Tax software 2004 review

The demo is available on the product page on the vendor's site. If you subscribe to a CrossLink package, you get free access to a couple of mobile apps for iPhones or Android phones.

One is a Taxpayer mobile app that is meant to be used by your clients. One is an ERO app that you can use for tax office management. The company provides technical support through phone, fax and email. The official website provides various product and training videos these are hosted on YouTube. Summary: ProSeries Basic is restricted to s only, which feels too limiting given the product's price point.

ProSeries Professional supports individual and business returns. Cloud hosting is available as an add-on to ProSeries Professional for an additional fee. Intuit is a well-known company in the accounting world. It is best known for its QuickBooks software, a widely-used application among accounting offices.

Intuit ProSeries includes a data transfer feature for QuickBooks offices. The question remains: does this feature set ProSeries apart from other professional tax software options? Simply put, a tax pro will be able to transfer data directly from the QuickBooks desktop program to the ProSeries desktop version. In both cases, a data verification process remains necessary—and that verification process can take a fair amount of time.

By itself, the data transfer feature is not enough to place ProSeries ahead of other tax software options. A cloud hosting service is available to ProSeries Professional subscribers for an additional fee. The service is not offered to ProSeries Basic users.

ProSeries Basic is quite limited as detailed below. Tax preparers will get more out of ProSeries Professional, which offers QuickBooks data transfers, support for multi-user access and a Schedule K-1 import feature. ProSeries Basic only provides Form filing. Most tax preparers will find this inadequate for servicing the needs of a diverse clientele.

As many as survey respondents said that they switched from ProSeries to a different taxes software for professional purposes—with the majority going to UltraTax or Drake. One key deciding factor for any purchaser is value for price. ProSeries Basic 20 lets you file up to 20 returns only.

Basic 50 lets you file up to ProConnect Tax Online is a cloud-based tax preparation platform. Users pay per e-filed return, with the price varying depending on the volume of returns. If you plan to e-file over forms in a single tax year, you may be eligible for special pricing—call Intuit customer service to discuss it. ProSeries Professional is a tax preparation solution that includes support for 3, tax forms and schedules.

You have to call an number and speak with a sales representative about the pricing of these options. For your information, ProSeries Choice is offered only to new customers. Getting it will update your ProSeries subscription to the network version. This will enable file sharing and synchronization for all users of your ProSeries subscription. Essentially, the Network Sharing feature enables multi-user access to your ProSeries application.

As previously noted, a cloud hosting service can be added to your ProSeries Professional account. If you get this add-on, you will have to pay a monthly subscription to use it. Once you purchase it, you will automatically be charged the subscription fee every month unless you call customer service to cancel it. The actual subscription price of the cloud service is not stated on the Intuit website. You need to call Intuit customer service or request an online consultation to initiate a discussion on the subscription pricing.

Intuit provides a cloud-based professional tax preparer software option. ProConnect Tax Online is accessible via any standard web browser. According to customer reviews on TrustRadius, ProConnect demonstrates accuracy and ease of use, but the software has a clunky interface and it is not a good fit for processing a high volume of returns. ProConnect lets you use the software and pay per return e-filed. You have a choice of several pay-per-return packages, which charge variably depending on volume of returns.

ProConnect offers packages for individual returns and for business returns. ProSeries subscribers enjoy access to Intuit's reliable help and support resources. The official Intuit website hosts a Customer Help Center. You can check it out to find useful information about ProSeries. You can also request help from a live community of ProSeries users. Telephone, email and chat support options are also available, with customer support costs bundled into the ProSeries software pricing. For a more comprehensive corporate tax solution, you want to get TaxSlayer Pro Premium for desktop or the Corporate add-on for Web.

The packages and prices are still the same. The professional tax software is available in three versions: Classic, Premium and Web. All three versions include free unlimited e-filing for tax preparers with an EFIN.

TaxSlayer Pro Web alone works better for individual tax return filing. Getting the Corporate add-on will provide you with corporate tax return preparation software. Pricing is not stated. TaxSlayer Pro Classic is software for the tax preparer who files a lot of individual tax forms. It includes support for unlimited Form processing and free unlimited e-filing. All State returns are included. Classic also supports the following forms: , , , , , , S, Other features of TaxSlayer Pro Classic include online bank integration, cloud-based reporting, multiple user access, a client retention database and an IRS refund estimation tool.

TaxSlayer Pro Premium offers the same features as Classic, and also includes corporate tax software. Basically, this package is for the tax preparer who needs more advanced software tools that can help you deal with the special needs of corporate tax returns. Premium adds paperless office solutions. You can scan and save documents as digital files. You can export and save tax returns in the PDF file format. Clients can use the mobile app or the client portal to securely send electronic documents to your tax practice.

Premium also provides an adpack with printable media you can brand with your company name—promotional handouts, direct mail templates and promotional e-mail templates. TaxSlayer Pro Web is a cloud-based application that has the same features as Premium, except it does not include corporate tax software. This version is ideal for tax pros who work remotely, or who require more mobility.

TaxSlayer Pro Web works in your browser. You can access it anywhere as long as you have a broadband internet connection. The TaxSlayer Pro website hosts a searchable information base with solutions to problems related to their desktop and cloud-based software.

