Specialty
Tax Compliance & 1040 Enhancer Products
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
The software reviewed here spans a wide range of support for forms, features and specialty niches. Although specializing in different areas, the programs that prepare year-end returns all provide reliable essential basic calculations, but there are notable differences in the way the programs share data between modules, which may mean reducing the need for redundant data entry. As well, the use of a third-party tax review program helps provide added assurance that treatments are applied properly, that no tax-reducing options were missed, and that the return is not likely to raise IRS audit flags.
Estate Planning
By Mark Weinstein, CPA
All of the Estate Tax Planning programs reviewed here certainly get the job done. Some work better with specific word processors, some offer slide shows, some offer wizards, and some offer stand-alone calculation utilities, etc. All have a different user interface. Some software programs are designed for the more experienced practitioner, while other programs may lend themselves to a practitioner learning experience, at least in part. So what does this mean to you? It means that variety is very much alive among available Estate Tax Planning programs. That variety insures that there will be a program-of-choice for every planner.
Small Business Accounting
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
The market for small business accounting software is almost
as diverse as the businesses that use the programs, with applications
designed for and customizable to virtually any type of small business.
All of the programs reviewed in this section provide the basic
tools that will help a small business properly manage their books.
The programs have matured well over the past several years, with
most of them now offering integrated modules for payroll, inventory
and other functions that used to be considered add-ons. As this
market has continued to boom, the core vendors continue to develop
more and more useful features as well as additional versions of
their products to more accurately address the needs of even micro
businesses.
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