Taxcalc will cost me £570 to renew and I will not have a dividend database.Taxfiler with dividend database will cost me £216. I am not vat registered.
On the assumption you get what you pay for what advantage if any would Taxcalc give me.
I have read the reviews on this site and notice tremendous support for Taxfiler, only negative comments being suggestions that it is not idiot proof.
As an idiot should I stick with TaxCalc ?
Thanks a million for responses and advice.
Replies (18)
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Only you can decide whether you really need the step through that TaxCalc offers. If you don't use that feature then why pay for it?
I prefer Taxfiler to TaxCalc, and not just because of the lower cost.
.
There reasons to stick with it are slim:
1. Time spent re-keying standing data.
2. Some of the wizards are quite well thought out.
3. Its not on the cloud which might be helpful if you have an iffy broadband connection
That's about it.
I am still on Taxcalc [only just], mainly due to (1) and my theory is I will wait until we see what happens with tax returns in general before making a move for what could be just 3 years data.
I smarted at the fact CT module on tax calc (which they pushed up the price of) cost more than an annual licence for ALL taxes on Taxfiler, and the option for simple accounts prep too.
I'm an idiot
I've found Taxfiler very supportive. They've made a minor change to the software at my request, and I know from Aweb that they always update things if a request is reasonable/doable.
I looked at Taxcalc not long ago and in comparison it's a lumbering thing that vaguely reminds me of the DOS days. so I know I'm not missing out.
The people at Taxfiler are going places. The more of us that sign up the more money there is for development work. I think a lot of the tax software people are losing business to Taxfiler.
I am not used to responsive software developers. Now I'm over the shock, I'm a keen user.
@Moonbeam I hope they do well. I did phone taxcalc and mentioned taxfilers prices vs theirs to try and knock some off. Didn't get anywhere.
It sounded to me like they were taking a battering myself, and too bloody right. Taxcalc used to be what taxfiler is now. Ie light and responsive.
Now its a brick [the hub] tied to the end of some quite decent software [old tax calc]
It was really the cost of re-key standing data for 250 personal tax returns and 75 Ltd co returns that did it for me for what might be a short run position.
Rekeying
I swapped to Taxfiler last year (not from Taxcalc) and the rekeying of data wasn't an issue. I was able to import standing data like names, addresses, UTRs and Ninos. Then each job I had to set up the sources of income manually. It might have added 5-10 minutes at the absolute outside and a lot of it can be done if you have any quieter periods early in the year.
Should have changed the year before.
And the accounts program is great
Soon to be even better with the journal addition. What I love is the copy and pasting of TBs into the program
Copy and paste TBs?
I use Taxcalc for accounts only. It's my only non-cloud software. I find entering data a pain - however much I've tried setting up a template etc - I can't get it to happen easily and quickly.
If I can copy and paste my TBs in then I'm laughing. Perhaps I should give taxfiler accounts a try. I was going to give it time to bed in. Is it up to scratch or does it need some more bedding in time?
@Ann
its a no brainer , you put the TB into Drs + and Crs - the copy and paste it into a blank box , the software automatically maps according to the nominal / general ledger description and if it doesn't know where to map some entries it gives you a list of unmapped entries that you simply assign to one of their pre-populated accounts.
if you want to change some figures later you break the link and can change figures. this works but the improvement of a journal is on the way so the audit trail can be preserved.
after that its a doddle to prepare the accounts and FRS support is also on its way.
the usual check and review system ensure that any errors are identified and corrected (by the user)
as i said before SOON ALL SOFTWARE WILL BE DESIGNED THIS WA
ta dah
Sa302's from Taxfiler
I too am at the end of my Taxcalc contract and what with no longer being allowed to submit via HMRC's CT programme I'm looking at Taxfiler which looks very good value for money.
One question - at the top left hand corner of the Taxcalc calculation page it says 'SA302'. I am having an increasing number of clients wanting mortgages and hence SA302's. From what I can see Taxfiler does not show this. As some brokers are not even aware that there is now no need to apply to HMRC for SA302's will Taxfilers page be queried? Or shall I ring Taxfiler and ask them whether they can amend the text on the page to read 'SA302'?
Taxfiler accounts
Thanks for the info. I have a brand new set to prepare - all prior year stuff prepared by another a/c
Think I'll give it a go. Especially as I think my TaxCalc licence expires at the end of April.
Have used Taxfiler for tax since I set up on my own and have been very happy. Just does what I need it to nice and simple and provides a decent comp and schedules. As most of the returns I prepare have some sort of technical element to them, I'm good at breaking tax software, but, give Paresh his due, the 3 times I've pointed out errors he has understood what I'm on about and has fixed it within a few hours.
TaxCalc on the other hand, with basic accounts format errors (non technical of course as it is only accounts here!) - I just get a fobbing off email. The one time they admitted there was a failing they promised to "add it to the list" but also told me not to get my hopes up as they were busy trying to get money for VAT returns and hubs and the like.
Listen all - The providers who listen and deliver will win. Those who fob off and push their own agenda will lose.
Well, except those bookkeeping software providers who are asking that the government make their use compulsory. One bookkeeping company will get the business but I know who is shouting their agenda to government and, as sure as eggs are eggs, they will never get my business. You know who you are. And AWeb knows about the comments they deleted on that topic
What about PM?
Great thread.
With using taxfiler, how do you handle practice management?
I would miss the integration.
Taxfiler being cloud based, Combined with good user feedback is a major plus.
Good systems is the answer FT
Having good systems and procedures overcomes the lack of integration. If you have these things then you can take advantage of well designed reasonably priced software made for a specific purpose which will save hours of time, and it is reasonably easy to change suppliers if something better comes along, or they get too greedy, give poor support, or produce less than satisfactory software.
Having integrated software is a bit like being in the EU, actually. You are tied in to both the good (integration) and the bad (weak, badly designed parts of the system and you are forced to take whatever they give you at the price they want). :)
whats all this about PM First TAb
I use a spreadsheet i dont need bells and whistles its very simple dont overcomplicate it
Taxfiler with Quickbooks
Hi I also need a good package. Currently I am using QB and HMRC online CT service.
Has any of you tried Taxfiler with Quickbooks? The monthly price plan for the 2 software is just about the same as having TaxCalc but Taxcalc seems to me more sofisticated but it is not cloud based. I like the idea of all other HMRC forms implemented in taxcalc.
thanks for your responses and advice
Quickbooks Online have teamed up with Taxfiler
but not i think quickbooks desktop. i am not sure that it makes a lot of difference mind as per my earlier comments re copy and pasting . forms are readily available online doesn't take much extra time to find them whereas the saving in accounts production time is substantial.
I've just been doing a bit of my own research and I decided to give Taxfiler a try on their demo site. I currently use TaxCalc for accounts production and like what it can do and the reports it produces.
It's generally good and certainly easy to use but I feel it might be a bit restrictive in producing accounts with the flexibility that other software provides. You currently have to use existing nominal headings and can't change or add in your own. There is also no scope to add in a spare note to the accounts where you might want to have disclosure that doesn't quite fit in with their template.
I've queried this with Taxfiler and although they say they're looking at this enhancement they can't say when it will be added.
It depends on what you want. I believe the accounts you produce reflect you and if your software can't produce what you'd like to produce for your clients you should find a solution that does.
Having said that I do think Taxfiler represents good value in their pricing plan, especially with the CT functionality - a cost that seems to be disproportionate with other software providers. In summary I'll stick with TaxCalc in the meantime for accounts production but if Taxfiler can sort out these issues and give us more flexibility I'll probably make the switch.