Professional Tax Preparation Software

Posted by CMS_VA_CPA on November 22, 2009, 3:11 pm

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If not off topic for this forum, I would appreciate comments from other tax
professionals about their tax prep software.

I have used Ultra Tax for many years and in general have been very happy
with the software. Pricing however is another issue. The program is easy
to use and complete in the forms and returns area, but the pricing has just
gone up too much for my current practice requirements and I am looking to
make a change.

I am seriously looking at Intuit ProSeries (since I am also a QuickBooks
ProAdvisor) and at Drake Software. I was also considering ATX but some of
the reviews have not been as good.

Drake seems very inexpensive (by comparison), but I wonder if it is complete
and easy to use. ProSeries seems complete and easy to use with good client
presentation materials, and although less expensive than UltraTax, it is
more expensive than Drake.

I have ordered eval software for both ProSeries and Drake.

My practice is not large but I do have a few multi-state corporations, LLC's
and S-corps with the shareholders also as clients so transfer of the K-1 is
important, and several parent/child returns that need the information to be
shared among them.

I also want to be able to modify the client letters, organizer letters, and
invoice formats. The standard formats never seem to be exactly what I want.
I efile virtually all 1040's. Ultra Tax does everything I want, but it is
just too expensive now.

Any comments on your experience would be appreciated.

CMS_VA_CPA

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Posted by Arthur Kamlet on November 22, 2009, 3:19 pm

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>If not off topic for this forum, I would appreciate comments from other tax

>professionals about their tax prep software.

>I have used Ultra Tax for many years and in general have been very happy

>with the software. Pricing however is another issue. The program is easy

>to use and complete in the forms and returns area, but the pricing has just

>gone up too much for my current practice requirements and I am looking to

>make a change.

>I am seriously looking at Intuit ProSeries (since I am also a QuickBooks

>ProAdvisor) and at Drake Software. I was also considering ATX but some of

>the reviews have not been as good.

>Drake seems very inexpensive (by comparison), but I wonder if it is complete

>and easy to use. ProSeries seems complete and easy to use with good client

>presentation materials, and although less expensive than UltraTax, it is

>more expensive than Drake.

>I have ordered eval software for both ProSeries and Drake.

>My practice is not large but I do have a few multi-state corporations, LLC's

>and S-corps with the shareholders also as clients so transfer of the K-1 is

>important, and several parent/child returns that need the information to be

>shared among them.

>I also want to be able to modify the client letters, organizer letters, and

>invoice formats. The standard formats never seem to be exactly what I want.

>I efile virtually all 1040's. Ultra Tax does everything I want, but it is

>just too expensive now.

>Any comments on your experience would be appreciated.

Not a surprise that everytime you add a new owner (Thompson - Reuters
- Creative Solutions) the price goes up.

But in my opinion, UltraTax service/maintenance is outstanding, and
you might be willing to pay more for that alone.
--

ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

Posted by CMS_VA_CPA on November 24, 2009, 5:19 pm

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>>If not off topic for this forum, I would appreciate comments from other

>>tax

>>professionals about their tax prep software.

>>I have used Ultra Tax for many years and in general have been very happy

>>with the software. Pricing however is another issue. The program is easy

>>to use and complete in the forms and returns area, but the pricing has

>>just

>>gone up too much for my current practice requirements and I am looking to

>>make a change.

>>I am seriously looking at Intuit ProSeries (since I am also a QuickBooks

>>ProAdvisor) and at Drake Software. I was also considering ATX but some of

>>the reviews have not been as good.

>>Drake seems very inexpensive (by comparison), but I wonder if it is

>>complete

>>and easy to use. ProSeries seems complete and easy to use with good

>>client

>>presentation materials, and although less expensive than UltraTax, it is

>>more expensive than Drake.

>>I have ordered eval software for both ProSeries and Drake.

>>My practice is not large but I do have a few multi-state corporations,

>>LLC's

>>and S-corps with the shareholders also as clients so transfer of the K-1

>>is

>>important, and several parent/child returns that need the information to

>>be

>>shared among them.

>>I also want to be able to modify the client letters, organizer letters,

>>and

>>invoice formats. The standard formats never seem to be exactly what I

>>want.

>>I efile virtually all 1040's. Ultra Tax does everything I want, but it is

>>just too expensive now.

>>Any comments on your experience would be appreciated.

> Not a surprise that everytime you add a new owner (Thompson - Reuters

> - Creative Solutions) the price goes up.

> But in my opinion, UltraTax service/maintenance is outstanding, and

> you might be willing to pay more for that alone.

> --

> ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

Art,

Thanks for your comments. I agree that support is important and that
Creative's support is very good. That doesn't mean that somebody else's
support is not good also, and there is a limit on what I'm willing to pay.

I don't know about ProSeries support yet. Based on Drew's comments I will
certainly check it out during my eval. As a QB ProAdvisor, I have been very
pleased with their QB support though.

Charlie

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
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Posted by Drew Edmundson on November 22, 2009, 10:37 pm

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On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:11:28 EST, "CMS_VA_CPA"

>I am seriously looking at Intuit ProSeries (since I am also a QuickBooks

>ProAdvisor) and at Drake Software. I was also considering ATX but some of

>the reviews have not been as good.

I use ProSeries and have looked at Drake several times. ProSeries
support sometimes leaves something to be desired. I have tried several
times to get them to fix the MAGI calculation on Form 8582-AMT. I just
get ignored. A lot of nice worksheets though and the input resembles
the forms. Drake is less complete in its overall calculations. For
example, last time I looked they made no attempt to calculate AMT PAL
carryovers. On the other hand, Drake has more forms than ProSeries. I
do not like their input screens for several reasons. They are not form
based and they still seem to DOS like.

You may also want to look at Tax Works. I haven't used it but
evaluated it several times. They are owned by H&R Bloch.

Drew Edmundson, CPA
Cary, NC

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

Posted by CMS_VA_CPA on November 24, 2009, 5:18 pm

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> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:11:28 EST, "CMS_VA_CPA"

>>I am seriously looking at Intuit ProSeries (since I am also a QuickBooks

>>ProAdvisor) and at Drake Software. I was also considering ATX but some of

>>the reviews have not been as good.

> I use ProSeries and have looked at Drake several times. ProSeries

> support sometimes leaves something to be desired. I have tried several

> times to get them to fix the MAGI calculation on Form 8582-AMT. I just

> get ignored. A lot of nice worksheets though and the input resembles

> the forms. Drake is less complete in its overall calculations. For

> example, last time I looked they made no attempt to calculate AMT PAL

> carryovers. On the other hand, Drake has more forms than ProSeries. I

> do not like their input screens for several reasons. They are not form

> based and they still seem to DOS like.

> You may also want to look at Tax Works. I haven't used it but

> evaluated it several times. They are owned by H&R Bloch.

> Drew Edmundson, CPA

> Cary, NC

Drew,

Thank you for your comments, I'll watch out for those areas while I am
evaluating.

I took a quick look at Tax Works website. They seem as or more expensive
than ProSeries. I can't say much for their website. Very uninformative and
confusing. Not particularly sure I want to support Block either.

Thanks again.

Charlie

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>