IRS starts tax season on February 12.

The IRS has announced in IR-2021-16 that it will not start accepting tax returns for tax year 2020 until Februrary 12 due to the complex changes brought about by the year-end budget bill (enacted December 27, 2020), which included a number of unanticipated changes, including tax breaks related to COVID-19 that affect tax year 2020 returns. This means that the IRS will not accept any e-file transmissions until February 12 and will stockpile all paper returns it receives before that date. And, because the IRS is still making changes in instructions for several important forms, returns prepared before that time may not be accurate.

Before that bill, the tax season was expected to be unusually orderly because the previous major tax bill (enacted at the end of 2019) extended most credits and deductions for two years, resulting in very little change for 2020. However, even before the latest bill was enacted, the IRS expanded Form 1040 again, making it nearly as long as the traditional Form 1040 that existed before 2018, and redesigned some forms even when no relevant tax laws changed. With the addition of the complications introduced by the latest year-end bill, the result is more complication than the IRS could handle with their software ... hence the delay of the opening of the tax season until Feburary 12 . Nevertheless, HowardSoft is up-to-date with the tax law changes and expects to release the software by the time the IRS starts its tax season.

A new option for initial release: For the 2021 filing season we're introducing on-line delivery of the initial release of the program so you don't have to wait for a disk in the mail. If you choose this option, you can eliminate the cost and delay of disk duplication and shipping, and get the program the instant we release it. Log-in pages for the downloads will give you instant access to the products you purchased!

Easy on-line ordering: For the easiest way to order, complete our secure online Order Form. Just click the yellow starburst above. With instant acknowledgement of your order, you'll be sure that you're ready for the 2021 filing season. (You can also order by mail or phone. We accept all checks and major credit cards.)

TIPS on moving Tax Preparer to a new computer or upgrading an old one.

Moving to a new computer? If you bought a new computer and want to copy your prior-year data to that computer for translation, see the last few pages of Chapter 14 of the new User's Guide (pages 14-13 through 14-18). It provides useful information and tips on moving Tax Preparer data from one computer to another, backed by examples for four common scenarios.

NEW: Upgrading old computer to Windows 10? If you upgrade an existing computer to Windows 10, you may encounter printing or start-up problems:

•   Printing: You may have to update the driver for your printer if graphic forms in Tax Preparer do not print properly. While the Windows 10 upgrade automatically installs the required new drivers for most popular printers of recent vintage, it does not update drivers for older or less popular printers, many of which did not yet have Windows 10 drivers available when Windows 10 was first released. You may therefore have to install a new driver from the website for the manufacturer of the printer, if available.
•   Start-up (32-bit only): Tax Preparer may not start because of a change in settings that Microsoft's upgrade to Windows 10 imposes automatically for 32-bit versions of Windows 10. To change the settings back to the ones required by Tax Preparer, see Customer Service Memo CSTP1503. (No such problem exists for 64-bit versions of Windows 10, which are generally installed when you upgrade a 64-bit computer to Windows 10.)

Additional help. Some people have had perplexing problems this year for which there were not immediate solutions. These include failure of the installation programs, failure of Tax Preparer to start, inability to access tax data, and inability for e-file transmission software to find e-file output to transmit. All of the problems are caused by either aggressive anti-virus software or non-standard computer setups. However, convenient solutions for all problems are available and are described in two new memos on our Bulletins page:

•   CSTP1501: How to ensure proper installation and updating of Tax Preparer.
•   CSTP1502: How to avert inability to run Tax Preparer's start-up .vbs file.

ON-LINE UPDATES

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

Tax Preparer
(Form 1040)

Release 2020.01r now available.

(Updated 10/12/2020.)

Partnership Edition
(Form 1065)

Release 2020.01a now available.

(Updated 4/26/2020.)

California Supplement
(Form 540)

Release 2020.01e now available.

(Updated 10/12/2020.)

Manuals, IRS documents, and FTB documents

IMPORTANT NEWS

10/12/2020: Release 2020.01r of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release improves Road Map access for Schedules 1 through 3 from Form 1040, improves menu labels for these schedules, corrects a reference to these schedules from Form 1040, and corrects certain on-screen year labels for Form 4797. Neither calculations nor printing are affected by these changes. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

10/12/2020: Release 2020.01e of California Supplement (Form 540) now available.

This release corrects certain box alignment and eliminates a spurious label on page 1 of Form 540, prevents certain e-file errors on Form 540, and revises Form 3532 printouts for better clarity. No calculations are affected by these changes. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the California Downloads Page.

6/22/2020: Release 2020.01q of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds an updated on-screen Tax Forms Guide 2020 Edition to the software, accessible from the Tax Preparer Control Panel for all levels of the software, reflecting mid-season changes from the IRS and Congress. It also adds the IRS notices that extended various deadlines to July 15. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

6/14/2020: Release 2020.01p of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release averts the potential for program freezes for printing or preparing returns (sometimes accompanied by an 'insuffient memory' message) on certain returns, revises Schedule 1 for adoption payment deductions and the Control Form for computing an amount for Form 2210, removes obsolete lines on selected forms, corrects select line references in on-screen labels, and makes a number of other minor changes. It also adds a number of IRS publications and notices. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

5/15/2020: Release 2020.01d of California Supplement (Form 540) now available.

