September 2020

Deciding which professional tax software to use can be a daunting task.  Each tax office has different needs, and each software has varying features to meet those needs. In this article, we will explain how to find the income tax software for professionals that is right for you by listing a few simple steps to follow.  

1- Write down your must-haves, and what you can go without.

Business needs differ from one tax business to another, which explains why there are numerous professional income tax software products offering services that differ on many levels. Before reading through professional income tax software reviews, start listing all the must-have features you are looking for and the features that you cannot go without.  This will help you save a lot of time and headache by narrowing down your list of options to find your software faster. For example, if your clients do not have time to come to your office and sign documents, any income tax software that does not have a mobile application should be taken off your list.  

2- Compare prices.

After you eliminate a few options that do not offer what you are looking for, start comparing prices. In our professional tax preparation software reviews, we found that some software products come at high prices for services that not all tax offices would need. This is why it is important to list all the extra features you do not need, and if the software you are considering is more costly due to such services, it is a no-brainer to go with another less expensive option that does not charge you more for services that will probably end up not being used.

3- Take your time and try the software first.

Get to know the software before you commit to purchasing it. Tax professionals that only focus on price end up purchasing the wrong software the majority of the time.  What initially seems to be a less costly purchase ends up costing more in terms of time and revenue lost due to a hasty decision.  At the very least, we suggest you download a demo of the software you are considering before making your final decision. This will surely help you get an understanding of what you will work with during the tax season.

4- Read tax software reviews of previous and current users.

Check out tax software reviews from reputable sources, past users, and current users.  Professional tax software reviews will definitely help you make a better decision. While downloading a demo of the software gives you the chance to try it for a short period of time, reading pro tax software reviews helps you know what tax-preparers faced in the long run and what their thoughts after a while of using the software.

5- Consider Bank Product benefits.

Not everyone uses bank products since many tax preparers prefer to charge their fees upfront. More and more tax preparers are now using bank products due to the several benefits they offer such as: cash advances, start-up loans, debit cards, and more. Make sure you ask the provider you are considering about their bank products fees and what tax bank is integrated with the software you are willing to use, then compare service prices before you decide which provider to go with.

6- Decide on which software provider to go with.

After going through the above steps and income tax software reviews, the final step is to choose a software provider.  Software packages differ from one company to another, for example: total software cost, payment options, discounts, bank product fees, etc. This is why it is important to shop and compare several offers to make sure you are getting the best deal.

If you need to know more about different software products, or want to test them out via a demo, our website ProfessionalTaxSoftwareReviews.com can has everything you need to know about tax software for tax professionals, product reviews, and comparisons to help you make a more informed choice before the tax season. 

Good luck!

Whether you already have professional tax software or you are new to the tax industry, it is always important to know what other software products offer.  In this article, we will go through a list of professional tax software products that set new quality standards every day and discuss the key-features and shortcomings of each to help you make an informed choice.

CrossLink Tax Software

Advantages

In our CrossLink professional tax software reviews, we were impressed with what the software had to offer.  CrossLink’s user-friendly interface makes the tax preparation process intuitive and virtually effortless in comparison to other software products. It comes with 3 modes; form-based, interview mode, and estimator mode. It is also known for having a point-and-shoot error solving tool that guides you through the errors on a tax return and the process of fixing them, step-by-step. The software also supports third-party gadgets like signature pads and hand-held scanners, which can be useful to high volume offices that need to save time and become eco-friendly by going paperless. Whether you are looking for a physical gadget to save time on such tasks or you want to do it remotely, CrossLink has you covered either way. TaxPass Mobile App can be used by taxpayers to send, receive, and sign documents from the comfort of their homes, and can be customized as well. Lastly, it supports multi-location offices, with its feeder license system, which allows tax-preparers operating more than one location to have everything sent to their main offices for review. Tax preparers can choose to operate each office with an EFIN of its own, which is possible as well. CrossLink works with bank products, which would be beneficial for both taxpayers and preparers.

