AMS — 1099-Etc & A-T-F Payroll
800-536-1099www.1099-etc.com
Sep. 01, 2008
From the Sept.
2008 Review of Professional Payroll Systems
The After-the-Fact (A-T-F) Payroll system from Advanced Micro Solutions is
an add-on module to the company’s 1099-Etc program, which is geared toward
small and mid-sized businesses with a need for 1099 and W-2 compliance and forms
generation. With the A-T-F Payroll add-on, the system provides good support
for basic live or A-T-F payroll processing functions, whether used in-house
or by a professional serving many clients. A-T-F Payroll supports all federal
and state reporting requirements and offers direct deposit, along with electronic
filing of IRS and SSA forms. The add-on module costs $105, but users must have
the base program, which costs $75, and will likely want the E-File Direct Option
($105), the Laser Generation Option ($75) and the Forms Etc package ($45). Licensing
allows networked or stand-alone installation and any number of users.
DATA ENTRY & KEY FEATURES – 4 Stars
A-T-F Payroll is accessed from the initial Main Menu of the 1099-Etc system,
which also offers icon-based access to other program utilities like the e-filing
tool, as well as system configuration options. Within the payroll module, after
selecting a payer company with which to work, the program displays technical
data across the small window display, which also offers pull-down menus for
the primary work areas of the program, including Module, Payer, Deposits, View,
Input, Browse, Reports, Forms, Options, Help and Quit. During initial setup
of companies, users can copy settings from an existing one, speeding this process.
Company and employee setup and editing is fairly straightforward, with tabbed
entry forms that allow quick movement between data groups, such as banking information,
check preferences, tax rates and the ability to set custom fields. Employee
data entry allows setting of up to nine combined pay and miscellaneous rates,
with the ability to track accruals for vacation and sick leave, as well as basic
human resources and EEOC data. Basic data screens include forward and back navigation
for thumbing through employee records, as well as selection lists for some fields.
The employee selection screen looks a little rustic but provides an excellent
summary of virtually all employee data, including rates, YTD totals and other
information.
Entry of time data is intuitive, and processing payroll, tracking deposits
and running reports are all effortlessly accomplished through easily understandable
screens. A-T-F Payroll offers 40 customizable payroll deductions for each company
and up to 40 standard deductions per employee, as well as the ability to customize
them or add special treatments, if necessary. It also supports multi-state workers,
as well as tipped and commissioned employees and can handle bonuses and other
supplemental payments. All calculations for FICA, Medicare, SDI, net pay and
deductions can be automatically calculated or processed using a Calc button.
Through the main 1099 program, the system offers excellent options for tracking
contract payees and filing as appropriate. The direct deposit feature supports
up to four accounts per pay recipient. E-filing of tax deposits is also offered.
REPORTING CAPABILITIES – 3.5 Stars
A-T-F Payroll offers 17 pre-formatted reports, including tax summaries, wage
worksheets, period summaries and details, withholding, check registers and discrepancy
reports, all of which can be viewed on-screen prior to printing. The program
also offers printable versions of all 1099 versions, along with forms 940, 941,
941-B, 943, 1042S, 1096, 1098, W-2 and W-2C. Checks, forms and reports can be
printed either to special stock or plain paper.
INTEGRATION/IMPORT & EXPORT – 3.5 Stars
While the A-T-F Payroll system integrates completely with the base 1099-Etc
program, it does not offer direct integration with outside accounting packages.
However, it can export files into a format importable by most small business
systems, including the GL in QuickBooks. A-T-F Payroll can import company and
employee data from QuickBooks, Quicken and Peachtree.
RELATIVE VALUE – 4 Stars
As a tool for managing after-the-fact payroll and 1099 compliance tasks for
small businesses, the 1099 A-T-F Payroll system is quite adept, providing a
basic utility that gets straight to the nuts and bolts of tasks. It also offers
some value as a live payroll system, but is generally for small entities since
many processes are individually run. With direct deposit and e-filing options,
A-T-F Payroll can give these smaller businesses a taste of more advanced features,
but at a low price point. Support is included with pricing, and tax updates
are included with annual renewals.
2008 Overall Rating: 4 Stars