2018 Review of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting Payroll

From the 2018 reviews of professional payroll systems.

Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting’s Payroll is best-suited for smaller accounting firms that offer or wish to offer payroll and related services to their clients. Designed to integrate with the Client Accounting Suite, the Payroll module can also be used as a stand-alone application, though users will get more benefit from using the entire suite. Like all Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting products, Accounting Suite and the Payroll application are designed and available only to accounting professionals.

Wolters Kluwer’s Payroll offers a new dashboard view, though users can still choose to access payroll using the traditional display. From the dashboard, users can choose to perform a variety of tasks, including entering employee time, calculating payroll, selecting checks to print, posting payroll, and even reconciling the checking account. The dashboard displays a series of panels containing information such as tax liabilities, a brief client profile, a summary of the last payroll processed for the client, and access to employees as well as quarter-to-date and year-to-date balances, with users able to customize the dashboard to suit their needs. At the top of the dashboard, users have access to a variety of functions, including File, Lists, Payroll, Activities, QuickLooks, Reports, and Utilities.

The payroll entry screen resembles a timesheet, with users choosing the appropriate employee from the list on the left, and then entering data as needed. Auto pay employees will show default information, which can be edited if desired. Users can choose whether to print a check or enter manual check information. Once all employee data has been entered, users can choose to calculate the payroll, then print checks, if necessary.

Wolters Kluwer Payroll supports an unlimited number of payroll clients, as well as an unlimited number of employees for each client.

The product offers tax tables for all 50 states, with local taxes supported as well. Federal tax reports such as 940, 941, 943 and 944 are generated in Wolters Kluwer Payroll, but users will need to use Wolters Kluwer’s W-2/1099 in order to file the forms electronically. W-2s and 1099s are also processed in the product, with electronic filing done by the W-2/1099 program.  

Standard payroll reports are available in Wolters Kluwer Payroll, including and Employees Report, Employee Deductions, Employee Garnishments, and a New Hire Report. Various Payroll History reports are also available, including a comprehensive Payroll History, Employee Benefits History, and Employee Totals. Reports offer limited customization capability, but can be exported to Microsoft Excel for customization if desired. Reports can also be exported to a Text file, or a Delimited Text, saved as a PDF, or emailed to recipients.

Users can import time from Wolters Kluwer applications or from third-party timekeeping applications via text file.

Wolters Kluwer Payroll is part of the Client Accounting Suite, offering seamless integration with other modules in the application including GL, Trial Balance, After-the-Fact Payroll, AP, and AR options. Integration with other third-party applications is limited though users can convert existing data from applications such as QuickBooks and Sage 50

Wolters Kluwer Payroll offers excellent help functionality, including access to various help topics, FAQ’s, a user guide, a year end guide, as well as a conversion guide and a direct deposit guide. Tutorials are available, as well as a knowledge library and new user orientation. All Wolters Kluwer products offer unlimited support, including telephone, email, fax, and online support options, with support costs included in the licensing fees. Additional training options and webinars are also available from the Wolters Kluwer website at an additional cost.

Wolters Kluwer Payroll is an excellent solution for accounting professionals that currently use other Wolters Kluwer applications. Payroll can also be used as a stand-alone product, if desired, though users will experience more benefits if used with the Client Accounting Suite. The Payroll module and Client Accounting Suite are priced separately, with pricing available directly from Wolters Kluwer. Users can also request a demo of the product directly from Wolters Kluwer to try out prior to purchasing.

2018 Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars