Canopy

Avantages

Comprehensive document storage and essential information storage that makes it easy to go back-and-forth with a client in a format that is trackable.

Inconvénients

Not be able to move files around well in viewing mode so that you know what you’re moving where without having to memorize every document title. Also not having fields for cross referencing company and personal accounts so you can search names that would pertain to both sides and all relevant accounts.

Avantages

That all client info, files, communication, notes, and tasks are in one application. It has helped eliminate the need to jump around from application to application to find the info I need to manage all my clients accounts.

Inconvénients

The task feature can use some updates in simplification and added features. I still prefer Jetpack Workflow to help manage my tasks until Canopy improves this feature. I also get frustrated that there isn't a way to simply email a file stored in Canopy to a client that maybe isn't using the portal feature, rather than downloading and adding to an email as an atachment,

Avantages

I like that it integrates with QBO, it is easy to use and works for all our clients (Tax, Payroll & Bookkeeping) which we have had issues in the past. I love that it can be used as a Document Management

Inconvénients

Email integration is a little tricky, I can't search because I have too many emails and there isn't a way to sort them easily. Also, the Calendar sync only uses my calendar not my shared calendars, so my staff doesn't see my schedule there

Avantages

All client documents, tasks, client requests and billing are in one place.
Canopy collaborates with users in developing enhancements and new features.

Inconvénients

A customizable client tax organizer is to be rolled out this tax year. Can't wait to see this feature. Canopy has made steady upgrades and enhancements to features.

Avantages

The ability to organize documents into folders makes it very easy to review tax returns back to source information documents from clients. It's also relatively straightforward from the client perspective to use and upload documents.

Inconvénients

It doesn't have a client chat feature so organizing client correspondence by email can be somewhat difficult with the notes and emails.

Avantages

I am a small business and it is working out great for my firm. Affordable. Customer service has been very good.

Inconvénients

That other users can see my email if my email is integrated. This may not be an issue and longer as I have not checked it recently. Accepting payments through Canopy is too costly for me and receiving the funds too slow. I hope this improves so I don't have to pay for another service.

Avantages

Canopy makes it easy to securly share tax sensitive documents with clients.

Inconvénients

Getting transcripts from the IRS using Canopy can be a challenge.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi passer à Canopy

Avantages

Ease of Use, ability for clients to esign on their phone

Inconvénients

If the software is on your browser, you have to start over to get it to work correctly.

Avantages

Even my over 80 year old clients were able to 'start up' their online account and download/view/E-Sign their returns without much assistance from my office. It was that easy for them! AND a very small percentage of clients (less then 5%) had difficulty

Inconvénients

You have many features we have not implemented. Time is of the essence any classes you offer during the tax season are difficult to attend. I guess more communication regarding all the product abilities.

Avantages

Client portal, Document Management, IRS Transcripts

Inconvénients

Feature missing for the Client portal, we would like to receive acknowledgement that client viewed the document we shared with them.

Avantages

I love that is product is a one stop area for many of my daily management duties. I can see what tasks my team members have been assigned and how far along they are in the processes.

Inconvénients

I would like a couple of reports to have more customization. The ability to place signature fields and check boxes on PDFs would be great.

Avantages

I love the client portal as well as the transcript feature. My clients like the ease and security of the portal, and being able keep all their documents in one place is a wonderful feature.

Inconvénients

Recently the request transcript tool is not working when trying to request new updated transcripts.

Avantages

I like the transcript features and cannot work effectively without them.

Inconvénients

Duplicates - hard to manage when system allows for duplicate names.

Avantages

Overall functionality and ease of navigation. Bonus points for cool GUI and branding. The Customer Support staff is absolutely outstanding.

Inconvénients

The billing section needs a lot of work. Need to be able to automatically run batches of clients on a monthly basis. I know this is being addressed but it's still an issue for us.

Avantages

It's safe and secure. Clients are able to upload documents and the documents are saved their portal which as a result, keeps us better organized. The visible and not visible feature for files is a great feature because they are certain documents that the client doesn't need to see but are important for internal use. The task feature keeps us organized and we know exactly the status of each client. We are still learning Canopy capabilities and features.

Inconvénients

Be able to move files from one client portal to another. We numerous clients whom keep uploading to the wrong portal because they have access to their individual and entity. I spend a lot of time downloading each file, saving it to me desktop and then dragging it over to the proper client portal. Not being able to delete a task from the client portal. If two people are in the same client portal and someone deletes and uploads a document we noticed that the client portal gets all discombobulated. Being able to print from the engagement feature conversations or files that were either uploaded from the client.

