Another Thread on Software

[learnmore]

TRX PRO (Orrtax reseller) now reselling Tax Wise also

TRX Pro software while being somewhat limited fits the needs for most users. They're actually rolling out with a new software package that is partnered with Taxwise it's going to hit this next season. It still has no per return charges just like their original TRX PRO product, but a larger initial cost for the software. I talked to them and they're calling their Tax Wise product TRX PRO TW. While TRX Pro is right for some preparers those who want access to what some would say a better product can get that in TRX PRO TW while still not paying any per return charges. I have links to both their websites.

http://www.trxalliance.com/

http://www.trx1040.com/

[geekgirldany]

I called Drake for a demo. I like to talk to the sale person and see how the act. I am going to give it a try. Salesman for Drake said they had alot of people calling that were users of Taxwise and ATX. Price on Taxwise is $1,100. I have to do pay per return for trusts and get charged $3 for efile. It seems with Drake I would get more for the money. But as I said I am so use to the forms based setup of Taxwise this would be a big change for me.

[learnmore]

TRX PRO TW - They're Tax Refund Xpress and they're reselling Tax Wise software for 699 + Shipping and Handling. Same product no per return charges.

I found their number on their trxalliance website.

1-866-829-9777

https://www.trx1040.com

[equinecpa]

That is certainly interesting...I test drove Taxwise and quite liked it but there was no way I was going to buy a CCH product. However, I might buy a CCH product if someone else was providing the support....and efile service.

I can't get the demo to work but the link for the forms definitely brings you to the taxwise website forms list.

[jim s]

Tax Act Software

Ive been using tax act for sometime now, but i haven"t been in the business as long as some of you, what i like about it is that you can buy only what your gonna use. you don't have to buy a lot of software that your not gonna use, and you can buy one state or you can buy all the states at a discount, PS i don' t E-FILE...jim s

[iratax]

Drake

I switched from ATX to Drake this year. It was the best move I could have done. Yes there is a big learning curve going from a forms based data entry to a screen based data entry but it was worth it. Everyone says Drake support is so great but I don't know because I only had to use them one time, but that one time they were on the phone in about 10 seconds and resolved the problem in a minute or two.

No e-file problems, no forms update problems(Drake does it automatically so I didn't even know when it occurred.) No issues with them telling me one price and charging another.

I also got a free WEB site and e-mail address from them.

[taxxcpa]

Drake and Forms entry

[QUOTE=geekgirldany;59451]I just looked at the web video for Drake. I am pretty impressed with all that is offered for the price. I am with Taxwise now and I am okay with it. They don't have a document manager included. I pay $2.00 per efile and pay extra for some return types.

As stated before the only thing about Drake that is putting me off is forms entry. QUOTE]

I got around the forms entry problem by preparing an excel worksheet listing each line on form 1040 and in adjacent columns I have the line description, the code that takes you to the appropriate Drake Input screen and the source of the information such as 1099INT, 2106, 8889,3903, etc. I've uploaded my worksheet on a Yahoo group which is capable of receiving such uploads.

[erchess]

Isn't this group capable of receiving

such uploads? Or could you email me the worksheet?

[geekgirldany]

I got around the forms entry problem by preparing an excel worksheet listing each line on form 1040 and in adjacent columns I have the line description, the code that takes you to the appropriate Drake Input screen and the source of the information such as 1099INT, 2106, 8889,3903, etc. I've uploaded my worksheet on a Yahoo group which is capable of receiving such uploads.

I would need something like that. I am so use to Taxwise. Click F9 and it shows all the forms available for that line on the 1040. Does Drake not do something similar to this? It sounds like you have to know which forms you have to use. Which should be obvious but not always to me.

[erchess]

Danny

Forgive me if you know this but in today's market professionals can choose Forms Entry or Spreadsheet Entry and most programs are one or the other although some can give either and some will feed you the questions to ask your client during the interview.

Drake is an example of pure Spreadsheet Entry. Ultratax is an example of a program that can do both. I found that very helpful about Ultratax because to me their spreadsheet screens collectively are a confusing maze. Drake has no Forms Entry but I find the layout of the worksheets logical. Let's just take Wages. I don't actually need, in order to use Drake, to know that they end up on line 7 of F1040. Even if I knew nothing about taxes I could figure out that the W2 my client gives me belongs on the W2 screen of my computer. The fact that the boxes on both are numbered makes matching easy. The other screens are similarly easy in Drake. What I have to know essentially is the "definition" of each number I put in the return and of each box I check and each answer I choose from a list. At any time I can view the return and see if things are going where they should because of course glitches in software happen and sometimes a computer operator makes a goof. But I really think that with the Excel sheet we both hope to get and reasonable tax knowledge Drake is easy to use. If you do happen to forget where entries of a particular sort get made just call Tech Support.

[geekgirldany]

Thanks so much for the information Erchess. Actually no I did not know there was a difference. I have used Taxwise since 94-95 and I have not tried anything else. So this is really new to me about the other types of software available. I think it should be pretty obvious like your example but in some cases it may not. Tech support for Taxwise is okay. If you call in about a form they seem to not know and it takes awhile to get an answer. Drake's tech support seems to have high marks. I find it interesting that Tax Refund Express resales Taxwise.

I've also decided to try TaxSlayer Pro also. After I do a few test returns I should be able to tell if I want to take the jump to change. I think Taxwise should add a little more to their package for the price. Adding the document manager would be a great addition.

[Chief]

Tax Refund Express

is a reseller of ORR not Taxwise. ACE Express is a reseller ot Taxwise or they were a few years ago.

[taxxcpa]

Form numbers

I would need something like that. I am so use to Taxwise. Click F9 and it shows all the forms available for that line on the 1040. Does Drake not do something similar to this? It sounds like you have to know which forms you have to use. Which should be obvious but not always to me.

I can't remember even 20%of all the forms. I have trouble distinguishing between Form 6251 and 6252. I can't remember what goes on each line of Form 1040 or any of the schedules or forms. That is why I prepared an excel worksheet that covers the majority of the ones that I need. When I used ATX all I had to do is look at the screen, then jump to the form. With Drake, I keep the worksheet available and look at it, and it guides me to the form. If I need Form 8880, I look at line 53 and see that 8880 is the form for Retirement Savings, etc.
It is only a little more trouble than clicking on a line to get the form--but Drake works much faster than ATX which probably more than offsets the need for a 'cheat sheet'.

[JohnH]

After seeing your post, I went to the Yahoo group and downloaded the cheat sheet. It looks great - thanks for putting up that info. I plan to start evaluating Drake in the next couple of weeks & have already been viewing their webinar. I can see how the cheat sheet fills a need.

[David1980]

is a reseller of ORR not Taxwise. ACE Express is a reseller ot Taxwise or they were a few years ago.

Actually it would seem TRX resells both.

http://www.trxalliance.com/ = Orrtax Intellitax.
http://www.trx1040.com/ = TaxWise (When you go to the list of forms supported at http://www.trx1040.com/statelinks.html all the links go to TaxWise.com)