ATX 2019 RELEASE NOTES

Tax Year 2019

Version 19.2

January 2020

Installation Instructions

The following installation types require the 19.2 update:

  • Stand-Alone
  • Workstation Only
  • Workstation/Server

Server Only installations do not require the 19.2 update.

As a best practice, it is recommended that you close the application on all workstations and update each one separately.

Notes about this release

Electronic Filing Activated

Electronic Filing Activated for Federal Returns. This update activates electronic filing for the 2019 Tax Year. E-filing of Form 7004 (Business Extension) is currently available, and other forms will be enabled on a per form basis as agency approvals are obtained. Please refer to the ATX Blog, the in-application News feed, and the Federal and State E-File Availability page on the ATX Customer Support Site for information on specific form dates.

 

Version 19.1

January 2020

Installation Instructions

The following installation types require the 19.1 update:

  • Stand-Alone
  • Workstation Only
  • Workstation/Server

Server Only installations do not require the 19.1 update.

As a best practice, it is recommended that you close the application on all workstations and update each one separately.

What's Different

Bank Enrollment

To make the enrollment process easier for you, ATX now offers a full enrollment solution via the ATX support site. Beginning this year, you will only have to visit your preferred bank’s website to complete your compliance testing. All other enrollment data will be collected via support.atxinc.com, saving you time during the bank set up process.

Get started with these 5 steps:

  1. Login to support.atxinc.com, and click on Refund Settlement Solutions under Account Services.
  2. Near the bottom of the Settlement Solutions page, click the link provided to start the enrollment process; complete the Enrollment Agreement.
  3. Complete the Office Info.
  4. Select your Providers and Complete Provider Info.
  5. Send Applications.

Click here for additional information.

Regulatory Changes

  • Section 179 deductions for qualifying assets have a $1,020,000 dollar limit and a $2,550,000 cost threshold.
  • Check state limits on the State Calcs tab in Asset Global Settings.
  • Standard Mileage Rate: For luxury autos, including trucks and vans placed in service in 2019, the business standard mileage rate is 58 cents per mile. The depreciation component when the standard mileage rate is elected is 26 cents per mile.
  • Dispositions tab: A new Installment Sale Code drop-down was added on the Fixed Asset Manager Dispositions tab per Form 6252 instructions. The code shows on the 6252 form tab.

Yearly Auto limits:

  • Luxury Auto (V5): If first year placed in service is 2019, depreciation limits are $10,100 with no bonus, $18,100 with Bonus.
  • Trucks/Vans (V7): If first year placed in service is 2019, depreciation limits are $10,100 with no bonus, $18,100 with Bonus.
  • Sports Utility Vehicle (V6): Section 179 limit is $25,500.

Version 19.0

November 2019

Introduction

Thank you for choosing ATX as your tax preparation software! The entire team that designs, builds, tests and supports ATX has only one goal in mind: to provide you with a powerful solution that helps your business achieve improved workflow efficiency and tax compliance.

To ensure that your system is ready for the newest version of ATX, please review the System Requirements. You can also test your system against those requirements with our System Analysis tool.

Notes about this release

.NET Framework software is required by many desktop software applications and ATX needs a current version 4.7.2 or higher in order to install and operate. If you don't already have .NET software, it will be installed automatically as part of the ATX installation. After a .NET installation, a message may prompt you to restart your system in order to complete configuration of ATX 2019. After the restart, ATX installation will pick up where it left off and will complete automatically.

Installation Instructions

For information on installation, see the Education Library.

What's Different in 2019

Enhancements to QBI

Based on your feedback, we enhanced our implementation of the Qualified Business Interest (QBI) deduction for 2019. Our QBI video highlights these improvements, which include:

  • Many more automated calculations and automated flow through of data
  • Rollover of unadjusted basis
  • For 1040, a means to aggregate multiple activities to get a greater deduction for your client

The new IRS forms 8995 and 8995-A have been fully incorporated into the former Section 199A Worksheet, now renamed “8995” in the Forms List. ATX automatically determines which form should be populated, as explained in our QBI video.

Performance Improvements

This year, we focused on ATX performance and reliability - the things you said most affected your business. The improvements we’ve made in ATX 2019 should allow your office to run more efficiently and help improve your workflow.

In-App News Feed (Blog) Posts

To make sure you get information about ATX quickly, we’ve integrated blog posts directly into the ATX 2019 application. As soon as news is published to the blog, the News Feed button will turn red (just like Program and Form Updates buttons). When you click on News Feed, a window will open inside ATX with a list of easy-to-read posts.

Printing - Mark/Unmark Records

We've added a feature where you can mark or unmark all records in a detail sheet. This saves you time by easily unmarking all records at once, so you can select only records you want to print.

Form 1040 Updates – Round 2!

After last year’s massive round of changes, the IRS has consolidated several 1040 schedules. Here’s more information on those and other things you'll see in the 2019 1040:

  • Consolidated schedules: There are now only 3 schedules.
  • Removed "healthcare coverage" requirement: Removed from the Main Info worksheet and also on Form 1040.
  • Alimony: A new "Date of original divorce or separation agreement" item has been added to Schedule 1, Line 2b, and 18c.
  • Virtual Currency check boxes (yes/no): One box must be checked if any line of schedule 1 is reporting an amount. (there is a diagnostic check for this)
  • Storage fees for military moving expenses – you’ll be able to directly enter storage fees on Line 13.

As a reminder, ATX 2019 will not be supported on the Windows® 7 operating system. For questions on upgrading to a new OS, review the Upgrade from Windows® 7 page.