Avantages

Tax resolution was a deal breaker for us, we have been using the IRS TDS services to pull transcripts all of our time. When we used Canopy, now the integration with the IRS helped us save so much time for pulling transcripts.

Inconvénients

The Project Management Aspect point of view, tasks can be monitored, however, they are not represented in the best way to give a complete overview on one specific project.

Avantages

The task management feature is useful in tracking engagements and to help plan for the workload.

Inconvénients

Monitoring the number of contacts that are active can be challenging at times. There are was to identify last activity but is missing a feature where you can mark multiple clients as inactive instead of going into each one individually. This is important since the fee is based on the amount of active contacts.

Avantages

The client portal is what makes this product worth it not having to remind and follow up is a life saver

Inconvénients

Sometime the software is glitchy and times out

Avantages

The ability to transfer documents across clients and limit access to team members by folder.

Inconvénients

Setting up tasks was more complicated than it needed to be. Setting up recurring tasks was challenging and I was unable to get it to work.

Avantages

Ease of renaming or changing locations of documents.

Inconvénients

sometimes you have to refresh to see some folders.

Avantages

I used the software to pull transcripts for clients, so I did appreciate the auto-login update.

Inconvénients

The price - we have limited funds and there are other software companies that are willing to provide software to LITCs at a discount or even free.

Avantages

Helping me organize the data and correspondence of 200+ tax clients. I got hooked by the fact that it keeps copies of all my email correspondence. But the biggest surprise was all the positive feedback I received from my clients about how easy it was to use, especially the file uploading. I had a previous product that was a complete nightmare. Around 40% of the clients who tried using it were unable to. Working on taxes brings up a lot of anxiety in people so anything I can do to make the experience smoother goes a long way. Having a reliable, user-friendly product to offer my clients feels GREAT!

Inconvénients

Annual subscription fee that will likely increase as the product is continually enhanced. It's also a little hard to organize the accounts of married couples. They file a joint return so in many respects only need one account. But I like to correspond with both spouses and I haven't figured out a way to do that within one account. If I made one spouse's account inactive, it also deactivates their email address so I'm unable to correspond with them.

Avantages

The creators and tech support of this program are responsive to the end users requests and the site is updated, the tech support amazing, and until they get a feature installed, will help you with a work around to use in the mean time.

Inconvénients

That I cannot print lists easily, that clients cannot fill out their own portal information, and most importantly, that I cannot due my clients regular income taxes here thereby having all the important information saved in place.

Avantages

Ease of use, implementation, excellent client portal. Available online on the internet.

Inconvénients

Lack of tax calendar. Makes the tracking process difficult and highly manual in nature.

Avantages

its easy to use, helps me save and my clients love it!!

Inconvénients

maybe a check mark feature when documents are reviewed

Avantages

The thing that i liked the most about the software was that it was easy to use and it was also inexpensive.

Inconvénients

I wish I could use more charts in the software but besides that it is amazing

Avantages

Communication tab, organization of tasks.

Inconvénients

We would like to be able to integrate ability to update worksheets/ documents in internal files, just like you would in sheets or docs (if you want to edit, you have to do so outside of Canopy and re-upload. We would like to be able to quote in the system.

Avantages

Integrated Form population - detailed client survey - transcript reports - assistant for innocent spouse and penalty abatement

Inconvénients

no chronological record per client to record calls and history of actions taken - no integrated calendar per user per client integrated to a record showing actions taken - email is not very functional or user-friendly at this point.

Avantages

Canopy's technical and customer support teams are why I keep using this product - they innovate and constantly add features and refine the product to make it easier to use, more robust, and feature-rich.

Inconvénients

Invoicing and billing is limited for what I'd consider my needs are. I'd also love the ability to sort the contact list by custom fields

Avantages

This Software makes my Firm efficient and I cannot see running my practice without this software.

Inconvénients

Software has trouble reading some MAC Files.

Avantages

This makes workflow for tax resolution manageable. This business is a bunch of hurry up and wait. This system helps to refresh my memory while transitioning to different clients.

Inconvénients

Not so much a con, as much as anticipation for all the new options that are coming. They promised state forms when I bought and they delivered. I know when they say new options will be available, they will be delivered. Great upstart!

Avantages

I like the ability to produce documents that are ready to deliver to clients or the IRS once I have completed the required forms. Additionally, I like the ability to make changes without having to reproduce documents. The link that can be sent directly to clients for data input has been very helpful. Having tax transcripts that are readily accessible on my desktop is a very important feature.

