New features

The information below summarizes the new features and changes to the 2012 version and additionally provides a reference to older upgrades. For example, if you have a 2008 version, then the information listed for 2009 - 2012 would all be relevant to your upgrade.

2012 Version

Calendar view option. As shown on the Calendar View Screen this provides a quick snapshot of the due dates for the entire year. Additionally, by clicking on any of the highlighted dates, you can drill-down to the individual jobs on that date.
Task Groups were added. Task Groups allow you to establish a common set of Tasks that are often added and add them in one group rather than having to choose each one. For example, you could set up a group of tasks called Bookkeeping and group together Monthly Financial Statements, Form 941, Form 940, W-2, Payroll and whenever a new bookkeeping client is added select the group rather than each task to add.
Rearrange columns on the main screen. The settings are user specific so each user can have a different order. Note that the four "frozen" columns on the left side cannot be moved. The frozen columns are the Client Name, Task, Period End and Due Date.
The Filters on the main screen were completely reworked and modified for more efficient access to all selections. Now ALL filters and search tools are located on the main screen for easier access, including the Group filter which is frequently used to isolate a group of related clients and the related jobs.
Additionally, we added the ability to multi-select several groups.
Staff or responsibility can now optionally be filtered across all levels (a search will search in all 4 columns) or the user can choose to leave the search on level of responsibility.
A Preferences Menu was added along with new and enhanced choices to personalize the operation on TaskTracker Additionally, several other existing preferences were moved to this menu to allow quick access
The Font Size can now be increased or decreased (within limits) on the main screen and some other areas to ease the strain on the eyes during tax season or just age-related focusing issues.
The Font Type can also be changed to your personal preference.
The Calendar Pop-Up for the date choices was modified to show an entire year rather than just one month at a time, to make updating more efficient.
The Staff Responsibility fields can now all be rolled (or not rolled) forward each year.
The search button now searches all text fields at the same time, i.e., Client Name, Groups, Client# and the four user defined fields, allowing for quick display of related clients.
The search button is now the default focus on the main screen and the client screen for greater efficiency.
Can now search by pressing the tab key to move to the search button and then press enter without having to utilize a mouse-click.
Streamlined installation in multi-user environment by eliminating some redundancy on the product code.
Check-box added to indicate when client is a subsidiary or department and modified the diagnostics so that subsidiary entities are ignored when creating warnings about no federal jobs being set up.
Default folder for saving excel reports and backups was changed to the user documents folder to make locating files easier.
Changed the default backup file names to be more user friendly and recognizable
Added a clear recent history to menu.
Increased options on custom date range searches
Checking for save on edit screen when exiting and moving from one record to the next.
Added menu item for Sample Company to allow for easier access for new users to learn the program.
Numerous behind the scenes file maintenance changes.

2011 Version

e-File date field for tracking the date tax returns were electronically filed with the IRS
5 user-defined date fields added as discussed below
Engagement letter date field added. Engagement letters have always been required on audits and reviews, but are now also required on compilations. Additionally, most firms also obtain engagement letters on some or all tax and other compliance work. This new field will help you to manage this administrative necessity. This field can also be user-defined for other purposes
Date delivered field added to allow a firm to indicate the date the client copy and e-file consent form (8879 series) was mailed, delivered or emailed. Optionally this field can be user-defined for other purposes.
Date IRS accepted tax return added. Optionally this field can be user-defined for other purposes
Date reviewed field added. Optionally this field can be user-defined for other purposes
Target field can now be user-defined for other purposes
All of the user-defined date fields can be hidden in the main window
New filter drop-down added for custom date fields to use for e-File, engagement letters etc.
An alpha bar was added to the main window so the user can limit the displayed clients to those beginning with the selected alphabetic character and allowing for quick searches of particular clients and or jobs
A search field was added to the main window that is immediately available. The search text will retrieve any jobs whose client name, group name, entity or any of the text fields contains the search characters
Alpha and search bars also added to the Client window
Alpha and search bars also added to the New Job window
Client year-end filter added
Added entity filters to the new job window
Clicking on the date fields located on the main screen "grid" now updates that particular date rather than having to use toolbar buttons. The toolbar is also still available for fields
Added several pre-set date range choices, for example due today, due this week, all prior year completed jobs, all prior year jobs, all jobs for all years
More information is now displayed on job detail window
Ability to change or update job from the job detail window
Can now include "To-Do" type jobs when making multiple task selections on task drop-down
Added ability to select "All but" a certain task type, i.e., all but 1040's
Added selection of "Jobs not yet received" filter, i.e., to view jobs that information has not be received from client
Added forward and backward buttons to job detail window to scroll through jobs without leaving that window
Drill-down to detail client information by clicking on the client name on any job that is listed on the main window
Drill-down to client information from job detail screen
Modified and enhanced the information on several windows
Added Benefit Plans to entity types for importing and other uses
Several new pre-defined tasks were added, i.e., 1120-H, 944 etc
Additional diagnostics
Allow removal of unused tasks from choices

2010 Version

Updated due dates for state income and franchise returns
Ability to download the most recent task definitions so that you are always using the most current information and new pre-defined tasks we have available
Additional pre-defined jobs such as NM Biennial Corporate Report, NY MTA-5, Ohio CAT, Minnesota Franchise Tax M-4, TD F 90-22.1, Form 720 ... and more
Diagnostic reports were added
Quick access to completed jobs (completed today, this week, this month, this year, last year)
Ability to indicate clients are inactive so that they are no longer shown in selections. This feature can be turned off or on.
Customize your Staff field names. So instead of Partner, Manager, Senior, Staff, if your firm would rather have levels of Big Honcho, 2nd Banana, In-Charge and Preparer then you can do it.
Numerous multi-user modifications made
Database modifications to make the program more efficient
Tool added that allows a mass change or deletion of staff job assignments
Responsibility filters only show lists for active jobs, thereby showing only choices that are relative to active jobs
Added a Biennial (every 2 years) option
Status screen options enhanced
Client updated field can now be printed on reports
Cosmetic changes to reports
Standard reports locked so that only Custom reports can be changed.
The find jobs tool was made more efficient and intuitive so that only keyboard access is needed
Changed appearance and functionality of adding new tasks and new rules to be more intuitive
Added several new options for client reports
The task and rule description field size was increased to allow more information to be displayed when selecting a task or rule
Added additional import features
Changed operations of New Tasks screen for efficiency
Modified program so that a custom task can have a 25 character ID
Login screen automatically defaults to last user
Custom reports screens enhanced to make report design more intuitive and versatile.
Client comments field increased to 250 characters
Client comments now available on all reports
Client reports can now be exported to excel
Client reports can be printed for one, all, or a selection of clients
Refresh buttons added on several windows
Numerous internal changes to make program more efficient

2009 Version

The program was updated for the new 2009 filing season extension rules related to Form 1065 U.S. Partnership Return, and Form 1041 Fiduciary Income Tax
The related state partnership extensions were updated as a result of the federal change for those states.
The Texas Franchise tax extension rules were updated to provide for the two alternative extension dates
Multiple selections are now available on the screen view fields such as clients, tasks, work-flow, entity and the four levels of staff assignments. For example, you can now choose to display all of the 1065's, 1120-S's' and 1120's and exclude the rest
Additionally, multiple selections are now available for the printed reports for those fields - clients, tasks, work-flow, entity and the four levels of staff assignments
The job comments field was increased to 250 characters to allow a firm or tax department to keep memo type information as the job progresses, i.e.., specific information needed
The four user defined fields, job comments, job notes, and the two miscellaneous fields were modified. Specifically, the program now allows the firm to choose whether to retain or clear any information that was entered in the current year when the job is rolled forward to the next period. Each field can be set independently so this will allow some fields to be used for information that is needed each year and other information that pertained only to the current year to be automatically erased.
Added the ability to drill down to the job detail screen by double clicking on the job row in the main screen grid.
Added keyboard shortcuts on new job screen to allow for faster input
Added the ability for the user to create a semi-annual custom task, which eliminates the need to create two annual tasks
A 3 times per year custom tasks now available for those jurisdictions that have estimated tax payments made 3 times a year instead of the normal 4 times a year.
A 4 times per year custom tasks now available for tasks that don't repeat quarterly. This is for those situations where the task does not repeat mathematically, i.e., 2 months, then 4, then 7, then 10
Enhanced the custom rules screen to make it more intuitive for the user
Enhanced staff screen to make it more intuitive and provided tips on the different security levels
Removed obsolete tasks and rules

2008 Version

Added the ability to save or export due-date reports directly to Excel
Unlimited number of fields can now be printed to reports when using the Excel option
User can now unwind a completed job and restore to the open jobs
Added a new security level that allows some updating rights but not deletion, extensions or completed
Over 50 New pre-defined state tax returns added
Added pre-defined tasks for non-standard estimated tax dates in FL, HI, IN, IA, KY, NM, NY, OH and RI
Ability to sort by client groups
Custom date-range made more intuitive
Date-range defaults to current year when looking at completed jobs for reference
Enhanced importing features to make more intuitive
Completion date now remains the same for multiple selections unless over-ridden
Date received now remains the same for multiple selections unless over-ridden
Target date now remains the same for multiple selections unless over-ridden
Various cosmetic and help items added

2007 Version

Vista installations have no issues
Ability to display only To-Do type jobs.
Enhanced program to accommodate dual-screen usage more efficiently
Job filters moved to drop-down choices on main window for immediate changes to display options.
Defaults button moved to main window for greater efficiency.
Added the ability to locate a particular job by simply pressing the first letter of client name.
Added ability to select a range of jobs and then process the group for completion dates, extensions etc....
Added Client Number, Federal Tax ID Number and Entity Type fields to main window (optionally hidden)
Enhanced and streamlined import features
Allows the customization of the width of the columns and the change saved for each user.
Made it easier to erase the work-flow choice for a particular job
Allow reordering of work-flow drop down choices
Option to show only delinquent jobs (additionally you can choose to not showing delinquent jobs).
Sorting by Due Date will now sort by the greater of due date or extension date
Enhanced monthly job choices
Added some additional payroll jobs to the pre-defined tasks
Enhanced the To-Do type jobs to make unique jobs more intuitive to enter
Can now changed the description of a custom task and apply globally to existing jobs without having to re-enter.
Numerous programming and cosmetic changes to the custom task window and routines to make it more intuitive and efficient.
Lengthened a couple of fields on printed reports to prevent them from being truncated.
Enhanced the backup routines
Enhanced the restore option
Added additional information to the job detail screen
Enhanced program to accommodate dual-screen usage more efficiently
Numerous programming changes to input checking
Multi-user enhancements

1998 - 2006

These versions are no longer supported, please call for an upgrade!