Release 2011.01w now available.
Initial installation for the year must be from the disk we send you at the beginning of the tax season.
You can therefore update to release 2011.01w on-line only if you have already installed
an earlier release for the 2011 filing season (2011.pre through 2011.01v).
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TIP: Before executing these downloads, exit Tax Preparer by closing the Tax Preparer Control Panel.
If you do not, you will encounter an error message indicating that HSPrnTax.EXE is being used by another process,
and the update will not be completed.
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The downloads on this page are only for Tax Preparer for Form 1040 returns.
Downloads for the Partnership Edition for Form 1065 returns are found on the
Partnership Downloads page.
Downloads for the California Supplement for Form 540 returns are found on the
California Downloads page.
e-file information. If you purchased e-file transmission software for the current filing season,
you can download it from our e-file Alerts page. Although the desktop icon (labeled EFI2010)
is similar to previous years, the software is now a web-based program that uses NTS's Atlas web software.
You can set up the software and send provided test returns to make sure you are ready for the next
release of Tax Preparer, which will be capable of generating e-file output (Standard and Premium Levels only).
Current downloads. In order to use these downloads, you must have already installed
a prior release for the 2011 edition of the Form 1040 software. Just go to the level you installed
and click the link. Your prior installation will be updated to 2011.01w.
Economy Level.
To update the Economy Level to release e2011.01w, click the following link:
Update Tax Preparer 2011 Edition Economy (e2011.01w).
(For details on the changes, see Changes in Recent Releases below.)
(5,078 KB) (revised 10/7/2011)
Standard Level. To update the Standard Level to release s2011.01w, click the following link:
Update Tax Preparer 2011 Edition Standard (s2011.01w)
(For details on the changes, see Changes in Recent Releases below.)
(5,993 KB) (revised 10/7/2011)
Premium Level. To update the Premium Level to release p2011.01w, click the following link:
Update Tax Preparer 2011 Edition Premium (p2011.01w).
(For details on the changes, see Changes in Recent Releases below.)
(6,269 KB) (revised 10/7/2011)
Documents released by IRS after we released 2011.pre and 2011.01. IRS forms and publications contained on our CD-ROMs for release
2011.pre reflect IRS releases up to January 5, 2011, and those for release 2011.01 reflect IRS releases up to January 16, 2011.
To check for subsequent IRS releases (and revisions to prior releases),
go to the IRS web page IRS Forms and Publications.
(HowardSoft on-line updates do not add any more IRS Forms and Publications.)
How to download into Tax Preparer. In order to make your downloads of IRS forms and publications
accessible from Tax Preparer,
right-click each link to an IRS form, instruction, or publication
and choose Save Target As..., then save the file to C:\TAX\DOC2011. You will then be able to access
the forms for on-screen viewing while using Tax Preparer by clicking Documents
on the floating menu bar of the Tax Preparer Control Panel, then Forms and Publications.
(If you installed Tax Preparer in a folder other than C:\TAX, the default folder,
you will have to replace C:\TAX with your own folder when you Save Target As above.)
(updated 10/7/2011)
Release 2011.01w differs from release 2011.01v as follows:
- Schedule SE: Calculation of line 3 (for short or long method) revised to omit the subtraction of Form 1040, line 29,
when there is no amount on line 1a or 2. This change conforms with a caution in the IRS instructions and prevents the
new deduction from applying to the Option Method(s), since the law (from the year-end tax bill) did not make such a provision.
The change affects only a Schedule SE that bases the self-employment tax only on the Optional Method(s).
- e-file form: Last few screens of form revised for better clarity.
- Screen 7:
- Direct Deposit Info: Instructional text revised to clarify where direct deposit information is entered and why.
DIRECT DEPOSIT USED? capitalized for emphasis (which is now, and always was, answered YES only if you have an amount on
line 74a of Form 1040 and you have made required entries on lines 74b, 74c, and 7d of Form 1040).
- Direct Debit (ACH ) Info:
Entry for 'Requested pmt. date' now automatically formatted in the standard mm-dd-yyyy format.
Auto-calc line DIRECT DEBIT USED? added at bottom of screen, with a YES answer given only all of
the following conditions are met:
- You have an entry for 'Amount to be paid' below line 76 of Form 1040.
- You have answered YES to 'Use Direct Debit if amount due' on this screen of the e-file form.
- Your entry for 'Requested pmt. date' lies in the current filing year.
- Your entry for 'Routing transit number' is no less than 9 characters.
- Your entry for 'Bank account no." is no less than 5 characters.
- Your entry for 'Account type" is greater than zero.
- Your entry for 'Daytime phone" is no less than 10 characters.
- Screen 8:
- Former screens 8 and 9 combined into one screen for better clarity, with a heading that makes it clear
that the information relates to Form 8879.
