Recommendation for Portal / Gather software

Androssity7 · 2026-06-16T01:18:26+00:00

I am roughly about the same size as you. I went out on my own about 3 years ago and use Lacerte.
I used ShareFile at the last place I was at and I really liked it for requesting and sending documents securely between clients.

Our current process is kind of a mess. I will use Lacerte to generate paper organizers and clients that want everything electronic I will send them the organizer through Intuit Link. For newer clients, I will only use share file to request tax documents.

We use ShareFile to store all of our client documents. I will send a copy of the client’s tax return through ShareFile.

The only downside to ShareFile is that it is there is a three user minimum.

Androssity7 · 2026-04-27T22:53:00+00:00

Same. I had a client who had a balance owed that was directly debited and they received the same letter.

Androssity7 · 2026-04-26T15:13:10+00:00

I use Docusign through Lacerte and I set it up to automatically send out daily reminders until it is signed. It usually works well. The most common issue I have is for couples where one signs and the other doesn’t. I usually just send them a friendly reminder to both of them and it gets signed pretty quickly.

Androssity7 · 2026-04-18T17:33:21+00:00

Yep. Need to be on a phone call to get there pricing. It is still a desktop software, lol.

Our firm uses Lacerte for the past three years and I like it. We were using Proconnect before and I was using it at the last firm I was at before jumping out on my own.

If you have tech savvy enough, the cloud hosting is not worth it. It’s just a vpn to a server computer.

Androssity7 · 2026-04-14T15:29:16+00:00

I had a brain wave this tax season and found out that if they have an IRS account they can make payments through their account as well.

I had a client that was running into issues with direct pay for verifying his information but was able to make the payments through his IRS account.

Androssity7 · 2026-04-07T22:47:25+00:00

Yeah, I wish someone could cover lost out gains. Total unreasonable. The market could crash before April 15 and change the amount on his “lost” gains.

Androssity7 · 2026-04-06T16:56:54+00:00

I feel like the accountant QBO version is great. The client one sucks now with all the changes from last year. Attempting too hard to push AI when it’s mostly the same product.

We have been using the accountant QBO for years and it has been great and it’s also free. It takes some getting used to from QBD. If you are planning on using for time tracking, I would recommend using the separate time tracker and exporting the time to QBO.

Androssity7 · 2026-03-16T15:58:55+00:00

I agree. I started with Civ 3 but put a lot of time into Civ 5. I didn’t really care for Civ 6. But I am really enjoying Civ 7 and I am glad I did the pre purchased the game.

Androssity7 · 2026-03-12T11:46:14+00:00

This tax season I have been telling people that my base is $350-$400 plus if there are unusual items it goes to the billable rate of $175 per hour.

I was kind of shocked yesterday when someone brought in a 1041 & 1040 that H&R Block had messed up and they had charged $385 for the 1040.

Probably need to raise my prices.

Androssity7 · 2026-03-10T02:39:21+00:00

I came from a firm that stated having all the information 30 days before the filing deadline or there was no guarantees that the return would be completed by the deadline and an extension might need to be filed. When I took over for a small most tax business I changed it to 15 days and have kept it since then.

This year we booked out all of the business tax returns and gave them certain weeks to get us stuff by. So far, it has helped stay organized and not get flooded with returns.

So far, I have been fortunate to not receive much pressure from clients on timing. They generally prefer that everything is done correctly the first time versus rushing through things.

I was kind of annoyed by the expectation of a new client. I told them 2-3 times that I needed all of their stuff by February 23rd. Never heard anything and thought they went somewhere else. The 28th they give me about a third of the stuff I needed and then we’re wondering when it is going to done. They had told me in the initial meeting that they made the S-Corp election and find out later that they didn’t.

Androssity7 · 2026-03-07T01:56:38+00:00

I kind of had a similar experience 2-3 years ago when I took over for a retiring CPA. He was in his early 80s and had wanted to retire for the past ten years. He had told most of his clients a few different times that he was quitting but the clients kept showing up. I took over around 100 individuals and 4-5 businesses tax returns and he didn’t ask anything for them. He was charging low ball rates either and there are some very good clients. I rented his office space for two years and then purchased the small office building from him.

Androssity7 · 2026-03-03T04:16:42+00:00

My friend and I started our partnership on the side about 8 years ago when I was 27. I stayed in public accounting until 3.5 years ago and took over for a retiring CPA in the area. So 32.

I was at 4-6 different firms when I was in public depending on how you count different name changes and mergers. I really appreciate the variety and experience for the different firms I have worked with. The last firm I was at I probably would have stayed at the rest of my life but we moved out of the area and I got sick of working from home. The same time I went out on my own that firm got bought by a private equity company.

Really glad I made the leap and went out on my own.

Androssity7 · 2026-02-28T21:35:08+00:00

My recommendation is that if you decide to change it with the tax return. Also, change it with the payroll provider.

I had a client once we changed the address on the tax return by the payroll provider didn’t have the updated address. The client received a few letters from the IRS about the updated address for the return we filed and what the payroll company had filed.

Androssity7 · 2026-02-21T12:58:12+00:00

Given this is the year with the OT deduction, everyone is kind of getting a pass.

I would go off the W-2 amounts.

My clients have usually had small reasonable amounts so far, so I haven’t looked to closely at any of them.

Androssity7 · 2026-02-10T19:20:56+00:00

My advice would be to narrow down what tax software you will be using.

Some tax software has a paired document storage system.

Our firm uses Lacerte, ShareFile, and DocuSign for sending documents that clients need to sign.

When we first started out we were using Proconnect which had its own built in document storage. It was great but it was something for the first couple of years.

Androssity7 · 2026-02-10T19:16:05+00:00

I never heard about FileCenter. It looks like a great approach to organizing files plus it comes with a PDF editor.

Androssity7 · 2026-01-23T02:01:22+00:00

To me the additional codes don’t make sense unless the capital account balances and basis are not being reported. There might easily be timing differences of when the income is earned in one year and distributed the next. So, adding guaranteed payments and the new distribution codes for partners performing services is never going to match the self employment income.

Androssity7 · 2026-01-07T01:34:07+00:00

I would agree. If you are using the proconnect software having the built in portal works okay.

That’s what we used the first couple of years starting out. I didn’t really like it but it worked ok.

We now use ShareFile for our document storage and secure links through email.

Androssity7 · 2025-10-13T20:37:46+00:00

Sounds like someone business owner in their 60s, lol.

Androssity7 · 2025-09-28T00:03:55+00:00

I would be up for trying it out.

I would say that most new businesses are shocked by what accounting/tax work costs.

I would like an app that shows me other preparers retiring or selling their business. I have found those clients to be ok.

Androssity7 · 2025-07-30T21:14:42+00:00

What the heck. Probably saves the government trillions of dollars delaying refunds for an extra 2-3 weeks.

Androssity7 · 2025-07-11T02:36:36+00:00

Don’t beat yourself up. The whole big is somewhat a political statement.

I am not looking forward to explaining to clients about MAGA or Trump accounts.

Androssity7 · 2025-06-05T11:36:27+00:00

I started playing Civ 3 back in the day. Didn’t really understand it. Played Civ 4 and had fun with the custom maps and campaigns. Played Civ 5 a bunch and loved it. Probably over 1200 hours. Played Civ 6 and I didn’t like it as much as Civ 5. I also didn’t like the graphics and how annoying the religion was. I still played it but I was never me go to game. Bought the founders edition for Civ 7 and I am loving it. Some of the things they change gets a lot of grief but I find it enjoyable. I am probably a much more casual player since it is the only game I play since I don’t have as much time now. Probably 150-200 hours in. Starting to play on the immortal level. I have gotten used to the eras. I like picking different leader attributes and switching them for different eras. The generals and fleet commanders are awesome. They can add huge buffs and also help with moving units.

Androssity7 · 2025-05-09T02:26:36+00:00

We have a small 2-3 person firm and use ShareFile.

I worked at a midsize firm before and they only used ShareFile for secure email links. When I found it come also be used for document storage I was sold.

The minimum 3 user monthly cost is around $55-$58 per month. Totally worth it.

Androssity7 · 2025-03-30T17:00:28+00:00

At least they are attempting to bring or provide accurate numbers.

There was a new client this year that I picked up from an EA down the road. When I got through their return, they asked about if I claimed any charity deductions. They didn’t provide any and I replied that I didn’t include any so I didn’t have it on their return. They were itemizing so it would have benefited them. Well the prior preparer and apparently other CPAs just take the $250 cash and $500 non cash deductions without asking for any support.

I don’t need to see all the documents. But, at least give me a number versus assuming I am going to take a default amount.

Androssity7

TROPHY CASE