Tax Slayer Books

[erchess]

I am trying to get out my 1099 Misc Forms and quite aside from the fact that I don't yet have all the info from my client, I have hit a snag using my software. I would really like to talk to the folks at Tax Slayer but the number for both sales and tech support that I have, (888)420-1040, has been declared not in service all night. I emailed using the form on the Books website but that may have been after hours so perhaps I will hear in the morning. Can anyone post another number for Tax Slayer? Can anyone who knows how to use Tax Slayer Books PM me or email me a phone number so I can call you and get out of my dilemma? Failing that, is it still legal to do them on carbon forms with a pen. or must I find a typewriter? (Typewriter would most likely be do able but I would need to decide when I get up on Thursday that I am going to go that route whereas I could still do the hand route at four pm. I only have six to do. And I of course have until Feb 28 to work out how to mail to the IRS what they want.)

[JohnH]

Excel

This suggestion is probably too late to help you, but if you're handy with Excel you could do a spreadsheet that would drop the into into the proper places on the preprinted form. Just guess at the spacing, print a blank sheet, hold it up to the light behind the form, and then make adjustments until you get everything in the right place. You only have about six alignments to do. I'll bet you could get it all lined up in three or four passes. Then you'll have what you need to print the copies to send out and also the IRS copies.

[Bees Knees]

This suggestion is probably too late to help you, but if you're handy with Excel you could do a spreadsheet that would drop the into into the proper places on the preprinted form. Just guess at the spacing, print a blank sheet, hold it up to the light behind the form, and then make adjustments until you get everything in the right place. You only have about six alignments to do. I'll bet you could get it all lined up in three or four passes. Then you'll have what you need to print the copies to send out and also the IRS copies.

I use to do that years ago before purchasing CFS software. Excel works great, if you have the time for setting it up.

[erchess]

Thank you very much

I know how to click the icon and open Excel as well as anyone but after that I cannot claim to be handy with the program. I do have spreadsheets for my ongoing clients on which I keep up with billable hours. I don't even know how to make the program total the billable hours. I just bought three programs from CFS (not including their Payroll Program) so I may find something easier to use for that purpose.

The good news is that Tax Slayer has been in touch. I have an email complete with screen shots which answers all the questions I know of at this time and I have a message on my voicemail with their telephone number which is (706) 855-0350 and for Books Tech Support ext 241.

I have to say that as a guy on my own this board is a life saver. The one good thing about the storefront firm in which I started this business was the interactions with other employees. This board fills the hole that was left when I went out on my own.

[Nashville]

integrated Accounting

I am a big fan of TaxSlayer for its low price, and unparalleled customer support. I'm surprised you had a problem reaching them. They are not open 24-7, but are very quick to answer when they are open and their people know taxes.

Their "Books" program, however, is a bomb. I think if you stick with it, you will eventually learn how to use it, but the interface is terrible. You're going to have to spend more money to get a decent accounting interface with the tax program.

I use Excel, which of course is not associated with any program. But it is flexible to do whatever you want it to do, and you are not hostage to someone else's software package. You spend lots of time setting it up, but once having done that you can use the same spreadsheet formats for years and years with little change.

I haven't heard of the package used by Bees, but you might want to look into it. I believe the "grand master" of all accounting/tax integration software would be Creative Solutions, but it carries a Godzilla-like price tag.

[Peachie]

Just saw your post

Glad that you got an answer from Taxslayer as this is a good company for their technical support.

I have used Taxslayer for years and truly think it's a great program. However, I chose not to go with the books program after sampling it last year. Find that I could accomplish what I needed to do in Excel and categorize what I need with headings. I never have MY taxes done until October. Setting things up in Excel last year allowed me to have mine completely finished and ready to go this past Monday, January 28. Of course, not sending because I owe. At least I know how much already.

Peachie

[erchess]

The Truly Sad Part

is that I don't use Tax Slayer Pro for my tax program so I have no integration with anything. I bought. However, tech support has been wonderful and I have everything worked out as far as the program goes.

[oceanlovin'ea]

Books program

I used Taxslayer Books for a couple of years and didn't like it at all. I finally just put everyone on QB and that is what I use now.

BUT you can purchase the Books program for a lower price and just use it for W-2's and 1099's.

I used it this year to do that and it worked fine. I was able to process and print out 151 for 1 business and 88 for a second business owned by the same person. Then I have several s corporations with 1 employee so I did all of them.

For me it was a cheaper way to go.

Linda F

[JohnH]

Excel

Here's a suggestion about using Excel for populating any type of form that isn't avaiailable in your software (or one that you can't get to) in a pinch.

Just type in some information in the approximate place you think it should fall on the form. Print it and hold it up to the light with the fill-in form over it. Begining with the left-most data, get an idea of where the fields need to be, and drag the column widths left or right until they line up horizontally. (You can do this by placing the cursor on the right-hand side of the column heading or the heading of the column to the immediate left of your target column, press & hold the left mouse key, and drag left or right as needed). Sometimes you may also need to delete a column to the left of each target column to get this initial alignment correct.

Print another blank anrd repeat the above as needed. With a tiny bit of practice you should be able to get this done with three tries at most.

Adjust vertical alignment from the top down by using the same dragging motion for row heights. You may need to delete or insert rows to get this right. Print a blank & repeat the above process of holding it up to the light. Again, you shold be able to get this right in two or three tries.

For a form such as a 1099, it is possible to complete that whole process in less time that it takes for me to type these instructions.

Also, you can copy & paste repetitve info (such as employer name, address, etc) without having to retype it on each form.

[erchess]

Problem I hsbr with QB

I used Taxslayer Books for a couple of years and didn't like it at all. I finally just put everyone on QB and that is what I use now.

BUT you can purchase the Books program for a lower price and just use it for W-2's and 1099's.

I used it this year to do that and it worked fine. I was able to process and print out 151 for 1 business and 88 for a second business owned by the same person. Then I have several s corporations with 1 employee so I did all of them.

For me it was a cheaper way to go.

Linda F

is that I was told in Accounting Class that this program allows only one inventory method. Has that changed?

[oceanlovin'ea]

Don't know

I don't have any companies that have inventory. Well, one does. But only use one method. So I can't answer that question.

Linda F