HowardSoft
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7852 Ivanhoe Avenue
La Jolla, California 92037
phone: (858) 454-0121
fax: 1-800-24-TAXES
e-mail: support@howardsoft.com
CHECK WEB FOR UPDATES website
(a restricted website for those who have already installed a CURRENT edition of Tax Preparer)

Contents Downloads e-file Alerts Bulletins Manuals 2009 Editions Public Website

Updates for 2010 Editions of Tax Preparer
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15% off e-file transmission software for 2011.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PAID PREPARERS.

Two new requirements apply to paid preparers in 2011: mandatory e-file and mandatory registration. These new requirements apply to all paid preparers, including CPAs, attornerys, enrolled preparers, and unenrolled preparers. See our public home page for details.

SCROLL DOWN for important news and info on Windows 7 compatibility.

Updates available for all products.

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 2010.01q now available.

(Updated 7/28/2010.)

Partnership Edition
(Form 1065)

CLICK HERE
for updates

Release 2010.01c now available.

(Updated 4/28/2010.)

California Supplement
(Form 540)

CLICK HERE
for updates

Release 2010.01g now available.

(Updated 6/29/2010.)

Manuals, IRS documents, and FTB documents

CLICK HERE
for manuals

NEW Tax Forms Guide now available.

(Tax Forms Guide revised 7/28/2010
Partnership Guide revised 4/28/2010
California Guide revised 6/23/2010.)

NEWS FLASH!

Beware e-file error ERC 0767 in field 1303 of 1040. The IRS recently introduced new restrictions on the Third Party Designee for Form 1040 returns. Starting March 2nd, you are no longer allowed to omit the designee's PIN and phone number by entering PREPARER as the designee's name. See details on our e-file Alerts page. Accordingly, the option to identify the preparer as the designee was removed from the software starting with release 2010.01k.


Don't overlook Schedule M! For any taxpayer with wages or self-employment income, the new Schedule M provides a credit up to $400 ($800 if married filing jointly) just for working! That's why it's called the Making Work Pay form. However, the schedule is not automatically created by the software because it requires information from you that is not automatically available elsewhere. You may have to make an entry on screen 2 if you file Form 2555 (or 2555-EZ), and you may have to make an entry on screen 4 if the taxpayer or spouse received any economic recovery payment in 2009 (which is likely if the taxpayer received benefits from social security, supplemental security, railroad retirement, veterans pensions, or veterans disability in the last two months or 2008 or the first month of 2009), or received a government pension. The credit is phased out for high income taxpayers, resulting in no credit if AGI is $95,000 or more ($190,000 or more if married filing jointly), but all other taxpayers with earned income can claim at least some credit. To claim the credit, itemize line 63 of Form 1040, page 2.

CAUTION: Schedule M credit not allowed for nonresident aliens. The law specifically excludes nonresident aliens from both the making work pay credit and the government retiree credit. However, the instructions for Schedule M and Form W-7 (Rev. March 2009) imply that the IRS has chosen to implement this requirement by requiring the return to have a bona fide SSN and not an ITIN (although only one spouse is required to have an SSN on joint returns). Interestingly, the IRS e-file program is accepting ineligible returns rather than rejecting them because of an inappropriate claim for credit, but they could still send notices to taxpayers months after the returns are filed! Therefore, you should not create Schedule M for a return that has only ITINs entered in place of SSNs. If you already created Schedule M for an ineligible return, you should remove it with our file manager then enter zero for Form 1040, line 63. (You can recognize bona-fide SSNs by the first three digits, which range from 001 to 899. By contrast, the first three digits for ITINs and a few other identification numbers range from 900 to 999.)


File Form 1040X if you overlooked Schedule M or the new motor vehicle deduction. Form 1040X is included in release 2010.01f and later, so you can file an amended return now if you overlooked the credit from Schedule M. Also, you may want to file amended return if you forgot to enter details on the purchase of a new vehicle on Schedule L or Schedule A, which provides an extra deduction for 2009.




Tax Preparer and Windows 7

Good News! You can run Tax Preparer on all versions of Windows 7, but some versions may require you to install additional software. You can install and run Tax Preparer on all 32-bit versions of Windows 7 with no additional software, but 64-bit versions require you to install virtualization software on your computer. The virtualization software allows you to create a window in which you can install 32-bit Windows XP and run Tax Preparer without affecting your capability to run 32-bit or 64-bit programs under Windows 7. The virtualization software is FREE. However, if you have a Windows 7 Home edition, you must purchase or otherwise acquire a legally-licensed version of 32-bit windows XP (widely available for less than $100).

