Agile is not designed for firms that are performing other services, including full-service CPA firms. Potential users "are doing tax returns and don't have a need for the whole Thomson Reuters suite," says Jeff Fritz, a director in the office of the president for Thomson's CS line of products. Agile also does not integrate with any other Thomson product.

To develop Agile, TaxSimple was rewritten "using modern technologies and a new user interface," says Fritz. While the TaxSimple website is still operating, Fritz conclusion that "TaxSimple is no more."

TaxSimple was founded by John and Vickie Vora and its offices were in Randolph, N.J., until the product development was moved to Thomson's Dexter, Mich., office following the acquisition. TaxSimple began operations in September 1982 and the company was incorporated in January 1983.

The Agile 1040 offering is priced at $100 per month for the federal form, all states and all efiling. Business tax preparation is available for $60 per month for all states and efiling. Each additional seat is priced at $50 per month.

Bob Scott

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Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards.  Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He  has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that.  A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind