Software Values

[kaimana]

Erchess...I don't know about other programs and I can't open two returns at the same time but if I need to work two different returns for the same client I rename one of them.
Also when I have to do an amended I rename it XXXXX-1040X so I can retain the original file.

[lenboush]

Drake is $995 if you renew before May 31st. Includes all forms (business, 1040, 990, 1041), all states, and unlimited efiling. They include Checkpoint and a write up program. And great customer support. And a partridge in a pear tree

Some other things that Drake includes at no extra costs are:
1. A great Document Manager program
2. A Client Status Manager program
3. An appointment setting program
4. A fantastic FREE (and totally customizable) web site (To see a sample, my website is www.HeritageTax.com)
5. A fantastic user forum very similar to this forum. That forum is monitored closely by Drake staff who provide almost instant feedback for almost all issues. It is not uncommon to discuss an issue or make a suggestion one day and have it addressed in an update the very next day.
6. Lots of FREE online tutors and FREE CPE.
7. A great annual update school at various locations around the country. I have seen them listen to suggestions by preparers at these schools in the morning and come back after lunch and inform us that the idea has been updated into the program that quickly. If you can't come to the school, you can buy a video of the school for $69.
8. And I cannot echo enough what others have said about how fantastic the customer support is.
9. I have never had ANY company selling ANY product that I felt listened to their clients as much as Drake Software does.

I have been using Drake for 9 years. I bought a business that was already using Drake and I hated it. I researched almost every other program out there for the first 3 years trying to find something better for my needs. Over those 3 years, Drake made massive improvements and I got used to some of the minor quirks that I still dislike. Every year since then, Drake has continued to make major improvements. As a result, I have gone from hating Drake to being one of it's biggest fans.

[newbie]

I have been using Drake for 9 years. I bought a business that was already using Drake and I hated it. I researched almost every other program out there for the first 3 years trying to find something better for my needs. Over those 3 years, Drake made massive improvements and I got used to some of the minor quirks that I still dislike. Every year since then, Drake has continued to make major improvements. As a result, I have gone from hating Drake to being one of it's biggest fans.

Sounds like it would be worth checking out, what do you consider the minor quirks that you dislike?

[dyne]

I have been using Drake for about ten years and love it. The first return I prepared when
I first got Drake took me 7 minutes to prepare without looking at the manual. I have many
clients who work in N. C. and live in S. C. and Drake prepares both these states very well.
It also has prepared others states for me and does a good job on these also. The
support is very good. I recommend Drake highly.

[PIGLEE]

I have used several different programs, I have ended up with Drake. Yes there was a learning curve in the beginning, but there always is. Get the free program and use it on your extensions, and see for yourself. Their support is the greatest. Two rings to get a real person to help you. They also have a "Forum". This is a great help, and their staff will help with answers there also. Looking at the Forum, also will give you an idea how the users of Drake feel about their program, what kind of problems they have, and right now we are giving them suggestions for improvements for next year. Believe me they listen, and we see our suggestions next year. I have been with Drake of 8 years, and would not even think of changing. They also due states extremely well. Resident, Non resident, and split states. Good Luck

[Lion]

ProSystem fx

ProSystem fx has been worth every penny to me. I use mostly pay-per-return to not pay for more than I need. But, my clients have complex financial lives, and using a high end software saves me much time and worry. I liked ProSystem fx and CS UltraTax and Lacerte. The tax support and technical support have been fantastic. I love being able to import K-1s and Excel spreadsheets of stock trades and do Kiddie tax with just a point and click. Multiple states are a breeze. My software is my most important tool; I'm not going to skimp on it. What I spend repays me in productivity, especially late in the season when I'm sleep-deprived and the more complex returns come in.

[Possi]

Time for a change

I am on vacation in TX visiting my mom and have not been on board in a week or so. Just now reading some reviews and it is most interesting to me, as I will be changing programs after 10 years with Taxwise.

I was leaning toward TaxSlayer because I had read some good reviews here, and the intro price to me is only $844. Also, they l will do the conversion for me at no charge.

After reading tonight, I think I better look at Drake. Since I'm not home, it's hard to test the two programs. I might need to wait until I get home and run through both programs real quick.

My main problem was K1 entries. Is Drake good with that?

What about depreciation? Do they have some kind of list to help classify assets?

[BHoffman]

I've never had a problem entering K1 forms with Drake, but I'm pretty used to them.

If you prepare the business return, Drake will import the K1 into the partner's 1040 form, but I expect most of the programs do that. New this year - able to enter K1 forms into business returns, and that was really good! They make improvements every year, and I've noticed their business returns have become much, much easier to prepare.

The price is $995 until the end of May. Then it goes up to $1095 until the end of July, and continues increasing until it costs $1395 at Dec 1st and afterwards.