Better news for Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate. If you have one of the Windows editions that are marketed to businesses, you may be able to install Microsoft's new FREE Windows XP Mode software, which integrates 32-bit Windows XP into your 64-bit Windows 7 system so that you can put a Tax Preparer icon on your Windows 7 desktop and run Tax Preparer without even knowing that a virtual machine is involved. But there's a caveat: the new Windows XP Mode works only on processors that support hardware-assisted virtualization. Although most of the newer processor chips have this capability, some do not, so you should check Intel's website before you buy.

IMPORTANT NEWS

8/23/2010: e-file transmission software added to Advance Order Form. Transmission software must be purchased if you want to e-file any returns during the upcoming 2011 filing season. It is now available at a 15% discount, starting at $38. Use our on-line Advance Order Form to order it NOW. e-file is mandatory in 2011 for paid preparers who expect to file 100 or more returns in 2011. For more information, see our public website.

7/28/2010: Update to release 2010.01q now available. This update installs the latest revision of the on-screen Tax Forms Guide 2010 Edition, revises Form 5405 to conform with a new bill signed into law July 2, 2010, and makes minor revisions to Forms 3468 and 4952. To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

6/29/2010: Update to California release 2010.01g now available. This update installs the latest revision of the on-screen California Tax Forms Guide 2010 Edition to all levels. It also adds Forms 3510, 3548, 3553, and 3806 to the Premium Level, corrects the calculation of line 6a of Form 3805Z, and makes minor changes to printouts for Forms 3526 and 3805Z. To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the California Downloads Page.

5/13/2010: Update to California release 2010.01f now available. This update installs the latest revision of the on-screen California Tax Forms Guide 2010 Edition to all levels. It also adds Form 3523 to the Premium Level and Form 3526 to the Standard and Premium Levels and makes minor changes elsewhere for the Premium Level. To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the California Downloads Page.

5/3/2010: Update to California release 2010.01e now available. This update installs the latest revision of the on-screen California Tax Forms Guide 2010 Edition to all levels. It also adds Schedule G-1, Form 3501, and Form 3805Z to the Premium Level. To update the software to the latest release, go to the California Downloads Page.

4/29/2010: Update to release 2010.01p now available. This update installs the latest revision of the on-screen Tax Forms Guide 2010 Edition and averts potential for ER 2/LN 30549 when printing DRAFT or PREVIEW for certain forms. To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

4/28/2010: Update to Partnership release 2010.01c now available. This update installs the latest revision of the on-screen Partnership Tax Forms Guide 2010 Edition. Also improves on-screen and printout aesthetics for Form 1065 Schedules A, B, B-1, and D. To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Partnership Downloads Page.

4/22/2010: Update to release 2010.01o now available. This update installs the latest revision of the on-screen Tax Forms Guide 2010 Edition. Also revises wording and line references for certain lines of select forms and makes helpful changes to Schedule L, Form 6251 and Form 8885. To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

4/4/2010: Update to release 2010.01n now available. This update adds Forms 8801, 8885, and 8936 to the Premium Level, refines Form 5405 (Standard and Premium Levels only), and corrects a label on the worksheet for Form 8834 (Premium Level only). To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

3/25/2010: Update to California release 2010.01d now available. This update averts a Premium Level problem in viewing or changing W-2 and 1099-R Worksheets on the e-file form and makes minor technical changes elsewhere. To see more detail on the Premium Level problem or update the software to the latest release, go to the California Downloads Page.

3/25/2010: Update to release 2010.01m now available. This update adds Form 8379 to the Premium Level, averts an error message ER 2 / LN 30549 in draft printing, reinstates the transfer of private activity bond interest to Form 6251, and makes a number of minor changes. To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

3/22/2010: Update to California release 2010.01c now available. This update adds Forms 3519, 5805, and 5805F to all levels of the software. (Note that Form 5805F is included in our form for 5805 page 1.) Update the software to the latest release at the California Downloads Page.

3/22/2010: Update to Partnership release 2010.01b now available. This update adds Form 3468 to all levels, Form 8910 to the Standard and Premium Levels, and Forms 4255, 6765, 8586, and 8846 to the Premium Level. Update the software to the latest release at the Partnership Downloads Page.

