| | Drake Software | GoSystem Tax RS | Lacerte | Max Plus | ProSeries | ProSystem fx Tax | TaxWise | TaxWorks | UltraTax |
| Product prices | | | | | | | | | |
| 1040 | $995–$1,495 | Starting at $2,500 | $2,140 | $985 plus shipping and updating | $949 (add $399 for network license) | $2,850 | $995 | $1,095 | $1,975 |
| 1040 renewal | $995–$1,495 | Starting at $2,500 | $1,819 | 10% early renewal discount | Same | Call for details | $995 | $995 | $1,675 |
| State package | Included | Included | $235–$340 | Included | $249–$349 | $295–$725 | $295 for 1–5 states; $695 for all states | $345 | $200–$300 |
| State renewal | Included | Included | $199.75–$289 | Included | Same | Call for details | $295 for 1–5 states; $695 for all states | $200 | $200–$300 |
| Additional fee for laser package | No | No | N/A | No | N/A | No | No | No | No |
| Pay-per-return pricing | $495–$545 for the first 50 returns | No | $22/return federal and one state | Unlimited returns included | $15/return federal; $11/return state | $26/return federal;
$21/return state | $400 for up to 30 returns | $15/return ($400 deposit) | $16/return federal; $9/return state |
| Additional cost for electronic filing software | No | $5/federal; $2/state | No | No | Unlimited federal: $750; unlimited state: $400 | Federal: $100;
$50/state or $100
for all states | No | No | No |
| Additional cost for electronic filed returns | No | No | Unlimited federal: $1,350 or $2/return federal and $2/return state | No | $3/return federal; $2/return state | Unlimited federal:
$1,000; state:
$250/state or
$500 for all states;
or federal: $100 plus $3/return transmission charge; state: $50 per state plus $1/return or $100 for all states plus $1/return. | Unlimited federal: $750; $1–$5/return federal (depending on volume); $0.50–$1/return state | $1–$5/return federal (varies with volume); $1–$2.50/return state | Unlimited federal: $1,000; $2/return federal; $1/return state |
| Conversion package available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Drake Software, Lacerte, ProSystem fx , Tax Relief, Saber, TaxWise, UltraTax) | Yes | 37.1% | 20.0% | 48.1% |
| Additional cost for conversion package | No | $2/return | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Filing | | | | | | | | | |
| Direct filing (DF), service bureau (SB) or both | Both | DF | SB | SB | DF | Both | Both | DF | SB |
| Files state returns electronically | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Allows for electronic signature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Drake Software | GoSystem Tax RS | Lacerte | Max Plus | ProSeries | ProSystem fx Tax | TaxWise | TaxWorks | UltraTax |
| Market | | | | | | | | | |
| Number of users, 2003 package | 16,658 | 75,000 | About 40,000 | 2,036 | 50,000+ | 20,000+ | 21,131 | 4,900 | 17,000 |
| Percentage of renewals from 2002 package | 95.35% | 95% | About 95% | 65% | N/A | 96% | 90% | About 91% | 95%+ |
| Number of years in business | 26 | 39 | 25 | 12 | 13 | 40+ | 18 | 33 | 25 |
| Support | | | | | | | | | |
| Toll-free number for support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Days and hours (Eastern time) support available during tax season | M-F 8-10;
Sat. 8-6 | M-F 9-8;
Sat. 10-6;
Sun. 11-5 | M-F 10-10;
Sat. 11-6;
Sun. 1-6;
24-hour support during week ending on April 15 | M-F 8-10;
Sat. 9-5.
Super support: M-F 8-midnight; Sat. 9-5 | Jan.6-April 15:
Mon.-Thurs. 9-9;
Fri. 9-8; Sat. 10-5;
Sun. based on seasonal demand | M-F 8:30-9:30;
Sat. 9-8
Sun. in April 10-6;
24-hour support
April 12-15 | M-F 8:30-midnight;
Sat. 8:45-5;
Sun. to be announced | M-F 9-10;
Sat. 9-6 | M-F 9-10;
Sat. 9-6;
Sunday before filing deadline 10-6 |
| Days/hours support available during off-season | M-F 8-9;
Sat. 9-5 | M-F 9-8 | M-F 10-9 | M-F 8-8;
Sat. 9-5 | Mon.-Thurs. 9-8;
Fri. 9-6 | M-F 9-8 | M-F 8-4 | M-F 10-7 | M-F 9-8 |
| Number of tax-season support staff | 209 | 24 (for 1040 only) | Not disclosed | 200+ | Not disclosed | 450+ | 200+ | Varies during time of day or season (average 50) | 100+ |
| Online support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes,via e-mail | Yes |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Drake Software | GoSystem Tax RS | Lacerte | Max Plus | ProSeries | ProSystem fx Tax | TaxWise | TaxWorks | UltraTax |
| Technology | | | | | | | | | |
| Operating systems available | Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP, NT | Windows 2000, XP | Windows 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, XP | Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, NT | Windows 98, XP, NT, ME, 2000 | Windows 98, NT
Workstation version 4.0, Millennium, 2000;
XP Professional,
MDAC version 2.6 | Windows 2000, XP | Windows | Windows 98 SE, 2000, XP, Terminal Server, Citrix MetaFrame |
| Recommended operating system | Windows XP, but all of the above are fine | Windows 2000, XP | Any of the above | Any of the above | Windows XP, 2000 | XP | Windows 2000, XP | XP | XP |
| Program size in Mb | 57 Mb | 273 Mb (1040 only) | 26 Mb | 800 Mb | 2 Gb | 100 Mb (includes
laser forms) | 160 Mb | 80–100 Mb | 25 Mb |
| Minimum RAM recommended | 64 Mb for Windows 98, 2000, NT and 128 Mb for Windows ME, XP | 128 Mb | 128 Mb | 64 Mb | 512 Mb | 256 Mb | 128 Mb | 128 Mb | 64 Mb |
| Display and data | | | | | | | | | |
| IRS data displayed on screen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vendor data displayed on screen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Batch processing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Heads-down data entry | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Program management tools | | | | | | | | | |
| Reports | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Organizers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Labels | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Client letters | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduling program | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Other packages available | | | | | | | | | |
| Online tax-preparation option | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes, via www.taxengine.com | Yes |
| State packages | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multistate package | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Drake Software | GoSystem Tax RS | Lacerte | Max Plus | ProSeries | ProSystem fx Tax | TaxWise | TaxWorks | UltraTax |
| Does your product include the following? | | | | | | | | | |
| 1120 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Included in price of 1040 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 1120S | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Included in price of 1040 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 1065 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Included in price of 1040 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 1041 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Included in price of 1040 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 990 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Included in price of 1040 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 706 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Included in price of 1040 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 709 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Included in price of 1040 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
