2006 Review of Specialty Tax Compliance & 1040 Enhancer Products

That’s not to say that any of these programs are Yugo equivalents; quite
the contrary, actually. They all perform quite well at what they do; they just
have a more specialized approach than the do-everything systems. They are reviewed
here simply because they did not meet one or more of the requirements to be
considered a full “tax preparation suite” as we had defined them
… or they are a specialty application. Some missed by one form (often
the 5500), while others specialize in only one or two areas of compliance, such
as a company that only makes a 5500 compliance program (match these together
and voila!). Yet another system reviewed here doesn’t provide compliance
at all, but rather offers a third-party analytical tool to help prevent IRS
flags and streamline workflow processes.

The programs reviewed here were scored in the following areas:
Learning Curve addresses the ease with which new users are
likely to grow comfortable and proficient with the program. Use/Workflow
& Productivity Tools involves the intuitiveness of the user interface
(how well a user can get around) and the way work is handled from start (interview)
to finish (receipt of return). This includes tools that help professionals keep
track of client and IRS status for returns, as well as additional tools such
as integrated calculators and cross-form linking that streamline the entire
process.

The Integration/Import & Export section assesses the program’s
capability to use data between modules, how it exchanges data with software
from other vendors, and how the program retrieves existing data from the previous
year. Support/Training & Help System looks at training
options and how the vendor has incorporated assistance features into its program,
the quality of its support documentation and the extent of its online Help component,
whether it be simple FAQs, online user communities or more advanced systems.

And finally, Relative Value offers a subjective gauge of the
dollar-to-value ratio of the software. While it is often said that, “You
get what you pay for,” the most expensive option does not necessarily
guarantee the best value, nor is the product with the lowest sticker price always
the greater bargain. On this line, we will look at the value of the features
and tools provided in a software suite and provide a judgment on how well its
price matches its offerings. An additional factor in this equation, of course,
is how well the product does what it portends to do.

The Overall Rating gives an average of a product’s
scores in each of the scoring categories, rounded to the nearest half star.
An Executive Summary follows the review section, providing a brief synopsis
of the reviews along with a summary chart with products and their ratings in
each area. 

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