CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business – ProSystem fx Scan with AutoFlow Technology

From
the Sept. 2008 Feature on Scan/Fill/Populate
Systems

The ProSystem fx Scan system, which was originally called BOCDIP and
which was a recipient of a 2006 Tax & Accounting Technology Innovation
Award (www.CPATechAdvisor.com/go/1196),
was one of the first breed of document recognition scanning systems. The program
essentially works by allowing users to scan in all of a 1040 client’s tax-related
forms, statements and other documents, with the system using optical character
recognition technology (OCR) to identify what the individual documents are and
then produce a fully bookmarked and logically organized PDF file that includes
all of the documents.

This results in a fully digitized set of workpapers that can be used in a dual-screen
setup to review a client return. Bookmarks can be sorted to meet firm workflow
needs, and the program includes strong search functionality for retrieving specific
forms within client records. Since the program is part of the ProSystem fx
Suite, it also offers integration with CCH’s tax, write-up and document
management systems, as well as with the vendor’s client collaboration
portals. Through the optional PDFlyer module, users are also given enhanced
PDF review capabilities, such as the ability to move pages and bookmarks within
the document, utilize tickmarks and connectors, or resize and rotate document
views.

For the 2008 tax year, CCH has added the optional AutoFlow Technology system
for ProSystem fx Scan. This new feature provides automatic population
of client data into 1040 returns prepared using ProSystem fx Tax. The
process is straightforward, with the program extracting data from previously
scanned client documents, and then providing two validation features to ensure
data accuracy. Users, generally administrative staff or junior professionals
charged with scanning and inputting initial data, can look over OCR results
and also ensure that items are classified properly. When the tax system is opened,
the user is alerted that information is available for that client, and the user
can then import it directly into the client return much like organizer data.

Both Scan and its AutoFlow system are locally installed on the firm’s
computers, which keeps all data in-house and generally provides for more intuitive
ease-of-use, but can result in slower processing times when compared to systems
that securely route form data to large processing centers with larger server
arrays performing the work. CCH does offer some of the benefits of the server-side
technology, however.

“During tax season, when time is at a premium, AutoFlow Technology will
shift 1040 data entry functions away from a firm’s professional staff,”
said Bob Dias, CCH Vice President of Product and Segment Management. “Any
solution that saves significant professional time is obviously of huge benefit.”

AutoFlow Technology is imbedded in Scan v4.0 and available to all ProSystem
fx Scan users without an additional license fee. A per-return transaction
fee is applicable for importing the extracted information into ProSystem fx
Tax. The list price per return is $15, irrespective of the number of imports
or the number of forms imported. The $15 authorization list price has been reduced
to $10 for an initial promotional period.

Forms Supported for Automatic Population: W-2, W-2G, 1098,
1098 T, 1099 DIV, 1099 INT, 1099 MISC, 1099 Q, 1099 R, 2439, SSA 1099 On the
development roadmap: Forms K1-1065, K1-1041 and K1-1120S, Combined Statements.

Technology