CPA Practice Advisor

DEC 2012

Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.

Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/94658

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 7 of 39

Reviews For Your Firm TAX RESEARCH REVIEW SECTIONS BASIC SYSTEM FUNCTIONS t (FOFSBM OBWJHBUJPO FBTF PG VTF t $POUFOU EFMJWFSZ PQUJPOT QBQFS $% %7% POMJOF "MM t 0SHBOJ[BUJPO TPSUFE CZ SFMFWBODF JNQPSUBODF t .VMUJQMF VTFS NBOBHFNFOU t .VMUJQMF CSPXTFS TVQQPSU t 7BSJPVT TVCTDSJQUJPO PQUJPOT t 4FBSDI SPVUJOFT t *OUFHSBUJPO X 5 # BQQMJDBUJPOT GPS CJMMJOH %.4 PVUQVU FUD CONTENT t -JDFOTJOH PQUJPOT OBNFE VTFST DPODVSSFOU VTFST TJUF MJDFOTF FUD t .VMUJQMF QSPWJEFST t 1VCMJDMZ BWBJMBCMF t #SFBEUI PG DPOUFOU 'FE 4UBUF " " PUIFS DPNQMJBODF PGGFSJOHT t /FXTMFUUFST t 8J[BSET GPS DFSUBJO TQFDJBMJ[FE SFTFBSDI UZQFT t 5FNQMBUJOH CUSTOMIZATION t 6TFS QSFGFSFODFT t "MFSUT t 4BWFE TFBSDIFT EPDVNFOUT INTEGRATION & IMPORT/EXPORT t *OUFHSBUJPO XJUI 8PSE %PDVNFOU DMJFOU MFUUFS JOUFHSBUJPO t *OUFHSBUJPO XJUI %.4 1PSUBM #SPXTFS UPPMCBS t 4BWJOH GPSNBUT QSJOUJOH UP NVMUJQMF mMF t "DUJWJUZ VTBHF SFQPSUJOH GPS NBOBHFNFOU t 4VQQPSU GPS DBQUVSJOH JOGP GPS CJMMJOH CBDL DIBSHFT UP DMJFOUT HELP/SUPPORT/TRAINING t #VJMU JO TVQQPSU GFBUVSFT t 4ZTUFN DPOUFOU VQEBUF GSFRVFODZ t 4VQQPSU XFCTJUF EPDVNFOUBUJPO t -JWF TVQQPSU XIFSF JT TVQQPSU MPDBUFE IPVST t -JWF DIBU X PUIFS VTFST t .VMUJQMF USBJOJOH PQUJPOT Ever-Changing Tax Laws Require Professional Research Solutions A s changes are made to tax laws and technology, the way business owners interact with their cus- tomers and tax and accounting professionals change. Many tax profes- sionals find themselves moving from the role of tax return preparer to year-round consultant. Teir clients have tax questions both during the busy season and "off season" and professionals need to be able to deliver the answers their clients need when they need them. Many tax profes- sionals turn to tax research soſtware to help them deliver the correct answers in a timely fashion. With tax research soſtware, profes- sionals can get the answers they need by searching the soſtware for informa- tion on court cases, tax laws and regula- tions and practice areas. Tere are sev- eral options available for tax research solutions. Some vendors offer direct integration into their existing tax preparation solutions, making it easy for professionals to attach research documents to client tax returns. How- ever, many of the solutions that exist today are web-based and accessible from anywhere with an active internet connection. To aid in providing anywhere, any- time access to their solutions, many vendors have created mobile versions of their websites and/or mobile apps, allowing professionals to gain access from their phones and tablets. Most of the mobile sites contain access to the same information as the full site, including search history and saved folders. However, the website has been formated for a cleaner look and feel on the smaller device. Some mobile sites even offer the option to view the full site on the mobile device. While the mobile apps 8 December 2012 t www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com may have a different user interface or limited capabilities compared to the full version of the solutions, they are designed to complement the soſtware and provide access when professionals are away from the office or a computer. As businesses continue to focus on mobility, the mobile apps are expected to gain even more functionality over time. Te tax research solutions give users access to analyses and explanations provided by experts and educators in the profession, as well as the vendor's editors. Other content that may be available includes access to the Internal Revenue Code and Regulations, fed- STAR RATING EXPLANATION Each technology reviewed by CPA Practice Advisor is rated on core areas and also by subcategories unique to that type of system. For the products reviewed here, those areas are listed on the left side of this page. In addition to the overall ratings on the following review pages, you can view the detailed scores that each product received by viewing the reviews online at www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/10824731. eral, state and international cases and tax laws. Users generally have several methods available to them for searching content. Te most common two methods are keyword search and a browse tree. Te keyword search works similar to most search engines – users type in a word and search results are generated. Most times, the keyword search comes with an "AutoComplete" feature that "guesses" the word or phrase users are looking up. Tis is useful for new staff who may not be as familiar with the terminology or a specific area of prac- tice. Te browse tree works similar to an index, with topics grouped under cer- tain categories and practice areas. Users click on a topic to expand it and display its subtopics. Users continue until they Te choice of which tax research solution is best for a practice depends on the needs of that practice and its clients, as well as what tax preparation soſtware they already use. Some professionals may find that it makes sense to go with a solution that is directly integrated within the soſtware their practice currently uses, while that integration may not be as important for others. Regardless, as the tax research programs in this review demonstrate, there is a solution available for everyone. ● Taija Jenkins, Associate Editor find the topic they were looking for. Tis method is generally used by senior staff or professionals who know exactly where to look for certain practice areas and topics.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of CPA Practice Advisor - DEC 2012