Roberts

Thanks for the replies. Has anyone used or looked at TaxSlayerPro?

I have not used TaxSlayerPro.

Have you looked at OLTPRO? I'm using it and for me personally, it's working very well. VERY strongly forms entry. The problem is you can't download a demo or the actual software, it comes in a CD. Maybe if you requested this late, they'd let you download it somehow.

OLTPRO is a desktop product. They have an online version but it's strictly a 1040 program so I don't use it.

I can't imagine doing a return and having to check to see if the software is doing the math correctly.

Oh wait, I'm pretty sure that's the fault of Congress passing laws late. Never mind.

Don't expect TRX will give you refund. I sent emails to them, no reply so far.

I doubt he could afford to pay refunds at this point.

Even expensive software like ATX, Taxworks are exactly in the same status of cheap TaxExact. Exception being Drake.

There are other expensive programs that are working. Proseries as an example.

I think it's unfair to lump all of the <$1000 software into one lump group. They are of lesser price for a variety of reasons including but not limited to features and additions (write up software, scan and fill) that may not be important to the buyers. Not necessarily of lesser quality.

Tax Exact is basically in a BETA format for this season and will be the entire season I'm sure. You can't truthfully evaluate it until next year.

Friends, don't get burned twice! Do your research carefully. I have found that there are basically two tiers of software. The real professional quality and the other cheapo stuff that promise a lot but you will soon find that they don't live up to the billing!

How did you determine the cheaper software will not live up to what they advertise?

In the NATP review, which software advertised a service that they didn't actually perform?

Taxed, Doug did not admit that he did a poor job on the software, he admitted he did a poor job on the proforma part of it and you jumped right on it. Have you never done a poor job on a particular part of your job? I have. If you aren't happy with the software, you have the option to move on. Why do you feel that you need to keep bashing it over and over and over? Yes, there are problems with the software but I have confidence that it will be fixed. If it isn't, then I will have to do something else. Look at the problems ATX is having. My understanding is that the other companies are having problems too. Enough is enough.

I'd say the big difference is that the other companies are giving 100% REFUNDS because they recognize their software isn't up to par. TRX is refusing to do so because they have provided software which meets their standards. Any issues will be fixed at their schedule.

Have you used Tax Exact before? I purchased it years ago and it never worked. If I had known I was getting this shipped to me, I'd have never signed on again. But as Doug has made clear, that's the risk you take when you deal with TRX.

If you don't want people bashing your product, give them their money back. It's not difficult.

Roberts, I think all the software in that survey are forms oriented. The only software that i once demoed that was spreadsheet oriented was Lacerte. This was years ago and I am not sure if that is still the case.

That's not the difference between being forms oriented and worksheet oriented.

When changing software, be careful not to trust the conversion software all that much. I've switched software many times and it's rare when they catch everything. Things like capital loss carry forward or rolling your refund into next years taxes paid - those things can be hit or miss whether they go through completely and correctly. My software option (OLTPRO) says they will custom convert your data - I've decided to just enter it all. That way I know it's 100% correct going forward.

Looking at the NATP list, they mention Heads Up entry. Does anyone do that? "This capability allows a skilled 10-key/typist to enter data without being concerned about matching the data fields on the screen with those on the worksheet." That sounds like a nightmare to me.

Forms oriented versus worksheet oriented: this IMO is massively under talked about when comparing software. The NATP report talks about it, didn't see where they actually broke down the software that way. Each software program I've loved was forms oriented - each one I hated was worksheet oriented. Personal choice. When TRX offered Intellitax I was in heaven. That was my favorite software of all time.

I saw this NATP report from 2006 - wow the competition has shrunk dramatically.

Taxed, I just updated the TaxExact and it is showing version 12. Did you try to update with the new version?. I will be away from my computer a while and curious now what all the issues got fixed. Keep us all informed.

11 and 12 both hit today. Interesting.

If I were counting on TRX at this point, the single biggest concern I'd have is that many of the problems TRX is facing are problems I dealt with when I purchased Tax Exact years ago. It never worked then, I'll be absolutely shocked if it works fully this season.

Second biggest red flag - the CEO is on a message board he doesn't control asking for help identifying problems with his product and he gets defensive when people bash a product that isn't working. (after he publicly proclaimed he wouldn't be giving out refunds because the software was AWESOME!!!)

Lastly, all the problems identified are on the 1040 software. When people start working on the corporate returns, do you think it'll work? I did part of a 1065 and gave up. Haven't tried it in 2 weeks so I don't know if they've fixed it but I've yet to see anyone mention the problems I uncovered. Over the weekend I noticed I still wasn't able to bring my clients forward on corporate returns.

As far as TRX is concerned, this is working software. If it weren't working software, they would be required to issue refunds.

