Drake Software Review

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint is the leading professional tax and accounting research platform used by tax practitioners, auditors, and financial professionals worldwide. Combining authoritative primary sources with practical editorial guidance, Checkpoint serves as the reference library for accounting and tax professionals at firms of all sizes. The platform provides comprehensive coverage of federal and state tax law through original source materials—Code sections, regulations, rulings, and court decisions—alongside Thomson Reuters' expert analysis and practical guidance. Accounting and auditing standards coverage includes FASB, PCAOB, AICPA, IFRS, and GASB with expert guidance on implementation and application. Checkpoint Edge, the modern interface, provides AI-powered search and intelligent guidance that connects related content and surfaces relevant precedents. The weekly newsletter products keep professionals current on regulatory and guidance changes. Planning tools and worksheets support tax planning calculations and documentation. Integration with UltraTax CS and other Thomson Reuters products provides in-product access to Checkpoint content during preparation and review workflows. Checkpoint is typically used alongside tax preparation software rather than as standalone software. For large firms, Checkpoint's integration with CS Professional Suite creates a unified preparation and research environment. The platform's comprehensiveness and reliability during deadline periods—when research resources must be available without fail—justify its premium pricing for professional practices.

Bloomberg Tax is a comprehensive professional tax research, planning, and compliance platform for tax practitioners at accounting firms, law firms, and corporate tax departments. Bloomberg's entry into the tax software market (through acquisitions including Fried Frank's tax practice and BNA) has created a formidable competitor to Thomson Reuters Checkpoint. The research platform provides in-depth analysis, practice tools, and primary source materials across federal and state taxation, international tax, estate and gift, employment tax, and tax-exempt organizations. Bloomberg Tax Technology offers corporate tax compliance software including fixed assets, provision, and compliance tools. The research platform's expert analysis—written by practicing tax attorneys—provides practical, actionable guidance beyond simple statutory citations. The Portfolio series provides detailed treatises on specific tax topics for complex research. Tax planning tools enable scenario analysis and optimization modeling. Bloomberg Tax's international coverage has expanded significantly, serving multinational corporations and cross-border advisors. Integration between research content and preparation software provides in-context guidance during return preparation. Bloomberg's AI capabilities now surface relevant analysis proactively during research sessions. The corporate tax compliance suite covers ASC 740 provision calculation, fixed asset management, and state income tax compliance. Bloomberg Tax is used by major law firms, Big Four accounting firms, and Fortune 500 tax departments where comprehensive research quality justifies premium subscription costs.

UltraTax CS is Thomson Reuters' flagship professional tax preparation software, widely regarded as the industry standard for mid-to-large accounting firms preparing complex federal and state returns. Part of the CS Professional Suite, UltraTax CS provides comprehensive coverage of all return types with seamless integration to other CS modules. The software handles 1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065, 1041, 706, 709, 990, and all states with sophisticated handling of complex situations including foreign tax credits, complex depreciation, alternative minimum tax, and consolidated returns. The Return Comparison tool highlights changes year-over-year, helping preparers identify unusual fluctuations. Automatic data flow between return types minimizes redundant entry for related returns. Integration with Accounting CS enables direct import of trial balance data for business return preparation. The review process is supported by detailed diagnostics and item-level notes. UltraTax CS's integration with Thomson Reuters Checkpoint provides authoritative tax research within the preparation workflow. The platform's depth of coverage for complex situations—multi-state, international, complex entity structures—is its primary strength. While the interface reflects its desktop heritage, the onvio cloud platform increasingly enables web-based workflows. UltraTax is used by many of the top 100 CPA firms as their primary tax preparation platform. The software's reliability during tax season peaks and comprehensive state coverage are particularly valued by large firm operations managers.