What people complain about in Ultratax

Capabilities people described needing that Ultratax does not give them, taken from the highest-scoring problems first. These are individual accounts written in each person’s own terms, so two entries may describe the same underlying gap in different words.

• Software feature that provides step-by-step instructions for complex multi-state tax scenarios
• Integrated state adjustment automation and explanation based on K-1 and apportionment data
• On-demand training library with guided return preparation paths
• Bank statement auto-import and journal entry generation
• Check stub data extraction and auto-entry
• Recurring loan amortization schedule automation
• Paperless client document delivery
• AI-powered tax data extraction with accurate K-1 code recognition
• Workpaper generation with clear, documented annotation meanings
• Cloud trial balance software that matches desktop performance and reliability
• Trial balance import that preserves account ordering from source system
• Batch tagging and drag-down functionality for efficient workpaper mapping
• Reliable import functionality that doesn't require frequent customer support tickets
• Automatic account number generation or flexible mapping for imported trial balances

The manual processes people built around the gap. A long workaround list is the strongest evidence a problem is real: someone is already paying for it in time. Where several people described the same workaround, it is marked.

• Asks manager to walk through return but receives unrelated Excel file from different client
• Asks other manager who just enters information without explaining
• Relies on software input screen overview, which lacks state conformity info
• manually typing bank statements line-by-line into journal entries
• keying in individual check stubs
• manually calculating and entering loan amortization splits every month
• sending forms to clients via regular mail
• Manually mapping K-1 codes by a senior-level preparer
• Training input person to use UltraTax directly instead of SurePrep
• uses Excel because it was faster and more consistent than TaxFlow
• manually scrolls through side bar to select each account because imports are not in order
• has to individually tag out each account instead of batch tagging
• waits 2 days for customer service to fix import issues
• makes up account numbers when importing trial balances without them

The problems themselves

Highest opportunity score first.

• A junior tax accountant lacks training and resources to correctly prepare complex multi-state tax returns in UltraTax software, leading to errors and review notes without understanding the underlying adjustments.

  4High
  Accounting & Bookkeeping·Training & Onboarding·TaxMentor Pro

• Manual data entry of bank statements, check stubs, and loan amortization into Thomson Reuters Accounting CS and UltraTax is time-consuming and tedious.

  4High
  Accounting & Bookkeeping·Data Management·CS QuickImport

• Tax preparers waste significant time correcting AI errors and manually mapping K-1 codes in SurePrep, making it harder than just training staff on UltraTax.

  4High
  Accounting & Bookkeeping·Tax Preparation & Strategy·TaxFlow AI

• TaxFlow web-based trial balance software is slow, unreliable, and lacks features that the desktop version has, causing significant delays during tax season.

  4High
  Accounting & Bookkeeping·Tax Preparation & Strategy·TaxFlowFix Pro

• Tax professional finds existing tax preparation software clunky and slow, limiting efficiency.

  2Mild
  Accounting & Bookkeeping·Software Reliability & Performance·TaxFlow Pro