Updates for 2012 Editions of Tax Preparer

NEW Update available

Version 2012.01g released (2/3/2012): This version adds Form 1116 to the Standard and Premium Levels and eliminates an e-file error for Form 5695. The manual is also updated to reflect the changes in Form 1116. You can update to this version on-line now if you have already installed an earlier release for the current tax season. Click here to update on-line.

e-file Alerts

ERC 0123, 0124, and 0125: The IRS changed these error codes after Pub. 1346 as released. They now can indicate an omission of recipient's name and SSN rather than payer's information. See our e-file Alerts page for details on this and other e-file issues.

Technical problem

Schedule E line 18a (1/18/2012): Line 18a of the Rental/Royalty Worksheet is erroneously limited to 366 when using release 2012.01 or earlier. You must update to 2012.01a or later (below) to avert the problem. See Technical Change Notice TCTP1201 for details.

Tax season 2012 is here!

It's time to get started! Click the above starburst to access our secure, on-line Order Form for the current tax season. We can ship the same day if you order by noon (Pacific Time). Once you install the disk we send you, you can update on-line for free as we add forms and features in the early days of the tax season.

NEW for paid preparers: Get the scoop on mandatory e-file and mandatory registration in the latest issue of HowardNews.

Acquiring a new computer? See our compatibility tips for using Tax Preparer and Windows 7.

Why e-file?

Many paid tax preparers will be required to e-file in 2012, as we explain in our latest issue of HowardNews. However, even if you aren't required to e-file, there are plenty of other reasons to e-file in 2012 and order now:

Improved accuracy and compliance. IRS checks return for errors and compliance before it is accepted for filing, so you can correct it before you file it, minimizing embarassing IRS notices to clients.
Proof of filing date and time. IRS acknowledges every transmission, and first transmission of return counts as filing time even when return isn't accepted for filing until days later. No more postmarks required.
Proof of receipt by IRS. IRS sends acknowledgement once return passes their checks, giving proof of receipt and acceptance. No more 'lost' returns.
Faster refunds. Eliminates manual handling of paper returns, so return is processed immediately once accepted for e-file.
Increased customer base. Heavy IRS marketing of e-file causes customers to look for e-file providers, so you'll keep old clients and get new ones.
Minimized learning time during tax season. Learn now to avoid critical delays later. It's easy with Tax Preparer, but learning the interface with the IRS can take some time.

And HowardSoft's uniquely personal customer service is always there to help you learn the e-file process and correct any rejected returns.

ON-LINE UPDATES

These on-line updates can be used only by those who have already installed a prior release for the same program for the current filing season.

Tax Preparer
(Form 1040)

CLICK HERE
for updates

Release 2012.01g now available.

(Updated 2/3/2012. Requires that you previously installed an earlier release for the 2012 filing season.)

Partnership Edition
(Form 1065)

no updates

California Supplement
(Form 540)

no updates

Manuals, IRS documents, and FTB documents

CLICK HERE
for manuals

NEW Tax Forms Guides now available.

(Tax Forms Guide revised 2/3/2012.)

IMPORTANT NEWS

2/3/2012: Release (2012.01g) now available. This release adds Form 1116 to the Standard and Premium Levels, eliminates an e-file error for Form 5695, and updates the manual to reflect changes. To update to release 2012.01g, go to our Downloads page.

2/2/2012: Release (2012.01f) now available. This release adds Form 5329 to all levels, expands the conditions under which it is automatically created, and updates the manual to reflect changes.

2/1/2012: Release (2012.01e) now available. This release adds Form 2210 (Underpayment of Estimated Tax) and Form 2210-F (Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Farmers and Fishermen) to all levels, adds Form 4136 (Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels) to the Premium Level, and updates the manual to reflect changes in this form.

1/29/2012: Release (2012.01d) now available. This release adds Form 5695 (Residential Energy Credits) to the Standard and Premium Levels and updates the manual to reflect changes in this form.

1/26/2012: Release (2012.01c) now available. This release adds Forms 4835, 8863, and 8880 to all levels, adds Forms 8853 and 8889 to the Premium Level, corrects an on-screen label on Schedule D, and updates the manual to reflect changes in the newly added forms.

1/24/2012: Release (2012.01b) now available. This release adds the new Schedule D and the associated new Form 8949 along with access to the Schedule D Tax Worksheet. It also makes minor aesthetic changes and adds flexibility to Part I of Schedule E.

1/18/2012: Release (2012.01a) now available. This release corrects a problem with the Rental/Royalty Worksheets on Schedule E, as detailed in Tecnical Change Notice TCTP1201.

1/17/2012: Regular release (2012.01) now available. This release adds Form 8917 (Tuition and Fees Deduction) to all levels. It also adds e-file output capability for the standard and premium levels, including all e-file related forms (Form 8453, Form 8879, ACH Payment, W-2, 1099-R, and W-2G). In addition, the Form 1099-R Worksheet (for Form 1040 lines 15a through 16b) is revised to conform with the new IRS format with its two added boxes. This release also updates the manual to conform with the changes. To see detail on the changes including special steps required to ensure compatibility with returns created with the pre-release, go to our Downloads page.

1/13/2012: 2nd pre-release (2012.pre1) now available. This release adds Form 8867 (Paid Preparer's Earned Income Credit Checklist), which must now be filed with any return signed by a paid preparer if it has a claim for the earned income credit. In order to automate all parts of Form 8867 except the Due Diligence section that the preparer must complete manually, Schedule EIC and the Dependents Worksheet for Form 1040 are modified. CAUTION: Because of these changes, for any return with a Dependent Worksheet for line 6c of Form 1040, you must view all Dependent Worksheets after release 2012.pre1 is installed. This release also updates the manual to include instructions for Form 8867 and to reflect the changes in the Dependent Worksheet and Schedule EIC.

Prior releases. For details on prior-year changes throughout the tax season, see Changes in Recent Releases for the respective software:

What are the changes?

Because of the convenience of the web, we issue new releases frequently, even when most of the changes are relatively insignificant. Changes are highlighted in the bottom half of the respective download pages. However, if you want more detail about the most significant changes, there are two other places to look:

E-FILE ALERTS . Changes that are of consequence ONLY to e-file returns are documented here. The changes typically avert specific Reject Codes for the e-file return, so if your return is rejected, check this list first to see if you need to update your software and take particular steps to repair your data.
BULLETINS. Changes that are significant for both paper and e-file returns are documented here. Technical Change Notices are issued for each significant change, including the steps you may have to take to repair a return prepared with an earlier release.

Changes that are not documented on either of these pages are less serious in nature, including rewording on some on-screen lines to make entries more understandable, correction of spelling errors, correction of line number references on printouts, and technical changes that have no affect on calculations.

IMPORTANT TIP: After you translate a prior-year return to the current-year format, be sure to VIEW ALL TRANSLATED WORKSHEETS to ensure that the worksheets are recalculated under their new format, and to verify that all entries are proper for the current return. This step is especially necessary this year because of major changes in several worksheets.

This web site last updated February 4, 2012.

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