In addition to all the usual difficulties of tax season, many preparers are saying that glitches have appeared in their tax prep software as the filing season kicks off.
In some cases, preparers are finding glitches in software they’ve used successfully for many tax seasons. Many of those affected said that they’re not sure of the reason for the problems, which span software from varied vendors, but did say that it may be more a matter of vendors’ inadequate testing and the rushing of a product to market, rather than fallout from Tax Code upheavals after the fiscal cliff deal.
While glitches in some tax prep products have sparked outrage and frantic last-minute switching to other software providers, some preparers are reporting more minor issues with their software.
“Other than forms, we've had some small minor glitches with the 2012 tax program,” said Enrolled Agent Betsey Buckingham, a member of the tax staff at David C. Murray & Co. CPAs Inc., in Troy, Ohio, and incoming president of the
Whatever the reason, preparers are scrambling to adapt or shift to different software.
“I am not so sure that the post-cliff deal has anything to do with my situation: A particular software provider out there got caught with their pants down,” said Winter Haven, Fla.-based EA Lynn Schmidt of Lynco Financial & Tax Services Inc. “They completely revamped their product and rolled out a piece of garbage that as of today is still not functional.”
“It's not just me. Tax professionals who all use this same company are flocking to other software providers in droves,” Schmidt added. “The problem is, filing season is [open] and we’re just now downloading new software, having to make data conversions and verifying carry-forward calculations, not to mention learning a completely new software program!”
Overhaul of a ‘Perfectly Fine’ Program
EA Mele Perrego, a preparer in Clayton, N.C., and vice president of the
Perrego started looking at other software at the end of the first week of January, using the NATP's “
“On January 18, when for the second day in a row I couldn't even get into my program without calling tech support (minimum wait time 50 minutes), I decided to jump ship, asked for a full refund and purchased another program,” she said. “I couldn’t take the stress and uncertainty anymore.”