Tax Insanity: Taxware Systems Can Help

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The definition of insanity is an interesting one; some people might say insanity is staying up until all hours of the night doing something that you enjoy. Another group might say insanity is having the courage to do something others are too timid to try.

Admit it, most of us fit into one or both of these categories, but when it comes to tax preparation business, we need to think seriously about another, more troubling type of insanity– doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result–and how it affects your office as a tax professional.

One example of this insanity would be being willing to wait three hours for technical support over the phone. Many times as I have gone to trade shows and various events, tax professionals have told me that it is too hard to change because it is time consuming or they are already too familiar with their old program, but in the same breath the preparers say they suffer from slow tech support who have them hold for three hours or more or never get a call back. With Taxware Systems, you will never be waiting on the phone for hours. Even in peak tax times you will always get an answer and be greeted with courteous, fast and friendly service. Added Bonus: In the same three hours that tax professionals are on hold with tech support from other companies, preparers can learn the Taxware Systems user-friendly software.

Another example of tax insanity would be pricing. While vendors often sell their software at a heavily reduced price or even give out their software for free, the question arises, “How are they making money?” The answer: hidden fees that you could be paying. They make their money in many different ways, including bank product fees, e-File fees, bank technology and support fees, among others. Added Bonus: Taxware Systems is proud to be one of the few, if not the only, tax software company that does not charge bank transmission, bank technology, support or other hidden fees.

One last example would be struggling with software. I have heard from several tax preparers that they don’t want to switch because they don’t want to figure out a new program, and yet these same tax professionals struggle because the program that they have does not have everything they need or they do not like how certain forms or schedules work with their current software. Here’s a tip: There’s nothing wrong with taking time to learn something new, and even though change can be scary, Taxware Systems will be there to help you through the learning curve. The program and our support team can take you from the beginning of a tax return to e-filing and printing. With our fast, user-friendly software and helpful tech support, you can’t lose. Added Bonus: Thanks to our brilliant team of programmers, we are taking a great program and making it better! With a brand new client grid, live preview of forms and schedules and side by side Taxware Systems and IRS validation among other features being tested in 2016, the improved software is bound to get returns done faster and you on your way to things you want to do.

So, instead of tax insanity and business anxiety, why don’t you give us at Taxware Systems a try? With our fantastic client support, no extra fees and a great program, we can help you have a wonderful tax season and beyond.

To find out more, give us a call at 1-800-877-1065 or email us at sales@taxwaresystems.com and we would be happy to help you!

Click here to check out our video!

5 Ways Taxware Systems Helps Tax Professionals

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Running a business, especially a tax preparation business, can be daunting. Whether you’re a small office with a high volume of returns or a large service bureau with complex returns, or a combination of both, Taxware Systems is here to help.

Here are 5 ways we at Taxware Systems can help your business grow:

  1. Reduce Cost

Many software vendors offer their software for free, but they will be making their money in other ways: bank products, e-File fees, support fees and fees in the fine print of your contract are just a few examples. Taxware Systems is proud to be one of the few, if not the only, tax software company that does not charge bank transmission, support, or any “other” fees. The money that you are spending to get other vendors’ software for free will go directly to you, the tax professional.

2. Reduce Time

Taxware’s intuitive dual entry software decreases the amount of time it takes to complete a tax return, but it doesn’t stop there. With a brand new client grid, live preview of forms and schedules and side by side Taxware Systems and IRS validation being tested in 2016, the improved software is bound to get returns done faster and get you on your way to doing things you want to do.

3. Sanity

January through April is a crazy time for us in the tax industry. That’s why we at Taxware Systems have knowledgeable, confident technical support to help you answer questions on your toughest returns. You will not be waiting hours on the phone to get a live person; even our sales representatives are trained in technical support for greater customer satisfaction.

4. Security

Taxware Systems has been in business since 1979, and has never bought or sold to another tax software company. We are based in southern California, and even as our name spreads across the United States, we do not rely on overseas support to help our clients. We have one-on-one relationships with our clients and make sure that everyone is informed and up-to-date.

5. Ease of Use

Taxware Systems prides itself on a fast, user-friendly software. The software walks you through the beginning of a tax return all the way through e-filing and printing. Networking? Not a problem. Our staff can help you choose the best option for your needs. We also have free training and online tutorials to get your office up and running for the tax season and beyond.

Want to Learn More? Email or call us at

sales@taxwaresystems.com

1-800-877-1065

New Features Have Arrived!

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The Taxware Systems software is being upgraded! Thanks to our brilliant team of programmers, we’ve taken a great program and made it better. We are really excited to show you some of the brand new features, including:

  • Brand new client grid: All the information you need in one place!
  • Adjustable screen size with a modern, clean look
  • Live preview of the form you are working on
  • Side by side Taxware Systems and IRS e-File validation

We also have…

  • No technology fees
  • No e-File federal or state tax return fees
  • All-inclusive package
  • The fastest, most practical program on the market

Click here to watch the video!

Questions? Email or call us at 

sales@taxwaresystems.com

1-800-877-1065

Top 5 Taxware Systems Tech Questions

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Here at Taxware Systems, we want to help you finish your toughest returns quickly. To do that, we went straight to the source, our great tech support crew, to get your questions answered.

Q: How do I get acknowledgements?

A: Using the A2A system, acknowledgements can be retrieved using Get Acks from the Individual Tax Menu. After selecting Get Acks, the program will connect to the A2A server and download the acknowledgements. At this point you will be prompted by the program to print the acknowledgements. *For step by step instructions regarding IFA acknowledgements, please see the e-File tutorial found here: http://www.taxwaresystems.com/videos.html.

