southparkcpa wrote:For those of you using Drake, you give it a thumbs up? I will only be doing about 80 personals, a few of them multi state. About 15 1120S and 10 1065, some multi state.
Thoughts?
SouthParkCPA:
I have a small business practice, semi-retired but planning on working with the clients that I have, prepare about 30 returns a year. All California only, nothing complex. I had a client, I was the part-time CFO, very-skilled Tax CPA did the S corp return, with me in his office, using Lacerte. Took about a day. So I've "seen" Lacerte.
For simple returns, Drake wins hands down. For the S Corp - several wealthy shareholders, one "sort-of" eccentric
, family was involved, multiple states, etc... I could see where that return could be difficult to do in Drake.
I spent one month, each of 2 years, on "loan" from the Ernst & Young Audit group, to their tax department. Learned to track basis, calculate AGI separate from the input forms back then, etc. So I have a check on Drake. In Drake, (probably all software) if you are doing both the S Corp and individuals, Drake automatically pulls the K1s over...but it doesn't bring everything over. Without your own basis worksheets, you might miss this.
Drake has one day update classes at major hotels around the US. They've been superb. This year, they've cut back, but there's one in Charlotte on 11/19. $200, 8 hours CPE. First half is a good tax update - not Drake specific - and the afternoon they go over changes in the software - often with at least 1 loud applause that tells me Drake's "finally" added something the users have been asking for, for years. Sit-down lunch is included. There are vendors that set up tables in the break room. The afternoon class would give you some idea of how Drake works.
I don't know if they allow non-customers at these things, but you might want to contact
Education@DrakeSoftware.com to find out. You can tell Christine Reynolds that Mike Hartfield referred you.
BYW, I'll be at their Las Vegas class on Dec. 18 if anyone from this forum will be there.