CCH ProSystem fx Reviews

Pros

We are using several WK products for accounting and taxation this is also one of them. Calculations are very accurate. Highly professional software for accounting.

Cons

You really dont know how calculation done and its bit expensive for small scale companies. In worst case if you find any bug in any box you cant override it with correct value.

Pros

I utilize some pieces of CCH ProSystem fx, including Planning, but also utilize Axcess Tax for the cloud feature. I think the tax preparation is great, but it does take a lot of time to set up if you are using it for the first time to get return defaults set. There are lots of videos and instructions available in the help section.

Cons

It's a hard to obtain software information and pricing from CCH because there are so many options available and specifics are only available from talking with an account rep.

Alternatives Considered

ProConnect Tax, Drake Tax and Lacerte Tax

Reasons for Switching to CCH ProSystem fx

I was more familiar with CCH and the pricing options ended up being more affordable for a 150 return package than the other options for me at the time.

Pros

Nothing. It sucks. There is nothing good about it. I would rather scratch a chalkboard until my fingers bled than use CCH Prosystem fx.

For those who claim it is great, they are either masochists or do not know any better because they have never used anything else.

Cons

Clunky. Buggy. Not intuitive. Waster of time. Inconsistent performance. Poor customer support. Just bad software.

Pros

It's easy to use and reliable, it has a safe feeling as well to share sensitive documents

Cons

the functionalities could be improve, for example, to be able to preview the documents uploaded instead of having to download them each time.

Pros

This software is functional enough to accomplish what needs to be done.

Cons

It is not fully integrated with other parts of CCH (i.e. Workflow doesn't talk nicely to Axcess) which is a problem.

Pros

Today? Absolutely nothing

Cons

Technical support has become nonexistent. Glitches in software calculation abound. Lack of knowledge of support...if you actually are able to get to a live person on the phone.

Pros

Functionality is better than most of the other tax software out there, navigation to frequently used items is decent. read the cons, but this is still likely the best option out there

Cons

tons of calculations that you cannot find support for how the software is doing the math, link to worksheets option never just takes you to where the number is entered, states look like they were all designed by a different developer so there are 50 different ways to do the same thing on different states, e-file rejects can be impossible to clear, support is only marginally useful and most of the time has to kick you to developers, some data entry is just completely hidden and if you don't know exactly where to go you will not intuitively find it.

Pros

This software is very robust. It can integrate with various other softwares which can make monotonous tasks streamlined and efficient. I love that you usually can figure out how the software is calculating by using the F1 help function

Cons

It is not an intuitive software and takes time to learn though this is fairly standard for the industry.

Pros

It is user-friendly with even the complex tax topics.

Cons

I was okay with all its features. Automation and manual keying.

Pros

Updates provided in a timely manner, especially critical with changes to a very complicated tax code.

Cons

Users have complained about ease of use/training issues. Overall, the experience has been good. Needs to focus more on automation of processes.

Pros

CCH ProSystem fx ("PFX") is a robust piece of software that has many beneficial features that my audit firm utilizes. Things such as utilizing "TB-Links", and utilizing the built in reporting and adjusting journal entry features allow us to track any and all of the issues that we run into our clients. It also allows us to remain organized from one period to another, making audits potentially much easier. If a user is a veteran of utilizing PFX's tools, audit workpapers as well as financial statements can essentially build themselves. Once an workpaper has been set up well, it allows the engagement team to be much more efficient in future periods.

Cons

Despite all of the great features CCH ProSystem fx ("PFX") has to offer, it can be very buggy. The software integrates into Excel, Word, Adobe and more, and provides the user with many tools to assist in them in their audits. However, these addons, particularly those with Excel, tend to “break” and become unusable. This may cause the entire Microsoft Suite to lock up or freeze, which can create severe issues if the user is not diligent in saving their work. The addons may also not “load” into their intended software, which can be a difficult issue to fix if the user is not experienced. Users in my firm often have to contact our IT department in order to get these issues resolved in a timely manner. Despite these issues, I personally believe the pros outweigh the cons.

Pros

CCH is the main name in the accounting space. Whether it be their tax software, research materials or time and billing, CCH is and likely will always will be synonymous with the accounting world. ProsystemFX's suite of products is mission critical to a firm such as mine. Reliability, consistency, ease of installation, everything just works. What I, as the IT Manager like best is the level of support I receive from CCH. Sometimes, especially with their Time/Billing software, I am reluctant to upgrade the software, CCH is always there to help me through the process, and will even jump on my computer and do it themselves.

Cons

The software, which runs through a SQL server environment does get slow. The interface has not really changed that much over the past decade and feels dated the first time you use it. While there are technical updates that happen often, it certainly wouldn't hurt if CCH offered a visual update to at least make it look like it was made in the modern day. Currently, it looks like it came out of the Windows 98 days, becasue, it did!!

Pros

The software is very easy to use even for the most complex returns. The linking feature with Engagement is the best tool. I can make all my tax entries in Engagement and within minutes the tax return is completed as well. Another great feature is the work flow management, I can always tell who has the file and what the status is of it.

Cons

It is very expensive. Probably the most expensive tax software on the market. Also, sometimes it's hard to find the support for how the program is calculating tax.

Pros

Prosystem Fx is a professional level tax software program generally designed for big firms, but it is useful for any professional that wants a high quality product. It handles most every form and calculation you can imagine with ease, and I would place it as the #2 professional level tax software product on the market based upon its features. They also have customer support that is usually very good, as some support personnel are also the software developers during the busy season. Prosystem Fx is the name for a large product suite, so it's hard to describe a particular feature as the selling point.

Cons

It is very expensive -- generally the most expensive tax software product on the market.

Pros

The software will prepare any return. I need for foreign returns and this has all forms. But when something goes wrong you are on your own. There is no one at the other end of the telephone to help you.

Cons

NO CUSTOMER SERVICE! Spent 2 weeks trying to add a state. Worse than on hold with the IRS. 2 and 3 hours and still no answer. Put in a ticket and maybe in a week someone calls if at all. Had to go though a different sales rep to get technical help as my sales rep stopped calling me. Used at a larger firm and was good but now on my own and you are at the bottom of the barrel for any help. Actively looking to switch as my heart will not take another tax season with no service.

Pros

Lots of options. Handles complexity well. Different UI options to suit your preferences. Nice integration with audit software and fixed assets software. Handles multiple return types (corporate, partnership, employee benefits plans, etc.). Excellent tech support. Most importantly, accurate results!

Cons

Steep learning curve. Help features are not as detailed for state returns.

Pros

CCH Prosystems is a critical tool for audit engagement management. This program allows me to create binders that contain all of the work that is being done on a particular project. Anyone with rights to the file can access it in real time from their personal computer.

Cons

The only pain point for me comes from when a user has an engagement file "checked out" on their computer this locks the file and that file cannot be modified or edited until the user checks it back in. This can certainly be frustrating when you need to get your work done.

Pros

(referring specifically to Engagement) The software is very simple to use initially, but has some fun tricks you can pick up on with repeated use. It's very well organized, and has a lot of strong built-in tools. It's easy to organize an audit, and also have all your work linked directly back to a trial balance. It also makes preparing schedules for financial statements quite easy.

Cons

(referring specifically to Engagement) There are some antiquated functions, like some of the trial balance reports that are 'locked' so that you can't modify any cells within them. Additionally, a lot of the reports have excess tabs that add additional clutter to the spreadsheets, and it's not clear why they're there. Lastly, the system can be slow to open and close files, but that's what you have to put up with, I guess.

Pros

This has all the good functionalities. It is not only an audit binder, but it also provides financial statements preparation functions, such as consolidation and elimination. Also, you can roll-forward an entire binder to make things easier.

Cons

This has so much of functions, maybe a little more that I need. It gets slow. Also, setting up all the leadsheet and links between workpaper and financial statements can take some time.

Pros

I like how user friendly the software is as well as all the different forms that are available. It's also a very sophisticated program

Cons

Sometimes in entity returns, you have to input a number manually in order to trigger a deduction. For example, in order to claim section 179 deduction, you have to manually enter the business income. I would think this would be automatic as it is in some other softwares.

Pros

I love the ability to track clients, create projects, track projects, process billings etc. all in one program.

Cons

There are a few user friendly logistics I would change, especially the ability to delete a client number and use it again in a way easier manner.

Pros

I like the most that it is user friendly and easy to maneuver. The input flows through seamlessly to the tax return and provides an accurate return.

Cons

I like least that there are some bugs that I have notified the developers about and have not yet been able to be resolved.

Pros

I have used this software for years, it is great, I recommended to everyone. Support in the past was always prompt and knowledgeable.

Cons

In recent months I have endured significant problems, and support takes days to respond. Often, the fixes from support are only temporary, and similar issues occur.

Alternatives Considered

CS Professional Suite

Reasons for Switching to CCH ProSystem fx

Good experience with CCH at prior firm.

Pros

The functionality and the capability. Prosystem can basically do it all

Cons

The clunkiness of Interview input forms. Yeah, once you get the hang of them it's fine, but not very intuitive - essentially data entry sheets.

Pros

Support can be top notch. I worked directly with support on many technical issues. Great documentation and easy to find how-to's on support.cch.com. I was more of an administrator of the software and I found user administration in Engagement and Tax were both fairly straight-forward. I also appreciated that the Tax software release schedule is released for the whole year, which makes it easy to schedule maintenance because you know exactly when updates will be released. This helps a lot during the busy tax season.

Cons

Inconsistent support. I spent countless hours working with support and unfortunately for all the amazing support technicians there are a few who don't have the skills to know when to escalate or how to scope an issue they've never seen before.