Hope you are having a good time on your vacation! We are heading out for a few days at the beach during the 1st week of May. Can't wait.

[Possi]

Thanks

Yes, I am taking care of my mother and step father... gardening, cooking and cleaning. This weekend I will spend some time on me...
My mother and I are very close, so all the work is done with love, and I truly enjoy doing it. Now that I have her flowerbeds in order, and her house spick and span, I can take it a little more easy.

I will have time to test Drake out and will certainly do that.

Have a great vacation!

g'nite!

[geekgirldany]

I am testing out Drake now also after being with Taxwise for 10 years and using it for 14. Possi I had trouble with K-1s in Taxwise also. I will be trying it out more after I get these payroll returns finished. I was going to try it last year but just did not have time with finishing up my EA. So I went with Taxwise.

I must say although Drake is not forms based it appears to follow very close to the forms.

[equinecpa]

My experience with Drake...

I used Drake for business entities in 2007. I quite liked it but did have a big pet peeve. I had several multi-state returns and I did find it difficult to ensure all the boxes were ticked appropriately so that forms would calculate. I don't like jumping from entry screen to view screen, and then seeing the view screen is empty because I didn't tick a box somewhere. And then to find where that box is located.....grrrr...

All user navigation stuff. The program worked flawlessly IF YOU KNOW where to enter the data.

In the end it was a breaking point for me...I just felt I wasted too much time trying to find entry boxes. I like to "bunny hop"

I'm curious if their find entry box feature works on the business and states or does it just work on the 1040 forms? This would certainly make finding those unchecked boxes much more tolerable.

Carolyn

[Possi]

multiple states

Multiple states are always a challenge. TaxWise allows lots of mistakes, as there is so much that must be manually entered. I do a ton of VA/NC returns, and a ton of military out of state returns. I think last year, I probably did about 10-12 different states.

In this area, there are a lot of military and I stand behind my multi-states. I paid for a couple of mistakes that I feel the software should have taken care of for me.

Can't wait to test a couple of new ones. Drake is looking good. Someone said the TaxSlayer offers DIY software? I don't really want to support that.

I have only heard good things about Drake's integrity where professionals are respected...you might say.

Having a great time in TX! The weekend is here, so you might not hear from me for a couple of days...

Bless y'all!

[ChEAr$]

You CAN teach an old dog new tricks

Well, maybe so, maybe so.

I figured to look at Drake and TaxSlayer with fresh eyes, both of which are accustomed to Taxwise since 1996. (Prior to that I had been writing and updating my own tax software,
but finally just gave up on that.)

No, I'm afraid the learning curve for either will be too steep. I was a little miffed cause
Taxwise is discontinuing support for direct filers, so guess i'll have to use a software's
service bureau like most everybody else next year. And replacing Taxwise with another isn't about the money either, since I can afford whichever looks best.

"'Tis better to bear the ills we have than fly to others that we know not of. "
-Shakespeare



I'll stick with Taxwise.
"

[David1980]

Can't wait to test a couple of new ones. Drake is looking good. Someone said the TaxSlayer offers DIY software? I don't really want to support that.

Pretty much everyone offers DIY software. Intuit (proseries, lacerte) of course has turbotax. CCH has complete tax. Drake has 1040.com. CrossLink has taxbrain.com. TaxSlayer has TaxSlayer.com. I'm not aware of any tax prep software that doesn't have it's hand at least partially in that cookie jar.

Drake is often championed as "not competing" with tax preparers with a DIY product, but you'll notice I did list 1040.com for Drake. You could argue based on a technicality that it's not really competing. Drake only gets 20% of the proceeds. The claim being they set up a website for you when you get their software that allows individuals to preparer their own tax return and they only take 20% of the profits.

[taxxcpa]

Bunny hopping with Drake

I used Drake for business entities in 2007. I quite liked it but did have a big pet peeve. I had several multi-state returns and I did find it difficult to ensure all the boxes were ticked appropriately so that forms would calculate. I don't like jumping from entry screen to view screen, and then seeing the view screen is empty because I didn't tick a box somewhere. And then to find where that box is located.....grrrr...

All user navigation stuff. The program worked flawlessly IF YOU KNOW where to enter the data.

In the end it was a breaking point for me...I just felt I wasted too much time trying to find entry boxes. I like to "bunny hop"

I'm curious if their find entry box feature works on the business and states or does it just work on the 1040 forms? This would certainly make finding those unchecked boxes much more tolerable.

Carolyn

Now you can bunny-hop in Drake to some extent with Form 1040 returns. Press Ctrl-G and it takes you to a Form 1040 where you can click on the appropriate line which then takes you to the Drake Input Screen. I use it quite a bit, but I've acquired an idea of which screens to use for most things now, so I just use it for the Forms I use less frequently.