Customers can also check out instructional videos and help articles, or access complimentary email and live phone support. Summary: TaxAct Professional Edition provides desktop solutions that include a Bundle for filing individual federal returns.

To file business returns, you can purchase the Complete Bundle. It does not offer an online software version. TaxAct used to emphasize its scalable pricing coupled with its low-cost Pay-Per-Return version of its Professional Edition. It appears to highlight its TaxAct Professional bundles. It looks like TaxAct is adjusting its product offerings, or at least making changes to its marketing strategy. If you want to go with the PPR version, you will have to call a TaxAct sales agent to find out what they can offer.

You can also purchase Professional Federal Editions. This will add support for an unlimited number of Federal tax forms. Available forms include , , , , S and State returns are not included with the Professional Federal Editions and must be purchased separately. Available State Editions include , , , and S. If you have used TaxAct Professional Edition before, the current iteration will be very familiar.

It offers the usual e-filing, tax planning tools, professional report tools and a client manager. Software Assistants make it easy to figure out what to do. The Assistants guide the user through the tax return data entry process. You can get help from a topics assistant and a stock assistant. An import wizard provides a tool to quickly transfer data from a different software application.

The TaxAct Bundle gives you unlimited Federal return e-filing. The bundle also includes all State s. The base Bundle limits you to a single user license, but you can purchase a Enterprise Bundle that adds multi-user networking, online data backup and an optional cloud storage service for your files. Both Bundles are geared toward tax pros who file a high volume of returns. The tax preparer who needs to file other types of tax returns will have two options. One option is to purchase Professional Federal Editions as they are needed.

Purchasing a Federal Edition adds support to your choice of the following forms: , , , , S, Another option is to purchase the Complete Bundle. It supports unlimited e-filing of , , , S, and Federal returns along with all State returns.

Again, the base bundle limits you to a single user license. The Complete Enterprise Bundle will give you multi-user networking, online data backup and an optional cloud storage solution.

Technical support is available through phone and email. Customers can also consult a tax pro knowledge base hosted on the TaxAct website. TaxAct Professional features bank product integration with the Republic Bank refund transfer program. Summary: Olt Pro started out as a cloud-based tax preparation solution, but now it also offers desktop software.

It could stand to be more user-friendly. Not ideal for high volumes of corporate returns. Olt Pro started out as a web-based tax preparation platform.

It has also developed a desktop version with similar capabilities. If you have been using Olt Pro, you will find that it has not changed greatly compared to last year. This goes for both the online and desktop applications. Olt Pro 25 Return is available as a web application only. This product is best suited for tax preparers who handle a low volume of returns. It will only allow you to register up to 25 e-filings with the IRS. Olt Pro 25 supports individual , NR, , S, , , , , and filing along with all state tax returns.

E-filing is free. With this plan, you also get free customer support and a multi-user setup. Olt Pro 25 Return certainly has attractive features. But the limit on returns is too restrictive for most tax practices, and makes it difficult to expand your client base. It is up to you to decide whether this undercuts its value for your tax office.

The flagship product appears to be Olt Pro Web. As the name suggests, it is a web-only application. You get the same functionality as Olt Pro 25 Return, with the addition of support for unlimited returns. You also get business and corporate tax forms under this plan. Olt Pro Web has a fast working interface with a clean, spare UI. While this minimalist interface is quick-loading, it appears to be lacking in guidance features. During the data entry process in form mode, you can be presented with a large number of options.

It can be confusing to a new tax preparer. If you are a seasoned tax pro, this might not be an issue. Overall, this web-based tax preparation software is fast and feature-heavy, but can be confusing and awkward to use. Olt Pro Desktop is, of course, the desktop version of Olt Pro Web, though it does add several helpful features.

These include corporate income tax filing, data backup to your computer , networking capability and a document manager. It can only be installed on Windows computers. The desktop software gives users a choice of data entry modes. It offers the usual direct data entry mode. Users can also opt to use Olt Pro Desktop's interview mode. This mode can assist tax pros with conducting client consultations. It can guide them on getting all the information they need.

And afterwards, enter that info into the correct data fields on the client's tax return. One question is, why does the web application lack so many of the features that come with the desktop software? It is possible that Olt Pro, which started out as a web-based solution, has a large number of Olt Pro Web users.

Perhaps the company needs to make its desktop product comparatively more appealing. Another question is, why does the data backup feature store the backup in your computer?

It would be better to employ a cloud-based backup solution. This seems like an odd choice for a company that began as a web application provider. Customer service includes toll-free phone support, remote support online , and email support. Olt Pro also provides access to a web-hosted knowledge base with answers to various tax questions. Olt Pro's website shows that all products include support for bank products.

But the bank product providers are not specified. Summary: Tax professionals software that provides a large number of IRS forms and schedules including most business tax forms. It lacks an online application. Best suited for tax pros who require regular access to a wide variety of tax forms. ATX by Wolters Kluwer is a fairly pricey but feature-loaded professional tax software solution.

