BNA Software — Sales & Use Tax Rates and Forms

From the August 2008 Review of
Sales & Use Tax Systems

BNA Sales & Use Tax Rates and Forms provides one of the most comprehensive
after-the-fact sales and use tax systems. It provides rate lookup, reporting
forms and export capabilities without direct integration with point-of-sale
or accounting systems. The system includes sales tax rate and historic rate
information for more than 58,000 taxing jurisdictions and has more than 3,400
state, city and other entity forms. Pricing for a single-user license of the
program ranges from $895 for a rates-only or forms-only version, to $1,895 for
the full system. The program is available in both installed and web-based formats.

Navigation & Data Entry — 5 Stars
The primary components of the installed version of BNA Sales & Use Tax Rates
and Forms are two distinct programs that operate independently of each other,
with one offering rate lookup functions and the other providing forms for compliance.
The rate lookup part of the program is essentially a quick tool that provides
a jurisdictional rates finder, with a small window giving users the ability
to search by ZIP Code, city, county or state, and providing all current rates
with dates of enactment, along with prior rates. The display breaks down each
of the jurisdictional taxes applied to a particular location, including state,
city, county or special districts such as school, utility or transit areas.
Additionally, a calculator is included that also breaks the resulting tax liabilities
into amounts for these jurisdictions. Users can save searches into a favorites
file. As an after-the-fact sales and use tax compliance system, the program
does not offer direct live integration with other programs but does offer a
rate table export function called the Rates File Generator, which can output
tables into a comma-delimited text file for import into most accounting and
point-of-sale systems. In the web-based version of the program, the export function,
known as the Rates Exporter, can be scheduled to automatically run and deliver
the file to the user’s e-mail. The web-based version also allows export
files to be created in other file formats, including Excel.

The compliance application opens to an interface with traditional navigation
features, such as icons and pull-down menus. The program is intended for use
by professionals supporting multiple client businesses with sales tax reporting
obligations, and uses Windows Explorer for client selection and file structures.
A forms selection list provides a comprehensive array of state and municipal
jurisdictions. If users first select a client business with which to work and
then select a form, basic company information is automatically transferred into
the form. If the tax report is selected first, users can have this data transferred
in by using the Apply Profile function. The primary work area of the interface
provides a replica of the actual sales tax report form, with data entered directly
onto its fields and calculations immediately applied. Users can override calculations
or transferred data if necessary. Users of the web-based system will find similar
functionality, but with the added benefit of anytime, anywhere access.

Filing, Electronic Compliance & Payment — 2.5 Stars
BNA Sales & Use Tax Rates and Forms is intended as a print-based compliance
system and does not offer integrated electronic filing of tax reports or electronic
remission of collected taxes. All forms are signature-ready, approved by appropriate
government entities and can be printed to plain paper. Forms can also be output
into PDF format.

Rate Updates — 5 Stars
For users of the traditional installed version of the program, BNA Software
offers monthly disc-based updates that are mailed to the user, with interim
updates that can be viewed weekly from the vendor’s website. The company
also offers a fully web-based version of the program, for which all updates
are automatically maintained by the vendor.

Help/Training — 4 Stars
The program does not offer the traditional Windows-based Help system, but does
include an electronic users’ manual, various tutorials and other options.
BNA Software provides FAQs, a Knowledge Center and Training options on its website
in addition to phone and email-based support that is included in system pricing.

Relative Value — 4.5 Stars
The Rate Lookup utility in the program is exceptionally easy to use and very
much worth the cost, providing instant access to virtually all U.S. jurisdictions
with a sales tax. Likewise, the export capabilities in the optional Rates File
Generator enable users to quickly import data into their accounting package.
The forms compliance system may not be necessary for all users, depending upon
the number of jurisdictions to which they report, but provides a comprehensive
library of forms from nearly 2,000 cities, states and other jurisdictions. ::::;

2008 Overall Rating: 4 Stars