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I have been with Drake for years and years, but a couple years ago, Phil Drake cashed in his chips and sold the business. Since then, there have been changes, most prodigious change is a whopping price increase. A recent post from another member advised simply to cover software increases with our fee structure next year, e. g. changing to an unknown product is risky. Good advice, but I am going to look around if their are other recommendations. I will need invidual returns, all entity returns, and all state returns that work. Years ago I had TaxSlayer, which had excellent, excellent customer services, but was weak on state returns once you left SCarolina and Georgia. If there is nothing better to look at, I might be best advised to take the gentleman's advise - don't risk changing and build the increase into next year's fee structure.

Yes, after years and years of promptly answering the phone, Drake now has a telephone menu. Under the guise of "properly directing your call", we now hear a few minutes of propaganda, punch this, punch that, etc. And I'm sure we will be directed to "we are trying to save money so we can pass the savings on to our customers." And I'm not against a company making profit - it's just that Phil never needed this to make a profit. Years ago I had TaxSlayer, who answered the phone even more promptly than Drake. I couldn't stay with them because the state packages were sorely lacking (outside of Georgia and S Carolina). Any comments?

This website is being created via contract with one of the large third parties like Accenture. We have had very similar tax preparation software for years called "MilTax" for Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve members and their families. It will be exposed to a lot more scrutiny than the "FreeFile" programs like Turbotax, TaxAct , Taxslayer and H & R Block. Plus it should actually be free, which the FreeFile programs weren't!

"The Federal Trade Commission says five large tax preparation companies could face civil penalties if they use or disclose data collected for tax prep for such unrelated purposes as advertising without getting the consumers' consent first. The five firms are H&R Block, Intuit, TaxAct, TaxSlayer and The Lampo Group LLC, d.b.a. Ramsey Solutions."

"Users of tax preparation websites in seven states have filed a class action lawsuit against Google, claiming it engaged in wiretapping, following a similar complaint against Meta. The complaint alleges tax prep companies like H&R Block, TaxAct and TaxSlayer sent private tax return information to Google using Google Analytics technology, which may include email addresses, data on users' income, filing status, refund amounts, buttons clicked and year of return."

Thanks Judy, I saw the same things you're saying for error code F1040-071-05, but not for F1040-071-07. A subsequent "startpage" search found a Taxslayer help page that said - paper file. But the Drake error page leads me to believe that once the IRS fixes the problem, it can be resubmitted. The cap gain solution, (I saw), didn't make much sense. It said to do as you suggested, but then also said to enter another $1 on one of the schedules - I assume to zero it out. I just would like to see a place @ irs.gov that would address when this fix is/was made.

It turns out that Taxslayer provides the software used by all of the VITA clinics. The IRS without any indications of investigating these issues has announced that the VITA software did not include any pixels.

So far, the sharing of personal tax information with Meta appears to have been mostly limited to the taxpayers that used the online versions of Taxact, Tax Slayer and H & R Block to prepare their own returns. In addition: "The Markup also found the pixel code on a tax preparation site operated by a financial advice and software company called Ramsey Solutions, which uses a version of TaxSlayer’s service.That pixel gathered even more personal data from a tax return summary page, including information on income and refund amounts." (Ramsay Solutions is a spinoff of the The Dave Ramsay Show) As a practical matter, I don't think that I have a single client or any family member that will read or hear about this. Issues and problems like this are only noticed by accountants, financial advisors, and other computer/technically literate people.

Seems more a reason to never use Intuit, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, & Block since they're the ones illegally selling client data.

"Major tax filing services such as H&R Block, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer have been quietly transmitting sensitive financial information to Facebook when Americans file their taxes online, The Markup has learned. The data, sent through widely used code called the Meta Pixel, includes not only information like names and email addresses but often even more detailed information, including data on users’ income, filing status, refund amounts, and dependents’ college scholarship amounts. The information sent to Facebook can be used by the company to power its advertising algorithms and is gathered regardless of whether the person using the tax filing service has an account on Facebook or other platforms operated by its owner, Meta. " Surprise, Surprise! Another reason to never use Facebook!

I don't see how buying TaxAct impacts the Drake software. Intuit has Turbotax, Lacerte, Proconnect and ProSeries. Wolters Kluwer has Tax Wise, ATX, Access and Prosystems. WK bought a few other tiny ones to boost their footprint if I recall correctly. Thompson Reuters has GoSystems and UltraTax. I would expect Drake to make another purchase down the line like TaxSlayer. I'd also expect a consumer accounting software program.

Searched the forum "everywhere" for "Taxslayer" with a capital T, then sorted by date: https://www.atxcommunity.com/search/?q=Taxslayer&quick=1&updated_after=any&sortby=newest

I have been offered a demo. And a pretty sweet deal. But.....have had ATX forever. I do mostly 1040s, but most have more than just W2 - SEs, rentals, K1s, cap gains. And I have just a handful of partnerships and Scorps. I just wanted anyones 2 cents on taxslayer. I appreciate it.

