Provision System
International
Partnership
Federal System
State System

Provision System

We have a totally different viewpoint on provision systems. Many companies can build a simple provision system in Excel and that is all they need, particularly if they do not have many companies. Other more complex companies find an in-house system inadequate so they go out and buy someone's provision system.

The problem is that the very complexities that caused them to buy a system just can't be handled by the black box system they bought. So they go back to using Excel and put that Big 5 system on the shelf. One provision system fits all just doesn't work. No one has ever built a good one and we don't think we could either.

We custom build each provision system, modifying the templates from other systems we have built, and completely customizing the handling of the information flow and exceptions for each client. For example, we have two utility clients who compete in several service areas. Even though they are parents to similar utility and non-utility companies, their provision systems are remarkably different even though they do exactly the same thing. Both clients have fully automated systems, with monthly provisions and are capable of multiple closes with automatic accounting adjustments directly to the general ledger and full integration with the compliance system. One of the exceptional features is the development of a parallel multi-year planning system; similar in design to the provision system that shares the same database.

International

Data Tech takes the same viewpoint on international systems as it does with provision; while individual modules can be pre-built, the system should be custom assembled and tailored to each client. One international system for everybody just doesn't work and that view seems to be verified by the system currently on the market. One of our tech teams is currently working with several large clients on custom systems. Some modules are completed, others are still under development.

Partnership

Data Tech provides full partnership, S Corp, 990C, and REIT systems for federal and all states including S Corp state combined returns.

Federal System

If you think about it, the mechanics of doing a federal return are quite straightforward: Every system can do it. Every system also maps the G/L to the federal return but that is about it for automation. Collection and processing of the data, not calculating tax forms is the problem.

The real trick that differentiates Tax Dimensions from standard compliance software is the M-1 Automation Control System which integrates general ledger detail, tax formulas and independent M-1 development worksheets all the way through to the appropriate M-1s in the return.

A typical client can have 85% of his M-1s in place every year; completely automated. For the remainder of the M-1s they are semi-automated, each M-1 with a summary cover sheet and the formatted detail calculation worksheet. One recently automated client saved just under three man-weeks by automating his reserve accounts.

When the worksheet is completed a completion box is checked and the completed M-1 is automatically posted to the return. The tax manager has a Report Manager, for each company and staff person, which not only shows which M's have been completed but also runs a Test Report that analyses each worksheet for predefined criteria.

Each system is customized to meet his specific requirements (See Automation & Customization); it's not, and can't be, a cookie-cutter approach; that's why it works.

State System

Tax Dimensions can be up to twice as fast as other systems in the time it takes to complete a state return. But over and above that, Data Tech has developed a number of tools that make everything faster. For example, a company may have supporting spreadsheets for NOL's, dividends, and other items. To link these up each year to the new year's forms could take quite some time if there are a large number of state returns. Tax Dimensions has a tool that grabs the supporting schedules from last year and rolls these supporting schedules into the new year and links them to the new forms.

Many clients have both partnerships and C corp returns. It can be quite time consuming to take your company's share of the partnerships' apportionment data and combine it with the C corp apportionment. Tax Dimensions has a specialized system that automates this process, complete with audit reports. Several of our clients have saved over one man-month each year with this integration.