Wolters Kluwer offers the ATX Tax Preparation Software, presented as the easiest to use, most complete professional tax software for CPAs and Small Firms.
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Wolters Kluwer CCH ProSystem fx
Score 7.8 out of 10
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Wolters Kluwer offers the ProSystem fx Suite (also the CCH ProSystem fx Suite editions with similar capabilities), a workflow management suite with document management system for accounting firms. The solution presents centralized firm management capabilities with firm, employee and client dashboard, project and contact management, and billing / invoicing, as well as reporting and marketing capabilities.
I have been using ATX for at least 15 years. It is competitively priced for a part-time tax preparation firm like mine versus some of its competitors. The software is straightforward to use with very little training needed, and it includes the "paint by numbers" i.e. "interview" tax prep approach if desired (I virtually never use that as not needed, but it is a nice alternative for the more inexperienced preparer perhaps). I have found it to be pretty intuitive to use, and the file capability is very straightforward. I will continue to use it going forward, as while there are a couple of competitors that are slightly cheaper, certainly not enough difference to warrant changing software and again I'm overall pleased with the product despite the couple of areas that I commented are a bit clunky. Not a big deal. Overall good product.
Wolters Kluwer CCH ProSystem fx is best suited for more experienced tax professionals that typically prepare more complicated individual returns (1040). It is also well suited for firms that prepare corporate, partnerships, estate/trusts, and other more detailed returns that require K-1's. The application is good for small and large teams due to the workflow that keeps everyone on the same page. For smaller firms that prepare simple returns, there are other products in the market to fulfill those needs.
The preparation of the summary letter of the tax return module is a bit clunky but usable.
The preparation of the next year's quarterly estimates module, while automatic, is a bit clunky to override with more specific info versus what is automatically populated from the current year's return.
The print feature can be a little cumbersome getting to work on a local printer, resulting in some printing issues.
Turbotax is the most popular but not applicable if you are a tax preparer as it won't let you sign a tax preparer. Their tax prep version, Pro Series, is a bit more expensive, and I have found it not significantly different enough nor provide any applicable benefit to me changing. I also evaluated Drake tax prep software, but again, while it has some nice features, it could not justify the change effort compared to any incremental features I might use. ATX continues to offer the right product features for what I need at one of the cheapest costs.
We use Thomson Reuters suite for payroll purposes but they do offer the same services as Wolters Kluwer does. I have heard from companies that do use Thomson Reuters tax and they are happy with it. As mentioned, I was not present at this firm when CCH was purchased so I am not sure if any comparisons were done between the two