Inconvénients

I think that the software should include a feature that will allow you download transcripts overnight. I think the software would be enhanced if some of the additional features that follow are included in the software: Case Diagnostics, Fee Calculator, Searchable IRS Manual and IRS Contact List. It would be very helpful if other users within the same office could utilize Canopy at some add on rate or multiple user environment. Some of the tax resolution practitioners are part of small office environments. It would be good to have a product that could better fit the needs of the smaller office environments. T

Avantages

Easy to use and I really like the secure portal.

Inconvénients

Tracking projects/time deadlines could be better.

Avantages

Tener una organización en todos los movimientos contables. Para tener a los trabajadores y clientes al tanto de sus obligaciones.

Inconvénients

Por los buenos resultados .No tengo malas experiencias.

Avantages

Clean & intuitive interface. Loved the navigation & how information was presented.

Inconvénients

Missing certain fields of information that would make it stellar

Avantages

The ability to connect with clients and the ability to efficiently share documents with clients.

Inconvénients

Customer service response time can be slow at times

Avantages

The ability to securely share documents with clients as well as complete POAs from client contact data already in Canopy. The ability to route workflow between team members with color coded statuses allows us to work efficiently.

Inconvénients

Cannot identify a spouse as an interested party - which is helpful with kids' portal when the entire family has to file separate returns.

Avantages

It has been helpful in taking accountability and keeping all documents in one place.

Inconvénients

That we did not know enough about how to get the reports we needed to keep up with how many returns we actually got out and how many we still needed. As well having a hard time with digital signatures, clients were not able to get past the security questions which was odd.

Avantages

I like being able to assign tasks and monitor them. I like how easy it is to use for our clients. They have very little trouble navigating the site.

Inconvénients

There are not a lot of things that I don't like about the software. Sometimes, this is not a frequent event, it doesn't allow me to edit an existing invoice, but once I refresh, the issue is taken care of.

Avantages

The software is very easy to use and end user friendly.

Inconvénients

Nothing so far. This has been a great tool.

Avantages

I love the file sharing, and document storage solution the best.

Inconvénients

I wish it had a direct integration with Finder, or a direct sync to the computer. Instead, we just have to upload and then download files.

Avantages

Ease of use and implementation useful reports

Inconvénients

Could be more fun to use with additional features.

Avantages

what I like most about Canopy is its ease of use.

Inconvénients

Some features are an overkill as far as the correspondence.

Avantages

I use this product to communicate with clients, organize files, manage time. Great for client to go to their portal and access files without having to communicate with my company

Inconvénients

The mobile compatibility not efficient. No app. Mobile and iPod web is not ease to use. Needs to be more convenient for my clients and myself on the go.

Avantages

The ease! Having everything in one place. If you have canopy you will avoid having to pay for other services.

Inconvénients

The price can be a little high. I would like better reports.

Avantages

I love the Client Management module and the client-facing mobile app. It is very simple for our clients to use and to send us documents securely. We have had great success with client-adoption. I also like the automated client reminders.

Inconvénients

OMG, it takes SO MANY clicks to accomplish anything. Pretty much everything you can do inside canopy could be streamlined by reducing at least one click. Working across multiple tasks, across multiple clients, that's a lot of clicks. Also, the firm-facing mobile app UI could be greatly improved and have better functionality.

Avantages

The three areas that I use the most are the 433A, OIC and quick access to transcripts. The combination of these three functions allows me to quickly evaluate a clients resolution options. This also creates for me an overview allowing me to better focus on what I need to so that I can more quickly get a handle on the problem and address it with both the IRS and the client.

Inconvénients

When I first learned about Canopy my understanding was that they were specializing in "tax resolution" and concentrating on that area. It appears that they are now broadening their market. I understand why they would want to do this but often newer businesses start to expand or move away from what they did best and water down or slow developing their original product. I fear that Canopy is doing just that and there original product will suffer.

Avantages

The task list quickly shows what needs to get done. The filtering is great.

Inconvénients

The program is designed to manage tax resolution cases. Most of my tasks are not related to tax resolution. The tax resolution design makes non-resolution cases overly complicated.

Avantages

Canopy helps streamline communications and sending files back and forth. With the ability to create a task from an email, attach files to streamline start time on a project. I also like the various tabs to track a client and work done for them.

Inconvénients

The software has the ability to change rapidly with enhancements and I've seen a few while using. In todays time, payroll requirements are constantly changing causing companies to track sick time, etc. I can see an improvement in this area.

Avantages

I am disappointed that I have spent 7 months trying to correct a billing error. I have literally made at least 10 calls, emails and left messages and I still do not have a response.

Inconvénients

Customer service always says leaves a message and then never calls back.