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Important Information about Ordering...

The following information applies to the 2012 Edition of Tax Preparer (for preparing and filing returns in 2012 for tax year 2011 returns). For information on 2011 Edition, click here.

Delivery Schedule. To ensure the fastest delivery you must order early because tax products are shipped in the order that paid orders are received (First-In/First-Out). Normal schedule is:

  • Pre-release shipped late-December to early-January. Available only for the 1040 programs, with all the features needed to file returns that don’t require forms not yet ready at that time. Pre-release contains no manuals, IRS documents, nor e-file.
  • Regular release shipped mid-January. The regular release is complete with all forms and documents included except those delayed by the IRS or technical difficulties.
  • Paper manuals shipped only after all forms completed. On-screen manuals are shipped with the software product and updated regularly on-line, but paper manuals (which are purchased separately) are shipped much later to ensure that the hard copy is as complete as practical.

On-screen documents. Manuals and IRS documents are supplied in PDF format for easy on-screen viewing and printing. (See the Order Form for list of on-screen documents included in each product.) To view these documents you must use Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free on the Internet and included on HowardSoft CD-ROMs. All HowardSoft manuals take full advantage of two important Adobe Acrobat capabilities:

  • Bookmarks. The Bookmark tab (F5 key on early versions of Adobe Reader) gives you a clickable Table of Contents in the left pane of a split screen.
  • Search. The ctrl-F key gives you the ability to search and find any word or phrase like an index.

Graphic printing. Graphic printing of all supported forms is included in all Standard Level and Premium Level updates. Graphic printing requires only a Windows-compatible printer capable of printing a 7.5 by 10-inch image on an 8.5 by 11-inch page. Note that the Standard Level supports the traditional set of forms that HowardSoft has included for years plus a few others, but the Premium Level contains twice as many forms. See the separate Comparison Chart for details. (An option for HP laser printing is also included for those who have a laser printer that supports HP's PCL printing language, is connected to an LPT port, and supports compatible tax fonts. This option may be advantageous for those who experience slow Windows printing because of limited memory or low processing speed.)

Professional e-file. e-file transmission software is available for use with Standard Level and Premium Level software for federal Form 1040 returns and California state Form 540 returns. It provides you with the capability to transmit most returns prepared by Tax Preparer for a nominal per return transmission fee.

NEW FOR 2012: Mandatory e-file for paid preparers was signed into law late in 2009, but the IRS has phased in the new law over a 2-year period. The law will be in full force for the upcoming 2012 filing season. Any paid preparer who expects to file more than 10 returns in 2012 is required to e-file them all (with rare exceptions) during the 2012 filing season. See our home page for more details.

To use professional e-file you must:

  • Meet hardware requirements. You must have Internet access and a hard disk with at least 75 MB of free space. We also recommend at least 128MB of free computer memory.
  • Get an EFIN from the IRS. That’s the IRS Electronic Filing Identification Number. If you already have one, you’re already set; you don’t need to get a new one each year. Otherwise you must file IRS Form 8633 to apply for the number. Click here to download IRS Form 8633 (in PDF fill-in format, for easy on-screen viewing, fill-in by computer, and printing to paper).
  • Get (or renew) a new PTIN from the IRS. Now mandatory for ALL paid preparers, for the 2011 filing season you must have registered with the IRS by applying for a PTIN after September 15, 2010. (Any PTIN you received before that time did not count!) The requirement applied to everyone, including CPAs, attorneys, and enrolled agents. For the 2012 filing season, you must either renew the PTIN you used for 2011 or register anew with the IRS. However, the IRS has said that they will not start accepting applications and renewals for the 2012 filing season until October, 2011! Once the system is in place for 2012, you will be able to register at the IRS's main website: irs.gov. (The fee for registration for 2012 is $64.95 for new registrants, $63.00 for renewals.)
  • Purchase e-file transmission software for the tax year. Transmission software must be purchased anew each year you want to e-file returns. The purchase price depends on the level of software you choose (Basic, Silver, Gold, or Platinum), which varies only in the amount charged you per return ($9.95, $5.95, $2, or ZERO, respectively, for Form 1040 returns for the 2012 filing season).
  • Register your transmission software. Your transmission software may already be included on your Tax Preparer CD-ROM or available separately, but you cannot activate it until you register for e-file with us. Click here for more information on registration and available options.

Also see our Comparison Chart for more detail on the differences among the three levels of software we offer.