3/16/2010: Update to release 2010.01l now available. This update adds Forms 4255, 6765, 8828, and 8834 to the Premium Level. It also makes minor changes to Forms 3468 and 8910, and averts a potential e-file error for Form 2555. To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

3/8/2010: Update to release 2010.01k now available. This update adds Form 3468 to all levels, Forms 8910 and 8914 to the Standard and Premium Levels, and Forms 8332 and 8586 to the Premium Level only. It also revises the data entry for Third Party Designee on the last screen of Form 1040, makes minor aesthetic changes to the graphic printout of the Form 1040 signature area, improves aesthetics of official Form 2555 printouts, and revises Form 6251 to omit from line 13 the tax preference on Form 1099-INT (for certain private activity bonds). To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

3/3/2010: Update to release 2010.01j now available. This update adds Forms 2555 (including 2555-EZ) and 4970 to the Premium Level. It also suppresses the printing of Form 8917 when not needed (and averts a related e-file error), and corrects a label on the graphic Form 8863 (Standard and Premium Levels). To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

3/1/2010: Update to release 2010.01i now available. This update adds Schedule J to all levels and Forms 2350, 4136, 4972, 8396, 8846, 8859, and 8862 to the Premium Level. It also adds an additional protection against an erroneous claim on Form 5405 (Standard and Premium Levels). To see more detail on the changes or update the software to the latest release, go to the Downloads Page.

2/25/2010: Update to California release 2010.01b now available. This update adds Forms 540X and 540-ES to all levels of the software. It also averts an e-file error for returns with a Form W-2G in the Standard Level software. See more detail on the changes and update the software to the latest release at the California Downloads Page.

2/24/2010: Update to release 2010.01h now available. This update adds Form 1040-ES to all levels and suppresses the printing of Form 5695 (Standard and Premium Levels only) when there is no credit or carryover to report (and averts a related e-file error as a result). To update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

2/21/2010: Update to release 2010.01g now available. This update adds Form 5405 to the Standard Level and Premium Level software. CAUTION: The IRS will not accept any e-file returns that contain a Form 5405, so you must file a paper return if the return contains a Form 5405. To update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

2/18/2010: Update to release 2010.01f now available. This update adds Form 1040X to all versions and makes an operational change concerning a REMIC entry on Schedule E. For more detail and to update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

2/15/2010: Update to release 2010.01e now available. This update adds Form 4952 to the Standard and Premium Levels, adds Forms 6198, 6781, 8824, and 8839 to the Premium Level, and makes minor revisions elsewhere. Update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

2/15/2010: Update to Partnership release 2010.01a now available. This update adds Forms 6781 and 8824 to the Premium Level, ensures the translation of the new Schedule B-1 from the prior Schedule B lines 3a and 3b, and makes minor revisions elsewhere. Update the software to the latest release at the Partnership Downloads Page.

2/8/2010: Update to California release 2010.01a now available. This update adds Schedule P and Form 3540, corrects alignment problems and mislabeled line numbers on Form 540, and makes various revisions to printouts on other forms. See more detail on the changes and update the software to the latest release at the California Downloads Page.

2/8/2010: Update to release 2010.01d now available. This update ensures printing of Form 8863 whenever required, corrects a line reference on Form 5329, and averts e-file errors 0035, 0902, and 0912. See more detail on the changes and update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

2/2/2010: Update to release 2010.01c now available. This update adds Forms 5884, 6478, 8853, and 8889 to the Premium Level and revises Forms 1040, 8606, and 8861. See more detail on the changes and update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

1/29/2010: Update to release 2010.01b now available. This update adds Forms 5329 and 8606 to all levels of the software, and Form 5695 to the Standard and Premium Levels. Update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

1/25/2010: Update to release 2010.01a now available. This update adds Forms 2210 (including 2210-F), 3800, and 8283 to all levels of the software. Update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

1/19/2010: Update to regular release now available. This update brings your pre-release up-to-date with the regular release, which we started shipping today. Relative to the last pre-release (2010.pre1), it adds Forms 4684, 4868, 8615, 8814, and 8863 to all releases, adds those plus the e-file form (which incorporates Forms 8453, 8879, Payment Form, W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R) to the Standard and Premium Levels, and adds Forms 4137 and 8815 to the Premium Level. In order to use this update you must have already installed a Pre-Release for the current filing season (2010.pre or 2010.pre1). It also adds the automatic generation of Schedule L when it would result in a higher standard deduction. Once installed, you can update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

1/12/2010: Update to initial pre-release now available. This update adds Forms 2441, 6251, 8812, and 8880 to the initial pre-release and corrects some typographical errors on certain screens and graphic forms. It also updates the inflation rate for indexing to 2010 and adds other refinements to the software. In order to use this update you must have already installed the Pre-Release for the current filing season (2010.pre). Once installed, you can update the software to the latest release at the Downloads Page.

1/7/2010: NOW SHIPPING pre-release for 2010 filing season. The pre-release is intended for those who want to file certain paper returns early, even though many forms are not yet included in the software. Since the first installation for the tax season must be from a disk we send you, it also gives you an early start on the tax season because updates are available so quickly on-line. Use our on-line Order Form to order any release. (Even if you already ordered only the regular release but now want to order the pre-release, you can do so on-line with the same order form.)

Prior releases. For details on prior 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:

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 August 23, 2010.