NewportWave, Inc. — Year End Solutions (YES) Software Professional

From the October 2009 Review of W-2/1099
Compliance Systems.

The
Year End Solutions (YES) Software Professional system from NewportWave is a
W-2 and 1099 preparation and year-end compliance program for professional accountants
managing multiple clients. The system offers compliance for all 1099, 1098 and
5498 versions, along with 1096, W-2, W-2C, W-3 and W-3C. The program offers
import and export capabilities, along with unlimited electronic filing to the
IRS and SSA, automated backup and the ability to print to either plain paper
or preprinted forms. YES is available in two packages: The Professional version
reviewed here provides features designed for accounting firms and costs $200
for a network-ready multi-user license. The $400 Enterprise version includes
the same functions along with additional tools for enterprise-level management
for use in-house by payer entities. The program can be downloaded in full from
the company’s website or installed from disc.

USABILITY/NAVIGATION –
YES opens to a utilitarian main menu screen that offers a series of buttons
as the primary navigation menu, with options for accessing payer and recipient
lists, print functions, e-filing features, the import/export utility and various
tools and setup options. Additional buttons at the bottom of the screen provide
backup, restore and program update tools, with the remainder of the screen displaying
system information and configuration settings.

The key work areas for YES are in the Payer and Recipients menus. The system
does not offer a master payer list, instead providing the Payer Info screen,
which offers a view of each entity and its basic information and customized
notes displayed in a form view that users can edit or scroll forward and back
to other client businesses. A basic Find feature is also available, but provides
no sorting or filtering options and, since the system can manage up to 999 payer
entities, these features could be a worthwhile addition. YES does provide a
master recipient list that allows users to drilldown by payer and then by form
type, which results in the program opening a form view of existing forms of
that type that can be scrolled between with the ability to sort by name, TIN
and other options. A payer-specific list of recipients also appears on Payer
screens, showing all employees, contractors and other payees related to that
client.

Data-entry tasks are preformed on these form replicas, which pre-populate
the employer section of forms and provide pull-down lists for selecting certain
fields such as W-2 12a-d. For W-2s, YES also automatically computes FICA and
Medicare withholding. The data-entry screens provide a button menu to the right
of the form that offers options for error checking, finding/sorting recipient
forms, running a totals report and setting up print and system functions. The
YES program provides a Tool Box of more than two dozen functions, including
the ability to clone recipients for use as a template, format IDs, change a
W-2 to a W-2C and various other tasks. Processing functions are generally handled
in batch mode, with the program automatically compiling and calculating data
for form types. Individual forms can be generated on an as-needed basis. A consolidation
feature is also available, allowing users to combine, rollup on ID and perform
other functions.

REPORTING –
Reporting options in YES are available from the main menu or from payer and
recipient screens, providing quick access to output and enabling either batch
or single form printing. In addition to forms output onto blank paper or forms
stock, users can print detail or summary payer activity reports, payer and recipient
lists, mailing labels and transmittals. E-filing functions are included in the
program and include a manager screen that allows users to view previously filed
forms and access the IRS and SSA websites.

IMPORT/EXPORT CAPABILITIES –
The system allows saving of reports and forms to PDF or exporting of data to
text format. YES can import from QuickBooks, dBase, CSV and text-based formats.
Backup and restore functions are also included.

HELP/SUPPORT –
The assistance features in YES include a user manual, Quick Start guide, a new
features list and contact information. Technical support is free and the vendor’s
website includes how-to videos, an online user guide and downloadable updates.

2009 Overall Rating: