The top 3 favorite features
See why people like you love these features the most.
Jump to Input
Go straight from a line on a form to the corresponding input field on the Detail screen.
K-1 transfer
Automatically import partnership, S-Corp and fiduciary tax data into a return or transfer data between business returns.
Point-of-need guidance
Get answers to your questions when you need help, with proactive support content that lets you stay in your workflow.
E-filing
Fast, reliable e-filing
Take advantage of features that help you save significant time when you transmit returns.
- Enjoy built-in, integrated e-filing for supported individual and business form sets.
- File fast with a streamlined e-file wizard that makes it easy to transmit returns, especially when reviewing and fixing validation errors.
- Verify transmission through your online Lacerte account.
- Access a wealth of real-time federal and state e-file information with Lacerte E-file Atlas. Learn more
- Stay up-to-date with the IRS e-file mandate, with help from Lacerte.
- Use batch filing to e-file extensions for multiple clients at once. Learn more
Expanded e-filing
Year-round e-filing for all open years is included with your 2019 Lacerte Fast Path services. There are no separate e-file fees. Plus, since having a comprehensive tax solution is extremely important to you, adding new tax forms and supporting more e-filing options will continue to be our top priority. Visit Lacerte Support for more information on what forms are included in Lacerte and when they'll be available for e-filing.
eSignature Plus Payments
(Sold separately) Intuit has partnered with DocuSign to bring you eSignature Plus Payments. Secure your signatures for Forms 8879, engagement letters, 7216 Consent Forms, Forms 4506-T and W-9s the IRS-approved way with eSignature integrated into the Lacerte Tax software. It also features payment collection that allows you to request client payments at the same time. eSignature Plus Payments saves you time and speeds up your billing process — and the first 5 are free.
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E-organizer
Collect the information you need from each client faster, for less money and with fewer hassles. Use this customized emailed tax analysis software instead of paper organizers. Learn more
What you can do with Lacerte e-organizer:
- Make life simpler for your staff and your clients with simple-to-use electronic checklists and questionnaires.
- Help save the time and expense of printing, assembling and mailing paper organizers.
- Maintain security with password-protected files for your clients' eyes only.
- Decrease data-entry errors by transferring approved figures directly onto the correct tax forms and lines in Lacerte. Tax with no typing.
Distribute hundreds of organizers instantly:
From within Lacerte Tax software, an e-organizer wizard helps you send email letters, questionnaires and forms to clients. Each package includes a unique link that downloads a personalized, password-protected, executable file right to your client's desktop. The e-organizer contains everything they need, including an introduction, instructions on how to use the organizer, FAQs, a place to write questions for you to answer and the ability to download tax documents right into the organizer.
Getting started with the Lacerte e-organizer:
This automated program is simple to use. From within Lacerte Tax software, just access the e-organizer wizard, which steps you through the process of selecting a complete organizer or specific pages tailored to your clients' unique needs. As soon as your clients complete the forms, they just click a button to email the completed document back to you.
Accessing data
Jump to Input
Easily go from a line on a form to the corresponding input field in the Detail screen.
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Partner search acceleration
Use the improved search function to save time on complex partnership returns. Instantly find a partner so you can update their information or provide a K-1 package with ease.
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PDFs by email
Email your client a link to a password-protected PDF and send a copy of their tax return.
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PDF bookmarks
Bookmarks are PDF navigational tools that allow you to quickly locate and link to points of interest within a PDF document. One of Lacerte's most requested features is the ability to create a bookmarked PDF. This feature is available whenever you print a PDF, regardless of where it is stored (e.g., DMS, SmartVault, your own hard drive, etc.).
Lacerte client portals
See why SmartVault has won multiple CPA Technology Advisor awards. Use this reliable, secure document management solution with Lacerte to help automate your tax workflow and keep data protected at all times. You can print returns directly from Lacerte to SmartVault. (SmartVault is sold separately.)
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Downloads and diagnostics
Financial institution download
Spend less time on data entry by downloading 1099 and W-2 information directly from the financial institution or payroll provider into a tax return. You can import client W-2s from more than 50 payroll providers, including ADP and Intuit. This service is included with your Lacerte Fast Path license.
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Schedule D import wizard
Import stock asset transactions from an Excel (XLS) or comma-separated values (CSV) file into a Schedule D in Lacerte. The import wizard guides you through assigning the information from the XLS or CSV file to input fields and automatically creates the necessary Schedule D form.
Watch the video
Like-kind exchange wizard
Use this wizard to record 1031 exchange transactions in minutes, not hours. You’ll turn a complicated, time-consuming process into just a few quick, simple steps. Plus, the wizard can automatically create a new asset for the basis of the property received.
