Calling Taxwise and Drake Users

[dhawkcpa]

I used Taxwise

until switching to ATX in 2003. Now CCH has aquired both ATX an Taxwise.

Many ATX users are nervous that CCH may dump ATX and attempt to sell Taxwise to everyone. Many ATX users are angry at CCH about being put on the back burner this last year. Delivery dates, support, efiling and frequent updates were some of the compaints. Actually, the ATX program itself was better than ever.

Since 4/15 I have looked at Drake, Orrtax, Taxslayer, and revisited Taxwise. My favorites are ATX and Taxwise. No, I don't work for CCH.

With ATX, you can fill out a form and review it at the same time. With Drake, these two parts of tax work are so disconnected that it could take an ATX form based person a long time to get used to.

Taxwise has some neat features. It is a quick program. It has red exclamation marks on the form list so you know where you must complete missing items. You can estimate any cell so you remember to come back to it.

The unique thing about ATX is that you can choose to enter or see data in spreadsheet form. That means you can see all w2's, 1099rs, Sch D sales, interest & dividend data on one screen. For me, that makes reviewing fast. Also, you can make spreadsheets that can be added to any clients file. The worst thing about ATX is the client letter. I think it's hard to do a client letter with a spreadsheet.

Drake had a nice way of easily importing a spreadsheet directly into Schedule D. If you see a lot of stock sales this is great. It is also very quick as a database would be.

I have had no problem with multi-state use for Taxwise or ATX and have heard that Drake is also good.

I will be sticking with ATX for 2008 but it is nice to know that good choices exist.

[equinecpa]

Involves adding state returns as needed?
Example: I purchase 1040 (with direct filing, btw) and this package includes three
states. Great, since I do as many Georgia returns as Alabama returns. Then there are
always other states. To add a fourth state, OR a business entity return, I have to begin
the return, only to be told something like: "you have not yet purchased that return; do
you wish to?" (Yes, darn it!) and i'm connected via internet to their server and it is
downloaded. Added states are 10$ each per client, and entity returns are 30$.

That's easy enough I think. How will TRX do this?

It looks like the STATES are included. Take a look at trx1040.com.

[JG EA]

But in looking over Drake live payroll:
They do not have a way to remove unwanted categories from the check stubs
The do not have a way to pay payroll liabilities without entering those liabilities into the
bookkeeping section

Incidently I examined CFS live payroll and they also do not have a way (at all) to pay payroll liabilities with a check! All they have is a checklist that adds up the liabilities and you can record when they are paid.

I make Federal payments with EFTPS but have many checks to SUTA etc.

And both Drake and CFS only have blank checks (requiring new equipment) or totally preprinted checks - no way to print the individual employers name on the check. Since we handle several from a payroll trust account this also makes these programs unusable.

[taxladyea]

Drake and live payroll

Good morning,

If you go into the CWU and after setting up a company and opening up you click on payroll
it gives you the option for either live payroll or ATF payroll. It may not be on the full demo of the tax package that they send out, as to that I cannot say.

As for the "cheat sheet" that is just my name for my return recap based on the prior year as to form. Basically I already know what the answer should be before the return is entered. Kind of a check process also.

As to the fact that some users seem to imply that Drake is only good for simple and average returns I will take issue. I have found that Drake works for all my returns and I can assure you that many are very complex; you do however have to think thru the process to prepare. I personally like that. Tends to keep me sharper;.

One other point about Drake I would like to make is how responsive that the company is to changes that their users request. The company is very open minded.

[ChEAr$]

Next question then,

This is a good question. I have placed a call with TRX. I have been told:
TRX will provide the efiling
TRX will provide the suport

They do for their current TRX offering so this makes sense. I was very happy with the support and efiling service this year.

Involves adding state returns as needed?
Example: I purchase 1040 (with direct filing, btw) and this package includes three
states. Great, since I do as many Georgia returns as Alabama returns. Then there are
always other states. To add a fourth state, OR a business entity return, I have to begin
the return, only to be told something like: "you have not yet purchased that return; do
you wish to?" (Yes, darn it!) and i'm connected via internet to their server and it is
downloaded. Added states are 10$ each per client, and entity returns are 30$.

That's easy enough I think. How will TRX do this?

[drdino]

taxladyea

"I have been able to give my "cheat sheet" to a novice key punch operator and had an excellent and most important of all a correct tax return prepared. Kristy finds it easy to get around in the program.

Never had a price increase. For my $995. (by renewing in May)($1395 if you wait until Jan) I get:
1040 all forms
1120 all forms
1120S all forms
1065 all forms
990 all forms
706 all forms
All States and all necessary forms for any income tax or income tax related
Free electronic filing
RIA on line free
Drake's write up (which while I do not use gets better each year)
Live Payroll (everything necessary) which I DO USE and I like."


I've heard you mention the 'cheat sheet' before. What do you use it for? And which write up's are you talking about? One last question. Live payroll. I got the test download and it is not part of that. How is the live payroll? Thanks.

Dean

[lenboush]

Nothing I said was meant as trying to be at war with anyone. I sincerely apologize that I was offensive to you.

I have no problem agreeing to disagree. I'm sure I throw away tons of junk mail that others would disagree with my defining it as junk mail as well.

[equinecpa]

How will returns be filed using this TRX outfit? Or are they merely wholesalers and all contact
will be WITH Taxwise?

This is a good question. I have placed a call with TRX. I have been told:
TRX will provide the efiling
TRX will provide the suport

They do for their current TRX offering so this makes sense. I was very happy with the support and efiling service this year.

[JCH]

I have been with Drake for 8 years and agree with thomtax. Drake has NEVER been "in my face" about anything, right left or in the middle. As thomtax said, they do send you a Christmas card and Easter card with a religious message. If that's "in your face", then I guess I don't understand the term "in your face".

The only other thing that I have ever seen that even remotely relates to their religious beliefs is that they are always closed on Sunday so there is no tech support on Sunday. You can stil e-file on Sunday. I don't know whether that is becasue it's all automated or because they have a skeletal crew come in for e-filing purposes. Since I am closed on Sunday, that has never been an issue for me.

One other thing did just now occur to me is that they do monitor their forum bulletin board and do not allow profanity or off color talk. I think that is not uncommon in professional circles.

I would be interested to hear any other specifics of what Drake has done that would be "in your face."

It is, in my opinion, offensive and presumptuous to impose your personal religious beliefs on other people. Drake doesn't mail out a "holiday" card. They mail a christmas and easter card, which I find personally offensive. I am not a christian, I have asked them to stop sending me these types of cards yet they continue to come, therefore I would call it "in your face." I also think it's a poor business practice. There's my gripe with Drake. I don't want to start a war here, but hope this clarifies my position and we can agree to disagree. Okay?

[ChEAr$]

the key is service

That is a good idea. I think I will give them a call and see if there is a difference in the two.

How will returns be filed using this TRX outfit? Or are they merely wholesalers and all contact
will be WITH Taxwise?

[lenboush]

I have been with Drake for 8 years and agree with thomtax. Drake has NEVER been "in my face" about anything, right left or in the middle. As thomtax said, they do send you a Christmas card and Easter card with a religious message. If that's "in your face", then I guess I don't understand the term "in your face".

The only other thing that I have ever seen that even remotely relates to their religious beliefs is that they are always closed on Sunday so there is no tech support on Sunday. You can stil e-file on Sunday. I don't know whether that is becasue it's all automated or because they have a skeletal crew come in for e-filing purposes. Since I am closed on Sunday, that has never been an issue for me.

One other thing did just now occur to me is that they do monitor their forum bulletin board and do not allow profanity or off color talk. I think that is not uncommon in professional circles.

I would be interested to hear any other specifics of what Drake has done that would be "in your face."

[thomtax]

In your face?

But they're in your face about their right wing values, which is a major turnoff.

I guess that we have a different perspective. The only thing I have ever gotten was a couple of cards a year, at Christmas and Easter. If I don't want them, I can just toss them.

I personally, in this day and age of political correctness, find it refreshing to see that a company will stand up for something, whether I believe in it or not. There are far too many of them that will tell you what you want to hear, to get your money, and then forget about it, and appear insulted if you ask them about it after they have your money.

Maybe I have just seen too many scams, such as the telephone long distance carriers just tried to pull on me, by flat out lying about who they were with.

LT

[Donald Rihn, EA]

Drake

I have been a Drake user since the 93 Tax Year when "Best" went belly-up and sold out to Intuit.

Though not completely 100% satisfied with Drake, I haven't been able to find another software that will handle my clients. I do very few simple returns.

Maybe it is the learning curve. As the "cheap" renewal date for Drake is May 31st, I am very busy after tax season during May and don't have the necessary time to check out those other software properly.

I have tried to test them, but as I said, not enough time.

Drake's e-filing is magnificent.

And as another has said, their supporting schedules, and their cover letters, are very unprofessional looking.

Drake appears to rely on their users to test their software early in the tax season instead of their programers testing it. That does cause a problem in January and mid-February if you do a lot of early filers.

But, I will probably renew with Drake again.

[Possi]

Taxwise for me

I have used TW for about 8 years. I like the program and technical help has always been wonderful. The price is fair as well.

Tax help comes from TTB and message board, but technical help from TW is great.

[JCH]

You get what you pay for with Drake. It's a good program for easy and average returns. E-filing is flawless. The supporting schedules aren't very professional looking. Customer service is always there. But they're in your face about their right wing values, which is a major turnoff.