Intuit's eSort scan and import system, introduced last year, has disappeared into a new product, called ProLine Tax Import, which Intuit is picturing as an evolution of eSort. However, product managers say the new offering, now offers capabilities the previous product incarnation lacked.
ProLine Tax Import, scheduled for a January 6 launch for the 2010 ProSeries and Lacerte tax packages, can import source document information from online sources, such as financial institutions and brokerage houses, and from scanned source documents. There are 10 financial institutions already participating in the online program with negotiations for more underway, according to marketing manager Jeff Harrell.
Tax Import will be able to import information from W-2s, 1099s, K-1s and brokerage statement from the participating companies directly into the Lacerte and ProSeries tax packages.
However, the system keeps control over that information in the hand of the taxpayers, notes interaction designer Robert Torres. The tax preparer can email clients who can click on a link that takes them to a site called 1099 Dropoff where they can approve transfer of the information from the bank or brokerage house.
Information is "sent directly into the tax return," says Torres, who explains that this process eliminates the need to give account passwords to preparers.
The system also accepts scanned documents. Once source document information has been scanned, it is transmitted to Intuit where data is extracted and then returned to the preparer for import into the tax return.
Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards. Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that. A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind
