Discussion:ProSeries Offer to ATX Users
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Msmith7305 (talk|edits) said: | 29 August 2006 |
| As a long time user of ProSeries (11yrs on my own and 5 yrs as an employee) I was shocked to see the offer that is being made to ATX users. ProSeries is offering what amounts to unlimited use of 1040 + all states, 1041, 1065, 1120, 1120S, 990, 706, 709 (plus all states for these business returns), including free e-filing for $1,065 TOTAL! And that's guaranteed for 3 TAX YEARS! I am paying $ 3,000 for LESS.
I called customer service (who transferred me to the sales department) and expressed my displeasure as to this policy and that I felt it was detrimental to their loyal customers and was basically told "tough luck". I was told the reason for their offer was to hopefully take over those customers of ATX since the CCH buyout. I understand what their reasoning is, I just feel like the loyal customers are being shafted. They also said that they hoped this would allow them to lower the price in the future. I've heard that before. Sour Grapes? Perhaps. I just think about this, along with Intuit's marketing of TurboTax with the admonition to "get rid of your accountant", and I have to wonder if they even care about us. | |
| 29 August 2006 | |
| Are you kidding me? That really irks me too! I'm going to call them as well. While I understand what they are trying to accomplish, it seems that it's not fair to their loyal users of so many years. I, too, have used Proseries for a few years. I don't think it will hurt to make that call ~~ at least I'll feel better! | |
Msmith7305 (talk|edits) said: | 29 August 2006 |
| Yeah, give them a call. I felt better afterwards, for all the good it did. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 29 August 2006 |
| Read the thread on the maximum Solo 401K contribution and weep. Suffice to say, when I entered the Simple Plan deferral on the W-2, the information went nowhere else in the program, apparently unlike big sister Lacerte software. The cost is about $4300 for the comparable package. I am sure that Intuit has recruited flak catchers to field the calls. Threaten to go elsewhere, but for a one man office doing 500 returns with many states, who has better software? Lacerte? Probably, but then Intuit still gets your money. | |
| August 29, 2006 | |
| LaCerte is NOT better software. Blech. Spit it out. Disgusting. Maybe ok for heads down DOS heads....but clunky and not intuitive at all. And not form driven. You can't just doubleclick a form entry and get back to the entry...Double yech.
Now, that said, it does do some calculations better and more accurately, and ProSeries is chasing that aspect. So we await. | |
John of PA (talk|edits) said: | 29 August 2006 |
| Lacerte is a great package. Right click an entry from a form, and you can jump right to the input screen. It appears that with CCH's resources behind ATX, ATX is now a threat to ProSeries, or will become one in a few short years, so Intuit would like to go after the ATX users now, that is now while ProSeries is still a better package than ATX. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 29 August 2006 |
| My gripe with Proseries is that if often they chase bells and whistles and ignore calculations. There are so many places where a link might save time and help accuracy, but I agree, Proseries works more like I did when I was doing returns manually. I did do a Lacerte trial. It reminded me so much of the old Pencilpushers, a DOS lovers dream. | |
| 29 August 2006 | |
| Lacerte is the tops when it comes to tax return prep. I have used it for years and they have been running on the Microsoft system for years now. I don't understand the DOS comment, but I am a little computer slow.
I love the missing info feature. Right click on a missing item and it generates a report that can be printed or emailed to client to list missing info. I have never heard any bad info on Lacerte other than the price which I will admit is a bit on the high end. However I can't even imagine how much time that program says versus others. | |
| August 30, 2006 | |
| I wonder how long it takes you to do an average return in Lac? In ProSeries, 20-30 minutes tops. Many in 10. Tough returns in 45...ProSeries is built for speed and efficiency. And it blazes. | |
Michaelstar (talk|edits) said: | 30 August 2006 |
| Actually JR1 - Lacerte is not a bad tax program. I totally hated the old batch forms b4 1986 when the tax software started using the old AT machines - yes DOS - and those of use who were forms driven could finally drive! The last software I used b4 Lacerte was a small program called ITS for which I was one of their beta testers for a few years - went by the handle - midnight beta tester - and had fun with it but they as with most tax software went out of business. Yes, Lacerte has it's program limitations (and they all do) - I have even found where they have treated things incorrectly - like I am going to call them, help them out and talk to some no name who could care less and get no credit. I actually believe Lacerte is intutive and after only one years use - it is very easy to use.