Ok, yes, I have seen that, my flashlight battery is not completely gone, but all bets are off for 2020 and the BS legislation that somehow passed. According to Donna's Taxslayer Link : "3/23/21 - If you have not filed – You may file your Illinois return once you have filed your federal return. Taxpayers will not be required to add back any of the nontaxed unemployment benefits in computing their Illinois base income."

Surprised that TaxSlayer was not considered part of the Big 7. I had it at one time, and although it is inferior to Drake and some of the others, it was quick, direct, and seemed to be a perfect fit for a large chain tax prep store. Cheap, fast, slick, and great support. Developed in Augusta GA, so state programs for GA and SC were flawless, but when you got into other states, especially entities other than individuals, it became weak. I was happy with it until encountering govt contracting clients with operations in several states.

Copied from the CPA Journal: The prices listed below are based on information found on the providers’ and/or reviewers’ websites in October 2019. They have not been independently reviewed or verified, and are provided only as a point of comparison for readers of the Annual Tax Software Survey. Tax Preparation Software Prices ATX Individual (ATX 1040 Package): $669; includes two concurrent user licenses, all federal 1040 forms, up to three individual 1040 states, 72 e-file returns, free software conversions, and knowledge base and blog access ATX pay per return: $529 ($229/user annual subscription, $300 nonrefundable deposit); includes individual returns, business returns, and payroll returns Entities: MAX Package: $1,579; includes three concurrent user licenses; all federal individual forms; all state individual forms; all business federal, state, and specialty forms; free unlimited e-file returns; payroll compliance reporting; sales and use tax forms; free software conversions; and the CCH U.S. Master Tax Guide Total Tax Office Package: $1,579; includes five concurrent user licenses; all federal individual forms; all state individual forms; all business federal, state, and specialty forms; free unlimited e-file returns; payroll compliance reporting; sales and use tax forms; PaperlessPLUS; free software conversions; the CCH U.S. Master Tax Guide; Practical Tax Expert Pro; CCH A-Line-D; practice aids and productivity tools; and online newsletters ATX Advantage Package: $3,949; includes six concurrent user licenses; all federal individual forms; all state individual forms; all business federal, state, and specialty forms; enhanced asset management capabilities; advanced tax calculations and compliance capabilities; free unlimited e-file returns; payroll compliance reporting; sales and use tax forms; PaperlessPLUS; product offers and discounts; free software conversions; CCH U.S. Master Tax Guide; Practical Tax Expert Pro; CCH A-Line-D; practice aids and productivity tools; and online newsletters CCH AXCESS TAX Individual: no pricing information available; contact Wolters Kluwer Entities: no pricing information available; contact Wolters Kluwer CCH PROSYSTEM FX Individual: no pricing information available; contact Wolters Kluwer Entities: no pricing information available; contact Wolters Kluwer DRAKE SOFTWARE Individual: Per-return: $330 for 15 returns, $22 for additional returns Unlimited returns: $1,595; early renewal discount available Entities: Per-return: $330 for 15 returns, $22 for additional returns Unlimited returns: $1,595; early renewal discount available GOSYSTEM TAX RS Individual: No pricing information available; contact Thomson Reuters Entities: No pricing information available; contact Thomson Reuters INTUIT PROSERIES ProSeries Basic Basic 20: $429 per year, 1 state Basic 50: $749 per year, 2 states Basic Unlimited: $1,109, 4 states ProSeries Professional Pay-per-return license: $329 per-year access to all federal and state forms, $41 per return 1040 Complete: $1,899, unlimited 1040 returns for all states INTUIT PROCONNECT TAX ONLINE Individual: Pricing per return; different pricing based on number of returns; most popular are $479.70 for 10 1040s and $2,035 for 30 individual 1040s and 10 business 1041s Business: Pricing per return; different pricing based on number of returns LACERTE TAX Individual: Lacerte Unlimited and Lacerte 200: pricing based on customized solution. Pay-per-return license: $389, plus $76 per return (federal plus one state) TAXACT Individual: 1040 Bundle: $675 for unlimited 1040 federal and state returns, unlimited e-file $745 for enterprise bundle, which allows for multiple users Entity: Complete bundle: $1,200 for unlimited individual and entity state and federal returns Complete enterprise bundle: $1,550 (allows for multiple users) TAXSLAYER PRO Classic version: $1,095 Web (cloud-based) version: $1,395 TAXWISE Pay-per-return: $586 (individual and entity returns; no indication of cost per return) ProFiling: $1,163 (individual returns only) Power: $2,656 (individual and entity returns) ULTRA TAX CS Contact Thomson Reuters for pricing for unlimited licenses and per return product

