American Riviera Software Corp. — Magtax

From the Oct. 2007 Review of W-2/1099
Systems

Magtax is a low-cost year-end information return compliance system that supports
forms W-2, 1099-Misc, 1099-C, 1099-R, 1099-Div, 1099-Int, 1099-S, 1099-B, 1099-G,
1098 and 1098-C, with versions available for in-house filing for one company
and for professionals managing these compliance processes for an unlimited number
of payer clients and recipients, including filings by subsidiary entities. The
system outputs reports to plain paper or pre-printed stock and offers electronic
and magnetic media filing capabilities for IRS and SSA compliance. The single-payer
Lite version of the program, which supports only W-2 and 1099-Misc, costs $119;
the Standard version, which also supports all forms listed above for an unlimited
number of payers and recipients, costs $179; the Magtax Professional version,
which adds a more robust import utility, client management, W-2c, and prior
year support costs $289.

Usability/Navigation – 4 Stars
Magtax opens to a newly redesigned interface that starts with the system’s
sortable Payer selection spreadsheet screen, which also provides tabs for generating
forms and electronic filing processes. The main screen offers a vertical menu
on the left with icon and text-based links to primary function areas, including
Setup tasks, management of payer data, 1099s, W-2s and printing/reporting options.
At the top of the screen, icons for Getting Started, What’s New and Web
Update are also available. Setup of new payer/client entities is aided by a
wizard that guides users through setup of a client database, including entering
of basic information, contacts and federal/state EINs. All windows and work
screens are well designed with crisp, intuitive icons that make learning the
system fairly simple.

After selecting a payer entity, forms are accessed and created via the left-hand
menu, which brings up a spreadsheet list of the particular type of form family
selected (1099, W-2). This list provides tabs for moving between the specific
form (Int, Misc, B, S, etc.), and includes search capabilities. Plus, it maintains
a tabbed summary of totals for employees or 1099 recipients, showing sums for
wages, federal, state and local information aggregated from W-2s for that payer,
or various line totals (Other, Substitute Pay, Medical, Federal Tax) for 1099s.

Creation of new forms brings up a tabbed subwindow that groups data entry into
categories for Address, Federal, State & Local, and Other, Boxes 11 and
12, and Box 14. Data for the paying entity is automatically added to the form,
but the program does not offer a payee/recipient lookup function or provide
copying or template options, which means that users must re-enter all data for
recipients that are already in the system because they receive multiple 1099s
from companies or subsidiaries being managed by the program. The system offers
both form-based (replica) and rapid (information sheet) data-entry options for
1099s. However, only the information sheet method is available for W-2s, following
actual form layouts. Overall, the redesign of the interface has greatly enhanced
the usability of the program, which now provides intuitive navigation aside
from terms like datasets instead of more business appropriate terms like payers.

Reporting & Import/Export Capabilities – 4.5 Stars
Magtax offers summary reports of filings and allows print output of forms and
reports to plain paper or pre-printed forms, as well as saving files into PDF
and other formats. The Standard and Professional versions of the program offer
data import from QuickBooks, Excel, *.CSV, *.TXT and DOS files, with the Professional
version also including a distributable import utility that can centralize the
gathering of data from multiple clients. The single company version only imports
from QuickBooks.

Support for Paperless Transmission – 4 Stars
Electronic filing for multiple companies/clients is included in Magtax, with
a filing interface that allows direct submission of formatted files to the IRS
and SSA from within the system.

Help/Training – 4.5 Stars
In addition to a well-built, index-based Help utility and limited right-click
menus in Magtax, the new payer/client wizard offers good assistance for setup
tasks. Task-specific Help is available from virtually every screen, providing
how-to guidance along with screenshots. The company includes a PDF user’s
manual, and the support website provides a knowledgebase, news, troubleshooting
information and downloads. Web-based and e-mail technical support are included
in the cost of the system.

2007 Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars