Level 1

Question

ProSeries vs ProConnect Tax

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
October 15, 2020
22 replies
135 views

We have been using ProSeries (professional-network version) for many years. Thinking about moving our office structure to virtual. Are we better staying with ProSeries and go to hosting in the cloud, or switching to ProConnect Tax? Very reluctant to switch, but want to do what works best for us.

ProSeries Professional

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taxes96786

Level 8

I won't use cloud software due to not trusting that it won't be hacked. I don't want my client information anywhere on the internet. Personal choice.

itonewbie

Level 15

Data security is probably the least of your worries when it comes to Intuit. Unless your practice devotes the same level of technical and financial resources as Intuit to protecting the business franchise, Intuit's IT system should be more secure than those of most small to mid-size practitioners', IMHO. Don't forget that Intuit is also subject to IRS oversight.

https://proconnect.intuit.com/tax-online/faqs/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Still an AllStar

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taxes96786

Level 8

IRS oversite will not prevent my clients info from being hacked....I won't save files anywhere other than my own harddrive and USB external drive.

sjrcpa

Level 15

They are very different software. ProConnect is based on Lacerte.

The more I know the more I don’t know.

itonewbie

Level 15

Someone asked the same question in the FB group recently. Not sure if it's you but I'll repeat what I said there in case it helps anyone.

The biggest difference would be adjusting to an input-sheet-driven program since ProSeries is largely form-based. ProConnect Tax is a very capable tax software since it is drive by Lacerte's engine. However, it lags far behind both ProSeries and Lacerte when it comes to features. So, don't expect database functionality or even return packaging you take for granted in ProSeries.

For me, having Lacerte under the hood is a big plus because being able to handle international and complex returns is important to us. Having it in the cloud without needing to worry about data loss and knowing data security is taken care of is icing on the cake. I have seen some complaints about speed but we are based overseas and (touch wood) never had a problem with the program's responsiveness.

The biggest pain points for us are as follows:

Lack of online review functions;
Only basic return printing function without packaging options (which require costly manual processing offline); and
Inability to lock returns once complete.

For those who have larger teams, the lack of dynamic access control in ProConnect Tax may be a challenge.

Two more points, which are VERY important. ProConnect Tax doesn't offer proforma organizers. We've learned to live with it and use our own electronic organizers without proforma data but it's definitely less than ideal. If they would offer a way to export and bridge the data, we'd be happy to build our own. Also, if you ever switch tax software, there's no guarantee that you will be able to export the data for conversion because it's not part of the built-in functionality or T&C. Under Boris Shmukler, the Product Manager, he had offered to export data manually on an ad-hoc basis but who knows what tomorrow would bring.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Still an AllStar

itonewbie

Level 15

And of course... another critical factor is that you are at the mercy of internet connectivity and the availability of Intuit's servers. If you have a desktop software, you can still work on returns when the internet or Intuit's servers are down. With cloud-based software, all you can do is twiddle your thumbs - hoping against hope that it will come back on soon.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Still an AllStar

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shomotax

Level 2

Proconnect all the way!!

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Ran

Level 2

I started doing taxes with forms and carbon paper. ProSeries was the way to go when I first converted to electronic return preparation. I know the form and where the information needs to be. I can look at a return and see if something is not populating correctly. So, with this I found ProSeries a really good system.

My big things was I did not want to use the services ProSeries wants you to go. to I have my own cloud service which works extremally well for me. So this year I had a deal come my way where I could have used either program. So I decided to try out ProConnect online.

With ProConnect online you can do a tax returns faster. However, the system leaves a very lot of information to you wondering. ProConnect when you are doing the data entry figure out certain thing for you. So yes it does cut way down on the data entry. But what if you want to be outside the norm, this is where ProSeries shines. it makes it easier to move outside the box.

So being a very long time forms person, ProConnect is not for me and will NEVER get into ProConnect again. I have been around many people and they all love ProConnect. Speed is fast in ProConnect and To understand and know what exactly is going to populate your clients return. Teaching a Jounior preparer and to have them understand where and what is populating, ProSeries is the best option.

Now, if price is your concern, pay per form is great for both, but I do think ProSeries is the way to go.

My vote is for PROSERIES all the way. No question. I will not ever use ProConnect gain even if I get this deal. I would much rather pay for ProSeries.

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rcooley25

Level 7

No matter what program you use they have all had their problems this year.

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