Disadvantages

We have yet to find any noteworthy drawbacks to any of the software’s features, or lack thereof, thanks to the constant development it gets to stay ahead of the industry

Drake Tax Software

Advantages

Drake is one of the best tax software for professionals with complex tax preparation demands. It features a user-friendly interface with real-time process tracking, scheduling tools, and a handful of integrations that make tax preparation easier and more time-saving. Drake has several integrations like:

– Drake Accounting: an integration that is designed to help tax preparers manage taxpayers’ financial records more efficiently and accurately.
– SecureFile Pro: a web-based platform that allows tax preparers and taxpayers to exchange confidential documents securely.
– Drake Documents: an electronic filing tool for storing and accessing documents securely and easily.
– GruntWorx: a tool that saves time and money by eliminating and automating tedious tasks such as data-entry and manual document organization.
– Drake E-Pay: a module that was developed by Drake Tax Software and EPS Financial to allow tax offices to collect fees via debit and credit cards.

Drake pro tax software integrates flawlessly with bank products but comes with a few minor drawbacks.

Disadvantages

Drake lacks a mobile app, which would significantly facilitate communication between taxpayers and preparers. It also does not come with remote signature support. Other than that, it is one of the top professional tax software products on the market.

TaxWise

Advantages

TaxWise comes with an easy-to-use interface that was primarily made for tax businesses with complex tax preparation needs. It comes with a Diagnostics Tool that points out what is wrong on a return and guides through the process of fixing it, a What If Mode that emulates different tax scenarios, and Form-based and Interview Modes. TaxWise also has a mobile application that can be used on any smart-phone, tablet, or any device with an internet browser to enhance communication and save time for both taxpayers and preparers. It also works with bank products, which can be useful for tax businesses and taxpayers.

Disadvantages

Although TaxWise is considered to be one of the best professional tax preparer software products on the market, it does have room for improvement.  The software does not support third-party gadgets like signature pads and hand-held scanners. The interface, although user-friendly, looks a bit dated and could be developed to be more intuitive.

Making the Right Choice

The best way to make an informed decision is by reviewing  professional stax preparer software comparisons that clearly show the advantages and disadvantages of each software. After you take the time to compare professional tax software and decide which software is the best pro tax software for your needs, pricing comes next.  To compare pricing you first need to decide whether to purchase the software from the main seller or a service bureau. While the software is more or less the same from both avenues, the package options and pricing will differ from each other.

If you still need help, we’ve got you covered! Our website ProfessionalTaxSoftwareReviews.com aims to help tax-preparers find the perfect software for their tax businesses by providing detailed reviews, professional tax preparation software comparisons, and demos to help you find the best professional tax preparation software for your tax business. 

We wish you the best of luck this season!

Wolters Kluwer has been a trust-worthy name in several industries since the 1980s. The company is known for delivering quality services to professionals in different industries such as tax, accounting, legal, finance, and more. In our TaxWise tax software reviews, we found that it is an efficient software that is easy to use but also has a few areas with room for improvement. In this article, we will cover its advantages/disadvantages and help you make a more informed decision so you’ll be ready for the upcoming tax season.

User Interface:
TaxWise professional tax software comes with an easy-to-use interface that was primarily made for tax businesses with complex tax preparation needs. In terms of simplicity, it will not only guide you through your tax preparation process but will also point out the errors and/or missing information and guide you through the process of fixing them as well. TaxWise comes with several useful features such as:
– Diagnostics Tool: This tool helps point out the errors and guides you through the process of fixing them.
– What If Mode: Emulates different tax scenarios to help you have a better understanding of how tax preparation works.

When it comes to data-entry, TaxWise features two modes:
– Form-based Mode: Generates entry fields that resemble actual forms.
– Interview Mode: Populates required forms based on the tax preparer’s answers to the questions it asks.

