CFS Tax Software, Inc.

Tax filing deadline may not be when you think
Be prepared for some confusion over when taxes are due this year.

Filing and payment deadlines that fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday are moved to the next business day. This year April 15th falls on a Sunday. Thus, under the weekend rule, the April 15th due date is extended to Monday, April 16th. Or so it seemed.

Under a federal statute enacted decades ago, holidays observed in the District of Columbia are treated as national legal holidays for purposes of the timely filing/payment rule.

The IRS recently became aware that recently enacted local legislation designated April 16th to be Emancipation Day, and therefore a holiday in the District of Columbia. Although Emancipation Day is not a federal holiday (the IRS and other government offices will be open), it is observed in the District of Columbia and therefore is a holiday under the timely filing/payment rule. Thus, the filing/payment deadline nationwide is Tuesday, April 17th.

Calendar-year 2006 federal individual income tax returns, whether filed electronically or on paper (Forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ).
Requests for an automatic six-month tax-filing extension on an individual return for calendar-year 2006, whether submitted electronically or on Form 4868.
Tax-year 2006 balance-due payments, whether made electronically (direct debit or credit card) or by check.
For calendar-year taxpayers, individual estimated tax payments for the first quarter of 2007, whether made electronically or by check.
Individual refund claims for tax year 2003, where the regular three-year statute of limitations is expiring.
For calendar-year taxpayers, tax-year 2006 contributions to a Roth or traditional IRA.
Corporation income tax returns, including S corporations (Forms 1120, 1120-A and 1120S) for a fiscal year ending on January 31, 2007, and any balance due.
For calendar-year corporations, the estimated tax payment for the first quarter of 2007.
Calendar-year estate and trust income tax returns (Form 1041) and any balance due.
For calendar-year estates and trusts, the estimated tax payment for the first quarter of 2007.
Calendar-year 2006 partnership returns (Form 1065).
Annual information returns (Form 990) and unrelated business income tax returns (Form 990-T) for tax-exempt organizations with a fiscal year ending on November 30, 2006.
Calendar-year 2006 Form 990-T for certain employee trusts, retirement plans and education savings plans.
Extension requests for any return.
The March tax deposit for employers (generally, small businesses) required to deposit withholding taxes on a monthly basis.
Withholding-tax deposits for larger employers, subject to the next day deposit rule. The IRS says that most IRS forms, instructions and publications have already gone to print with the incorrect April 16th date and will not be revised. It advises that IRS forms, instructions or publications that currently show an April 16, 2007 due date should be read as April 17, 2007.

Please note that although the above actions are due on April 17th, it's no guarantee that all states will correspondingly change the state tax deadlines.

Taking the mystery out of license codes
Why are license codes important? They may seem like a nuisance, especially during tax time, but they are really helpful and ultimately allow us to get you your software faster.

Most of our programs can be found on one CD. When you order a program, we'll mail you this CD with a license code that will unlock the program that you paid for. The other programs will remain locked, but you can access them in demo mode. We hope that you'll install these demos and decide to add them to your order. When you pay for them, we'll issue you a new license code, but not usually another CD. You don't have to wait for the CD to arrive in the mail; you can just input your new license code and start using the program the same day.

Another feature of the license code is that it helps prevent software piracy and enables us to keep our prices low. The license code locks to the firm name, customer ID, and address that you indicated when you placed the order. This information prints out on many forms and worksheets that you give to your clients. The license code will prevent any attempt to significantly change the address or firm name because we don't want one copy of our software to be used by multiple companies or by multiple offices in the same company.

If you've moved or your firm name has changed, please notify us. You may need a new license code before you can change the information in your CFS software.

A caution against faxing orders
In the past, we've asked customers to fax their orders to us to ensure faster order processing and accuracy. However, advances in technology have essentially made the fax machine obsolete.

Ordering online is a faster, easier, and more secure alternative to ordering by fax. Consider these reasons why ordering online is superior to ordering by fax:

Mistyping one digit on the fax number you are dialing may mean your order (and your credit card) gets faxed to a stranger.
Fax machines are notorious for running out of paper, distorting images, or failing to transmit, which may leave you without the products you attempted to order.
Handwritten orders can be hard to read, or may contain errors in dollar amounts.
Our online store exceeds industry-standard encryption methods.
Our online store does the calculations for you, and allows you to see what you've had in the past.
Our online store allows us to largely automate the order, meaning you get it faster than ever before with fewer errors.
Our online store sends you a confirmation when your order is placed, giving you peace of mind that your order was received.

We will still continue to take orders by fax, but we encourage you to utilize our online store.

Ensuring your forms are compatible with CFS software
Our W2/1099 program is one of our most popular products. However, we realize that many of our customers may use a different program for their W2s and 1099s, so we carry blank perforated forms and envelopes that are not compatible with CFS W2/1099 because they may work with these other programs.

Unfortunately, many people assume that every form and envelope that we sell will work with our software. This is not the case. CFS W2/1099 only prints W2 employees on 4-up perforated paper and 1099 recipients on 3-up perforated paper.

Please note that although the forms we sell are likely to work with non-CFS software, we do not test them with any other program and therefore do not guarantee compatibility with anything other than CFS W2/1099 or AME Payroll.

New instructional videos available
There are now six free instructional videos available on our website, here. Learn:

The instructional videos are short and demonstrate how to perform these specific tasks. Use the VCR controls at the top center of the screen to control playback. Check our website often, as new videos are added in the future.