This is war

[Bees Knees]

does this mean you'll be changing software next year? I read this article a while back, I don't think this guy really know stick'em. I wonder if he goes to a pro or if he buys a box of knowledge.

I have a free trial version of Crosslink http://www.petzent.com/crosslink/ that I will be testing this summer. Its a small independent company not connected with any of the big guys. They appear to have good personal software support.

If I like them, I'm making the switch next year.

[Zee]

I wonder what the "Top ten reasons are to not believe everything you read in Smart Money?"

[LawrenceGR]

Bees

I remember hearing about this company a few years ago, Let me know how it works out for you. I do read this forum almost everyday in the off season.

[erchess]

We as an Industry make two mistakes

1. Many of us actively oppose any plan to force everyone in the industry to be licensed. Almost none of us work hard to promote universal licensing.. I am as guilty as anyone here but I have come to realize that universal licensing would benefit all of us who seriously try to follow the ever changing tax laws.

2. Many of us use software made by the same company that makes Turbo Tax.If I am not mistaken, HRB makes Tax Cut and of course has its own tax offices, but recently bought out a company that makes software for us. Supporting companies that help consumers decide they don't need us hurts us all.

Now on Tuesday Morning I have begun to question my second point. It may be that the trend toward self preparation by many people is an unavoidable thing. Drake (see below) offers a way to get in on this and Tax Slayer offers another or at least they used to. They would produce their DIY software in a box with your business name on it. I found TS inadequate to my needs but I am going to demo Drake..

Look at it this way - you don't make as much per customer from a DIY as from a regular client but you can serve many more DIY people for the same cost in time and computer resources. Let's face it, the DIY crowd will always be among the more simple and less remunerative returns. Your fellow with a hundred stock trades including shorts options and wash sales and your truly successful self employed individual are not likely to DIY and if they do they are more likely to make mistakes that will bring them back to you.

[les grans]

The article we're bashing was "reported and written by Janet Paskin for SmartMoney." That info is at the very very end of the article, at which point most of us were boiling over, seething, seeing red, and not picking up any details anymore.

As for myself, I do my own return, thank you, and I think I'm the most competent preparer - especially on the issues that are on *my* return - in the world, bar none, and quite diligent, too. And the price is right; I don't charge myself for the prep and I refuse to use "software" in preparing my return. There, I've said it. I use pencil and paper, photocopy, and then sign in ink. And there have been no unintentional math mistakes in forty-five years.

I probably don't have an ax to grind, since I'm really happy with my preparer, and software isn't a threat to me.

[erchess]

Trouble is

I have a free trial version of Crosslink http://www.petzent.com/crosslink/ that I will be testing this summer. Its a small independent company not connected with any of the big guys. They appear to have good personal software support.

If I like them, I'm making the switch next year.

the parent company also makes an online product for individuals who don't want to pay us. This product is called Tax Brain.

Bees what do you think? Is it hurting yourself and the rest of us if you patronize a product made by a company that also serves the DIY crowd? My instincts say that it is but I'd like your opinion.

Does anyone know if the Thompson family of companies makes a DIY product?

[Lion]

No

No, Thomson sold their last "comsumer" division; Thomson Learning is now Cengage. I have a client who works for them. Thomson brags about being the company that caters only to professionals.

[Nashville]

Ultra

Thomson makes a product called UltraTax, but I don't think you'll have to worry about any DIY buying it.

It is arguably the Cadillac of all tax software with a Cadillac price tag. It integrates with write-up work for businesses. CPAs love it.

[Zee]

When e-filing was first introduced, there was a company with the same name (Crosslink) that competed with Nelco & others for e-filing services. Could this be it's evolution?

[les grans]

...I noted Thomson - a person from Thomson, that is - quoted in the article, but I don't remember what his point was... duh.

[Nashville]

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...ntTellYou.aspx

We as an industry are under attack by the media.

Did anyone notice the big blue advertisement on the right of the article when you opened this link?
And they are now claiming a community that includes tax pros???

[Bees Knees]

the parent company also makes an online product for individuals who don't want to pay us. This product is called Tax Brain.

Bees what do you think? Is it hurting yourself and the rest of us if you patronize a product made by a company that also serves the DIY crowd? My instincts say that it is but I'd like your opinion.

I didn't know they had a consumer version. That isn't in the information I was originally given.

I don't know if we should patronize a product made by a company that also serves the DIY crowd. I was mad at Thomson also for awhile, but I prefer their RIA code and Regs over CCH's, so I guess I can be just as hypocritical as the next guy.

That’s the problem when you try to boycott a corporation. They are so interconnected these days that you just shoot yourself in the foot when you try it.

[Holland]

If I could interject....

I didn't know they had a consumer version. That isn't in the information I was originally given.

I don't know if we should patronize a product made by a company that also serves the DIY crowd. I was mad at Thomson also for awhile, but I prefer their RIA code and Regs over CCH's, so I guess I can be just as hypocritical as the next guy.

That’s the problem when you try to boycott a corporation. They are so interconnected these days that you just shoot yourself in the foot when you try it.

Someone more knowledgeable than I, a so-called EA, can fill in the details, but my understanding is that Drake has made the decision to not compete with its customers. Drake allows its customers to use use its on-line system. For the past few years, I have had a link to Drake on my website. When a DIY clicks on that link, they go to a DIY website run by Drake. The DIY has to pay by credit card, the price is set by me. This year, Drake has switched from allowing free to a minimum fee of ~10-15 for federal and state and efiling. If a DIY throws in the towel and calls for help, I download his entries into my system with a few keystrokes and process the return as a regular return. Regular price, too. Drake takes a cut of the collected fees and sends me the rest.

[Matt Sova]

15 times more

**** I have been WAY WAY underbilling my clients. On average I am slightly higher than the big box places, but believe me, when they add in their Rip All Losers-off (RAL) fees they are making more money than I am. The article is a joke.

[RLymanC]

Bread & Butter

Remember when the dairy industry was up in arms when Margerine tried to put coloring in ther product????