PA forms still not in draft

I'm afraid no one knows, and no one is answering from Lacerte.  Ohio is in the same boat for a simple, unchanged corporate form.  Apparently calling does no good either.  No one knows, no one is talking from Lacerte.  Perhaps they're trying to figure out how many of their customers are going to switch to CCH or Ultra Tax next season.  It's incredible to me, how far they've slid.

Sent an E-mail to my account manager on Sunday and have yet to receive a reply - go figure.  An accountants  E-mail group I follow indicated that Pro Series Business forms are complete - same company (Intuit) two software versions one working and one not.  I also got my REP statement and they were happy to charge my credit card although I still cannot complete the return and bill it.    Wow!

So the lesson, which I fail to remember myself every year, is don't bother to REP anyone "for real" but instead, REP a 99-9999999 file and put in the information for the client you really wanted to do.  Then if the program isn't available to do real forms, at least you haven't paid money to have to do it by hand (or fillable forms from Internet) or to sit and wait until the program is ready.

Amy - I do not go into the REP process thinking I am going to have to complete a return by hand.   I purchase software to create efficiencies in my office.  Why pay all these dollars to Lacerte if I am going to complete ffillable forms on the internet?

Neither do I remember, that when I go into the REP process, I'll wind up having to do fillable forms on the Internet.  At least if I weren't paying the REP fee I'd feel a little better about the whole thing.  Well, the next corporation which gives me its info, won't get REPped unless I happen to see that Lacerte got "up to snuff."

Another day, another "I don't know" which leads me to believe they are saying "not this week". Have been with Lacerte 21 years. Will be looking elsewhere April 16. 8% of annual billings so far can't be printed, and yes, lacerte wants their money for corp REP fees, because in the supervisor's words "You will eventually be able to print them".   

I have a feeling that far more than normal will be leaving Lacerte this year.  I know I'm planning on it, for exactly the reasons you list.  No way should our tax software create this much stress.  Perhaps all of us in a similar mind should form a buying group and leverage our numbers with CCH and Ultra Tax!  Obivously Lacerte doesn't care.  It's insane that there's been absolutely no communication.  How hard is to send an email saying what's going on.  Sure smells like a big corporation trying to save dollars on programmers and customer service people so they can hit their next quarter's numbers.  Very sad.

I'm afraid you're right, JHG.  I'll have to think about this for next year.  I've been with Lacerte for about as long as you have, and if the "learning curve" time on another program is enough to deter me from leaving, I'll stick with Lacerte only because of that.  Those of you who don't mind spending the time to learn another program, I don't blame you for leaving.

A internet update for PA, KY, and OH form status has been posted today.  For more information on the forms status updates, click here.

For the forms waiting final approval, Lacerte is diligently working with the agency to get them approved.

Still can't print Pship/SCorp returns, or Pa. Sch. C. Unbillable work now exceeds 10% of expected 2010 firm income. My back to you.

1) We are waiting for final forms from PA:
• Sch. C-
• Sch. G-R
• Approved - PA 1000
• Rev. 276
• Rev. 276-EX
• Approved - Sch. NRK-1
• Sch. RK-1
• RCT-101I
• RCT-101X
• Approved - Sch. E
• PA-20S/PA 65
• Partner Directory
• PA-65 Corp
• PA 40ES
• Rev. 276-EX
 

Can anyone confirm next release date?  Waiting until 2/11 would be unacceptable at this point.

Bill, mark in your calendar when the forms are ready this year. Then next year, you can give everyone the same date, since it is always this late for PA.

I understand the pain you are experiencing with the outstanding forms for the state of Pennsylvania. I know that seeing the forms on the PA website is frustrating, but although the state agency may have the final form posted we must get (a) final form instructions and (b) a separate formal approval from the agency to release the form in Lacerte. Our tax development teams have excellent relationships with the various state agencies and are working with Pennsylvania multiples times throughout the day to get the fastest turnaround possible for the few remaining forms left. We have recently received approval for 3 more forms from PA and plan on releasing an Emergency Internet Update to get these forms to you as soon as possible. The forms that will be on the emergency IU are: PA1000, Sch. E, & Sch. NRK -1.
As we get additional form approvals, we will work to get these forms out again within the fastest turnaround possible. If at all possible, there will be additional emergency Internet Updates to get these forms to you.

Thank you, Bill.  In the meantime, I've been typing away at the fillable forms which, thank goodness, are for the most part SAVE-ABLE this year.  I downloaded once from PA's website, then saved as a generic RK-1 form, saved again as Company A's RK-1 form, saved again as Company A's Shareholder 1, Company A's Shareholder 2, etc.  I'm spending more time on the return, but getting it out the door.

Thank you for the update - communicating bad information is better than communicating no information.  For the record, these forms are not always this late - I looked back and had completed 8 business returns last year by January 25th including corporate, partnership, 990  and S corporate tax returns so saying that these forms are ALWAYS late is just not a true statement.

For what it's worth, your line is perfect.  Hearing bad news is better than hearing no news.  I couldn't agree more.

All Pennsylvania forms are final and approved for all tax modules.

Forms released in an Internet Update on Feb. 9th, 2010 with final approval are:
• Sch. C
• Sch. G-R
• Rev. 276
• PA-20S/PA 65
• Partner Directory (PA – 41)
• PA20S/PA65 PMS Directory
• Rev. 276-EX
• Sch. RK-1
• RCT-101I
• RCT-101X
• PA-65 Corp
• PA 40ES