Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/99887
2013 READERS' CHOICE The AWARDS Technology has changed rather dramatically since we started the Readers Choice Awards seven years ago, and certainly since this publication was initially started in 1991. Perhaps not as dramatic as the invention of the printing press, but when it comes to workfow processes and always-available access to personal and client data, there has been a signifcant transition. In 2006, the first year of the Awards, there was no iPhone. iPad or tablet? Not a chance. Te word smart phone wasn't in our vocabulary. Most sofware was designed to be installed on a frm's fle server or desktop computers. For tax and accounting professionals, paperless Votes are In! was the "next big thing." Fast forward, and it seems like everybody has a smartphone or tablet or both, in addition to their laptop or ultrabook. Almost every sofware program is being designed in a version for the web, or only for the web. Online collaboration is the norm. Paperless is now only a component of the broader picture of frm workfow and automation. Tose are but a few of the changes that have affected the profession, and they've all been chronicled in our yearly survey, where we give readers the chance to tell everybody else which technologies, services and companies they love and trust. Whether programs that help them provide service to clients, or tools for running back ofce functions in their frm. Technology and vendors succeed in these awards by helping frms and small businesses in real-work situations, helping professionals be more productive, efcient and proftable. With 2013 about to get underway, and the 2012 tax season a few weeks afer that, now's a good time to do a more measured assessment of your own practice and technologies by taking the free Productivity Survey (www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/ productivity). It helps measure a frm's workfow practices and use of technology, provides benchmarks to see how you do against your peers based on frm size and location, and also ofers suggestions for improvement. Tank you to the more than 2,000 tax and accounting professionals who voted in this year's Awards. And thank you to the readers of CPA Practice Advisor and NSA Practice Advisor. Here's wishing you a wonder f u l hol id ay sea son a nd a n increasingly productive and proftable new year. You can see more charts and results at www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/ 10835345 IN-FIRM TECHNOLOGIES FEDERAL/STATE INCOME TAX COMPLIANCE Drake - 20% Thomson UltraTax CS - 17.5% Intuit ProSeries - 16% CCH ProSystem fx - 15.5% Intuit Lacerte - 10.5% CCH SFS ATX - 5% Red Gear TaxWorks - 4% CCH SFS TaxWise - 3.5% Others - 8% Tax & Accounting Research Systems ◆ Tax Materials Inc – TheTaxBook ◆ Thomson Reuters Checkpoint & QuickFinder ◆ CCH IntelliConnect, TRN & ARM SALES & USE TAX Vertex Indirect Tax - ● Avalara AvaTax - ● Individual State Agency Websites - ● Avalara TrustFile - ● eFileSalesTax - ● CFS Tax Software - ● Others Combined - ● ◆ SurePrep 1040SCAN ◆ New River Innovation Beyond415 ◆ Bloomberg BNA 709 and 706 Preparer Tax Planning Systems ◆ Drake Tax Planner ◆ Thomson Reuters Planner CS ◆ Intuit Lacerte Tax Planner ◆ Thomson Reuters Trial Balance CS ◆ CCH ProSystem fx Trial Balance ◆ CCH Small Firm Services ATX & TaxWise ENGAGEMENT MANAGEMENT Thomson Reuters Engagement CS - 49% CCH ProSystem fx Engagement - 29% CaseWare Working Papers - 12% Others - 10% Estate Planning Systems Specialty Systems & Tax Prep Tools Trial Balance ◆ Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE ◆ Bloomberg BNA Estate Planner & Gift Tax Planner ◆ CCH ViewPlan Advanced 1099/W-2 COMPLIANCE AMS 1099-Etc - 55% Avalara AvaTax 1099 - 17% CFS Tax Software - 11% CCH SFS ATX & TaxWise Payroll Compliance - 4% Greatland Complete W-2 & 1099 Reporting - 3.5% 1099 Express & W-2 Express - 3.5% AccountantsWorld - 3% Others Combined - 3% Sales & Use Tax Exemption Certificate Management ◆ Avalara – AvaTax Certs ◆ Thomson Reuters – ONESource Exemption Certificate Mgmt. ◆ Vertex Inc. – Exemption Certificate Manager Write-Up ◆ Intuit QuickBooks Accountant ◆ Thomson Reuters Accounting CS ◆ PCSAI Client Write-Up Audit/Engagement Tools ◆ Thomson Reuters PPC SMART Audit Suite ◆ Capital Confirmation Confirmation. com ◆ CCH Knowledge-Based Audit tools/ Knowledge Coach CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 14 January 2013 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com