Third-party Integrations:
TaxWise is the trusted choice of thousands of tax offices nationwide, but despite that fact, in our TaxWise tax software reviews, we find that its lack of support for third-party gadgets such as signature pads and hand-held scanners is a major drawback. These integrations come in handy for high volume offices that aim to save time and go paperless, and they are supported by other competitive software companies that aim for longevity by supporting every type of tax business. If you do not run a high volume tax office but still need a way to capture the signatures of your clients and have them send and receive documents without them having to come to your office; TaxWise has recently rolled out a mobile app that you can use for such purposes.

Mobile Application:
TaxWise Mobile App was designed to streamline tax preparation and facilitate communication between tax preparers and taxpayers. You can use this application to communicate with your clients remotely, send them return copies, have them sign required documents, and check the status of their returns securely. It is fully integrated with TaxWise and can be used on smartphones, tablets, and even any device with an internet browser. 

Bank Product Support:
TaxWise supports bank product integration with several different banks. This comes with many benefits for you and your clients, such as start-up loans, cash advances, debit cards, and more. Bank product pricing might differ from one provider to another depending on a variety of things. We recommend that you compare bank product features and pricing thoroughly before you make a decision. 

All in all, TaxWise is an efficient software that constantly evolves, yet still falls behind in a few areas, as mentioned above. If you are looking for a software that would be capable of meeting complex tax preparation demands, TaxWise might be a great option for you. However, if you cannot go without the features it lacks, you may want to consider another option. But before you make any choice, we recommend that you read as many TaxWise tax software reviews as possible to find out what previous and current users have to say about the software, and also download a TaxWise demo to try the software yourself.

Don’t know how to get a TaxWise tax software demo? We’ve got you covered! Our website ProfessionalTaxSoftwareReviews.com aims to help tax-preparers find the perfect software for their tax businesses by providing detailed reviews, software comparisons, and demos. Click the ‘Download A Demo!’ button on the top right side of the website and choose the software that you’d like to try. Good luck!

Drake Tax Software has been providing tax services and solutions that have been covering tax business needs since the late 1970s. In this article, we will discuss products and integrations offered by Drake, the software’s advantages/disadvantages, and how to use Drake income tax software integrations to boost your business and maximize your productivity.

Income Tax Software:
Drake income tax software features a simple user-interface that specializes in complex tax preparation needs.
– Advantages:
The software is easy-to-use; it has real-time process tracking features, scheduling tools, and a handful of integrations that make your tax preparation process easier.
– Disadvantages:
There is room for improvement when it comes to communication between tax preparers and taxpayers, which could be facilitated with a mobile application.

Drake Accounting Software:
Drake Accounting is an integration that is designed to help tax preparers manage taxpayers’ financial records more efficiently and accurately using double-entry accounting. It can be used to enter invoices, print vendor checks, and enter invoice information for accounting purposes. In our Drake Accounting reviews, we found out that there are several different modules used through this application of which Drake has optimized to be its most advanced integration yet.

SecureFile Pro:
SecureFile Pro is a web-based platform made by Drake Tax Software to allow tax preparers and taxpayers to exchange confidential documents securely. It can be accessed on virtually any device with an internet browser and does not require special requirements, since it is web-based. This tool can be time-saving and eco-friendly, since you won’t have to store or consume physical papers nor spend long periods of time printing or emailing return copies to taxpayers.

Drake Documents:
Drake Documents is an electronic filing tool for storing and accessing documents securely and easily. It protects files, passwords, and allows admins to track file activity.

GruntWorx:
GruntWorx is a Drake integration that saves time and money by eliminating and automating tedious tasks such as data-entry and manual document organization. This tool uses Optical Character Recognition data extraction technologies to make such tasks a breeze. While such tools usually come with a few compromised areas, accuracy being one of which; GruntWorx is supported by human review to make sure everything is one hundred percent accurate, so all you have to do is upload documents and let GruntWorx do the rest for you!

Drake E-Pay:
Drake E-Pay is a module that was developed by Drake Tax Software and EPS Financial to allow tax offices to collect fees via debit and credit cards. It is located on the software’s toolbar and can be used with just a click of a button. This tool allows tax offices to charge cards virtually using a physical card-reader, and it works with not only EPS Financial, but any bank product integrated with the software.

