Roberts

I don't know their business level / activity but I'd guess they need a large number of suggestions to upgrade the software. Was told when I renewed that they would be sending out their yearly survey so that I could provide them with suggestions and a review of the product. It needs those tweeks and upgrades but in reality I find it very similar to the old Intellitax software which was my favorite software ever. About mid-March I started writing down my suggestions as I confronted them. For example the figuring of penalties for underpayment appears to be non-automatic but I'm guessing if you are a returning client and it has the previous year data it might be automatic.

I just looked at my 5227. The entry page says 2011 but the .pdf output says 2012.

To be fair, TRX held out of season training sessions also at their offices in Tennessee.

You have to manually adjust muni interest. It is unavoidable unless you want the software to magically determine if the interest was paid by an in-state municipality versus an out of state municipality. Redgear required these manual adjustments. It's impossible to avoid it because the information isn't on the 1099. OLTPRO will allocate income on multi-state returns without adjustments if the information is outlined on the w-2 you enter the W-2 correctly. If it isn't on the W-2, I'd like to know how the software is going to learn about it without making adjustments.

It's on my list of suggestions but IMO, things like the muni bond interest and savings bond interest need to be flagged when you review the return to make sure it is reviewed by me on the state return. When you hit COMPLETE and it does a full check-up, it should suggest I review those things if data is entered in the fields. I may enter data 3 days out of the week as it enters my office on a single return - I can't always remember that stuff 3 days later to review. Taxworks always had a nice checklist of things to review on issues like that and I need that help. If they make estimated tax payments - be sure and manually include it on the schedule A. The reason I wouldn't use a reseller again is that they can't change the software as easily as working with the producer. TRX supposedly manipulated the software code (I'm doubtful but they said they did), no way this OneDesk is rewriting the software.

Did you enter the breakdown of their state income on the W-2's correctly? Muni interest just like savings bond interest almost always require adjustments. I've never had a software where muni interest flowed to the state return because in reality, not all muni interest is state exempt.

When I got the check and cashed it, I ran an uninstall of the software. Imagine having that job. I'm guessing if you didn't do an efile or received a refund, you are in the efile only pile. Who would subject an employee to that type of abuse?

Here is the way I look at my TaxExact to OLTPRO conversion. I got back $580ish from TaxExact in my refund. Paid OLTPRO $730ish. $150 loss. (would have been painful if not for the refund) I'm paying $440 to renew this year which will save me $140 over my TRX expected budget. Moving to working software over 4 months cost me $10. (plus a lot of hours which were unavoidable because of TaxExact) Plus, now I'm not dealing with the potential nightmare of a reseller situation. If OLTPRO has meetings for their customers in St Joe, I'm close enough I could actually drive to them.

Sorry Terry. (855) 880-1040 +1 855 880 1040 Ext. 5261 is his extension per the TRX website. [email protected] per the website. Good luck. Try that number? Zach Benefield is his name. The check was actually issued by another company. Cost $27 including overnight shipping of the forms to TRX. I said to threaten it if he doesn't voluntarily give a refund - it'll work. Why do people think you have to go to the court in Nashville to file? Go to the small claims court in the county where you purchased the software (your office or home). It has jurisdiction. http://www.bbb.org/nashville/business-reviews/computer-software-publishers-and-developers/trx-software-development-in-murfreesboro-tn-37017600

I filed a small claims court case and the day Zack received notice, he called to notify me a check was on the way. (I did this right before Terry posted she had received her check) I filed on Tuesday, he called on Thursday, the check was dated Friday and I had it cashed at the bank on the next Wednesday. If TRX would have refused to pay after our court ruling, I had legal authority to garnish their bank accounts. What authority do you think the BBB has over anyone?

Call Zack at 615-971-7363. He's the manager at TRX who issues the checks. As long as you didn't use the software, you'll get a refund. I'm sure they can see your efile activity. If he refuses (he likely wont), threaten to file a small claims lawsuit in your local county courts. He'll pay.

The OneDeskTax website was registered 11 months ago. OLTPRO was first offered in 2006, the desktop version was offered initially in 2007. OLT was founded in 1999. The current owner and developer of OLTPRO is: John Premkumar has more than 14 years of experience developing software and hardware systems. Prior to joining olt.com in 2002, he served as an application developer, team leader and technical architect at Cerner Corp., a leading supplier of information technology to the health care industry. At Cerner, John played a role in the development of several key products including electronic medical records and medical imaging software. John earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering and computer science from the Regional Engineering College in Tiruchirapalli, India, and his master’s degree in computer science from Oklahoma State University. He lives in St Joe Missouri where the company offices are located. http://www.freeprofessionaltaxsoftware.com/ = www.onedesktax.com There is NOTHING about onedesktax on their website about who they are or where they are located. Well, a mailing address was added in Florida just a few days ago if you'd like to pay by check when renewing.

Just noticed, I can renew w/ OLTPRO for $428.95 including all fees for next season. That's the CD w/ all efile, individual and corporates.

Sounds like the renewal price for OneDesk is the same as buying it directly from OLTPRO (as a renewal). I never use client letters but I know in OLTPRO you can build your own letters. If you have a copy of a previous letter you liked, it shouldn't be that difficult to generate a custom version in OLTPRO. It seems pretty easy, just drag and drop the customized portions and type in the letter (or cut and paste). Then save by title or as a standard pre-named letter. As for a cover, I make my own anyway and print off a pile for the season but I'd imagine that would be exceptionally easy also. As for backups - I see they added that feature. It wasn't in an earlier version so it must have been included in one of the updates.

terry, what is the renewal price on Onedesk? I've still never figured out how they "give away" software for free and yet supposedly want your BUSINESS.

