Thomson Tax & Accounting — GoSystem Tax ES

Article Tools

• Print This Article
• Email This Article to a Friend
• Save This Article
• Order a Reprint

From the April/May 2008 Review of Tax Compliance Suites

GoSystem Tax ES is widely viewed as the premier tax compliance system and is used by all of the Big 4 firms and most of the top 10. Although it originated as a CD-based product two decades ago, it evolved as an online program, which gives the benefit of automated updates and no maintenance. The program is geared toward larger practices and offers extensive formal review and multi-preparer functions, essential features for firms that provide compliance services to corporate clients and high net worth individuals with very complex tax situations. One of the core features that sets the system apart from many of the others is its tight integration with RIA’s Checkpoint research platform and the other content available from Thomson.

All federal and state entity types are available as modules within GoSystem Tax ES, including 1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065, 1041, 706, 709, 990 and 5500, along with most municipal, country and special jurisdiction reporting requirements. Pricing varies depending on the specific entities, states and users. First year federal 1040 price starts at $2,500 and includes 706, 709, 1040, 1041, 1065, 1120/1120S, 5500, and 990). States are priced separately. Most firms are able to utilize GoSystem Tax ES for an affordable rate when selecting only the modules needed. In addition to GoSystem Tax ES, Thomson offers UltraTax CS, which is reviewed on page 24 of this issue.

General Operations/ Ease-of-Use -- 4.5 Stars
The program can be used from any location where the professional has access to a high-speed connection, and opens through the web browser. The default interface provides a simplified search-and-filter function for finding client returns, with options for limiting by type of entity, completed returns and tax year. Also available is the ability to sort lists by name, client code and locator, as well as by the first few characters of a column. When the selected search is displayed, users only see and have access to those clients for whom they have access rights. Menus across the top and left side of the window also offer text-based links for starting a new return, performing setup tasks, reviewing case studies and weekly Hot Topics, or accessing the Help utility.

When viewing the return search results, the left-hand menu changes to provide additional options, including assignment of preparers, milestone creation and monitoring, time logs, document management information, and access to utilities and support. When a return is selected and opened, the program launches a subwindow that appears very much like a traditional Windows-based program, providing icons and pull-down menus across the top, while a two-tabbed menu on the left gives access to a Client Organizer or a full list of Tax Forms available for that type of entity.

GoSystem Tax ES offers both interview and form-based modes of data entry. Calculations can be set to automatically process as data is entered, with information automatically transferred between forms and schedules as necessary, including between associated forms and entities such as K-1 pass-throughs and parent/child returns. All fields with calculated or transferred data provide drilldown access to supporting worksheets or schedules. Users can access a return summary or view a replica of the form (in addition to the form-based data-entry mode). They can also attach documents to client returns or add edit and review marks to any field. Access to various management functions is restricted to authorized users. GoSystem Tax ES is powerful but maintains an efficient and generally user-friendly atmosphere that is best utilized with some form of training.

Workflow & Productivity Tools -- 5 Stars
As previously mentioned, GoSystem Tax ES offers an extensive feature set that is focused on firms with very complex client returns that require multiple professionals to work on each. It provides exhaustive review-focused tools, including excellent collaboration tools that allow multiple preparers/reviewers to access the return simultaneously, along with due-diligence checklists and the ability to set notes, tickmarks and other comments to any line, or to lock out specific lines from allowing future changes (subject to administrative override, of course). Individual users can also be engaged with multiple returns at the same time.