CCH Small Firm Services — ATX & TaxWise Payroll Compliance Reporting

USABILITY/NAVIGATION –
The Payroll Compliance Reporting system works independently of the professional
tax application (either TaxWise or ATX), but integrates with those systems’
accounting and document management modules, sharing data in those packages for
business and recipient information. The program opens into the main interface
for the tax program, which varies between TaxWise and ATX, but both provide
very easy-to-use and well-designed screens and navigation that include tabbed
access to key tax system features along with practice management tools, AR and
e-file management functions. The master selection list includes all of a firm’s
clients, including individual and business income tax preparation, but allows
sorting of this large list by various factors, as well as filtering by specific
return type, allowing users to easily narrow the list down to specific recipient
types, such as 1099-Misc, W-2 or W-2G.

Working with wage and information forms in the tax systems is similar to working
with other types of tax returns. Users start with the New icon in the program’s
task bar, which brings up a comprehensive list of all forms available in the
tax package, but which can also be filtered or searched. The system includes
forms W-2, W-3, W-2G, W-2AS, W-2GU, W-2VI, 4852, 1098, 1098C, 1098E, 1098T and
all versions of form 1099, along with their state counterparts.

Data entry can be performed directly onto form replicas or using an interview
worksheet method, with data then transferred to the form. With either method,
the data-entry screens offer tabbed access to specific form pages and parts,
with W-2 withholding automatically calculated but overrideable if necessary.
The tabs also provide easy access to reporting forms W-3 and 1096, which are
automatically populated with data from employee and contractor recipient forms.
The system tracks overrides and other edits using color-coded highlighting,
and provides a built-in diagnostics system that alerts users to potential problems
with form data or missing information. The TaxWise and ATX systems also offer
smart entry features, such as selection lists prevention of duplicated EINs
and TINs.

REPORTING –
Using the system as stand-alone or in conjunction with the professional tax
compliance system, users have access to a fairly broad collection of reporting
that includes summaries for W-2 and 1099 activities, along with billing, client
lists and other options. The system can produce fileable versions of forms 1098,
1099, 5498s, W-2, W-3, 940, 941 and 944, and includes e-filing of reporting
to the IRS and SSA. Reports and forms can also be saved to PDF format.

IMPORT/EXPORT CAPABILITIES –
The Payroll Compliance Reporting program integrates with the write-up, document
management and scan-and-fill systems available for the ATX and TaxWise lines,
with data flowing between system modules as necessary and thus reducing redundant
entry. For 2010, the ATX product will include the ability to import W-2 and
1099 data to a 1040 client return if the system was used to prepare those forms
for their employer/payer. The programs also offer quick import of payer and
recipient data from QuickBooks, Peachtree and common file formats, including
CSV spreadsheet files. Reports and forms can also be output to PDF or spreadsheet
formats.

HELP/SUPPORT –
Both tax systems offer extensive Help utilities that include task-specific Help,
line-by-line instructions, tutorials, how-to guides, and right-click menu options,
while online support features include FAQs, a knowledgebase, user forums and
free training tools. Technical support is included with the tax systems and
the Payroll Compliance Reporting program.

2009 Overall Rating: