"Bob K" <rknews[at]usernomics.com> wrote:
- quote -

you can check the website but last year Taxact did not
import prior year's data from turbotax

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"Catherine White" <cgwhite12[at]rcn.com> wrote:

- quote -

Is TaxAct compatable with last years TurboTax data and with
Quicken data?

Thanks,

Bob

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Thanks so much to all of you! I appreciate all the
information. I think for this year I'll try Tax Act, and
I'll also check out the discussion group as well.

Catherine

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Rufus Leaking <djmangin[at]aol.comrufus> wrote:

- quote -

Are you talking about those paper punch tapes that were
prepared on a little machine that looked like a court
stenographer's setup? Yeah, I remember those. One of the
first computerized payroll services in my area used 'em.

MTW

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"John H. Fisher" <taxservice[at]aol.compliance> wrote:
- quote -

I think that's where the confusion reigns. I have
TaxAct2003, the cheapie version, and it does not have 1065
and 1120S. However for $19.95 it will do my business return
as well as family members and many seniors returns. I think
it is a bargain all around.

dannie

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"Michael T Wing CPA" <mtwingcpa[at]yahoo.com> writes:
- quote -

believe it goes for $99 each or $169 for the complete
package.

"Jack" - John H. Fisher - TaxService[at]aol.com
Philadelphia, Pa - Atlantic City, NJ - West Wildwood, NJ
My Newsgroups & Boards at: http://members.aol.com/TaxService/index.html

Where Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise!=

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Catherine White <cgwhite12[at]rcn.com> wrote:

- quote -

I use TaxACT for 1040s (approx. 50) and ATX/Saber
pay-per-return for business entities (approx. 10). I don't
like ATX for 1040s (linkages are too sloppy for my tastes)
but it works OK for business returns. I don't use TaxACT for
business returns because they don't (yet?) support 1120 and
1041.

There is a TaxACT discussion group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TaxACTors/. It has been pretty
quiet up 'til now, but will probably become real chatty,
real soon. <g
MTW

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- quote -

Do any of you remember using Burroughs Machines and tape
driven tax software?

I hate to say it, but I'd almost rather have them back, they
worked so much better than almost anything I've done with a
PC...

Then again, we may not have room in our office for that huge
desk-based (not desk top, LOL) machine, but damn those
oldies worked great!!!

Dave

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"S. Horton" <not-her[at]hotmail.com> writes:
- quote -

TaxAct now accomodates partnership and s-corporation
returns. Evaluation copies are free and the 2003 programs
are now available on line. I've never used those programs
but the regular professional program is so inexpensive, I
order it early and buy the program for $79 (pre season),
along with my more expensive programs. Clients can do their
returns for free (I even encourage some of my clients to use
it) and a small practitioner can't beat the price. Altough
I'm at the point where I no longer seek new clients ('n' I
turn none away), as I see it, when I refer certain clients
to the free service, it frees up my valuable time for more
profitable projects!!!= Heck, they can't get it any
cheaper at Walmart!!!!= Which leads me to wonder if/when
these on line services will be having the returns completed
in India, et al.=

"Jack" - John H. Fisher - TaxService[at]aol.com
Philadelphia, Pa - Atlantic City, NJ - West Wildwood, NJ
My Newsgroups & Boards at: http://members.aol.com/TaxService/index.html

Where Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise!=

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Catherine White <cgwhite12[at]rcn.com> wrote:

- quote -

Catherine

I use Tax Act on the older computer I have in the office. It
is not a bad program for $99. The program has a wide range
of forms and schedules. Simple to learn and use.

Robert A Moore, EA

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"Catherine White" <cgwhite12[at]rcn.com> wrote:

- quote -

Despite the AICPA ratings I think Taxact has the best
package.for a small number of individual tax returns. If
you prepare any corps or partnerships then consider the
Saber /ATX "max" package.

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"Catherine White" <cgwhite12[at]rcn.com> wrote:

- quote -

I had looked at the MAX prog earlier this year (its the
higher end version of Saber). Compared to what I had been
using (Ultra Tax), MAX was certainly much more cost
effective. I found quite a number of things that needed to
be set up manually, or that I had to do more data entry in
duplicate places. Depends on what you're willing to live
with or without.

I did have a more serious issue with the way the program
handled certain types of income in a NJ1040. So, I decided
to stick with Ultra Tax again. Its much more expensive and
probably a bit less user friendly - but its also much more
thorough.

Can't comment on Tax Act. Not familiar with that one.

--
<<< Benjamin Yazersky CPA [NJ & NY] > >
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- quote -

We've had Saber here (ATX MAX actually) since 1996 and will
most likely continue using it into the future. We love it.

- quote -

Max is very easy to use. Self installing and self installing
updates or downloadable updates...

- quote -

Good is WYSIWYG display, fill in worksheets or override
input on forms,all states returns of most types (indiv.
Corp. etc)

Bad points were, until last year tech support, last season's
TS was outstanding

- quote -

I don't know what the basic Saber runs, but ATX MAX was
under $800 for us last year including unlimited e-file.

But then we do about 1500 returns with 4 preparers so the
cost isn't an issue...

check their website or 800 # (sorry I don;t have it handy
and we use a reseller anyway vs. ATX direct) they may send
you last years software to demo for free.

Dave

"Hid in the reeds are eyes that peek,
voices I don't understand.
Flamingos fly endlessly,
To the silent sky"

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- quote -

I actually use both. For a few dozen returns I'd use TaxAct.
It's cheaper and will do everything you want for "normal"
returns. TaxAct uses a database engine; ATX uses a
spreadsheet engine. TaxAct has all the normal calculations
and linkages; ATX is potentially better for very complicated
returns because it allows you to actually change the
calculations or modify the linkages. TaxAct will run on
almost any PC; ATX requires much more in the way of computer
resources (RAM, disk space, CPU power). For higher volume
use, ATX has a real price advantage with $100 unlimited
e-file.

--
Don EA in Upstate NY

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I'm looking at a new tax software vendor for next year.
I've heard recommendations for both Tax Act and for Saber.
I've been to the websites, read the info, and seen the
ratings at the AICPA site.

Now the real question: if you've used either (or both!) of
these in the past, what do you think of them? How are they
to use? What are the good and bad points?

I have a small tax practice and only do a few dozen personal
returns a year. So, I need something decent, but sure don't
want to spend close to a thousand dollars for one of the
fancier programs.

Any comments, advice, or even good questions to ask would be
helpful.

Thanks to all!

Catherine

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