2017 Review of Thomson Reuters Accounting CS Payroll

Accounting CS Payroll is available as an on-premise application or as a hosted application. The payroll admin person at the client business can also use the system to enter and approve time, as well as update employee data. With the remote payroll feature, the firm can send payroll schedules, unprinted checks, payroll check stubs, and W-2 information to Thomson Reuters’ NetClient CS and Employee Self-Service portals.

Accounting CS Payroll offers a Payroll Home Dashboard that offers system users quick access to all payroll related tasks including payroll forms, tax due dates and tax payment information. The dashboard contains a navigation pane and users can easily access all clients using a single database. Multiple data entry options are available, including spreadsheet and a detailed tab entry option. After the fact payroll capability is available in Accounting CS, and the product offer tax tables for all 50 states and local jurisdictions.

Accounting CS Payroll offers users excellent reporting options, with various report filters available to customize reports. The product also contains a built-in report writer, so users can create from-scratch custom reports with ease. All system reports in Accounting CS Payroll can be exported to Excel, or saved as a PDF.

Federal tax forms such as 940, 941,943, and W-2’s are easily processed in Accounting CS Payroll, and the application offers easy electronic filing of federal forms. Local tax forms are also supported for a variety of states including AL, CA, CO, KY, MI, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, and WV. All tax payments are automatically generated by the indicated tax due date.

Accounting CS Payroll supports a variety of time clock applications including Kronos, SwipeClock, TimeRack, Points North, Restaurant Magic Software, and a host of others. Users can also opt to import time clock data from other applications that support ASCII or XML formats.

Accounting CS Payroll seamlessly integrates with other applications in the CS Professional Suite, but offer little in the way of integration with other third-party applications.

The NetClient CS Portal allows user to offer clients access to payroll and other related functions, including the ability to enter time data remotely, view paystubs and deliver payroll and tax reports directly to their clients. An employee self-service feature is also available that allows client employees to view W-2’s and paystubs, even from a mobile device. There is also an option to deliver payroll directly to client, who can then run paychecks in-house.

Accounting CS Payroll offers users a variety of HR and other Payroll related tools, and partners with HR Answer Link; which is a subscription service that provides product users with access to a variety of HR tools and forms. HR Answer Link also provides access to state labor laws, and also provides users with a series of HR related templates, so system users can create employee handbooks.

Accounting CS Payroll offers a good selection of help and support tools, with templates and wizards available to simplify payroll setup. There are also a variety of product videos, whitepapers, and product demos that can be accessed if necessary. And Thomson Reuters Help and How-To Center offers user complete access to a variety of tools, including access to product support options, the product knowledgebase, and all system updates as well as downloadable information.

Accounting CS Payroll is an excellent solution for accounting firms that currently use other CS Accounting applications. Best suited for firms handling a high number of payroll transactions monthly, Accounting CS pricing varies, depending on the number of clients and the number of modules purchased. Pricing is available directly from Thomson Reuters.

2017 rating – 5 Stars