This release adds Form 3805V, revises Schedule CA, Form 3800, and Schedule X, and updates the manual for California Supplement 2020 Edition. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the California Downloads Page.

5/1/2020: Release 2020.01c of California Supplement (Form 540) now available.

This release adds Schedule P, Part III (page 2 of Schedule P), and Forms 3540 and 3800 to all levels and, to the Premium Level, adds Schedule G-1 and Forms 3510, 3523, 3533, 3533-B, 3805Z, and 3806. It also revises line 63 of Form 540. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the California Downloads Page.

4/29/2020: Release 2020.01o of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release averts an e-file error and makes clarifying revisons to Forms 8615 and 8995. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

4/26/2020: Release 2020.01a of Partnerhip Edition for Form 1065 returns now available.

This release adds Form 3468 to all levels and Forms 2848, 5884, 6478, 6765, 8611, 8822-B, and 8824 to the Premium Level. It also adds a recent IRS revision to Form 1065. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Partnership Downloads Page.

4/26/2020: Release 2020.01n of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Forms 6765, 8379, 8801, 8822, and 8822-B to the Premium Level. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

4/24/2020: Release 2020.01m of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Form 8615 to all levels (with full support for both the default and optional methods), and adds Forms 1310, 2350, 2555, 2848, 4136, 5884, 6478, 8396, and 8611 to the Premium Level. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

4/14/2020: Release 2020.01l of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Forms 8815, 8825, and the new IRS Form 8995 for the Qualified Business Income Deduction. It also revises Form 8814. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

4/9/2020: Release 2020.01k of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Forms 3468, 4972, and 5405, revises e-file for Forms 8959 and 8960, and adds recently revised IRS forms, instructions, and publications. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

4/6/2020: Release 2020.01 of Partnerhip Edition for Form 1065 returns now available.

This release includes Form 8936 (Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit), which has been added to the program (Standard and Premium Level only) because of the increasing popularity of the electric and hybrid cars to which this form applies. Release 2020.01 is the latest release, so no on-line updates apply.

3/28/2020: Release 2020.01j of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Form 5695, which is greatly expanded from last year. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

3/26/2020: Release 2020.01i of Tax Preparer 1040 REVISED.

CAUTION: The initial posting of release 2020.01i inadvertently omitted the graphic Form 1040-X. If you downloaded Release 2020.01i before 3/26/2020 9:30 PDT, you must do so again in order for the graphic Form 1040-X to print. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

3/25/2020: Release 2020.01i of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Forms 1040-X and 8606, revises the calculation of taxable social security (1040 line 5b), revises the printout of a PAL flag on Schedule C and F and Form 4835, and revises the Form 1040 menu. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

3/20/2020: Release 2020.01b of California Supplement (Form 540) now available.

This release adds Forms 5805 and 5805F. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the California Downloads Page.

3/18/2020: Release 2020.01a of California Supplement (Form 540) now available.

This release adds Form 3514, Form 540-ES, and Schedule X. It also corrects page numbering on page 4 of the graphic Form 540 and adds the FTB document for Form 540-ES and its instructions. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the California Downloads Page.

3/8/2020: Release 2020.01h of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Forms 1040-ES, 1116, 8910, and 8936, refines the EIC calculation for statutory employees, and revises the Form 1040 menu. It also adds newly revised IRS Pubs. 510, 519, 535, and 1915. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

3/1/2020: Release 2020.01g of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Forms 4684, 8839, 8885, 8941, and 8959. It also adds a newly revised IRS Pub. 972. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

2/27/2020: Release 2020.01f of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds e-file (and associated forms) and Forms 4137, 5329, 8846, 8853, and 8889. It also adds translation to more forms, refines official printouts, and refines the use of name entries for certain filing statuses. And it adds IRS forms, instructions, and publications released after 2020.01e was released. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

2/20/2020: Release 2020.01e of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Forms 2120, 2210, 2210-F, 4255, 4868, 6198, 8332, 8586, 8594, 8814, and 8828, and adds IRS forms, instructions, and publications released after 2020.01d was released. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

2/18/2020: Release 2020.01d of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Forms 2106, 4562, and 8829 to all levels. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

2/17/2020: Release 2020.01c of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds Schedule H and Forms 2441, 3903, 8283, 8863, 8862, 8867, 8880, and 8962. It also refines some on-screen labels and printout aesthetics, revises printout order, and adds IRS forms, instructions, and publications released after 2020.01b was released. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

2/12/2020: Release 2020.01b of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release adds the Schedule D Tax Worksheet (for capital gains tax calculations), Schedule D, and Forms 4797, 4952, 6252, 6781, 8948, and 8949. It also adds IRS forms, instructions, and publications released after 2020.01a was released. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

2/10/2020: Release 2020.01a of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This release eliminates printing problems with Form 1040 and a translation problem with the Dependent Worksheets. It also adds Schedule E and Forms 3800, 4835, and 8582; refines Form 1040 and Schedules EIC, F, SE, and 8812; and adds IRS forms, instructions, and publications released after 2020.01 was released. To get the new update and more details on the changes, go to the Downloads Page.

2/7/2020: Release 2020.01 of Tax Preparer 1040 now available.

This first release for the 2020 filing season contains a limited number of forms, but will be updated frequently in the coming few days.

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.