Bank Products:
Drake Software supports Bank product integration flawlessly, which comes with many benefits for tax-preparers and taxpayers alike. Using bank products with Drake allows your clients to pay your tax preparation fees from their refund, receive cash advances and allows tax businesses to apply for start-up loans to keep their businesses cash-positive during the season. If you are considering using Bank Products, you should compare different banks and what they offer. If you do not know where to start, our website can help you compare all the industry-leading bank products.

If you want to try the software before you make a final decision, you can get a Drake software download of a demo from our website as well. Good luck!

CrossLink tax software has been trusted by thousands of tax businesses since the 1980s to this day. Such a success was not obtained overnight; but is a result of decades providing industry-leading services and the tendency to constantly develop the software to compete with other tax software giants. In this article, we will discuss the software in detail, as well as all the factors that garnered CrossLink Professional Tax Solutions the loyal client-base it has today.

What makes CrossLink a good option?
In our CrossLink tax software reviews, we find that it provides all the services any tax office would need to keep up with the competition:

• User Interface:

CrossLink features a solid, easy-to-use interface that comprises three tax-preparation modes:
Form-based mode: Provides a mode where entry-fields resemble the form you would like to file.
Interview mode: Provides a mode that auto-populates forms based on your provided answers.
Estimator mode: Provides a mode that estimates the refund.

Also, unlike other software, you won’t have to manually find and correct errors while filing a tax return on your own. With the point-and-shoot error solving tool, any missing information and errors will be pointed out and you will be guided through the process of fixing them in no time. In other software products, a simple interface may sometimes be synonymous with lacking features; but in our CrossLink tax software reviews, we found that despite its simplicity, the software is not compromised in any area.

• Third-party Gadget Support:

For high-volume offices, software support for third-party gadgets is not something to go without. CrossLink supports the following gadgets flawlessly:

Signature Pads: Devices that high-volume offices use to capture taxpayers’ signatures on an LCD touchpad, using a pen-type stylus. Once captured, the signature auto-populates on the taxpayer’s tax return signature fields.
Handheld Scanners: These gadgets are used by offices to import physical documents into their digital form, which can be edited and stored.
These paperless options will save your tax business a lot of money, time, and effort during the tax season.

• Mobile Application and Remote Options:

If your clients are not tech-savvy or do not want to deal with mobile applications, you can capture their signatures and send them copies of their returns via the Remote Signature feature, which is a feature you can use to send signature capture requests to their smartphones; they simply click a link and submit their signature with a click of a button. If your clients have a basic understanding of how smartphones work, they can download a mobile app called TaxPass on their Android or iOS devices. This application allows them to send you their W-2 forms, enter their data manually, and send you all their information straight to your software, where you can instantly view their file and begin working on it. With such a feature, you will save time and effort, since you will no longer have to transcribe scanned PDFs sent via email.

• Multi-location Support

In our CrossLink tax software reviews, we found out why thousands of growing tax offices switched to CrossLink after years of using other tax software products.  Put simply, most other software products do not support multi-location offices as seamlessly as CrossLink does. With CrossLink, you can operate your other office(s) with a feeder license; which is a license that allows you to run more than one office, customize accessibility, and have everything sent to the main office for review. You can also run each office on its own without having to receive returns to the main office. Whatever your choice is, you can have full control of how you want to customize access levels and more.

• Bank Products

CrossLink works in perfect integration with bank products, which offer you and your clients countless benefits such as startup loans, debit cards, cash advances, and more. Our website can help you make a more informed choice by over-viewing and comparing bank products that work with each software.

We hope that after reading our CrossLink tax software review, you have become a more informed and confident buyer.  All that is left to do is to decide whether to buy the software from the main provider or a service bureau. Each avenue has its differences, which could be varying bank product fees, the upfront amount paid for the software, and more. After comparing offers, make sure you try the software yourself by getting a CrossLink tax software download of a demo, which can also be found on our website.