Q: How do I reprint acknowledgements?

A: You can reprint acknowledgements from the ELF Tracker. Once the Tracking Report is open, select the client whose acknowledgement you would like to reprint. The client’s detailed e-File information will be displayed on the right hand side, under the Expanded Information heading. Select the Fed Ack Name field. A button will appear on the right hand side of the field. Clicking the button will present a prompt to reprint the acknowledgement. The process is the same for state acknowledgements, except you will select the corresponding State Ack Name field.

Q: Where can I see the status of my e-Filed return?

A: We recommend always using the ELF Tracker on the Individual Tax Main Menu to track the status of your e-Filed returns.

Q: Where did my data go?

A: Check your data path in Data Folder on the Individual Tax Main Menu to ensure you have the correct data path. We recommend that you keep the default data paths that are already set up in the program, but if you are networking or have changed them, make sure to talk to your network administrator to find out what data path you are using.

Q: What does this rejection mean?

A: Go to the Summary Menu in the Individual Tax program and Validity Checks. If the indicator is red, it means that the return is likely to reject because of errors in places like basic information. If the indicator is yellow, it means that there are warnings that you should probably look into, but may not be immediately rejected, such as missing preparer information or missing state information.

Double click on the error that you see in the list and you will be directed to the form or schedule where the error was found. Once the error is fixed, it will disappear from the list in the Summary Menu. Continue down the list until your validity indicator is green. Once the indicator is green, the software has not detected any further errors.

Have More Questions? Please feel free to call our tech support team at 1-800-877-1065 and ask for any available technician. We would be happy to help you!

Bank Products and How They Work

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Bank products, or refund transfers, can be confusing at times. Here at Taxware Systems, we want to make sure that the options available are clear to you as a tax professional. Bank products can be used as a tool to help you gain more clients, expand your business by offering more services and ultimately make you more money.

What is a bank product/refund transfer?

A bank product/refund transfer is a service that allows you, the tax professional, the option of having your preparation fees taken out of the client’s refund.

How does it work?

Money is routed from the IRS to the Refund Settlement Bank of your choosing, and then the bank distributes your preparation fees directly to you, the tax professional. Simultaneously, the bank issues the taxpayer’s refund via check, direct deposit, or prepaid card.

Are bank products mandatory?

No, but it can be a great option for your office and your clients.

How does it benefit me, the tax professional?

A bank product ensures you, the tax professional, will receive your preparation fees. It will also help you expand your business by offering more services than other offices, and free up your time to focus on gaining more clients rather than collecting payments. In addition, it will give you the opportunity to make more money.

How does it benefit my client, the taxpayer?

The bank product service makes paying for tax preparation fees that much easier. With this service, taxpayers that can’t afford to or don’t want to pay upfront for your services can still get their taxes done in your office.

How much do bank product services cost?

Contact the Refund Settlement Banks, as their disbursement fees may vary. Taxware Systems is proud to be one of the few, if not the only, tax software company that does not charge bank transmission, bank technology, service bureau or any “other” fees. The only cost is the refund settlement processing fee from the bank.

Which banks does Taxware Systems integrate with?

We integrate with Santa Barbara (SBTPG), Refund Advantage and River City Tax Division. For more information, please contact Taxware Systems at 1-800-877-1065 or the banks directly.

Santa Barbara (SBTPG):                  Refund Advantage:                                River City Tax Division

https://www.sbtpg.com/       https://www.refund-advantage.com    http://www.rcbral.com/

1-800-779-7228                           1-866-876-6648                                            1-270-547-5151

Have More Questions? Please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-877-1065 and we would be happy to help you!

 

 

“What Does this Rejection Mean?” Reading Schema Validations

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Have you ever wondered why your return is rejecting but your numbers and amounts are correct? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to read schema validations in the Taxware Systems software program.

To Read Schema:

  • Go to the Summary Menu page and Validity Checks. If the indicator is red, it means that the return is likely to reject.
  • Click on Validity Checks. Any errors picked up by the software will be indicated in red or yellow and will be in list form. Red means that the return is likely to reject because of errors that will be tagged by the IRS, such as errors in basic information. Yellow indicates that there are warnings you should probably look into, but may not be immediately rejected, such as missing preparer or state information.
  • Double click on an error in the list, and you will be directed to the page where the error was found. Once the error is fixed, the error will disappear from the list. Continue down the list until the validity indicator is green. Once the indicator is green, the software has not detected further errors, and you should be able to transmit the return.

To Read the X-Path:

On the validation page where the list of errors is located, click on the right hand top corner “Federal” or “Sate”. This is another type of validation called the X-Path.

Validation Error: The element ‘PreparerUSAddress’ in namespace ‘http://www.irs.gov/efile’ has incomplete content. List of possible elements expected: ‘AddressLine1Txt’ in namespace ‘http://www.irs.gov/efile’.

XPath: Return\ReturnHeader\PaidPreparerInformationGrp\PreparerUSAddress\
Location of error: Line number 40 at position 28.

The validation error in this example is saying that the preparer address is incomplete. To read the XPath shown above, you see that the information is in the Return (Tax Return), Return Header/Preparer Information Group (The preparer information is where the error is located generally), and preparer U.S. address (The preparer information where the error is actually located).

Once the error is found and fixed, the error will disappear from the error list, and then you can continue down the list until your validation indicator is green. When the indicator is green, you should be able to transmit the return.

Have More Questions? Please feel free to call 1-800-877-1065 and ask for any available technician.