I wish all of you who are now having to change tax software AGAIN - it is a pain in the neck. Try Proseries and try Lacerte - in the end who else is going to be remaining????? | |
Msmith7305 (talk|edits) said: | 30 August 2006 |
| I'd like to bring the discussion back to how do CURRENT ProSeries users feel about the offer Intuit is making to ATX users. | |
| August 30, 2006 | |
| Oh, I dunno. It's marketing and grabbing market share. Haven't we ever done the same? Cut a fee a bit to get business away from someone else...or promoted something new to drive a market? Intuit did something similar over ten years for those of us who'd been using the Mac side of the product. When accountants bailed on the Mac...Intuit helped us move to WinHel machinery. I appreciated it. The ATX folks pay, what, $50? No, I know it's seriously more like $500 for everything, so there's going to be price sensitivity. We should be more upset at the aggressive price increase in the past ten years for ProSeries. I used to spend around $500 for 1040/1120S...and now...I don't even want to know what I spend. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 30 August 2006 |
| As someone who has bought the comparable package from ProSeries for a number of years now, and who renewed for next year, I am insulted that they will give the same package at 25% of my cost as a loss leader for three years. Let's say there are three preparers in my town and the other two have been using ATX. Now my 'competitors' can let potential clients know that their returns will be done on 'award winning' Proseries, and in theory at a cheaper price [though when the difference is spread over a volume of returns, it is not that great]. And they get free e-filing too! Michael makes a great point, though.....who ya gonna call that will still be standing in five years? | |
John of PA (talk|edits) said: | 30 August 2006 |
| IF it is of any comfort, those competitors are about to go through the inefficiencies and lack of quality control, of having their returns transferred to another software package. When I went through that, it took about 3 years before all the little glitches and errors were corrected. Loss carryforwards, Depr. errors, etc. Something well worth doing in the long-run, but quite a challegane to make the changover seamless to your clients. | |
| August 30, 2006 | |
| That's a good point John. They will incur significant costs in that transfer...and aggravations, etc. Who wants to endure that again? It all evens out... | |
Fedandstate (talk|edits) said: | 31 August 2006 |
| Just switched business returns from ProSeries to ATX because ProSeries refuses to offer all states business tax modules. When some ATX users find that ProSeries does not offer as many modules and forms as ATX they will will not change programs. If they call ProSeries they will get same the same story I heard for many years, " we are working on it." | |
Fedandstate (talk|edits) said: | 31 August 2006 |
| Today Accountant's World web site had news that Wolters Kluwer (CCH) has completed the acquisition of the assets of ATX/Kleinrock. On Michael's point-I believe ATX/Kleinrock and CCH has as much of a chance of still standing 5 years from now as ProSeries and Lacerte. | |
| 31 August 2006 | |
| Better we should hope that competition keeps the price down and the products improving. | |
Fedandstate (talk|edits) said: | 31 August 2006 |
| Reply to JR1-If Thomson buys both of them, have no fear, most likely a software company in India or China will write a program for us to prepare our USA tax returns; also, don't forget we still have Drake, TaxWise and a few other tax software companies still in operation. | |
| August 31, 2006 | |
| Yech. I think we won't have to do it anyway, let someone in India do it, we'll merely be brokers and info dispensers...ahhh, can feel the relaxation now. | |
Fedandstate (talk|edits) said: | 5 September 2006 |
| Reply to JR1- Looks like we are moving closer to your predictions --last month CCH acquired ATX -- today, Accoutants World had news that CCH is to acquire TaxWise. | |
| 4 October 2006 | |
| I used ATX for several years and finally switched to Lacerte. ATX is a terrible program that could not handle K-1's or Foreign Earned income and foreign tax credits. It also made mistakes. I checked all of my returns line by line upon completion.
Lacerte is more expensive but it's worth it. I use Lacerte on a per return basis. | |
| 5 October 2006 | |
| I've used Lacerte since 1989, it's the program we started with and although it is expensive, I have always been afraid to change, the program is very easy to use (but I've used it for 17 years), I don't realy get the DOS comment either. I am not generally afraid of change (I went paperless this year) but changing tax programs seems scary to me, I don't want to have to double everything that the I paid for the program to do. The main reason I'd be afraid to change though is just because I don't have much free time during tax season, I don't want to spend that time trying to figure out where something goes in the program. Are the programs really that much different? | |
| 6 November 2006 | |
| I have used ATX for the past 6 years. The price is great and the software works just fine. I received the Proseries offer a few weeks ago. I will stay with ATX. The CPA firm that I worked with prior to starting my own used Lacerte. The price for the Lacerte Software is too high.