- Part II revised for better clarity, including instruction to enter taxpayer PIN(s) on next screen.
- Part III heading revised to remove reference to paid preparer and improve aesthetics.
Release 2011.01v differs from release 2011.01u as follows:
- Schedule B printout aesthetics improved by omitting from official printouts
any 1099-INT Worksheets that have no amount from box 1 or 3
of Form 1099-INT. (Such worksheets may have important information used elsewhere in the return, but they have no information
for Schedule B printouts.)
- Schedule M and Form 8812 earned income calculations modified as follows:
- For farmers with Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payments in line 6b of Schedule F,
the amount is no longer included in earned income if the amount is exempt from social security tax
(for those who also received social security retirement or disability benefits,
as indicated on screen 2 of Schedule SE).
- For those who removed from the return a schedule with earned income (Schedule C, E, or F)
without first having removed all income entries from that schedule, the earned income from the removed schedule
no longer affects the calculation of earned income.
- CAUTION: For either of these changes to take effect in a return created with a release prior to 2011.01v,
you must change an entry on Form 4562 (not its worksheets), press Enter, then change the entry back to its proper value.
- Form 4562 printouts and e-file output modified as follows:
- When your answer for line 24a shows No on the screen, but lines 28 and 29 have no amounts,
the No box is no longer checked on the official printout, since Form 4562, Part V, Section A
does not apply (because there is no depreciation nor section 179 expense to report).
- If you have a blank Form 4562 in the return, the blank form will no longer lead to an e-file rejection
with ERC 0030 in FRM 4562.
- CAUTION: For either of these changes to take effect in a return created with a release prior to 2011.01v,
you must change an entry on any Schedule SE in the return, press Enter, then change the entry back to its proper value.
Release 2011.01u differs from release 2011.01t as follows:
- Schedule E graphics changed to correct page references in accordance with a recent correction from the IRS.
(Affects Standard and Premium Levels only.)
- Schedule A supporting statements no longer printed with complete return when Schedule A is not used for Form 1040,
line 40. For an e-file return, this change averts the error Statement reference STMnnn not found! (for STM017 through
STM023), which could formerly be averted only by detaching or removing the supporting statements from Schedule A
(or removing Schedule A itself).
- Form 2441 supporting statements no longer printed with complete return when Form 2441 itself is omitted
due to no credit, no benefits received, and no taxable benefits.
For an e-file return, this change averts the error Statement reference STMnnn not found! (for STM072 through
STM075), which could formerly be averted only by detaching or removing the supporting statements (or removing Form 2441).
- Schedules C and C-EZ changed to prevent e-file rejection by the IRS (ERC 0092 in field 0197 of Schedule C or C-EZ)
when your answer to the question below line 1 (Ln 1 lower than 1099-MISC) is YES. (Paper returns were unaffected.)
- Schedule C and Forms 2120, 2555, 4137, and 6198 changed to avert potential e-file errors when more than one copy
of the form exists for the return and a supporting statement exists for the form.
An e-file error of the form Statement reference STMnnnX not found!, where nnn is a 3-digit number and X is a letter
from A to J, could formerly arise and prevent the creation of e-file output.
- Form 2441 changed to avert the e-file error NOT eligible for Elect Filing due to supporting statements
when trying the generate e-file output for a return with a claim on Form 2441 for expenses incurred in 2009 but paid in 2010.
The error could also lead to the side effect Error #2: Error accessing file E-FILE\TS11xxx.LDT. The system cannot find the file specified.
Program will abort.
- Tax Forms Guide changed by adding instructions for the two lines that follow line 1 of the on-screen Schedule C.
Instructions for these lines relating to Forms 1099-MISC received were inadvertently omitted from prior revisions of the manual.
Release 2011.01t differs from release 2011.01s as follows:
- Schedule J added to all levels.
- Form 4970 added to Premium Level.
- Form 8283 e-file errors averted for those who indicated receiving a Form 1098-C or equivalent statement
to support the donation of a vehicle. (ERC 912 and 913 are averted as well as ERC 0010 in field 0168 of SUM.)
TIP: For a previously-created Form 8283, after installing release 2011.01t you must change an answer
on screen 3 of Form 8283, then change the answer back, in order to enforce the change.
- Other e-file errors averted, including the possible omission of HSH and SCH flags for Form 1040, line 7, caused
by ill-advised support for HSH and SCH lines (ERC 0010 in field 0366 or 0372 of Form 1040),
and a possible format error when supporting documents are indicated on
more than one Form 8885 (ERC 0010 in field 0171 of SUM).
- Printing of Schedule A support revised to avert a potential error (ER 5 / LN 30948) when printing support
for line 11 using the Mortgage Interest Worksheet.
