2016 Review of AccountantsWorld Payroll Relief

Best Fit: Payroll Relief is part of AccountantsWorld suite of products made exclusively for the professional accountant, and are suitable for firms of all sizes.

Product Strengths:

• Product is designed for accountants and not offered to other businesses
• Product is accessible via the Internet or through a mobile device
• Custom branding allows firms to use logos and other firm branding on payroll services
• Firms can choose from two price points depending on firm needs and number of paychecks processed

Potential Limitations:

• Those not using AccountantsWorld products will see less in benefits and functionality

Payroll Relief, from AccountantsWorld is designed for professional accounting firms. Accessible through the Internet or using a mobile device, Payroll Relief provides accountants with the tools they need to process payroll quickly and profitably.

From the 2016 Review of Professional Payroll Systems.

Basic System Functions: 5 Stars

Payroll Relief, from AccountantsWorld, offers users easy system navigation and functionality, with users able to enter payroll data via a computer or mobile device. Designed specifically for professional accountants to use in their practice, Payroll Relief supports direct deposit, can easily process all related payroll taxes and compliance forms, as well as child support and other garnishments. W-2, W-3, and 1099 processing can be done in batches, making the process quick and easy. Designed to make payroll processing easy, Payroll Relief allows accountants to allocate payroll entry directly to their clients, either directly through the product via a portal, or on an Excel spreadsheet that can be imported into Payroll Relief. The spreadsheet format allows users to quickly process payroll for multiple employees or a single employee as needed, and the use of exception based payroll means that users only have to enter any variations from a typical check. The payroll dashboard allows users to easily monitor payroll information for each client, and the Firm Administration option allows users to manage all current clients from a single interface, which is fully customizable as needed.

Payroll Relief users can process an unlimited number of payrolls for an unlimited number of clients. The product supports calculations for all 50 states and localities, as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico. Flexible payroll settings allows users to easily adjust pay dates or even skip a pay period, and Payroll Relief also tracks paid time off, as well as retirement plan contributions. Once a payroll is approved for processing, all related tax forms and payments are processed automatically, with the ability to specify varying terms for tax payments if necessary.

Reporting & Monitoring: 5 Stars

Payroll Relief offers users a variety of management tools to easily monitor different payroll and related activities including liabilities and payments for any payroll period, federal tax liability, daily system activity, including both payrolls processed and payrolls in progress. There is also an audit trail that allows management to review all changes made to any payroll data.  

The product also offers a variety of comprehensive selection of payroll reports, and users can easily create report sets that will bundle all the necessary payroll reports and save them for future processing. These reports include payroll analysis reports, which allow firms to analyze payroll for a particular client or across the board. Management reports can also be processed, and a variety of employee reports are available that provide a summary of information for each client employee.

Firms can easily email all payroll reports directly to clients. Reports can also be viewed on screen, or easily exported to Microsoft Word and Excel, or saved as a PDF file. Electronic filing of federal and most state forms is available in Payroll Relief, and the product also offers electronic filing of other related forms such as W-2’s, W-3’s, 1099-MISC, and 1096 forms. Users can also archive any Payroll Relief reports to Cloud Cabinet, which offers auto-archiving of payroll reports.

Integration/Import/Export: 4.75 Stars

Payroll Relief offers complete system integration with all AccountantsWorld products, including practice management and document management functions.  Users can also import payroll data from time and attendance programs such as Swipeclock and Advantek. The product also integrates with a variety of third-party accounting applications, including QuickBooks, QuickBooks Online, Creative Solutions and Sage 50, as well as AccountantsWorld’s Accounting Power.

The product also offers easy import and export capability through Microsoft Office products such as Word and Excel for easy data sharing.

Help/Support: 5 Stars

AccountantsWorld offers a variety of help and support options to product users including access to free web-based seminars for all AccountantsWorld products. Upon purchasing of Payroll Relief, customers are provided with their own Professional Development Consultant that assists users with system transition. Telephone support is available during regular business hours, and users can also request support via the AccountantsWorld website at any time.

Client Self-Service Features: 5 Stars

Using Payroll Relief, firms have complete control over how much or how little access clients can be given to the system. An employee portal can be offered to clients who wish to enter their own payroll data. Clients also have the option to enter payroll information on an Excel spreadsheet, which can be imported into Payroll Relief. Firms can also opt to not offer client access at all, if their clients do not wish to enter any data.

For clients that are entering their own payroll data, a list of permissions can be provided to the client, who in turn, can provide them to their employees, so they can access pay stubs, W-2’s, and year-to date payroll activity. Permissions are fully customizable, so clients can be provided with limited access to reports or complete access to all payroll related functions.

Advanced Features: 4.75 Stars

Payroll Relief has partnered with a variety of third-party vendors to offer additional payroll related services such as Pay-As-You-Go Workers’ Compensation, Time and Attendance systems, 401 (k) Administration, and Payroll Debit Cards. Other advanced features include Net-To-Gross Calculations, Automatic Social Security Number Verification, and the ability to print checks in-house or at a client’s office.

Summary & Pricing

Payroll Relief is designed specifically for accountants, and offers convenient product access via the cloud. AccountantsWorld offers special pricing of $1,495 for the first year, which includes an unlimited number of payrolls, along with product support. After the first year, pricing starts as low as $.45 per check. For lower volume firms, a Per Payroll option is available, with a cost of $5.95 for 10 weekly paychecks.

2016 Overall Rating: 5 Stars