Accountants already know the ins and outs of tax filing, but finding the best tax filing software for accountants and your clients may take time to research. The process may also lead to trial and error if you rush into making a purchase before you know exactly what your clients need. Find yourself a tax filing system with a broad scope of capabilities for now and any possible future expansion. Find comprehensive and scalable tools to save:
- Money
- Time
- An individual or firm’s resources
Advanced Micro Solutions’ 1099-etc E-Filer software is part of a larger, full-accounting suite of tools. The core product is our W-2/1099 Forms Filer. Users can purchase six optional add-on modules, including an E-Filer, to simplify software integration. Our affordable system has a full range of capabilities for accountants with five clients or 50 clients.
Best Features in Tax Filing Software for Accountants
Choosing the right tax filing software as an accountant or tax professional is crucial when it comes to guaranteeing greater efficiency, accuracy, and overall client satisfaction. Look for:
Easy Set-Up and Navigation Tools
Tax software users benefit the most from features like intuitive dashboards and clean designs. A step-by-step system that simplifies how you set it up will streamline the tax preparation process for accountants and clients during busy seasons. Get yourself tax software with easy navigation and accessible tools to:
- Reduce your learning curve
- Enhance your productivity
- Gain extra time to focus on other client needs
Comprehensive Tax Forms and Compliance
Tax filing software for accountants should support whichever forms your clients need each tax season. The forms should cover all client types and different tax situations. Getting a system with automatic updates will help to improve federal, state, and local tax compliance involving different laws and regulations. Look for built-in diagnostics and validation that:
- Help identify errors
- Track any omissions
- Find overridden entries
Robust Electronic Filing and Payroll Management
The number of clients that you bring on will dictate your schedule and how much time you have for other tasks. Software designed for accountants should offer secure and fast electronic filing capabilities. Making sure that you have these standard features with your tax filing software for accountants will simplify how you submit returns to the IRS and any state tax agencies.
Getting an integrated e-filing and payroll system will make life for you and your clients easier as well. Accountants should look for software that offers flexible payment distribution options, like:
- Direct deposit
- Check printing
Flexibility will allow your clients to select what works best for their business now or in the future.
Automation
Minimizing the likelihood of human error is hugely important for accountants. Building client trust means looking for software that gives you:
- Automated data entries
- Form generation
- Automatic calculations
Automating your work flow will make it easier to manage client requests and send reminders. Ask your vendor if their tax filing software made for accountants has features like auto-fill and data rollover to save yourself time and effort.
Strong Security and Data Protection
Using secure tax software with precautions, like payer backup and restore features, goes a long way toward providing accountants and clients with peace of mind. Speak directly to a vendor to see whether their software is trustworthy as far as storing your client’s sensitive data.
Easy Client Management
Utilizing software with clear and concise client management will make it easier and more secure to exchange documents or request e-signatures for certain forms. Enhanced client management also allows accountants to:
- Track progress
- Improve communication
- Send any necessary automated reminders
Investing in tax filing software for accountants should help your clients feel that you are on top of everything that they want and need.
Detailed Reports and Analytics
Accountants should not worry about whether their tax software will offer all clients necessary and comprehensive reporting capabilities. Accountants with access to all of the instrumental reporting tools will also gain:
- Valuable insights into client trends
- Profitability insights
- Detailed compliance history
Accountants can build and maintain a much better relationship with clients who do not need to worry about themselves or their business being unexpectedly audited by the Internal Revenue Service.
Straightforward Integration
Seamless integration is one of the first things that is worth looking for in tax filing software for accountants. A full-accounting suite of tools like what we offer with 1099-etc Demo software is ideal for managing client payroll, plus W-2 and 1099 forms, before electronically filing all forms. The best software should not only streamline an accountant’s workflow but reduce their risk of making duplicate data entries.
Scalability and Flexibility
Think about where you or your firm may be in five or 10 years with your clients. Consider your software needs through dual lenses of what you need now and what you expect to need in the future. Your tax software should be capable of scaling with your growth, which means it can:
- Handle an increase in client volume
- Address more complex tax scenarios
Tax filing software for accountants is best when it is customizable and has a flexible pricing plan. Flexible and transparent pricing might look like adding on features as you need them rather than a vendor requiring you to purchase a full range of tools that your clients do not need right now.
Customer Support and Training
Even experienced accountants or tax professionals with only a couple of clients might need to utilize technical support features. Look for a software vendor that values customer support. At AMS, we know that an accountant or an accounting firm benefits from hearing a live voice on the other end of the phone when there is a question about the software.
Our tax filing software for accountants can be purchased after users test out the free 1099-etc Demo software. The demo is a fully functional version of the software system with only a few exceptions. The demo gives its users a quick and easy understanding of our E-Filer options, which include:
- E-File Direct
- E-File Services
Enter real data into the demo software. The software will retain your clients’ data when you ultimately decide to purchase the program.
What are the Pros and Cons of Tax Software for Accountants?
Tax software that is designed with accountants in mind can have benefits while also having certain limitations. Striking the right balance between these requires an accountant to think about features in tax filing software built for accountants that will make client management easier.
Pros
- Cost-effective with the exact tools that you need
- More convenient than generalized tools that need upgrading
- Quicker and more intuitive filing for deadlines
Cons
- Limited technical support that experts may still need
- Hidden or extra fees if a vendor is not transparent
- Unavoidable errors
No software program is perfect. Getting a specialized system can eliminate some of the extra steps or delays throughout the process. E-filing software for accountants reduces a 21% error rate for paper returns to less than 1% for e-filed returns.
How to Stay Prepared Ahead of Tax Season
Preparation for tax professionals who utilize tax filing software for accountants will look different based on who your clients are and where they are located. Even experienced tax preparers are best served when they:
- Stay up-to-date on changing tax laws and regulations
- Get software that simplifies how you gather financial data
- Organize all forms and information in one efficient location
- See if software tools can help provide guidance to clients on minimizing tax liabilities and optimizing any financial strategies
Tax software makes it easier than ever to stay ahead of your deadlines and responsibilities. It should also allow you to become a reliable resource for clients who can seek other services if they feel overlooked or unsatisfied with their current sytem.
Is AMS the Preferred Tax Filing Software for Accountants?
Accountants and small businesses realize quickly that AMS’ 1099-etc E-Filer and other modular tools were designed with their needs in mind. Customization and flexibility make the program far more adaptable than some of the others on the market. Offering accountants the most affordable solution on the market is E-File Direct or E-File Services with different capabilities.
E-File Direct
- A flat fee with unlimited form filings
- The ability to create files in the program’s directory
- The option to create state W-2 files when e-filing is required
E-File Services
- Volume pricing with a fee per form
- Forms are filed electronically via a third-party vendor
- Multiple service levels available for users
Tax filing software for accountants should simplify how you file your clients’ forms during the tax season and at any other point of the year. It should not create more work for you or leave clients susceptible to audits or avoidable penalties from the Internal Revenue Service. Download a free demo today and see exactly how our program can support your form filing needs.