Discussion:Tax Software 1040NOW
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| 21 November 2008 | |
| I prepare a small number of returns and am thinking of switching to 1040NOW. No software, all online input. Can anyone recommend - or not - 1040NOW? | |
| 21 November 2008 | |
| Is your internet service reliable?
If not, you could look at TaxAct. Is is very affordable and seems to work for fairly straightforward returns. | |
Lmcdon9822 (talk|edits) said: | 23 November 2008 |
| I am a software engineer and now a little about secured data. IF and I say IF someone on the technical side for emails, secured databases, etc on the internet really wants the data, they can get it. Avoid online tax software at all costs. Use TaxAct Professional Edition. I have a small growing practice and used it for several years now and it suffices. | |
Lmcdon9822 (talk|edits) said: | 23 November 2008 |
| Shoebox...small is relative. 600 returns? Thats great! I am hoping to hit 10% of your number this year. --> "growing pains..." | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| thanks for the warning lmcdon9822-how do you feel about efile?
I use Proseries now and was hoping to get away from corporate giants and no CS support when needed. I've priced TaxAct and it's more expensive than PS Basic for my 50 returns! Don't get me wrong-I do like the flexibility of having a good program, but the expense is too much for me to justify keeping it up. I might just go back to using irs.gov... | |
Southparkcpa (talk|edits) said: | 3 December 2008 |
| I use Pro Series and my view is that if it is too expensive, you need to/should charge more. Good software pays for itself. The pay per return is reasonable. Does taxact have a professional series???? I would try explaining the fees to clients, stay with pro series and build the business on better fees. I have NEVER EVER seen a quality firm go to a low quality product. The business model doesn't make sense for them and it shouldn't for us either. | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| I'm selling tax preparation and not the preparation software; I don't think downgrading to a more cumbersome software makes my "product" low quality-it only drives my expenses lower and keeps my prices reasonable.
That said, I am still unsure about 1040NOW and haven't really talked with anyone who has used it before. I saw TaxVision listed on one of the software discussion threads. How does it compare to other softwares? | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| There is always the thought that you get what you pay for. I have used a few programs over the years and the lower cost ones tended to give lower cost output. Even with PPR, if the sale of your tax preparation services does not justify the $25 per return, then try rethinking how you do things. As you grow and get past PPR the cost goes down.
Back when I only did 50 returns, I used Lacerte and it was worth every penny. I tried a cheaper program and the errors were frustrating and time consuming to fix. But then again, when we are set in what we wish to do, no amount of advice can take the place of trying it yourself. | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| It seems Lacerte does not offer a package for smaller firms. Just the unlimited. I can't see my practice growing enough to pay for the software in this rural area for another year or so. But, the point is understood and I will probably stay with ProSeries.
BTW-I do know how stubborn I am (and so does my husband :) but I really do appreciate the advice given on this forum. It is invaluable to me! | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| Does ProSeries offer pay per return. That's what we use. I do like Lacerte better, but ProSeries is extremely good. Also, TaxWise is a good program as well.
Keep in mind that many people go into tax preparation not really knowing tax. They rely on the program to do the thinking for them. I am not saying you are one of these people, but, if you were, then a better program will make sure everything <well,most> goes where it is supposed to. The lower cost programs will get you in trouble if you don't know how to prepare returns by hand. I stopped using ATX years ago because I hated cross checking information when is should be in multiple places on a return. | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| Actually, one of the reasons I wanted to downgrade was because I am confident in preparing returns by hand and have done it before.
It's so hard to pay for efficiency when I've got time available more than potential returns. And with the economy and my potential client base, I am not expecting any more clients this year since I refuse to offer bank products (personal issues with interest rates). | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| Good for you. That is a major first step. I also do not offer RAL's or any bank products for the same reasons. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 3 December 2008 |
| I find I prefer the forms based software, like Proseries, versus the menu driven programs. Like Rebekah, I did returns by hand far longer than I should have, and while it might be fifteen years since I worked that way, I think my understanding of the forms, and the 'crossword puzzle' logic of them still is in the back of my mind. For that reason, I like the easy navigation of Proseries; unless the entry is for something really weird, I can go to the form with a click of the mouse, or use control-tab to go back to my last. Yes, there are things that drive me nuts, like their handling of PTPs, but I oft-times look at 8582 worksheets, with my mind traveling back to the days when I did these by hand.
What I do find is that when I sit across the desk from a client with a simple return [Sch A, B, and one other short form like 2441, or a one item Sch D], I find myself stretching things out so that they don't realize that the return took perhaps 15 minutes, if that, to do. No RALs here either.....I don't want clients who are that hard up to get their money....makes me wonder if their check will bounce. | |
Southparkcpa (talk|edits) said: | 3 December 2008 |
| I wonder how many of us on this board did returns by hand completely. I graduated college in 83, worked nights for a large retail tax shop and did them by hand for a few years. Mooonlighted while I worked at PWC and used turbo tax in 86 or so. I remember the "input sheets" at Price Waterhouse. What a night mare. | |
Pink Pearl (talk|edits) said: | 3 December 2008 |
| and when ya found a mistake in checking return....out comes the old "Pink Pearl" to the rescue. Changed pretty near all of the forms...lol...in my early years I used to buy my pencils by the gross. | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| I just graduated in 2003, and my professor drilled in the importance of doing returns by hand as well as by computer. I started doing taxes that year by hand for myself(after a two-week stint at HRB) and only in '07 switched to ProSeries, which was what she endorsed.
So no, I don't have the years of experience you all have, but I know where to look and have no problem researching issues I don't know offhand. | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| Rwineland, sounds as though you had a very smart professor. I've always believed, if you can't do something by hand, then you have no business trying to do it on a computer, and that includes tax preparation. Of course, that's the opposite of all the marketing schemes such as TurboTax, etc. They want to buyer to believe if you can operate a computer, you can do a tax return. It's nonsense, but that's what the smiling people on the outside of the TurboTax box make you think, and that's what most people fall for. People with computers have come to believe that if the computer lets them do it, it must be right; and if they get something wrong, the computer will tell them; and best of all, "the IRS sent me my refund so the return must have been right." | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 3 December 2008 |
Pink Pearl: we used White Out and worked in ink...then came eraseable pens....always gave one to the client so he could write his check for preparation....we made our money raising the checks! 
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