>>>>>>Thanks Judy. Looked at Drake some years ago after tax season. It just wasn't for me. I'll probably just end up going back to ATX. Miss the good old days when you could get ATX Max for $750.00.<<<<<<< Why do you say Drake wasn't for you? Did you give Drake an honest try? I can tell you first hand and a s a previous ATX user, TaxSlayer, TRX Crap including Red Gear and finally dropped to the bowels of software with OneDesk. After ATX was bought out by CCH, their product declined and I decided to try other platforms and took the route of trying to save money. Well. none of the worked well and after all of the craziness with OneDesk, I purchased Drake and the only thing I regret is not purchasing it sooner. If it is forms drive entry that you like, you can toggle to forms entry with Drake. Drake support is phenomenal. Their speed is also far above the others and they live up to their 60 second update. I had virtually no problems with anything at all last year using Drake for the first time. The learning curve was minimal and I am still learning all of the functionality. Don't forget, with the software you get the client write up program and now the Drake accounting program. The document cab is absolutely wonderful and my office is now about 85% paperless. They do incorporate a third party with secure file-pro that comes at a very small cost of $9.00 per month. Electronic signatures through the program using a signature pad or you can use signature flow as well. All of this works seamlessly. I suggest getting their demo and giving it a test drive. As Judy said, if you buy it now, you'll pay full price or if you buy the PPR, then they will automatically switch you to the unlimited user once you reach the threshold of the full user cost. For me, I'll have no intentions of ever changing to another tax software again.

I am a faithful Drake user for eight years. They have had one price increase in 25 years. Prior to that I was with TaxSlayer, but found their state programs for corporations and entities severely lacking. TaxSlayer did fine for Georgia and South Carolina, and was a success story - having started with a chain of 22 tax prep offices in Augusta area. They got tired of being held hostage by software companies so they developed their own. Good support staff but software was weak for many states and other entities. Prior to the CCH, I used ATX for 4 years. They increased their price every year. About 15 years ago, they had a massive crash and the support staff did everything they could to get me off the phone because the volume of complaints was mountainous. Users received an apology from the CEO at the end of that tax season, and an offer of financial substance. The "financial substance" was a discount on travel tickets to Europe, and a stiff price increased loomed large even after the poor performance for the year. I bailed. On the positive side, ATX is the only software I know using the tax forms as an input guide instead of the DOS-inherited questionnaire format. I've tried to get Drake to adopt this, but to no avail.

Christian, I scoured the IRS site and search sites, with no success to a list....But, I hope this will help. How do I know if I was "disallowed" from claiming EIC in a previous year? In most cases, the IRS would have notified you in the year you were disallowed. You would have received a notice in the mail. In addition, the refund that you actually received from the IRS would have been significantly smaller than what was reported on the return that you filed. If you are unsure if you have been previously disallowed for EIC, you would need to contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to find out. https://www.taxslayer.com/support/547/What-filing-status-should-I-choose You may like this also, to give to client...https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4716esp.pdf

Hi, I am late joining the convo, but I was searching over the internet trying to find some kind of review for this software and only found two google reviews - one good, one not so good. I appreciate all of the comments especially your research, which led me further. What I discovered is that Business filings Int'l Inc (NV) was formed by 'CT Corporation Inc' which has a website that links both to Wolters Kluwers https://ct.wolterskluwer.com/. Now, first, let me inform you, I worked for CCH Small Firm Services another Wolters Kluwer company that develops ATX, Taxwise, and a major tax chain software as a quality assurance tester. So I am aware that WK is not only a Tax software developer but serves in the law capacity as well. Well,CT Corp is a company that offers services to companies such as corporation formation, filings and compliance (Business Law). Now this can mean one of three things, 1. disgruntled or greedy employees decided to start their own company, (but since they used WK to form the LLC and DBA I highly doubt it). or 2. They are a company that hired WK (CT Corp) to form their organization and that would explain why you have employees of WK listed as agents on numerous organizations (I realize that the owners of mytaxprepoffice could also be former employees) or 3. WK is a marketing genius and is expanding there market through offering a cloud based software to smaller sized tax firms, start ups or preparers who can not afford the cost of ATX, this puts them in position to strategically compete and possibly 'steal' customers from intuit, taxslayer etc. Either way, I personally tried the demo for the product, and being my first season, the product is very user friendly, organized, streamlined, guided and interactive. It doesn't appear as intimidating as ATX or Drake, and I am seriously considering using it. I am looking into whether i can download returns to my own secured storage as to insure my clients data. I will update you guys with my experience. If the case is that a division of WK launched this product, than that makes me feel a little more confident about it, but I would think they would put their 'name' on it to ensure the customer. So I think it is number 2. J

Thanks Judy, I have gotten used to input driven programs and not forms driven. Back when I left ATX, I did have some difficulty with switching but now not so much. I think I will try it after season. I learned TaxSlayer Pro on the fly in 2012 with the TRX issues and don't want to do that again.