I purchased OLTPRO this year for $700 and will renew in 2013 for $499. IMO, buying through a reseller isn't worth the risk at those prices. I put my suggestions for changes in another thread. Don't have a clue how many PRO clients they have so I don't know how responsive they'll be to suggestions. OLTPRO IMO is more similar to Intellitax than most other pieces of software and there are a few things you need to catch (like estimated taxes paid on state tax don't roll onto the Schedule A. Grantor trusts don't roll onto the grant letter. I ran it all through and we mailed in a copy of the return and it worked well. If you buy from OLTPRO they link you with a single rep. All questions flow through that rep and they find the answer for you. I absolutely love that. That rep can't push me off onto someone else. I still don't see where it does the 1041-a. Backing up the software was a problem this year. You have to go into the software and transfer the DATA folder to a zip drive. Cumbersome but not a major deal. If you are a tech neophyte, this might be scary. I have the software loaded on a home laptop also and move my data over to it once per week in case of a fire or other tragedy. Moving from form to form, you have to click SAVE each time. Little odd but not a big deal after a few returns. I'd run through a bunch of returns. See if it works with your brain and style. I wish they would upgrade their invoice a little. Seems entirely focused on using a bank product. I enter my own bills which are different for each client - it doesn't itemize well. Personally that would be an exceptionally easy upgrade it seems, we'll see if they implement it. If you have a bunch of assets to depreciate, entry is a little cumbersome but not end of the world. It could be cleaner - wish they'd utilize something like taxworks used. I thought Taxworks had a very clean asset module in their software. Having done a season of OLTPRO, I actually like it more than I did TaxWorks.

I do not believe it'll do the 1041-a. My guess is you'll have to produce that manually.

Since this is thread is essentially about OLTPro and several of the posters are pretty obviously reselling the OLTPRO, maybe they have a voice in problems I've uncovered and can get them fixed. 1. third party authorization on the federal and state returns should pretty automatically be checked IMO. At least put a box to check both on the general information screen. It's worthless having to go into each 1040 and checking the box when 100% of my clients want this. Or under preferences offer a system wide entry. 2. Charitable contributions should be entered into a spreadsheet type format like they utilize for medical expenses. The current format is cumbersome. 3. State income tax paid doesn't flow properly if it includes estimated tax payments. They need to adjust that. Thankfully, I caught that on my first return that had estimated state taxes. It's only picking up state tax paid on 1099's and W-2's. edit: it doesn't flow to the schedule A properly. It flows to the state return properly. Woops. 4. If there is federal tax free interest or dividends, they should flag that on the state return for attention / verification IMO. A lot of times people have federal tax free bonds that are still taxable at the state level. 5. Applying your federal overpayment to the next year instead of receiving a refund should be a check box option also. Make it a checkbox so the figure adjusts with any changes in the return. Currently I enter a figure and then if I adjust the return any further I need to remember to adjust the refund figure. Cumbersome. 6. 1041 Grantor trust is almost worthless. Very easily could be fixed but they require manual transfer of figures to the letter and that basically prohibits e-filing the return. Not a major issue for me but seems like it could be a very easy fix.

That used to be the case. As far as I know, debit cards are just as protected as credit cards for online disputes. They passed a law a few years dictating it as I recall. I still avoid online debit card transactions but they say they are just as safe.

Yonderworks is their software development side out on the West Coast. They did the work that supposedly turned TaxExact into a working product. [/snicker] They were at one point pushing an online only product. Good luck with that. I remember last summer I looked them up and noticed a few people who were advertising on LinkedIn that they had worked there previously. I don't know if Doug bought them, I'm guessing he merged forces with them. A merger of a tech company with his distribution channel? They have a website and most of the pages don't even work. Seriously, a tech company that can't even operate its own website properly. When I looked up Over the Top it said the company was founded 6 months ago. Don't have a clue what it is about. I agree with you. TaxExact and TRX will likely be gone as name plates. If you were oblivious to what we just went through and did a search of TaxExact or TRX, you'd never buy from them. They must rebrand everything under a different name IMO. I can't imagine how it is possible they'll survive though. On another board I saw that someone said most of the states still don't work properly on 1040 and corporate returns. I downloaded a recent update but didn't try working with it to see how it works.

1. if someone is giving me something of value for Free, I'm not overly interested. There is a catch, you just haven't figured it out yet what that cost will be. 2. I would never use TRX ever again for any product. 3. I'm happy with the software I'm using. It could use some changes, not sure if they care hearing about my suggestions but it's as good as TaxWorks IMO. 1041 Grantor Trusts basically stink but otherwise it works well.

I went to a Bank of America branch which is where the check was drawn on and cashed the check outright. NO way I was depositing the check and giving them a chance to cancel it.

Zach is who I dealt with also. The refund check was made out from a company named Over The Top Technologies LLC. 626 Cason Lane Murfreesboro

They must have changed their M.O. on this. When they met with the BBB last Friday, they supposedly told them they would revisit their refund rules. This might be related to that. (I haven't received my refund yet but they've told me I'm getting one.)

I could be wrong but I think their asset manager is just an upgraded version. Do a google search, there are many software companies that sell upscaled fixed asset managers for managerial accounting. I personally wouldn't need it but some must or they wouldn't sell. Maybe they produce special reports, don't know.