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The leading 1040 products keep on improving. Consider what features your firm isn't, but should be, utilizing more.
Every year at about this time, the Accountants Media Group polls the leading 1040 software providers on what's new with regard to their products. This year we asked them an additional question: "What three features are underutilized by practitioners who use your products?" Their answers might help you get more for your money.
Saber 1040
For the upcoming tax season, Saber 1040 from ATX has a number of new features. There will be integrated e-filing as well as integrated Help with lineby-line instructions. The Return Manager will also include practice management for receivables.
The three features of Saber 1040 that are the most underutilized by practitioners are the Jump To/Cross Reference features, its Web site, and the ability to customize the Return Manager, according to William J. Tasker, ATX senior support executive.
The Jump To/Cross Reference feature allows a practitioner to click on any white field and jump to the form or worksheet that is the source of the information. As to ATX's Web site, it has the same knowledge base that ATX support people use, a Hot Topics link to the latest breaking support items, and ATX Community where fellow practitioners can be consulted.
Tasker shows how Return Manager can be customized. "For example, the practitioner can add a column to mark each return as paid or not paid. They can create another column to make notes (needs K-1s from S corp.). The practitioner can move the columns around so that they see the information by their priority preference," he explains.
ProSystem fx
The latest ProSytem fx Tax from CCH will have integration with the ePace audit engagement software and the ability to import Excel files to corporation and partnership multistate apportionment interview forms. Also, it will be available in a hosted application service environment.
Bob Dias, senior product manager for CCH, would like to see increase usage of ProSytem fx Tax's Internet Tax Notebook. A Toolkit allows the practitioner to customize a client's Tax Notebooks accessible from the firm's Web site. As they are filled, completed sections are clearly marked. An online status system allows the firm to track the progress and indicates...