Anyone making a software change-Tworks

[gman]

I got a call from intuit saying they are offering a special for Tworks customers that are having trouble with
there software. Anyone making a change at this time? I have been trying to wait it out.

[DTS]

Drake

Not sure what you need, but you might want to take a look at Drake. I switched from TaxWorks to Drake after fussing with TW for a few years. Love it!

[manyhappyreturns]

I got a call from Intuit as well because I got duped by TRX who switched to a new and rather undeveloped program and didn't bother to inform anyone of the change. When the software arrived in mid-December, we all found out anyway. SURPRISE!!! Intuit appears to be seeing if they can profit from the quandary us poor souls are in, and they wanted $1500 to bail me out, making it sound like they are genuinely concerned about the fix I'm in and their main desire is to help me. I told them I wasn't ready yet to give up on the software I had already paid for and I'd call them if I changed my mind. They sent me a link to their software demo which I downloaded but didn't look at yet, because I've been spending all waking hours trying to get the lousy program TRX sent me to work. I'm still not ready to give up on it, but time is running out. I'm glad the IRS had to delay the opening of tax season, and I'm still hopeful that I may have a working program by the 30th without having to spend a bunch of money on a different program that I'd have to learn rather quickly and don't know for sure is any better than what I've got. I checked out the possibility of ordering TaxWorks directly from Red Gear, but I heard that they are having technical issues as well and I'm hesitant to throw another bunch of money down the drain for something that isn't any better than what I've already paid for.

There is a major discussion about TRX on the ATX Community Forum @ http://www.atxcommunity.com/

[Dusty2004]

Pro Series

I find Pro Series is easier for me to use than Drake. Pro Series uses work sheets that easily link to the main 1040. If you are a forms based user, or think you would be, try Pro Series I think you will switch and not look back.

Dusty

[John of PA]

I am now heading into my first tax season with Drake, I switched from Lacerte. Switching is rough, but I can see once I get through a full year, I'm going to love Drake. Lacerte is a little better, and automates more, and I have to work a little harder in Drake, but Drake is a far better value at only a fraction of the cost of Lacerte, and Drake has no problem "geting the job done" Out of state credits are no problem and the Document Mgt. System is included at no cost. Also I can "fly" on Drake, that is move very fast becasue Drake give you the option of using the keyboard vs the mouse to a great extent, and I am a keyboard oriented person. Also Drake is quicker becasue it is not a memory hog like Lacerte. Lacerte uses more RAM memory becasue it loaded with web base features that I don't need. Wish you the best on your transition.

[taxxcpa]

Form based

Although Drake is not Form-based, you can use "forms based data entry' for Form 1040s prepared with Drake. In this mode, a Form 1040 pops up and you click on whatever line something will end up on and then the drake input screen pops up. Even after several years, I sometimes can't remember which input screen to use, and find it using the forms-based entry mode.

[Traveling EA]

Software

I also just switched to Drake this year. One of the reasons is that WI has a form that was not available in Proseries and WI requires that entities e-file. It was a catch 22. I eventually used another prepares software in order to e-file the returns that WI requires. Drake has the form so I will not have that issue this year.

I also only do about 10 entity returns per year. In additional to the professional package that I have with Proseries, I was also paying about $500 more for those few returns. The organizer is extra in Proseries as well. All of these features as well as a DMS system is included in Drake's pricing. The software is a little more cumbersome than Lacerte, Proseries or other professional tax software programs that I have used, but the price savings is well worth the extra effort.

Don