Software review

[DMICPA]

I Like Pro Series

Tried several tax packages and have settled on Pro Series. It is capable of doing complex returns. One thing I particularily like is that I never call customer support because the program installs and runs flawlessly.

E-file is easy and fast. It brings forward prior year information. There are different ways to input data. There are different ways to bring up forms, either by form number or by form description. Many different printing capabilities. You can enter separate or joint, you can do your billing on it, print letters on it etc.

Been using it for years, no problems.

Is there any way to poll the forum to see what % of folks use what software?

[GTS1101]

Switched from Taxwise to Pro Series

I used Taxwise for well over 10 years and in 2010 for the 2009 year I swtiched to Pro Series. I couldn't be happier. They have awesome customer support, efiles come back very quickly and the program is very fast and efficient. There are so many time savers in Pro Series compared to Taxwise. There is a lot less typing to do because Pro Series brings forward so much more information than Taxwise. You can do a lot more returns with Pro Series because of the time saved. It is a wonderful product and I am going to stay with Pro Series for many years to come.

GTS1101

[ChEAr$]

TRX update

if a salesman's mouth is moving, he's lying. Come on, you know this :-)).

Peachie

Always heard that about lawyers of course, and about used car salesmen.

So here's the update. You may recall last November, even though I had paid my money for TRX to furnish me with Taxwise, salesman called and said they would not do that, and that they were not furnishing Taxwise to any customer, and that I would have to settle for their own TRX pro software. So I stayed with Taxwise.

About 30 minutes ago I got a call and she identified herself calling from Taxwise. The call was expected because Taxwise decided this year to wait till after 4/15 to start calling us.
So I asked her to email me with a quote for the package I had last year and she said no need, it was still $ 299, same as last year. OH????? A bell went off in my head and
after talking a bit, she confessed she works for TRX and saw where I had received from them Taxwise software last year.

No need to go on and on here about the rest of the conversation, but my reserve of choice derogatory phrases did not have to be used.

So for those like Robert and Chief who actually did get Taxwise last year, that's good.
Question is, will you get the same for next year?

[Bonnie]

Particularly I am interested in hearing from anyone using TaxSlayer who in the past made the transition from Taxwise to the Slayer.

Well, I do use Tax Slayer but never used Taxwise. When I first began my home business, I started with Tax Slayer. It was very easy to learn after using Jackson Hewitt software for 13 years. I really liked the JH software, probably because I learned on it and was leary of learning something new, but once I did learn it, I like it much better. It was recommeded to me by a friend and the price was the lowest around so I decided to give it a try. I've been very happy for 4 years. Support people are awesome. They do convert all your data from other software if you change but of course that didn't apply to me since I started with them. The W-2 forms and 1099s do prefill with prior year info from your system or current year data already entered. This is very handy. All prior year personal info pulls forward. They also have a compatable bookkeeping program but I don't do bookkeeping so have never used it. They also have an off site data storage available for an extra fee, but so far I haven't used that feature either. This extra feature has a lot of perks that come along with the data storage, but again, I haven't used that yet. Let me know if there is something specific you are wanting to know about Tax Slayer that I have not answered.

[Dusty2004]

I like Proseries

I like Pro Series.

I had a return where a couple got married. She lived Kansas, he lived in Mass and they move to NY once married. The program worked well. You have in the allocated amounts for each state and the part year residence dates but it calculated everything correctly.

Pro Series remembers the W2, 1099R, 1099Misc, etc payer information you have entered. If you type in an EIN it brings the name, address, zip info automatically. Also on the W2 if you check a box it will auto calc the Social Security wages, Medicare wages, Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes. If you entered in 401k information on the W2 it will correctly add to the appropriate boxes.

I like the planner feature. You can make multiple scenarios with this years information as the starting point. I use it regularly to run next year for planning estimated taxes and to plan this year for different amounts into Traditional IRAs. I also use it regularly to help a client modify the W4 to adjust their refunds.

I like the MFJ vs MFS form. When I enter information I designate it as being for the Taxpayer, Spouse or Joint. Then I can click a box and it determines if it more beneficial to MSJ or MFS. If it is better to file MFS I can go back to the home page and split the return. Of course, I always verify the information once split to make sure I don’t miss anything.

You can bill from inside Pro Series but I do not – I use an external program for that.

I like the Client Checklist. It makes a document that includes all the entries that a client had last year that they can use as a checklist for this year. I send them out early January. Some clients love them others barely open the letter.

I like the 2 year comparison feature. I look at that for each return to see if something looks out of normal for a return. It also has a Schedule C 2 year comparison that I use for the same purpose.

It carries over all of the necessary entries.

One drawback that I find is the state forms can take a little long to get sometimes. I do mostly PA returns and some of the forms are not ready until the first week of February. I cannot really comment about other states.