We were with TaxWorks for many years before they priced themselves out of our market about 3 years ago. Switched to TaxSlayer, a Georgia based company. Great little program, a few little things on the business side I wished they did better but I can live with it. Under a $1000 for unlimited 1040's and business returns and they offer bank products as well. We tried Tax Act for about a month and they just don't have the the support or the product at least a couple of years ago. They seemed to be writing the program during tax season. Call TaxSlayer, 888-420-1040, ask for Kim, tell her Richy in Gainesville, GA sent you.

areDoes anyone Does anyone remember about 15 years ago American Express tried to move into accounting by buying up local accounting firms and as this article mentions HRB has tried this before unsuccessfully ? By Michael Cohn August 28, 2014 H&R Block and Liberty Tax have been expanding from traditional tax preparation services into other areas such as bookkeeping as they reach out to service small business clients year-round, giving traditional accountants some extra competition. On Tuesday, Liberty announced a bookkeeping service built around the cloud-based accounting software Kashoo. The new bookkeeping service, dubbed Liberty Accounting, is intended to help Liberty Tax’s 4,400 franchisees expand beyond tax season and provide additional services besides tax prep and filing. The number one tax prep chain, H&R Block, recently announced plans of its own to attract CPAs and other accountants into selling their practices to Block or becoming franchisees (see H&R Block Reaches out to Attract Accounting Firms). In conjunction with that effort, Block also said it would start offering bookkeeping and payroll services to small businesses through cloud technology. Competing tax chains such as Jackson Hewitt and TaxSlayer are still sticking to their core tax prep services, but if they see significant growth from Block and Liberty, they could be induced to change their minds. This isn’t entirely a new trend. Individual franchisees for Block have already offered services such as bookkeeping and payroll in the past. Another franchiser known as BookKeeping Express offers bookkeeping services to small businesses through its franchisees. Block made a major move into the accounting field in 1999 with RSM McGladrey, operating what it called an alternative practice structure in conjunction with the CPA firm McGladrey & Pullen before selling the business back to McGladrey in 2011. Block has tried other financial businesses in the past, such as the ill-fated Option One subprime mortgage business that it was forced to sell at a heavy loss in 2007. In this case, Block does not appear to be making such a heavy bet and is mainly out to attract small CPA firms whose owners are looking to retire or planning for an eventual exit. If the idea catches on, small accounting practices could find themselves competing against Block, Liberty and perhaps other chains for their small business clients and will need to diversify further by adding extra services to avoid being lumped in with the franchises. Do you think H&R Block and Liberty Tax will provide serious competition to traditional accountants in the small business market ?

Are you using the software for individuals only or for businesses as well? I am using the OneDesk for both. I do like the way it functions but have discovered some problems on the business end. First off, there is no fixed asset manager. I reported this and their support (Dan) said it would be an item for next year. Also, there is an error with completing a 1065 return with form 8825 in it. I have only one 8825 form with seven properties on it and get the error that only one 8825 can be attached. This too is supposed to be fixed. It appears they are light on the letters as well. I have been unable to find the partner/shareholder k-1 letters and page 2. We used a work around to get to the print view menu and the letter is not there either. I know last year in TaxSlayer Pro, the letter didn't appear until you printed the return. I hope that is the same with OneDesk. If they get these little problems solved, then it will be good software. I have had no e-filing problems other than the NC problem and it was fixed right away. I am hopeful for a good year with OneDesk.

I use QB for my accounting clients and gave up the payroll a few years back. If I were to process payroll for a single client, I would use Medlin as I too like the software. I have used ATX in the past to prepare taxes and for about 9 years prior to CCH garbling them up. I have used taxworks (RedGear from TRX) for four years and after the blowout there last year switched to TaxSlayer Pro. I do like TaxSlayer Pro but they still are not offering the forms I need to complete CRUT returns. So, I had to switch again this year. Now I am using OneDesk and I have to tell everyone it appears to be really good software. Yes, I am going thru a learing curve with inputting but have not had installation problems or update problems at all. As far as fixed asset, FAM through QB was good but I found out that the client could really screw this up on their end so I have reverted back to spreadsheets especially for my rental clients. I know this is alot of extra work but it works for me at this time. I don't want to trust a new software with depreciation until I really test drive it. BTW- I just learned of some really neat features that OneDesk has with inserting notes in the tax return. You can set a note with a reminder that will pop up at you when you select the return completion. That is a plus for me. Also, the ability to scan documents and keep them with the return is another plus. Keeps the paper file smaller.