In this year’s survey by the JofA and The Tax Adviser, more than 6,070 CPAs assessed the software they used to prepare 2011 tax returns, revealing what they liked and disliked about their software. The survey was conducted in May 2012. Overall, respondents were pleased with their software: On average, the products rated 4.3 out of 5. Ease of use, comprehensiveness, and accuracy were the most-liked features.
This year’s survey saw a decline in the market share for the three products named by a majority of respondents as the software they predominantly used to prepare returns. ProSystem fx Tax (CCH) (26%), Lacerte (Intuit) (19%), and UltraTax CS (Thomson Reuters) (18%) together still accounted for nearly 63% of responses. However, last year, these three products were used by 75% of respondents (see last year’s survey here).
Below are results showing how many respondents used each product. Then the detailed responses for each product are presented. Full survey results are available in the August 2012 issue of The Tax Adviser and the September 2012 issue of the Journal of Accountancy.
What tax preparation software did you predominantly use to prepare 2011 tax returns for clients?
| Product | Share |
| ATX | 6% |
| Drake | 6% |
| GoSystem Tax RS | 4% |
| Lacerte | 19% |
| ProSeries | 12% |
| ProSystem fx | 26% |
| TaxACT | 2% |
| TaxWorks | 1% |
| TurboTax | 2% |
| UltraTax CS | 18% |
Market Share Among Firms With Six or More Preparers
| Product | Share |
| ATX | 1% |
| Drake | 1% |
| GoSystem Tax RS | 9% |
| Lacerte | 17% |
| ProSeries | 3% |
| ProSystem fx | 49% |
| TaxACT | 0% |
| TaxWorks | 0% |
| TurboTax | 0% |
| UltraTax CS | 19% |
Market Share Among Firms With Five or Fewer Preparers
| Product | Share |
| ATX | 9% |
| Drake | 10% |
| GoSystem Tax RS | 1% |
| Lacerte | 20% |
| ProSeries | 18% |
| ProSystem fx | 12% |
| TaxACT | 3% |
| TaxWorks | 2% |
| TurboTax | 3% |
| UltraTax CS | 17% |
Individual Product Survey Responses
Detailed
survey responses for each product are presented in the
bold links below. (Opens in new window; click once to
enlarge.) Information and product pricing are also included for
products that received at least 90 responses.
- Visit atxinc.com for
product information
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: Full package price is $1,495 with discounts throughout the year (as long as the 5 users are from the same office).
- Visit DrakeSoftware.com for
product information
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: Pricing starts at $3,000 for 20 returns and five user accounts. It includes access to all states.
- Visit CS.ThomsonReuters.com for
product information
- Visit Proadvisor.Intuit.com
for product information
- Lacerte 1040, unlimited with e-filing
- Federal: $4,049
- State: $589 each or $1,178 for two states
- Network licensing fee: $749 (four users) or $1,498 (eight users)
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: $6,725
- Visit Lacerte.Intuit.com
for product information
- ProSeries Professional 1040 Complete: $1,649
- State: 45 states and local forms covered
- Network Licensing Fee: $589 (four users) or $1,178 (eight users)
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: $2,827
- Visit ProSeries.Intuit.com for
product information
- 1040 Module: $3,750
- Federal only: $4,595 for federal
- Depending on the states, there are three prices per state: $490, $895, or $1,045
- Network license for five workstations: $845
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: $5,575 (two states at $490 each) to $,6,685 (two states at $1,045 each)
- Visit CCHGroup.com for product information
Option No. 1:
- $199 TaxACT Enterprise 1040 edition: Allows multiple users in one location to centrally store and share client data and returns
- $49.90 for two 1040 state editions ($24.95 each)
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: $248.90
- Visit taxact.com for product information
Option No. 2:
- $199 TaxACT Enterprise 1040 edition
- $79.95 for 1040 All-States edition (software for all 44 income-taxing states)
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: $278.95
- Visit taxact.com for product information
- Visit taxsimple.net
for product information
- Visit taxslayerpro.com for product
information
- Visit TaxWise.com for
product information
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: $1,995
- Visit taxworks.com for
product information
- Visit TurboTax.com
for product information
- Total for 1040 + two states + five users: $4,150. Seats are sold in bundles of four, so this would actually give you up to eight concurrent users.
- Visit CS.ThomsonReuters.com for product information
Full survey results are available in the August 2012 issue of
The Tax Adviser and the September 2012 issue of the
Journal of Accountancy.
.