If you have any questions let me know and good luck on what ever you decide

Dusty

[Peachie]

Now youu already know Harlan,

Then I guess there is a reason not to even consider TRX in my software search this year.
You see, it was a TRX man who told me that. He evidently lied.

if a salesman's mouth is moving, he's lying. Come on, you know this :-)).

Peachie

[Chief]

Right

No Taxwise from TRX. They are pushing Taxworks.

[Lion]

Atx

TRX cannot offer ATX, so if a TRX salesman told you ATX is dead, he probably meant through TRX. I have no dog in this fight. I have complicated clients and use a high end product and not any of those mentioned in this thread.

[DonPriebe]

That would be wrong.

Correct - that is wrong. My nice green book says TaxWise but the splash screen says TRX.

But no TaxWise from TRX for 2010 - right?

[Chief]

Taxwise

That would be wrong.

I had Taxwise thru TRX this year. My second year with them but no more. They are not offering it anymore.

[Burke]

ATX User

Well, I'll chime in here with a nod toward ATX. I have used it now for a decade and it has come light years since the beginning, having all the features I need. I feel it is a moderate price, around $1,000 for what I get, which is the full version, individual, corps, partnerships, estates and trusts, tax-exempts, payroll, W-2s, and all 50 states' versions of all these entities, includes efile, etc. It works quite well, has automatic updates via internet every day. Most of the time I have a problem, I find it is my fault in the way I input something. I have worked with them on improvements to my state's form(s) in the past. Anything cheaper would not do what I want, and I am unwilling to simply change for changes sake.

[ChEAr$]

That would be wrong.

Then I guess there is a reason not to even consider TRX in my software search this year.
You see, it was a TRX man who told me that. He evidently lied.

[Peachie]

Art, I am so pleased

Peachie,

I am testing TRX Pro, having used ATX for many years. I was able to get them to extend the offer till May 31st at $ 299+shipping and guaranteed annual renewal at that price. Will post my thoughts after more testing. Sounds like you are very satisfied.

I am not trying to be a mouthpiece for TRX but I was quite impressed. I am not easily impressed but I like things that work. The learning curve for me was quick and I am beyond my 50's. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at peachie1000@hotmail.com and I will be glad to try to answer them for you. Enjoy the software and don't try to make it what you enjoyed in the past. Enjoy the experience of learning something new.

One other thing I like about PRO was how quickly the updating was done relating to tax law changes.

[Peachie]

I am not sure

I just found my email from TRX Alliance. He said the product they are actually using now is a version of Taxworks. They had tried Taxwise last year and did not have good success with it.
So what I would be getting now is a version of Taxworks. Peachie, is that what you have now?

I will let them send it to me and try it out on some of the returns I have left to do. I do efile my business returns too. But we would have to see the advantages.

I think I will be able to do some experimenting this summer. My mind is in a much better place now and am more organized.

Linda

what I have Linda because it came packaged as TRX Pro 1040. I have never used Taxworks so no help there either. Once you get the program they are sending let me know and if it's the one I have and you have questions, I will help you via e-mail or if you have messenger we can instant chat. I am glad you are willing to give it another try. I have really been happy. I am the person that lived and died by TSP, but no more.

[JohnH]

It's not that CCH would "kill" ATX in the same sense that they "killed" Intellitax after they bought it. But CCH Small Firm Services now has two competing tax products - ATX and TaxWise. Both have unique features and faults. ATX has a very comprehensive set of forms and worksheets but is somewhat fragile. TaxWise has a very large user base because of its use by the IRS walk-in offices and the IRS out-reach programs (VITA, TCE), but has a number of annoying user "features" that are really bugs. Consolidating these two programs into a single entity makes good sense.

Don: On the surface this line of reasoning makes sense, especially to the MBA types who make these decisions in the sterile atmosphere of a conference room. And I agree with you, they are very likely to make that very type of seemingly common-sense decision.

But their lack of real-world experience lulls them into thinking you can run a business strictly by the numbers. Whereas they may calculate that losing 10%-20% of ATX customers to Drake would be tolerable simply by increasing the price they charge the existing and new TaxWise customers, they may fail to accept the fact that the attrition may be 50%-75%, and that much of a loss would require such a large price increase that they would begin to also drive TaxWise customers to competitors as well. Problem is, nobody will know until they actually pull the plug. If it works, the bonuses will be nice and their resumes will be appropriately padded. If it flops, they will have destroyed a very good product, damaged their customer base beyond repair, and cost the company a ton of money. But it won't really matter because they'll already be on to the next employer, leaving another mess in their wake.

As I see it, their insurance policy will be to dangle enough money in front of Drake that it becomes possible to can buy & control that threat. If I owned Drake, I'd be dressing up my balance sheet right now in expectation of the big payday.