Finding the Right Tax Software

2018 Annual Survey of New York State Practitioners

Susan B. Anders, PhD, CPA, CGMA, and Carol M. Fischer, PhD, CPA, CGMA

In BriefNew York tax practitioners encountered old and new challenges during the 2018 tax season, most notably with planning ahead for changes enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), obtaining assistance from IRS and state tax department representatives, and the IRS system shutdown on April 17. But survey respondents once again expressed overall satisfaction with the tax preparation and research software that enabled them to meet clients' needs for compliance and planning. The overall weighted average ratings decreased slightly for both tax preparation and research software. Although value for cost continues to be a concern, the 2018 ratings for tax preparation software showed only minor changes, the ratings for tax research software increased notably, and ratings for both categories are at higher levels than in the survey's early years. Most survey participants continue to use the IRS and New York Department of Taxation and Finance websites and have discovered a variety of other helpful free online resources to assist in tax research. New York CPAs have once again provided valuable practice information to their colleagues by responding to this survey.