

We found tape drive is the best way to go for our office. Each night an entire backup is done on one tape. We alternate different tape for each day. The latest one is always removed from the office. Had an aquaintance who's office burned down but he had offsite backup thankfully. I needed to retore a client file the other day and program worked flawlessly.

[Black Bart]

Takes a courageous

Anyone of you wonderful people tried Drake?

tax preparer to do that--it's kinda risky.

Didn't you read the post from unregistered on the other thread complaining that, if you buy Drake software, they'll send you a (gasp) Christmas card?

[Black Bart]

No, well...hmm...how to

Let me get this straight, with ATX you have to know which forms you have to put the amounts on? Then go to each form and enter the amounts??? How do you possibly get anything done? That, as I have always viewed it, has always been the problem with inexpensive tax software. Inexpensive = inefficient. Now if I can knock out a return in 30 - 40 minutes due to the efficiency of my software and bill $225 for the return, I'll take that every day over billing the same amount for a return that takes me 90 minutes to complete but I saved $2,500 on software.

Matt

explain it? Well, I cayn't, but Old Jack gave a good explanation above anyway. It's not inefficient, it's just inexpensive. Besides, you Yanks can get away with $225 for 30 minutes--it's more like $22.50 here.

[Black Bart]

Veritas

Where do you come up with all those sayin's (Semper ubi sub ubi)? And I thought I was bad to try and grab attention. Okay, I give up! What's it mean? Always buy Subway?

Translate this: ouyay angday howoffsay.

[Black Bart]

sea-tax / jump drive

Speaking of backing up files have you all tried , Jump drives instead of zip or cd. I purchased a 2 gig jump drive from office depot and backed up 400 or so clients personal and corporate etc and it worked great. They are so light and easy to carry around, most come with a cord you can slip around your neck.

Just a thought, typically they can hold more info that the other forms of media backup.

Is that the same thing as what they call a "flash drive" or a "memory-stick?" I saw those at Wal-Mart for about 30 bucks and they're about the same size as a large cigarette lighter.

How does it work? Do you just plug it into the back of the computer and call it...hmm...drive...what?

[Matt Sova]

you dang showoff

Where do you come up with all those sayin's (Semper ubi sub ubi)? And I thought I was bad to try and grab attention. Okay, I give up! What's it mean? Always buy Subway?

Translate this: ouyay angday howoffsay.

see title.

[Black Bart]

Showoff? Them's fightin' words.

see title.

Ingrate! I just held up for you (see Ultra-Tax thread).