- Clarifying changes made, including a revised on-screen instruction for screen 1, and the prevention of
a negative entry for "PRIOR-year unallowed loss" on Rental/Royalty Worksheets for Schedule E.
- Tax Forms Guide revised with minor changes in details for Schedule J and Form 4970.
Release 2011.01s differs from release 2011.01r as follows:
- Schedule A printing (and e-file output) changed to omit page 2 when not need (when you choose to print the complete return at once).
- Form 3800 printing (and e-file output) changed to print whether a credit is shown in the total for line 8 or line 30
(when you choose to print the complete return at once).
Formerly, only a credit in line 8 would cause the form to be printed, but credits not liable to tax liability limitations are
reflected only on line 30.
- Form 3800 auto-create now ensured when the return includes a Form 8834, 8936, or 8941.
Those forms were previously omitted from the auto-create code, so no credit from these forms would be reflected on Form 1040
unless the return already had Form 3800 or the preparer created the form.
- Missing spouse name for a married filing jointly filing status now causes INVALID F/S OR MISSING DATA to be answered Yes
at the bottom of screen 4 of Form 1040, page 1. This action will prevent an e-file output from being generated for this incomplete return.
Release 2011.01r differs from release 2011.01q as follows:
- Form 8839 added to Premium Level.
NEW: Specific documentation must now be attached to the return.
Furthermore, the IRS is not allowing
returns that contain a Form 8839 to be e-filed this year because they are not ready to
handle the new documentation requirements through the e-file system.
- Form 8859 added to Premium Level.
NEW: You must now identify the property for which you are claiming a 2010 credit
in a special supporting statement.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect the new forms, added to all versions.
Release 2011.01q differs from release 2011.01p as follows:
- Form 5884 added to Premium Level.
- Form 6478 added to Premium Level.
- Form 6765 added to Premium Level.
- Form 8586 added to Premium Level.
- Form 8846 added to Premium Level.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect the new forms, added to all versions.
Release 2011.01p differs from release 2011.01o as follows:
- Form 8910 added to Standard and Premium Levels.
- Form 8834 added to Premium Level.
- Form 8936 added to Premium Level.
- Form 1040 printing problem, which affected only Economy and Standard Levels, corrected.
Formerly, line 70 of Form 1040 (from Form 4136) was not being printed on the official printouts.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect the new forms.
Release 2011.01o differs from release 2011.01n as follows:
- Form 3468 added to all versions of the software.
- Form 3800 added to all versions of the software.
- EIC calculation refined to avert a potential inaccuracy described in Technical Change Notice
TCTP1101.
- e-file errors averted by omitting Schedule R when no credit results and ensuring that
Schedule F e-file output always includes line 11.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect the above changes.
Release 2011.01n differs from release 2011.01m as follows:
- Form 2210 added to all versions of the software,
including Schedule AI and Form 2210-F.
- Form 8885 added to the Premium Level of the software.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect the above changes.
- Tax planning enhanced by extending the repeal of phaseout of itemized deductions and exemptions
for high-income taxpayers to 2011 and 2012. (It was already built into tax year 2010 calculations.)
Release 2011.01m differs from release 2011.01l as follows:
- Form 1040X added to all versions of the software.
- Form 4255 added to the Premium Level of the software.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect the above changes.
Release 2011.01l differs from release 2011.01k as follows:
- Forms 8814 and 1040-ES added to all versions of the software.
- Forms 8801 and 8853 added to the Standard and Premium Levels of the software.
- Form 4835 e-file error averted (ERC 035 in field 0334 of Form 4835).
- Indexing rate on Control Form for tax planning updated to the actual indexing of 1.47%
(corresponding to tax rate schedule and other changes provided in IRS 2011 release of Form 1040-ES).
- Tax Rate Schedule for 2011 updated in accordance with the 2011 Form 1040-ES for tax planning.
(Tax planning calculations were formerly using the tax rates that existed before 2001,
but the Tax Relief Act of 2010 extended the lower tax rates through 2012.
- Penalty rate on Form 8889 for HSA distributions not used for medical expenses raised from
10% for 2010 to 20% for 2011 (for tax planning).
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect the above changes.
Release 2011.01k differs from release 2011.01j as follows:
- Form 5405 added to the Standard and Premium Levels of the software.
- Form 8396 added to the Premium Level of the software only.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect changes in the forms above.
Release 2011.01j differs from release 2011.01i as follows:
- Form 5695 added to the Standard and Premium Levels of the software.
- Form 8889 added to the Premium Level of the software only.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect changes in the forms above.
Release 2011.01i differs from release 2011.01h as follows:
- Form 4684 added to all versions of the software.