The programs are not that different. Why pay the high price? | |
| 7 November 2006 | |
| Kathyt: How was the process of going paperless? What program are you using, Lacerte/Intuit DMS? Have been using Lacerte since 92 and love the ease after all these years and yes it is worth the extra dollars not to have to learn a new program. It is rare that Lacerte makes a mistake usually it is due to user input error, but it has happened on rare occassions. What type of scanner did you go with? Are you using double monitors and how is the adjustment to that? Are you using a server base or peer to peer network? Did you run into any problems? I know this may be too "tech" for discussion but would really appreciate any input as we are considering paperless in the next year. It is a scary concept for one that is used to paper. Would love anyone else's opinions, advice etc. Thanks in advance. | |
Gregg Gillaspy, CPA, CFP (talk|edits) said: | November 7, 2006 |
| Although I sold my CPA firm this summer our firm used Lacerte since the 1997 tax year...ProSeries before that. I am a former Mac user prior to 1994 so DOS is a BAD word to me. There was no comparison in our change over back then from ProSeries to Lacerte. We could simply produce, produce, produce more returns with Lacerte...especially as you wrapped up a return, got the client letter ready, estimated payment vouchers calculated and printed if needed for next year, etc. It is like manufacturing the returns...and don't mention DOS because I am not a lover of it at all. Our last 4 tax seasons were 100% paperless...yes use at least two monitors, we used three monitors. Fujitsu's are hard to be for the best price/performance sweet spot. It is always better with a dedicated Server.
I just noticed on www.lacertesoftware.com that they are coming out with a program called Source Doc Auto-Entry. WOW!!!! Anyone going paperless (less Paper) propably should check that out. I signed up for a free webinar on it. Gregg Gillaspy, CPA, CFP | |
Lbaccounting (talk|edits) said: | 29 November 2006 |
| We just switched our business returns to proseries this year. They honored the discounted rate. Wow! Thank you. | |
| 29 November 2006 | |
| SBCPA; I use the Lacerte DMS and I really love it. I use dual monitors and it was very easy to get used to, all you really have to do is drag one program over the other screen , very simple. I can drag the write up program to one screen and work on tax returns on the other, or excell on one screen... not to mention the client file in the DMS. I set up the tax returns to print 2 copies, one to paper for the client, and one to the DMS and it goes automatically to the right client file. For write up work and spreadsheets, I just "print" to the DMS and then I have to tell it where to put it. Simple. I am on a peer to peer network here, Lacete is stand alone but the DMS is shared on 3 computers with peer to peer. (We're a small office). I use a HP Laser Jet 3380 (printer, scanner, copier, fax) but I didn't really shop that around much. I was in a hurry when I bought them because my office was heavily damaged in the hurricane and I needed equipment fast when I got settled in the temporary office. Anyway I used to have 14 4 drawer filing cabinets and I was running out of room, now all of my files fit in 1. I still have a file for each client but it only has one piece of paper in it, just the summary info for prior years. Our set up time was very stressful because I choose to scan in prior year workpapers which took a very, very long time. But I had to because after the damage from the hurricane the files were for the most part okay, but they were starting to get moldy and they smelled very bad, and so I rebuilt the office with a new design, knowing I wouldn't need all the filing cabinet space anymore. So I probably scanned in more than most people would (prior years) but I didn't want to bring all of those files into my new office, so I took the time to scan it all in. But other than that it was very easy to set up and get adjusted to, I back it up about twice a week onto a travel drive and I take it home with me and so when I work at home I have my entire filing cabinet with me. Also in case of fire, I have the filing cabinet with me. When clients call and want a copy of something, I just e-mail it, no more finding the file, taking it out and faxing it, putting it back in the file... it's a real time saver. No more wasted time looking for a file that I can't find. I love it. | |
| 29 November 2006 | |
| Kathy, how much disk space did your 14 file cabinets consume by the time you scanned in all of that info? | |
| 30 November 2006 | |
| 1.4 GB, that's for prior year workpapers, tax returns back to 2002, and write up work from 04 & 05. The rest of the stuff I put in storage in case I ever need it I will have to go dig through the storage. | |
| 10 December 2006 | |
| Years ago I used Taxbyte - they sold out to Intuit so I think for the first 2 years I got Proseries for what I was paying for Taxbyte. Another tax software company (based in MI I think) on their last legs had a promo where I "won" a free tax sw package. I think "everybody won" - they thought if they gave it away to potential new customers for a year they would get a lot of new business. They folded and sold their customer list (I was on it) to Intuit and I was offered a special price for another couple of years. I "renewed" under that offer. I've been with Proseries for 6 years - seems to me I paid the full price for only 2004 and 2005. This year Intuit has lowered the price. All in all I can't complain. It is still a little expensive for the 90 or so paid returns I do but I look at it as 50 cent dollars after tax and I am comfortable with the program - it is smarter than I am. It has saved my butt several times. The 1041, 706, 709 pay per return fee is reasonable. This year I won't have to pay extra for my out of state clients. | |
| 12 December 2006 | |
| We started going "less paper" this summer. So far, I love it. No more file room!! | |
| December 12, 2006 | |
| Somehow I missed this discussion when it first came out. JR, your comments are great, but I respectfully disagree with you regarding the Lacerte software. When I started out about 3.5 years ago, I evaluated both Lacerte and ProSeries. I had the hardest time editing/deleting W2 information in ProSeries. Lacerte was so easy to figure out. I'm quite happy with my decision. | |
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