2019 Review of CCH Axcess Tax from Wolters Kluwer

From the 2019 reviews of professional tax preparation systems.

CCH Axcess Tax from Wolters Kluwer is well-suited for small to mid-sized accounting firms as well as corporate tax departments that prepare complex tax returns. CCH Axcess Tax is completely cloud-based and offers mobile apps for both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

CCH Axcess Tax offers easy system navigation, with the interface screen resembling Microsoft Office with users able to easily customize the Quick Access Toolbar to better suit their needs. The product dashboard allows users to easily track all related projects and tasks, and also provides quick access to client documents and any tax return notes, which can be assigned to a specific staff member if desired.

Learn how one firm is achieving greater productivity with CCH Axcess.

Users can create Organizers for both current and new clients, with organizers designed to collect all related tax information for existing and new clients for the current tax year. Organizers can print or email the organizer to their client, or upload them to the client portal, where they can be accessed online. CCH Axcess offers five return types: Individual, Corporation, Partnership, Fiduciary, Employee Plans and Non-Profit, with color-coded data entry available for easy identification of each type of return. When preparing a return, users can easily view all related worksheets, schedules, and the completed tax return from a single screen, or utilize multiple screens simultaneously to get a complete view.

CCH Axcess Tax supports all U.S. tax returns including common forms such as 1040 Individual, 1065 Partnership, 1120 Corporation, 1120S Corporation, 1041 Fiduciary, 706 and 709 Estate and Gift Tax, and 990 Exempt Organizations. Prior year returns can also be prepared if necessary, and users can easily roll forward prior year totals in order to prepare current year forms.

CCH Axcess Tax offers e-filing for all supported forms, including federal, state, and local forms. Users can access the review report to check the status of any e-filed returns, including related alerts or rejections. For those looking for answers to particularly difficult problems, CCH Axcess Tax links to CCH IntelliConnect, allowing users to easily research a variety of topics without leaving the application.

CCH Axcess Tax integrates with the CCH Axcess Portal, allowing users and clients to send and receive source documents and other correspondence in a confidential manner. Users can provide portal access to clients, who will need to create their own user name and password in order to access the portal. The product also integrates with CCH eSign, which allows clients to sign documents electronically.

CCH Axcess Tax uses autoflow technology which provides automatic identification and import of all client files directly into the tax return being prepared. The file is then bookmarked as a PDF and later saved in CCH Document, where staff and authorized personnel can later access the file when necessary.

CCH Axcess and CCH ProSystem fx share many of the same features, with CCH Axcess residing on the cloud, and CCH ProSystem fx offered as an on-premise solution. As a result, the modules found in each suite of applications are designed to integrate, offering a complete tax compliance solution regardless of deployment method.  Additional CCH Axcess modules available include CCH Axcess Document, which provides centralized document management and storage capability, CCH Axcess Workstream, with is an automated workflow solution that offers complete project management and due date tracking capability; CCH Axcess Practice, which offers complete time and billing capability, and mentioned earlier, the CCH Axcess Portal, which provides easy communication and document sharing capability between firms and their clients. The product also integrates with CCH IntelliConnect; a web-based application from Wolters Kluwer that offers complete tax research capability without the need to leave CCH Axcess Tax as well as CCH ProSystem fx applications such as CCH ProSystem fx Scan, CCH ProSystem fx Practice Management, and CCH ProSystem fx Document. In addition, CCH Axcess Tax offers complete integration with Microsoft Word, allowing users to complete and customize any client correspondence directly in the application.

CCH Axcess offers a variety of help and support options, with solid help functionality available throughout the application. Users can also access the searchable knowledgebase for additional information on product features. Product guides, user videos, and a community user forum are also available. CCH Axcess offers telephone support along with email and chat support, with support included in the cost of the application.

CCH Axcess Tax is a good fit for small to mid-sized accounting firms that are looking for a cloud-based application that offers excellent integration with other Wolters Kluwer products and services. CCH Axcess is available via subscription, with pricing dependent on the user needs and applications purchased. Those interested in CCH Axcess Tax can contact the vendor directly to obtain a personalized quote.

2019 Rating: 5 Stars