Thomson Reuters — Payroll CS 2008

From the Sept.
2008 Review of Professional Payroll Systems

The Payroll CS system from Thomson Reuters, formerly Thomson Tax & Accounting,
is a professional payroll management suite designed for accountants and other
providers of financial services to small businesses. The program supports all
states, provides multi-account direct deposit of employee payroll and electronic
third-party payment capabilities, and can be used to electronically file state
and federal reports. Payroll CS options also include various online tools, including
client-side data entry and collaboration functions.

As a part of the larger CS Professional Suite line of accounting programs,
Payroll CS integrates with options for client write-up, trial balance, engagement
management, tax compliance and paperless practice management. Pricing for Payroll
CS includes all tax table updates and starts around $1,500 for a system designed
for providing payroll services for up to 20 client businesses. Alternately,
firms wishing to refer their client payroll processing can opt for Thomson Reuters’
myPay Solutions service bureau offering.

DATA ENTRY & KEY FEATURES – 5 Stars
Geared toward accountants providing a broad array of services to clients, Payroll
CS opens within the CS Professional Suite Accounting interface’s Home
Page, which provides access to a master client selection screen along with quick
links to firm tasks, forms, e-filing information and other program modules.
Client selection options provide limited search and filter capabilities. Within
the Payroll CS area of the accounting suite, a split-screen window provides
intuitive icons for specific tasks, such as manually entering payroll data,
printing checks, running reports, maintaining employee and vendor data, and
generating transmittal letters.

When working with client files or creating new clients or adding employees,
templates and task checklists can be used to speed the process. The system also
offers an edit function that enables users to make global changes across all
employees of a client business or on specific groups and departments.

Time data is entered via customizable entry sheets that give a view of each
employee, with salaried employees’ data self-populating and automatically
calculating based upon employee-specific pay and company defaults. It also allows
overrides as well as entry of vacation, sick leave and other information, which
can be tracked. Fields on data-entry screens can be turned off, if desired,
and several smart entry fields provide lists for selecting common information.

Payroll CS can handle virtually any number of voluntary and involuntary pre-
and post-tax deductions and offers payment functions for remitting withheld
funds. These can include 401(k)s, union dues, cafeteria plans, child support,
garnishments, insurance and others. Additional user-oriented tools include a
gross-up calculator and ticklers for reminding users of specific tasks or due
dates.

Among its web-enabled features, firms using Payroll CS can take advantage
of remote client data entry, which reduces the time spent on routine tasks.
Also available is the Remote Payroll Check Printing option, which works through
Thomson Reuters’ NetClient CS portals, a secure online collaboration tool
that allows the firm to provide all of the back office payroll processing and
electronically provide employers with print-ready checks and pay statements
that can be prepared in-house by the client. The optional Web Employee function
extends this convenience to client employees, allowing them to securely access
historical pay statements and W-2s, as well as submit updated personal information
and W-4s.

REPORTING CAPABILITIES – 5 Stars
Pricing includes an unlimited number of payroll runs and paychecks to be run
in any period. Web-based features continue into the reporting arena, with electronic
filing for forms 940, 941 and 944 and the equivalents for many states, as well
as electronic remittance of federal and state payroll tax funds and third-party
liabilities resulting from voluntary and involuntary deductions. Print-based
form preparation options include the above forms, plus W-2s, W-3s, 1099s, 943
and 945. Managerial reporting output includes nearly 50 customizable reports
that include check register and payroll journal, withholding, departmental summaries
and standard earnings, benefits and deductions reports. Batch processing for
check runs and reporting can be used to create groups of clients or tasks.

INTEGRATION/IMPORT & EXPORT – 4.5 Stars
For data entry, employee time information can be imported from many time clock
applications or from Microsoft Excel. As a part of the CS Professional Suite’s
line of accounting and tax compliance programs, the system integrates thoroughly
and seamlessly with its sister products, reducing redundant data entry time
and helping ensure data accuracy, while also automatically maintaining proper
GL account balances and journal entries. With the ability to print/save to PDF
format, Payroll CS is enhanced by the vendor’s FileCabinet CS, which provides
for paperless storage and management of client files.

RELATIVE VALUE – 4.5 Stars
The greatest benefits of Payroll CS come through its integration with the CS
Professional Suite Accounting products, but even as a stand-alone program, professional
firms can achieve considerable time-savings and automation, while providing
top-end features to their clients through employer and employee web access functions.
Thomson Reuters offers technical support via subscription options, while payroll
tax and program updates are included in the program cost and its annual renewal
fees.

2008 Overall Rating: 5 Stars