| |
ATX |
Drake Software |
GoSystem Tax RS |
Lacerte |
ProSeries |
ProSystem fx
Tax |
Tax Software for the
Professional |
TaxACT Preparers
Edition |
TaxSlayer Pro |
Taxware Tax Preparation |
TaxWise |
TaxWorks |
UltraTax CS |
| Product prices |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1040 |
ATXs 1040: $375
ATXs 1040 Office: $575MAX: $985
|
$995$1,395 |
Starts at $2,500 |
$2,140 |
Starts at $949 |
$2,975 |
$849 |
$99 |
$995 |
$1,250 |
A la carte: $695 ProFiling: $1,112
Power: $2,295
|
$1,095 |
$2,00 |
| 1040 renewal |
Early renewal discount
ended May 31 |
$995$1,395 |
Starts at $2,500 |
$1,819 |
A threeyear price
lock for early renewal ended June 30 |
Call for details |
$699 |
$79 |
$750 |
$1,250 |
A la carte: $556 ProFiling: $896
Power: $1,836
|
$995 |
$1,700 |
| State package |
ATXs 1040: 3 states
free ATX's
1040 Office: Free
MAX: Free
|
Free |
Included |
$235$340 |
$249$349 |
$315$755 |
$319$379/first two
states; after that, $50/state |
$12.95/state; $51.80/all |
Free |
Free |
A la carte: $295/15
states; $695/all states. ProFiling: Free
Power: Free
|
$345 |
$200$300 |
| State renewal |
Same |
Same |
Same |
$19$289 |
Same |
Call for details |
Same |
Same |
Same |
Same |
A la carte: 15
states; $556/all states. ProFiling: Free
Power: Free
|
$200 |
Same |
| Additional
fee for laser package |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Laser package unavailable |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Per-return pricing |
Separate product, PRS,
allows 10 efiles for $150 |
$10/return |
No |
1040 and one state: $22;
business, trust, estate and one state: $40; gift
tax, employee benefits and one state: $30 |
$15/1040; $11/ state |
$27 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
$100 fee ($300
nonrefundable deposit against $15/return) |
$15/return ($400 deposit) |
$16/1040; $9/ state |
| Additional
cost for electronic filing software |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
$100 |
$99$499 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Additional cost per electronic filed
return |
No |
No |
$5/1040; $2/state |
$2/1040; $2/state;
$950/unlimited |
$3/1040; $2/state;
$250/unlimited |
$3/return; $1,000/unlimited |
$1$5/return; free for
direct filers |
Starting at $7.95/1040;
$3.50/state. Free after 100th return.
$350/unlimited 1040; $150/unlimited state. |
No |
No |
A la carte:$4/1040,
$1/state ProFiling:
$1/1040, $.50/state
Power: Free
|
Varies on volume |
$2/1040; $1/state;
$1,000/unlimited |
| Conversion package available |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Some |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cost of conversion package |
Free |
Free |
$10/return |
Free |
Free |
Free |
|
|
Call for details |
Free |
Free |
Free |
Free |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ATX |
Drake Software |
GoSystem Tax RS |
Lacerte |
ProSeries |
ProSystem fx
Tax |
Tax Software for the
Professional |
TaxACT Preparers
Edition |
TaxSlayer Pro |
Taxware Tax Preparation |
TaxWise |
TaxWorks |
UltraTax CS |
| Filing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Do you provide direct filing (DF),
service bureau (SB) or both? |
Both |
Both |
DF |
SB |
DF |
Both |
Yes |
SB |
Both |
Both |
Both |
SB |
Both |
| Can you electronically file state
returns? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Do you allow for electronic signature? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Market |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Number of individual users of 2004
package |
50,000+ |
No charge for multiuser
capability |
75,000 |
No charge for multiuser
capability |
No charge for multiuser
capability |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
7,200 |
Variable |
75,000 |
N/A |
81,000 |
| Number of firms using product |
N/A
|
18,530
|
N/A
|
40,293
|
55,593
|
20,000+
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
3,500
|
Variable
|
25,000
|
About
4,000
|
19,000
|
| Percentage of renewals from 2003
package |
About 90% |
96% |
99.5% |
93.62% |
85.955 |
96% |
N/A |
N/A |
98% |
96% |
96% |
93% |
95%+ |
| Number of years in business |
13 |
28 |
40 |
27 |
22 |
40+ |
21 |
8 |
41 |
25 |
20 |
33 |
26 |
| Support |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Toll-free number for support |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Days and hours (Eastern time)
support available during tax season |
M-F 8midnight;
Sat. 95 |
M-F 8-10;
Sat. 8-6 |
M-F 9-8;
Sat. 10-6;
Sun. 11-5 |
M-F 6-6;
Sat. 7-2;
Sun. 9-2;
24 hours last week of tax season |
M-F 7:309;
Sat. 10-5;
Sun. 12-5;
24 hours last week of tax season |
M-F 8:30-9:30;
Sat. 9-8
Sun. in April 10-6;
24 hours last week of tax season |
M-F 8-6;
Sat. 9-1 |
M-F 9-10;
Sat. 9-6 |
M-F 8-11;
Sat. 8-9;
Sun. 1-6 |
M-F 9-9;
Sat. 11-3 |
M-F 8:30-midnight;
Sat. 8-5;
Sun. 1-5 |
M-F 7-8;
Sat. 7-4 |
M-F 9-10;
Sat. 9-6;
selected Sun. |
| Days/hours support available during
off-season |
M-F 8-10;
Sat. 9-5 |
M-F 8-9;
Sat. 9-5 |
M-F 9-8 |
M-F 16-5 |
M-F 9-8 |
M-F 9-8; selected Sat.
