The ability to have multiple preparers filing simultaneously should help speed up processing as in the past they had to file sequentially. In the past, “If they filed at the same time, the system slowed down,” says Patti Newcomer, VP of marketing for Intuit’s professional tax business.  

Lacerte also has a single e-file wizard which, “allows you to select and unselect fillings—various pieces and parts, within the client efile,” Newcomer says. Users can select and unselect filings for federal, state, and "other" filings such as property tax and LLC within the same client e-file.

Also new is multiple filing instances supported in a single client e-file. That can benefit clients with multiple entities such as franchises. In addition, Lacerte has Section and Topics tabs designed for navigation of complex forms.

Intuit has added e-file locked returns to ProSeries. The system detects calculation updates and notifies professionals who can decided whether to make any new changes and e-file. 

Additionally, ProSeries now features “Undo” and “Redo” features, the same capabilities available in Microsoft Office applications. “it’s easy to undo data-entry mistakes and run new scenarios for clients,” Newcomer says.

Intuit has added e-file locked returns to ProSeries. The system detects calculation updates and notifies professionals who can decide whether to make any new changes and e-file Additionally, ProSeries now features “Undo” and “Redo” features, the same capabilities available in Microsoft Office applications. “It’s easy to undo data-entry mistakes and run new scenarios for clients,” Newcomer said.

ProSeries also now has date control on letters and invoices. The user can click to pick a date to display on these documents. Checkboxes on the Client Status worksheet can be used to pick custom dates or the user can select the global option to show the e-file acceptance date of each return. 

For ProConnectTax Online, Intuit has added enabled the ability to enroll in Pay-by-Refund without leaving the tax application. In addition, Intuit says PTO has improved load times and speed, along with an expanded and refreshed tax return view. Also, professionals can now use Intuit Link to  build a client activity feed in order to quickly display client activity via organizer templates.

Finally, Intuit has provided point-of-need guidance by which answers are provided for 75 commonly asked questions. The preparer can click on-screen to access these answers.

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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