2018 Review of Magtax

From the 2018 reviews of W-2 and 1099 preparation systems.

Magtax from American Riviera Software offers easy e-filing of W-2 and 1099 forms. Suitable for both businesses and accounting professionals, Magtax offers two versions of its application, with both versions (Standard and Professional) supporting unlimited payers and recipients. The Standard version only offers a single-user license, with the Professional version offering a 5-user license, with more licenses available if needed. Magtax can be downloaded from American Riviera Software’s website and is an on-premise application. Magtax does not offer remote access nor a mobile app at this time, though it is compatible with hosting services if users wish to have the application hosted.

Magtax supports most common year-end compliance forms including W-2, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-C, 1098, and 1098-C. Additional 1099 forms and 1042-S are supported in the Professional version of the product. Magtax offers an intuitive user interface that offers access to both IRS and SSA file setup, along with quick access to both 1099 and W-2 processing options. There is a New Filing Wizard available that guides users through the form filing process, as well as options to edit current forms prior to submission. Both versions of Magtax support unlimited e-filing capability with the Professional version offering e-verification capability as well. Users can enter data manually into Magtax or import data from QuickBooks or Microsoft Excel. The product stores prior year information to reduce data entry, and Magtax produces summary reports of all filings for future reference. Both versions of Magtax will print on pre-printed forms as well as blank paper, and all forms can be saved as a JPG file, TIF file, EMF or PDF if desired.

American Riviera Software’s website offers a Getting Started page that provides a detailed description of everything a user will need to get the product up and running. Magtax also offers a downloadable demo that users can try out at their convenience. A FAQ section addresses some common issues users typically face, and there are a variety of short videos that users can access, including installing Magtax, activating Magtax, a product introduction video, and how to import data from QuickBooks. An online knowledgebase is available and users can also access the complete users guide online if desired. Magtax offers users complete product support, with support provided via email. Users can also make an appointment to speak to support personnel if desired.

The Standard and Professional versions of Magtax are similar, with both versions able to import data from Microsoft Excel, TXT, and CSV files. Both versions can also import W-2 and 1099 data from QuickBooks. However, the Professional version offers more advanced functionality, saving forms as JPG, TIF, EMF, and PDFs. The Professional version also offers prior year support and supports additional 1099 forms.

Magtax offers solid year-end compliance form processing and filing, making it a good fit for businesses and accounting professionals alike. Two versions of Magtax are available for purchase; the Standard version which currently available for $199.00 and the Professional version, which runs $299.00. Renewal pricing is $119 and $159, respectively. Magtax can be downloaded from the American Riviera Software website. Product support is included in the cost of the application.

2018 Overall Rating: 4.75 Stars