96 |
M-F 9-5 |
M-F 9-6 |
M-F 8:304:30 |
M-F 11-8 |
M-F 8:305:30 |
M-F 8-5 |
M-F 9-8 |
| Number of tax-season support staff |
200+ |
200+ |
24 (for 1040 only) |
500 |
500+ |
450+ |
Varies |
75 |
35 |
Varies |
300 |
50 |
100+ |
| Online
support |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ATX |
Drake Software |
GoSystem Tax RS |
Lacerte |
ProSeries |
ProSystem fx
Tax |
Tax Software for the
Professional |
TaxACT Preparers
Edition |
TaxSlayer Pro |
Taxware Tax Preparation |
TaxWise |
TaxWorks |
UltraTax CS |
| Technology |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| What operating system(s) does
product run on? |
Windows 98 and above |
Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP,
NT (4.0 or higher) |
Windows XP |
Windows 98, 2000, ME, NT,
XP |
Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP
Pro or Home, NT |
Windows 98, 2000, ME, NT
Workstation ver. 4.0, XP Pro, MDAC ver. 2.6 |
Windows 3.1, 95, 98, ME,
2000, XP, 2003 Server, DOS 3.1 or higher |
Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000,
XP |
Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, NT,
XP |
Windows 98, 2000, XP |
Windows 2000 or later |
Windows 2000, XP |
Windows 98SE, 2000
Professional SP2, XP Pro, 2003 Server |
| Recommended operating system |
Windows 98 and above |
Windows XP |
Windows XP |
Same |
Windows 2000, XP
Professional or Home |
Windows XP |
Windows XP |
Any of the above |
Windows XP Pro |
Windows XP, 2000 |
Windows 2000 or later |
Windows XP |
Windows XP, 2003 Server |
| Program size in Mb |
350 Mb |
87 Mb without states; 233
Mb with states |
226 Mb with 1040 only |
38 Mb for 1040 and
operation files; 12 Mb for 1040; and 26 Mb for
global program |
650 Mb |
100 Mb |
5 Mb |
30 Mb |
150 Mb |
65 Mb |
8.13 Mb |
80 Mb |
30 Mb |
| Minimum RAM recommended |
128 Mb |
64 Mb for Windows 95, 98,
2000, or NT; 128 Mb for ME or XP |
256 Mb |
256 Mb for all but XP,
which uses 512 Mb |
128 Mb |
256 Mb |
640 K |
16 Mb |
128 Mb |
256 Mb |
128 Mb |
128 Mb minimum, 256 Mb
recommended |
128 Mb minimum, 256 Mb
recommended |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ATX |
Drake Software |
GoSystem Tax RS |
Lacerte |
ProSeries |
ProSystem fx
Tax |
Tax Software for the
Professional |
TaxACT Preparers
Edition |
TaxSlayer Pro |
Taxware Tax Preparation |
TaxWise |
TaxWorks |
UltraTax CS |
| Display and data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| IRS data displayed on-screen |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No; link to IRS sites
provided |
| Vendor data displayed on-screen |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Both vendor and IRS |
Yes |
| Batch processing |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Heads-down data entry |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Program management
tools |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Reports |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Organizers |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Labels |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Client letters |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Scheduling
program |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Other packages
available |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Online tax-preparation option |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| State packages |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Multistate package |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ATX |
Drake Software |
GoSystem Tax RS |
Lacerte |
ProSeries |
ProSystem fx
Tax |
Tax Software for the
Professional |
TaxACT Preparers
Edition |
TaxSlayer Pro |
Taxware Tax Preparation |
TaxWise |
TaxWorks |
UltraTax CS |
| Does your product
include the following? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1120 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Included in price of 1040 |
ATXs 1040: No
ATXs 1040 Office: No
MAX: Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
No |
No |
Yes, with Executive and
Power |
No |
No |
| 1120S |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Included in price of 1040 |
ATXs 1040: No
ATXs 1040 Office: No
MAX: Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes, with Executive and
Power |
No |
No, included in price of
1120 |
| 1065 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Included in price of 1040 |
ATXs 1040: No
ATXs 1040 Office: No
MAX: Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes, with Executive and
Power |
No |
No |
| 1041 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Included in price of 1040 |
ATXs 1040: No
ATXs 1040 Office: No
MAX: Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Yes |
No |
Yes, with Executive and
Power |
No |
No |
| 990 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Included in price of 1040 |
ATXs 1040: No
ATXs 1040 Office: No
MAX: Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Yes |
No |
Yes, with Executive and
Power |
No |
No |
| 706 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Included in price of 1040 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
|
No |
Yes, with Executive and
Power |
No |
No |
| 709 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Included in price of 1040 |
ATXs 1040: No
ATXs 1040 Office: No
MAX: Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
No |
Yes, with Executive and
Power |
No |
No |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ATX |
Drake Software |
GoSystem Tax RS |
Lacerte |
ProSeries |
ProSystem fx
Tax |
Tax Software for the
Professional |
TaxACT Preparers
Edition |
TaxSlayer Pro |
Taxware Tax Preparation |
TaxWise |
TaxWorks |
UltraTax CS |
| State support |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
All states supported |
All states supported |
All states supported |
All states supported |
All states supported |
All states supported |
States not supported: Ala.,
Ariz., Calif., Colo., Del., District of Columbia,
Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Md., Mont., N.H., N.D.,
R.I., Utah, Vt., Wis. |
<