UltraTax CS

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.

Lacerte Tax is Intuit's professional tax software designed for CPA firms handling complex and high-value tax returns. With over 40 years of history, Lacerte is trusted by some of the largest accounting firms in the US for its comprehensive coverage of complex tax situations, deep diagnostic tools, and integration with QuickBooks. Lacerte supports the complete range of return types from individual to corporate, partnership, fiduciary, estate, gift, and exempt organization returns. Its strength lies in sophisticated business returns—partnerships and S-corps with complex K-1 allocations, multi-state filings, consolidated returns, and international tax provisions. The research integration with Thomson Reuters Checkpoint or Bloomberg Tax provides in-product access to authoritative guidance. Document management tools organize workpapers and client files. Tax Planner enables multi-year planning and scenario analysis. EasyACCT provides bookkeeping and write-up workflow for full-service clients. The software's diagnostic engine identifies potential issues and optimization opportunities in returns. Lacerte integrates with popular practice management tools and the broader Intuit ecosystem. Per-return pricing can be cost-effective for firms with varied workloads; unlimited licensing suits high-volume firms. Lacerte is the preferred choice of firms where preparers handle complex, high-fee returns where error prevention justifies premium software investment. Regular Intuit pricing changes and per-module fees require careful cost analysis relative to alternatives.