- Form 8829 added to all versions of the software.
- Form 8606 revised
to support the IRS's special instructions
for line 27 (for first-time homebuyers) when lines 20a and 20b, or 25a and 25b
(less certain in-plan rollovers), have amounts.
In addition, reduction of the sum of lines 25a and 25b by certain in-plan
rollovers now applied consistenly when deciding which IRS instructions to follow,
even though the IRS is not consistent because the form is oversimplified.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect changes in all three forms above.
Release 2011.01h differs from release 2011.01g as follows:
- Form 8606 added to all versions of the software.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect changes in Form 8606 and the latest IRS instructions.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to read our new material on Form 8606
because calculations are very complex and implement many
special instructions provided in the IRS instructions but
not evident from the labels on the form.
Release 2011.01g differs from release 2011.01f as follows:
- Form 5329 added to all versions of the software.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect changes in Form 5329 and the latest IRS instructions.
Release 2011.01f differs from release 2011.01e as follows:
- Form 2106 (including Form 2106-EZ) added to all versions of the software.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect changes in Forms 2106 and 4562 and the latest IRS instructions.
(Changes in Form 4562 were not reflected in the version of the manual that was posted
when Form 4562 was added to the software.)
Release 2011.01e differs from release 2011.01d as follows:
- Schedule H and Form 4562 added to all versions of the software.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect changes in Schedule H and the latest IRS instructions.
(Changes in Form 4562 are not yet reflected in the guide.)
Release 2011.01d differs from release 2011.01c as follows:
- Form 8615 added to all versions of the software.
- Form 1116 added to the Standard and Premium Level software.
- Forms 4136 and 8594 added to the Premium Level software.
- Tax Forms Guide updated to reflect changes in the above forms and their instructions.
Release 2011.01c differs from release 2011.01b as follows:
- Forms 4868 and 8863 added to all versions of the software.
- Form 4137 added to the Premium Level software.
- Form 8822 revised (Premium Level only) in accordance with a new release from the IRS (Rev. 1-2011).
- Tax Forms Guide update to reflect changes in the above forms and their instructions.
Release 2011.01b differs from release 2011.01a as follows:
- Form 2441 added to all versions of the software.
- Schedule M revised to check the taxpayer's SSN (and spouse if married filing jointly) for qualification
to claim the Making Work Pay Credit.
A number starting with a 9 is an ITIN issued by the IRS,
whereas a number starting with a 0 through 8 is an SSN issued by the Soical Security Administration.
If you have an ITIN instead of an SSN, you cannot claim the credit, which the software now ensures.
Exception: If married filing jointly, only one spouse is required to have an SSN.
- e-file form revised with the addition of entires for IRS-issued PIN for you and spouse.
The IRS-issued PIN is a special PIN for one-time use for those who cannot remember their prior-year AGI
or prior-year PIN, which are required to verify the taxpayer's identity if the ERO is not using the Practioner PIN Method.
In addition, on-screen reference to lines 73a through 73d of Form 1040 for direct deposits changed to 74a through 74d.
- Form 8879: line reference corrected on graphic form with 73a changed to 74a on line 4 of Part I.
Release 2011.01a differs from release 2011.01 only in the addition of e-file forms
and the ability to generate e-file output. (It applies only to the Standard and Premium Levels,
so there is no release 2011.01a for the Economy Level.)
Release 2011.01 differs from release 2011.pre as follows:
- Schedules A, L, M, and SE, and Form 8582, added to all versions of the software.
- Form 8948 (Preparer Explanation for Not Filing Electronically) added to Standard and Premium Levels.
If you are subject to mandatory e-file (because you expect to file 100 or more returns),
you must attach this form to paper returns you file in order to explain why you are not e-filing the return.
(A client's request not to e-file is a valid reason not to e-file.)
- Form 8611 (Recapture of Low-Income Housing Credit) added to Premium Level.
- Schedule D Tax Worksheet updated to new IRS format in which the former line 15 is expanded
to two lines (15 and 16), with remaining lines renumbered and line labels changed accordingly.
In addition, graphic printing of the worksheet is added to Standard and Premium Levels.
- Tax Forms Guide 2011 Edition updated to reflect changes in the newly added forms
and to provide a review of the year-end Tax Relief Act of 2010.
- Form 1040 translate revised to avert appearance of prior-year unemployment compensation (Form 1040, line 19)
on line for Schedule F (Form 1040, line 18). (Note that prior-year unemployment compensation shouldn't even
show up on line 19 if translating a return with tax year retained at 2009.)
- Standard mileage rates for 2011 added for business expenses and moving expenses (for tax planning).
- Suspension of phaseouts extended to 2011 and 2012 per Tax Relief Act of 2010 (for tax planning).
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