It is probably best suited to a large tax preparation firm that caters to big corporate clients. One of its top features is support for a comprehensive tax form library.

Subscribers can access around 6, tax compliance forms, including most business returns. Along with the tax pro library, ATX provides a couple of research resources for finding information quickly. These include the U. The Wolters Kluwer web site does not appear to specify the rates for filing returns under the Pay—Per—Return option.

The prices shown in the chart reflect the PPR filing costs from last year. That is reflected in the price on the chart. Subscribers of other packages can purchase either of the first two features as an add-on.

Return Retrieval is another purchasable add-on. This provides a secure backup solution to guard against the loss of client files. Something that every high-volume tax practice really needs to have. This package is limited to three States and 75 free e-filings.

The software has a forms-based interface that is easy to use. You also get in-line help options on the tax form entry screen. And ATX provides two alternative ways for filling out the electronic tax form. Users can choose the direct entry method or the interview method, a feature added to the software last year. Note that it is not as comprehensive as the research tools included in the higher-priced software packages. Other features include E-Signature support, payroll compliance reporting and the Check Return Track diagnostics tool for returns.

ATX Max is the company's most popular package. This ATX software version includes all state and federal returns along with unlimited free e-filing. Overall it has the same features you will find in ATX ATX Advantage is the same, but also includes concierge care and conversion services.

ATX customers can call a tech support line or email for help and information. Subscribers are not charged additional fees for customer support. One thing ATX is lacking is an online or mobile version of their professional tax software.

You will be tied to a desktop if you go with ATX. Summary: Cloud-based system suitable for virtual tax offices. Also handy for in-person consultations with clients. No corresponding desktop application available. It offers a cloud-based tax preparation app that runs in your web browser. If you're wondering whether they offer a desktop-based application… well, no. Fortunately, you can set the tax software to offline mode, allowing you to work on a project even when you can't access an online connection.

This will update your project with the changes you made in offline mode. Given the shift to virtual office setups driven by the pandemic response, MyTAXPrepOffice is in a good position to answer the needs of today's remote workers.

Though it is not alone in this. UltimateTax, Olt Pro and other applications are also viable options for a virtual tax office. Individual Pro gives you a single user account and 5GB of cloud storage. It supports free unlimited e-filing individual s only , Federal and all States included. Other features include a client portal and a signature app. The price is attractive, but the plan is fairly limited.

If you want to file business returns, you would have to go with the Essential or Unlimited Plan. These two plans are very similar, although one is clearly aimed at small to medium businesses, and the other to a fairly large tax practice. Essential Plan includes the features of Individual Pro, and adds support for business returns. It can be used to prepare the following tax forms: , , S, , , and Note that the Essential Plan is good for only two users and 10GB of storage.

It offers most of the same features as more expensive software, including client organizers, a tax planner, MFJ to MFS comparison, and multistate returns. Unlike some popular professional software, you cannot purchase Drake Tax bundled with a tax research service.

If you do require a tax research service, then you may want to check out CCH Axcess Tax , which we selected as the best cloud-based software to manage a whole accounting firm. CCH Research provides up-to-date tax and accounting information with powerful search functionality, which ultimately saves you time. You can only get pricing information by speaking with a sales representative. Lacerte Tax only provides pricing information through a sales representative. The company offers three plans:.

Lacerte Tax is a powerful tax solution that offers a variety of tools to help streamline your practice. These tools include an expansive form library, a paperless option for organizing and collecting tax information, and a variety of tax analysis and planning tools.

Lacerte is expensive, but with complicated returns, you should be able to recoup the cost through client fees. With Lacerte, you can prepare all individual and business returns, including forms , , S, , , and It can also prepare gift and estate tax returns, forms and as well as Form benefit plan returns.

It also lets you choose to enter data through forms or quick-entry sheets and offers an integrated billing clock. You must speak with a sales representative for pricing information. No pricing or information regarding available packages is available on their website. CCH Axcess Tax is a well-rounded, cloud-based software program for tax professionals. It integrates with other CCH Axcess modules to provide more features to help you run your practice.

Its user interface is easy to navigate, and it allows you to create a tax organizer for your clients. Another outstanding feature is the ability to link to CCH IntelliConnect without leaving the tax preparation program. When evaluating the best tax software for tax preparers, we considered the needs of tax professionals who prepare individual and business tax returns.

The price of the software is a primary concern as are features, such as importing data, integrating with client portals, and sending out returns and invoices for e-signature and e-payment. Based on the needs of bookkeepers, accountants, and tax professionals, the criteria we used to evaluate the best tax software for professionals include:. You should choose software that provides a pricing option that fits the number and types of tax returns you prepare.

However, you must also consider your need to prepare complex returns and the time you could save with bookkeeping software and practice management integrations. Find Timothy On LinkedIn.

Tim Yoder is a subject matter expert at Fit Small Business focusing on small business bookkeeping, accounting, and tax content. He received his Ph. He most recently spent two years as the accountant at a commercial roofing company utilizing QuickBooks Desktop to compile financials, job cost, and run payroll.

She has owned a bookkeeping and payroll service that specializes in small business for over twenty years. She also regularly writes about travel, food, and books for various lifestyle publications.

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