2017 Review of AMS Payroll

AMS Payroll is an on-premise payroll solution that is designed to work with other AMS Software applications and cannot be used as a stand-alone product.  The product currently does not offer a cloud version of the product, nor mobile accessibility.

The main user interface of AMS Payroll is easily navigated, with users able to access product features such as Module, Payer, Deposits, View, Input, and Reports available. Professional accountants using the product can easily access all clients from this screen as well.

AMS Payroll supports after-the-fact payroll, live payroll, as well as non-employee compensation.  The product offers tax tables for all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The product offers basic reporting capability, with standard payroll reports such as Payer/Tax Summary and Employee Detail reports available.  AMS Payroll report customization capability is limited to various multiple selection criteria, field inclusion/exclusion and subtotal by category/date. Reports can be exported to a text file or to Excel via a tab-delimited file. 

Federal tax form processing and filing is supported, including 940, 941, 943, 944 and many others. These same forms can also be filed electronically, and AMS can also electronically file quarterly state tax returns for 29 states, which potential users can review on the AMS website prior to purchasing.

AMS Payroll does not offer direct integration with any timekeeping applications, but product users can import data using tab-delimited text files.

AMS Payroll is an add-on module for W-2/1099 Forms Filer, which is required in order to use the payroll application.  The product also integrates with other AMS products including 1042-S Filer, ACA Filer, E-File Direct, and Software Generated Forms.  Integration with third party applications are limited to importing and exporting data to or from QuickBooks, Sage 50, and Excel. 

AMS Payroll offers 40 user-defined fields that allow product users to easily track additional employee and HR details, but the product does not currently offer any HR tools.

Solid help functionality is available throughout AMS Payroll, and the product also offers a series of product tutorials, which can be accessed from the AMS website.  Software manuals are also available and can be printed if desired.  Product updates can be downloaded directly from the AMS website, and FAQ’s are available as well.

AMS Payroll is an add-on module that is designed to work with W-2/1099 Forms Filer, as well as other AMS applications.  Well-suited for smaller businesses as well as accounting firms that handle small business payroll, AMS Payroll is $129.  W2/1099 Forms Filer is $79 and is required in order to run the payroll module.  All other AMS modules are available are priced separately, with pricing varying.

2017 Rating – 4.25 Stars