What tax software did you use this year & opinions?

[spanel]

Using taxwise and my issues...

IL software still cant print CR pages, IL 1040es or an IL voucher!

Seems like the latest 1 or 2 updates broke my printing.. locks up almost everytime i print.. (computers print fine otherwise).

I really want to switch to another software.. lets here your war stories with your software company this year!

Thanks!

Chris

[KBTS]

Chris, you will probably get lots more response and feedback after tax season has ended. There are almost always several threads like this once things have settled down and people have time to reflect on their season. Not saying you won't get some responses now, but you'll have better luck later.

[JohnH]

ATX.
Works fine - no problems here with Fed or NC.

[zeros]

Drake Software

I have used Drake since 1989. Works well and no issues. Of course, I'm one that doesn't like changing software and learning everything new again. Agree that you probably will get more responses later.

[TaxmannEA]

Drake and ATX

I use both Drake and ATX. Both programs have been mostly trouble free this year. Each has it's own strenghts and weaknesses,

[Roberts]

The TRX version of TaxWorks.
No real problems in the last 3 years. They have a button to push when the software locks up a bit - it resets the program and you continue working. Takes <5 seconds. I've hit it probably 20x this season and every time it's been when I'm streaming the news online while working. (like now!)

The basic version is $300, adding unlimited efiles for corporate and partnerships makes it around $675? For $675 you get what is TaxWise POWER package which they price at $2,650.

[DTS]

IL software still cant print CR pages, IL 1040es or an IL voucher!

Seems like the latest 1 or 2 updates broke my printing.. locks up almost everytime i print.. (computers print fine otherwise).

I really want to switch to another software.. lets here your war stories with your software company this year!

I was posting a similar message shortly after the start of last season. I was a longtimeTaxWorks user and a very disappointed one at that. I switched to Drake after the end of tax season and have been very happy since. Give the demo a try. I think it's a free download.

[nkustura]

Drake

I have used Drake for 4 years and I really like it. Haven't really had any issues with it. It is a little pricey thou

[Koss]

Software

We have used TaxAct for several years, and we are very satisfied.

It has its limitations. TaxAct doesn't do Ohio cities at all. But the Ohio city thing is a huge mess. This is nothing like New York City, or even Grand Rapids, Michigan, which TaxAct can handle. There are dozens of Ohio cities and they all have different tax rates, and there are three different agencies, and a lot of cities do it on their own. It's a disaster. Lots of taxpayers live in one city and work in another, and there's partial credits, and it is utter insanity. TaxAct just isn't ready to deal with it. Adding all those modules would probably involve a thousand hours of software development.

It doesn't support 1040NR. And it doesn't have a module for 1041 returns, either.

But for our small, growing practice that is mainly 1040, it's a great program at a great price.

BMK

[Ross]

TaxAct

I have also used TaxAct for several years. I started using it in 1994 when it was called Personal Tax Edge by Parson's Technology. Then I believe it was bought by Intuit in 97. I had to use Pro Series for two years which was OK, but rather pricey and not as user friendly. Then in 1999 the developers of Personal Tax Edge reformed and TaxAct was born.

I'm very happy w/ TaxAct. It does everything I need it to do for $559 (all states and unlimited e-filing...even for business returns). I even use the business versions at my day job as a controller to prepare a few 1065s and an 1120S. Very user friendly and I've never had a problem other than the depreciation summary not printing correctly. It is fixed this year and the summary prints as it should.

[FEDUKE404]

Agreement re TaxACT

I concur with the observations of Koss & Ross (is that a law firm ).

The sequence related about change from Parson's Technology to the current product is correct. There were even rumblings last year, IIRC, that Block or perhaps Intuit was trying to take out their competition....again.

While it is not a perfect product, I find it quite suitable for my needs. The prices are quite competitive for a one-person operation or even a small-ish business. The product is improving each year. You would be amazed to see what the product includes in 2012 that was not in the product for 2002. At one time there were some bumps in the road for multi-state and/or part-year/non resident returns, but those seem mostly to have gone away.

I cannot address the OH city issue, but that would seem to me to be almost a can of worms that it would be somewhat unreasonable for TaxACT to address in their "regular" product. Perhaps they could offer an add-on for those who do need such services?

Again, the price is reasonable for the product provided. For those who need access to every IRS/state form devised by man, this may not be your product. But for a small or mid-sized operation with mostly "normal" tax returns, it is worth consideration.

Time to get back to work.

FE

[GTS1101]

Pro Series

I have been using Pro Series for the last four years. It is not perfect but it does so much more than Taxwise. I used Taxwise for about six or seven years and I have to say that Pro Series is so much more easier and much less manual work than Taxwise. Contact me after tax season and I can give you more details as a former Taxwise user.

GTS1101

[ruthc]

TaxAct

I have used TaxAct for a few years also. I find it so resonable for a small business. I have found the support very good. I didn't buy the support, but every time I have had any issue I emailed them and they responded within the 24 hours. If you don't have to knowt he answer withing that time period you can buy the support at a very reasonable price.
I had heard last year about H&R acquiring them and when I wrote to them there was a law suit going on between the two. I am so please that TaxAct must have prevailed because now someone else bought them and it appears it willw ork out fine (????). I have been very happy with the software.

[MRPLOW]

I use Lacterte, works excellent, but very pricey for a small tax business. I'm spoiled now so I can't switch.

Also does Ohio city's very well, as long as you know what your doing. Lacerte's Ohio city's is much improved since the early 2000's. Up until a couple years ago, I had to do most complex city returns manually, but now I can manipulate the program to get them done.

Also does Married Filing Separate very well, which I do about 20 a year, but due to Ohio tax breaks, needs to be accurately compared for most married couples.

[Koss]

TaxACT

FEDUKE wrote:

The sequence related about change from Parson's Technology to the current product is correct. There were even rumblings last year, IIRC, that Block or perhaps Intuit was trying to take out their competition....again.

and RuthC wrote:

I had heard last year about H&R acquiring them and when I wrote to them there was a law suit going on between the two. I am so please that TaxAct must have prevailed because now someone else bought them and it appears it willw ork out fine (????). I have been very happy with the software.

It is true that HRB tried to buy Second Story Software, which is the company that makes TaxACT. With that purchase, HRB would have had control of the TaxACT product and brand. HRB abandoned their plans after the US Department of Justice took action to block the acquisition.

I believe the Department of Justice actually filed an antitrust lawsuit. TaxACT is the Number 3 do-it-yourself program, and DOJ didn't want the field reduced to just two players (HRB and TurboTuit).

DOJ raised the same objections when AT&T tried to buy T-Mobile.

I don't think there was ever a lawsuit, or conflict, between TaxACT and HRB.

Unless there was a clause in the contract that called for HRB to pay a certain sum to Second Story if they backed out of the deal. And they did in fact back out. They simply gave up when they saw how strongly opposed the Department of Justice was.

That's what happened to AT&T. When AT&T broke off the deal with T-Mobile, they had to pay a breakup fee of $4 billion.

The only reason there would be a suit between HRB and TaxACT would be over the failure of the acquisition. But I don't think they're fighting about it. It just didn't work out because of the antitrust suit by the DOJ.

The attempted acquisition of TaxACT by HRB was a friendly one. I think the owners of TaxACT were ready to cash out. HRB was planning to make no changes for the first couple of years, and simply continue offering TaxACT, in its current form, for both consumers and tax pros.

I think HRB was looking to do two different things: Clearly they liked the idea of picking up TaxACT's market share of do-it-yourselfers. But I also think they wanted to get into the professional tax software market.

HRB doesn't offer anything to tax pros outside of HRB. The product they use in their retail offices is an in-house, proprietary application.

Although I guess they did recently acquire TaxWorks...

Second Story Software is not a publicly traded company. I think the owners were probably going to stay on as consultants for a couple years, and then retire happily ever after.

Oh, well...