OLTPRO isn't only an online version. They have a desktop version (which I priced) that only requires online access for updates. The online version doesn't offer corporate returns.

I used TaxAct the first year in business. I found the break even point to be around 45 clients. Once I got into that ball park, there were cheaper options available which is why they came out with the all-inclusive package. It's somewhere around 45 client that the all-inclusive product becomes reasonable but even then, you don't get any corporate software without paying more.

For $700 the first year and $500 each year after if you renew early, OLTPRO offers unlimited 1040's, all states, all corporates and everything efiled. Hard to beat that.

They promised everyone what they wanted to hear, and engineering turned out a product that had all those features (on the menu.)

Did you promise that everything would be amazing if they just waited a little longer?

The judge was required to decide if the IRS had the authority to regulate preparers, not if it was a good idea. The IRS gets its authority from Congress, and can't decide to add to that authority just because it would be more efficient or would prevent fraud if it did so.

I think this is exactly what the courts just determined. It'll be interesting if the IRS changes their argument slightly to achieve the same result.

A state can require proof of knowledge as a condition of a business license.

The IRS could require proof of knowledge as a condition to receive a PTIN or renewal of your PTIN. They'd need to make a slight change that allowed non-registered (proof providers) to file on another person's PTIN.

TRX1 can you please have your boys do a better quality checking before releasing. Form 1040EZ and 1040A has address formatting issues (The zip code is before city and strett address)!!

They did 50,000 returns last year per Doug. Doesn't it sort of make you wonder how that was remotely possible with all of these very basic problems?

When i commented on the Peek feature now working I was told my computer likely wasn't strong enough because they weren't having a problem with it. Supposedly they just fixed it this week?

We are all praying that this is ready for jan 30th.

Most preparers are already working with clients. Smaller business clients have their accounting done - I can get 90+% of their return done. When February 1st hits, I'll just access the return, it'll automatically recalculate to the final update, I print and efile. <5 minutes. I can't imagine why / how January 30th is the deadline for a WORKING copy.

This week I had to get out all my W-2s. TaxExact was worthless. How in the world did January 22nd become an acceptable deadline for that? Imagine delivering it to a client the day they are required to deliver to the employees. Mind boggling but I'm 100% confident the software will be deemed "good enough" to avoid refunds.

But a 1099 Misc is for contract labor, not employees. No EIN required.

Imagine how many sole proprietors issue 1099 Misc and don't have EINs.

Interesting, TaxWorks is giving out refunds because their software isn't working. TaxExact is still trying to sell the idea that their software will eventually work properly.

Honestly, I switched tax software last week. I gave Tax Exact an honest review and determined very quickly that even if they got it working, it wasn't a complete package I would want to pay money to receive. I kept hoping (because I'm cheap) but the more I looked at the worksheets and forms, the more frustrated I became imagining how much it's going to take to get things entered. If I don't see myself using it next year (zero chance in hell), why invest 100+ hours of entering data to build my corporate returns just to save $600? Bad investment.

But woohoo, I can save $100 by using the after-the-fact payroll I've already paid for with Tax Exact. Nope - doesn't work and no clue when it will work. I've got W-2's to deliver on Friday and the software isn't operational.

If you go to print preview you can print the info on the forms and the form will print out on PDF's

Doug

It will only print onto IRS forms. It won't actually print W-2s.

Plus it has DEMO on the form and you can't remove it.

Functioning other than the demo watermark isn't functioning. I've yet to find a client that is happy to pay for W-2s with DEMO printed on the forms.

Never assume. I have an update for it in the morning or possiblly later today. But I used it last night and it functioned for me other than the Demo watermark. Give your feed back as to what you are experiencing.

Doug

Am I supposed to be printing on IRS forms or will this eventually be printing the forms themselves?

Am I to assume since it's mid-January that the After-The-Fact Payroll won't be operational this year?

Does anyone have a clue when the After the Fact payroll will be available? I can't print anything.

But most people are not wanting refunds once they look at our TRX Pro and see how easy it is to use.

Ahh propaganda. Nobody wants a refund after reviewing a software that doesn't actually work?

you say you did 50,000 returns last year with this yet basic functions don't work. Amazing.

It is a shame that the new homegrown TRX product can't even do a half way decent conversion from the TRX Redgear product. Folks using the new TRX product will have their hands full with these issues. What you can probably use is the client name address, dependents and thats about all that can be relied upon!

You would have thought since we all were using the exact same software, this would have been a far easier transition. This is my largest immediate issue. If I'm working to make the transition, I'm doing it to software that actually works and I know what I'll be working with going forward. TaxExact isn't a working product as of now but they make grand promises about future updates. They knew we were all using the same software, how is this something they didn't expect to be a major problem and address it in June? With all of the supposed returns they did last year, how is it possible they had no clue these problems existed and are just now trying to fix them? A true head scratcher.