Tax Software Survey: Lacerte

1040 + 1 state is $36 per return.

One-time, annual license fee of $395, which includes service and delivery, will be charged to customers opting to prepare returns on a REP (pay-per-return) basis only. Customers with any unlimited federal license can prepare alternate returns on an REP basis without paying the $395 license fee.

$4 per 1040 return

Yes, Lacerte provides free U.S.-based technical support via a wide range of convenient options: toll-free phone with extended hours during peak season, an online knowledgebase, e-mail, in-product help, and online chat.

Pacific Time:

Normal Hours – 6 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tax Season Hours – 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. (M-F), 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Sat), 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Sun.)

Please note that the technical support hours are for tax year 2008 and we are in process of determining our tax year 2009 hours, which will begin in November 2009.

Live Community and Online Support Knowledgebase

Yes, integrates with QuickBooks, Intuit’s Document Management System, Tax Planner, EasyACCT, and BNA Tax Planner, Forms Library, Tax Research, Tax Analyzer, Trial Balance Utility, Lacerte e-Organizer.

E-File – E-File enhancements, including additional business states (South Carolina business e-file 1120 and 1120S, New York business e-file 1065).

In-product Live Community – Allow customers to seek peer advice and get answers to their questions faster without leaving the product or disrupting their workflow.

Alerts – Effective communication within Lacerte that notifies customers in a timely manner of critical information that impacts their business.

Prior year amounts – Expansion of prior-year amounts to key data entry screen to increase productivity. Rental properties (Screen 18), business use of home (Screen 29), employee business and vehicle expenses (Screen 30). 

Increase limitation on number of preparers – Enhance the Lacerte product to better meet the needs of larger firms who need a high number of preparers in the tax program.

Bank Products – Expanded Republic Bank product functionality to allow the ability to complete the RAL Application in Lacerte.

Accept Credit Card as Payment – Use the new merchant services program powered by Intuit Merchant Services and allow your clients to pay for your services by credit card.

Expansion of K-1 Transfer to include four additional states (New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania) – Increase productivity related to entering state K-1 data generated from business returns (1065, 1120S, 1041) into 1040 returns for related partners/shareholders.