Tax Analysts

Tax Analysts offers several online tax research products that comprise its Tax Analysts Web Services, including the federal modules, Tax Notes Today, Tax Notes, Basic Federal Research Library and Complete Federal Research Library. The company also offers CD-based tools that include the Internal Revenue Manual Disc and OneDisc Research Library. The various modules of the online version provide primary source materials; breaking news and analysis of the tax code; proposed legislation; and all tax developments at the federal, state and international levels. The Up-to-the-Minute news feature of the service provides continuous federal, state and international updates throughout the day, including *.PDFs of newly released tax documents.

COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
The various components that make up Tax Analysts Web Services run through the Internet Explorer browser (version 5.5+) and require little of host computers, although more modern systems with faster processors and a high-speed connection will experience better performance.

USING THE PROGRAM
The interface is accessed from the Tax Analysts web site where, after logging in, the screen splits to provide a vertical list of libraries on the left and a larger pane that provides search tools and information after a library is selected. The libraries on the left have been redesigned/ renamed from the previous version and are more intuitively labeled with three primary groups. Federal libraries include Tax Notes Today, Tax Notes, the Federal Research Library, Court Filings Archive and Exempt Organization Master List. The State section includes State Tax Today, State Tax Notes and the State Research Library. The International section includes Worldwide Tax Daily, Tax Notes International and Worldwide Tax Treaties. The screen also provides links to a Help system, privacy notes, the user profile page and the company’s web site.

Users can access the search components for the various libraries by first selecting the desired library. For instance, selecting the Federal Research Library brings up a list of available databases from which the user would select the component of this library to open: The Basic Federal Library, Chief Counsel Advice, Court Opinions or Tax Practice. Selecting any of these opens the component into a page that includes a search field that allows searching by keyword, phrase, number or multiple terms. The form also breaks down the library into even smaller sections, which allows searching one, all or selected databases within that library. The main screens for each section provide very good assistance through the main window, offering a description of the contents of the library and guidance on how to search within that library or database. The program’s Help Guide also provide good assistance.

Evelyn Campbell, research librarian for Richmond, Virginia-based Hunton & Williams, said her firm has used several of Tax Analysts’ products for years. “By far the most popular function is Tax Notes Today,” she said. “Having daily updates about tax code changes helps our practitioners keep on top of their practice area, which helps them provide the most effective service to our clients.”

Ms. Campbell also noted that the firm, which has offices throughout the United States and some overseas locations, uses almost all of the modules Tax Analysts offers, especially the state and international resources. “The library databases have such a wealth of material, they are so deep and thorough, and each user can be set up for different preferences.” She noted that the product is fairly simple to learn, although the firm also maintains a training program for new staff.

Unfortunately, the program does not offer any means of saving or bookmarking searches or their results, which would be very beneficial for common or recurring search activities. As well, the program requires users to go through several pages to get to a search form: From the initial page it is necessary to go through three pages to search the Federal Library database. On a more positive note, Tax Notes Today provides excellent news roundups of tax law-related events, and Tax Notes provides a good weekly resource with more depth and more analysis of key issues.

SUMMARY
Tax Analysts’ modules provide a good selection of libraries that are broken down into logical sections when searching, making search tasks more efficient by only having to search key areas. Through its various modules, Tax Analysts Web Services provides a tax research product that can be tailored to the needs of smaller firms or bundled to create a comprehensive systems that includes federal, state and international tax news and expert analysis. Subscriptions start at $129 per year, but vary by module: The Basic Federal Library is $129; the Complete Federal Library is $349; Tax Notes Today is $989; and Tax Notes costs $1,999. State research modules start at $79, and comprehensive state news and analysis is also available in State Tax Notes.

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