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Calculations and diagnostics
Prepare accurate returns fast with automated calculations, diagnostics and more:
- Use comprehensive form sets and deep, automated calculations to prepare even the toughest individual and business returns correctly, with confidence.
- Have all the functionality you need — including consolidated corporation capabilities, oil and gas capabilities, robust multi-state processing, Schedule J calculations, partial dispositions, deep AMT calculations, special allocations for partnerships, depreciation calculations and more.
- Discover mistakes and omissions with more than 25,000 extensive diagnostics, including specific e-file error checking and tax reform diagnostics. This will result in fewer e-file and IRS rejections. Learn more
- Get quick access from the error screen to the input field to correct any issues.
Utilities and tools
Hosting for Lacerte
Access your Lacerte software anywhere and on any device. Cloud hosting allows you to stay in your workflow and collaborate with your firm in the same way you use every day, but now offers you the option to work from any remote device including a Mac or tablet.
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Missing client data utility
Identify input fields that are missing information and then quickly send an email to clients requesting the required information. Simply flag input fields in the detail screens while reviewing a return, and then when you receive information back from your client, you can jump directly to the input fields from within the Missing Data tool. You can also use Link to send Missing Data Utility requests to your clients.
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Trial balance utility
Use this feature to save time during the busiest part of the tax season. You can do your most important trial balance work from within Lacerte. Develop a chart of accounts, adjust journal entries and manage tax line assignments. Trial balance work stays with that client and carries over from year to year.
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Oil and gas data and partner data management
Import oil and gas data and partner data from Excel and update it in Lacerte. You’ll make the process quick — just minutes instead of weeks in most cases.
Learn more about oil and gas data importing
Learn more about partner data importing
Tax analysis and planning tools
Tax analysis and planning tools help you easily exceed client expectations with consultative tax services to add value.
- Sold as part of the Lacerte Tax bundles, Lacerte offers integrated client service tools to help you be the hero to your clients and provide services beyond just the basics of a tax return.
- Lacerte Tax Planner allows you to quickly provide customized strategies to help clients reduce their future tax liability.
- Lacerte Tax Analyzer helps you advise your clients on how new tax laws will impact their financial health, plus it will red flag amounts on the tax return that are more likely to trigger an IRS audit.
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Fixed asset import tool
Import fixed assets from an Excel spreadsheet. This feature is best used for new clients or existing clients with several asset purchases in a given year.
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Intuit Link
Link is a portal that makes it easy for your clients to deliver their tax data to you in a timely, personalized and organized way.
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Split screen and dual monitor support
View tax return forms and data entry fields side-by-side, saving you time from going back and forth between the details and forms tabs. This functionality is great for reviewing tax returns and preparing "what if" scenarios. You can also choose to display across two separate monitors. This viewing option can be found in the "View" menu under "Detail/Forms View.”
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K-1 transfer
Automatically import partnership, S-Corp and fiduciary tax data into a return or transfer data between business returns.
Learn more
Point-of-need guidance
Obtain predictive and proactive content to answer your questions when you need it, while keeping you in your workflow. Guidance is accessible in detail input screens, as well as in the diagnostics tab.
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Performance and integration
Unique interface
Unique interface speeds you through tax preparation, helping you complete more returns in a day.
- All clients can be seen at once with customizable columns.
- Flat worksheet-based design enables fast heads-down data input.
- Direct access to forms, diagnostics, print functions and more reduces unnecessary clicks.
- Logically set up to match the common flow of a tax return, resulting in easy to learn and use.
- Quickly review inputs using tab design.
Reliable mult-user performance
Reliable multiuser performance doesn't slow your networked staff down.
- Networking capabilities help the software perform at a consistently high basis, whether you're running on a single PC or over a multi-user network.
- Set preferences, including invoice scheduling, across your entire firm for uniform processing.
- No time-consuming workarounds and billing errors for firms who use multiple preparer license files, as Lacerte recognizes unique firm IDs, and downloads and assigns the correct prep files automatically.
Exclusive QuickBooks Accountant integration
Lacerte SmartMap reduces time-consuming prep work and data entry by importing your QuickBooks Accountant trial balance data directly into Lacerte.
- Automatically assigns tax fields to your trial balance accounts.
- Balances are imported into a safe place so corrections can be made prior to posting balances to the return.
- Build your own custom database by automatically saving new assignments. Complete one client and almost all your other returns are done.
- Drag and drop unmappable fields from QuickBooks directly onto the tax form, and the Export Billing Information to QuickBooks tool exports Lacerte billing amounts to QuickBooks. Learn more
On-screen guidance
Get answers to your questions when you need help, with proactive support content that lets you stay in your workflow.