Computer Software Essay Example For Students

Computer Software Essay Comparison of Three Tax Preparation Software Packages, Including: Turbo Tax by Intuit, Inc., Simply Tax by 4Home Productions, and Tax Cut by MECA SoftwarePrepared forFinnertyProfessorPrepared byJoseph WiseAccountantWises Wild ToysBay Village Ohio, 44140April 13, 2000Wises Wild Toys24407 Electric Dr. Bay Village Ohio, 44140Tel. # (440) 835-1234April 6, 2000Ms. Finnerty, Chief Financial OfficerFinnerty:Per your request, I have chosen to do my report on an evaluation of three separate tax preparation software packages for potential use in our company. The following are the programs that I evaluated for Wises Wild Toys: Turbo Tax by Intuit, Inc., Simply Tax by 4Home Productions, and Tax Cut by MECA Software. My research concluded that Tax Cut by MECA Software would be the optimal program for our company to purchase. This program provided the greatest value as far as price and helpful features are concerned. During the evaluation process, Tax Cut proved to be a superior program in every category in which it was tested. The information in this report was primarily obtained through a personal interview with Jonathan, a Sales Manager at CompUSA computer store. Additional information came from journal articles, which were found in the Grasselli Library of John Carroll University. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to conduct this research project. My associates and I are looking forward to working with this new method of preparing our tax information. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I will be happy to assist you in getting this project underway. Sincerely,Joseph R. WiseAccountantITable of ContentsLetter of Transmittal..IList of Illustrations..IIIExecutive SummaryIVIntroduction1Purpose..1Scope2Limitations2Turbo Tax by Intuit, Inc..2Price..3System Requirements3States Available.3Special Features.3Installation..3Error Recovery and Support.4Preparation, Guidance, and Filing4Simply Tax by 4Home Productions.5Price..5System Requirements6States Available.6Special Features6Installation.6Error Recovery and Support.6Preparation, Guidance, and Filing7Tax Cut by MECA Software.8Price8 System Requirements8States Available.8Special Features9Installation..9Error Recovery and Support.9 Preparation, Guidance, Filing.10Conclusion..10Works Cited..12IIList of IllustrationsFigure 1 Suitability to Task for Turbo Tax by Intuit, Inc..5Figure 2 Suitability to Task for Simply Tax by 4Home Productions.7Figure 3 Suitability to Task for Tax Cut by MECA Software..10IIIExecutive SummaryThe purpose of this report is to determine which tax preparation software program would be best suited for use in Wises Wild Toys. The company has undergone a rapid expansion since its organization in 1960, and it continues to grow today. In keeping with the constant developments in computer technology and software, it has been decided that a tax preparation software package will increase the efficiency of the companys business transactions. This report evaluates the following software programs: Turbo Tax by Intuit, Inc., Simply Tax by 4Home Productions, and Tax Cut by MECA Software. These three packages were evaluated in the areas of price, system requirements, states available, special features, installation procedures, error recovery and support features, as well as preparation, guidance, and filing mechanisms. A personal interview with an employee of CompUSA computer store provided the primary information for this report. Journal articles gathered from the Grasselli Library of John Carroll University provided the remainder of the information on tax preparation software packages. It has been concluded that Wises Wild Toys should purchase the Tax Cut program produced by MECA Software. This program produced superior results in the several categories in which it was evaluated. IVIntroductionWises Wild Toys began in the early 1900s selling discounted toys mainly to those families in poorer areas of Cleveland, Ohio. Today Wises Wild Toys has customers all over the Cleveland area. Their generosity to the underprivileged has given them great publicity in the Cleveland area has brought many people to see this wonderful store. Due to its expanded clientele, Wises Wild Toys has recently expanded to a second location to meet public demand. They now have stores located on the east and West Side of Cleveland. PurposeWises Wild Toys has increased their inventory by 900% in almost 100 years and their hired employees from the 2 owners to roughly 100 employees. Due to Wises Wild Toys increase in size its managerial duties have become more difficult to organize. It has become obvious with the advances in computer technology and software design that efficiencies can be gained through the use of a modern accounting and tax software package. The purpose of this report is to evaluate three tax preparation software programs and submit recommendations on the premium program for Wises Wild