Lacerte Remote Access Benefits for Tax Firms and Professionals

Lacerte is a trusted tax preparation and filing software used by many small and mid-sized tax firms. It helps tax professionals manage complex returns, reduce manual work, and file returns with greater speed and accuracy.

Since Lacerte is desktop-based tax software, it does not offer browser-native access by default like a fully online tax platform. Still, firms can access Lacerte remotely through supported options such as Windows Remote Desktop Services, hosted virtual desktops, or cloud hosting.

Remote access can make Lacerte more flexible for tax professionals who work from different locations, collaborate with team members, or need secure access during busy tax seasons. In this blog, we discuss the key benefits of Lacerte remote access and the different methods firms can use to enable it.

Different Methods to Access Lacerte Remotely

Here are different ways you can access Lacerte from anywhere:

Method 1: Remote Desktop Software

Windows Remote Desktop Software, or RDP, allows you to access any local system remotely. As a result, you can use any local system running Lacerte remotely using RDP.

However, it has certain limitations, such as the requirement that both devices be connected to the Internet and that the host always be powered on.

While it is the simplest way to work on Lacerte from anywhere, it becomes tedious when you have many issues. If not set up correctly, it might also cause security concerns and data loss. To use Lacerte outside your office, you can also use third-party software such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, etc., in addition to Windows RDP.

While RDP can be useful for occasional access, firms should avoid exposing Remote Desktop directly to the internet without proper security controls. Weak or compromised RDP access is commonly abused in ransomware attacks. For tax firms handling client data, RDP should be protected with strong passwords, MFA, firewall rules, VPN access, and regular monitoring.

Method 2: Hosted Virtual Desktop

Hosted Virtual Desktop is a Desktop-as-a-Service solution where your desktop, applications, and data are hosted on secure cloud servers. It provides a complete virtual desktop environment that you can access from anywhere, at any time, using virtually any internet-connected device.

Hosted Desktop-as-a-Service a firm wants a full virtual desktop experience with Lacerte, files, browsers, Microsoft Office, document tools, and other applications available in one remote workspace.

Method 3: Lacerte Hosting

In a hosted setup, Lacerte software and data are stored in a secure hosted environment instead of being tied to a local office computer. Users access the same desktop software through a protected internet connection.

Moving Lacerte to the cloud means that your Lacerte software and data are stored on a secured data server of a third-party application hosting provider. The software and data can be accessed easily on a browser or via an RDP provided by the hosting service provider.

Thus, tax professionals are not bound to office premises to work on Lacerte. Instead, they can access the software anywhere, anytime, and on any device.

Which is the Best Method for Accessing Lacerte Remotely

Let’s now compare each of the access methods mentioned above and see which one is a good option for your tax firm:

Top Benefits of Lacerte Remote Access with Cloud Hosting Solutions

1. Work from anywhere

The functionality of accessing Lacerte virtually from any location allows tax professionals to work from anywhere, anytime. It becomes essential for professionals needing to work from home, travel frequently, or manage multiple office locations.

Lacerte remote access allows tax professionals to access client files, tax documents, and software functionalities without being tied to one office location.

2. Secure Cloud Storage

With Lacerte hosting, you get secure cloud data storage. As an admin, you can access all your data and provide role-based access to anyone in your team. As a result, there is no need to send to-and-fro emails to get the required information from the team or clients.

Lacerte remote access helps reduce the time consumed for preparing tax returns for a client and increases the number of billable hours of tax preparers.

3. Real-time Collaboration

With Lacerte remote access via cloud hosting, preparers, reviewers, admins, and seasonal staff can access the same hosted environment from different locations. This keeps client files centralized and reduces version-control issues that often happen when files are stored on separate devices.

Firms should still plan user access correctly. The number of users who can access Lacerte at the same time depends on the firm’s hosting users and Lacerte Fast Path seats.

4. Enhanced Security

Tax data and files are highly confidential, and the security of this data is essential for accounting and tax firms. Storing this data locally makes it vulnerable to security threats like loss or breach.

When accountants and CPAs choose Lacerte cloud hosting, they get high-end security such as:

• Two-factor authentication,
• Intrusion Detection System (IDS),
• Intrusion Prevention System (IPS),
• Antivirus and Anti-malware,
• Firewalls, and more.

Security is especially important for tax firms because they handle Social Security numbers, income records, tax forms, bank details, and other sensitive client information. The IRS says protecting client data is the law and notes that Federal Trade Commission regulations require professional tax preparers to create and enact security plans to protect client data.

The IRS also recommends tax professionals use multifactor authentication across services and data access points, including tax software and cloud storage services that contain sensitive client data.

Also, the hosting provider offers regular data backups to ensure your business runs smoothly, even in case of data loss or damage.

5. Easy Integration

Intuit Lacerte alone cannot meet all the needs and requirements of a tax professional. Thus, Lacerte must be integrated with third-party apps and services for increased productivity and efficiency.

For example, Lacerte tax software can seamlessly integrate with QuickBooks. By integrating Lacerte with QuickBooks, you can quickly import relevant QuickBooks reports for taxes to streamline your tax filing and return experience.

However, installing multiple applications on local devices can affect system performance, especially when firms also manage large client files, PDFs, scanners, document tools, and QuickBooks data. This often leads to slow performance, affecting a firm’s billable hours.

With Lacerte hosting, all the applications and their data are stored/run on cloud servers, resulting in a faster and smoother tax filing process.

6. Affordability

Lacerte tax software hosting caters to the needs of firms of every size, be it small or big. Firms do not need to pay for the hosting features/resources that are irrelevant to them.

If the firm is small and the number of users is limited, or if a firm is expanding and wants to increase the number of users, they are priced as per their needs.

Besides the number of users, storage, apps, and other services can be easily upgraded or downgraded according to the business requirements.

7. Seamless Scalability

With Lacerte on the cloud, you can seamlessly upgrade or downgrade as per your business requirements. For example, you might need more computing resources during tax season for optimal performance.

In that case, you can share your requirements with your hosting provider. They will then instantly allocate more resources without any downtime.

Once tax season is over, you can request that your Lacerte hosting provider remove any cloud resources you no longer need.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Lacerte Remote Access

• Using file-sync tools for Lacerte data: Lacerte data should not be stored, backed up, or shared through file-sync services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. Intuit clearly lists these services as unsupported for Lacerte data storage, backup, or sharing.
• Exposing RDP without proper security: Remote Desktop access should be secured with MFA, VPN, firewall rules, and access monitoring. Poorly secured RDP can increase ransomware and data breach risk.
• Not planning user access before tax season: If multiple staff members need Lacerte access during busy season, firms should plan to host users and Lacerte Fast Path seats in advance. Intuit notes that Fast Path users control how many users can be in the same Lacerte tax year at the same time.
• Ignoring internet and device requirements: Remote access performance depends on internet quality, workstation setup, server resources, and user count. Intuit lists 50 Mbps or more as the required high-speed internet connection for Lacerte.

Conclusion

There are many ways to use Lacerte tax software from any location, including Remote Desktop Programs, Hosted VDI solutions, and cloud hosting. In this blog, we discussed the pros and cons of each access method. By evaluating these options, you can choose the method that best fits your business requirements.

However, Lacerte cloud hosting offers multiple benefits over other methods of accessing Lacerte remotely, such as seamless scalability and enhanced security. Explore Lacerte on the cloud with Ace Cloud Hosting’s secure and scalable cloud hosting services. Take advantage of a 7-day free trial to experience seamless performance and enhanced accessibility for your tax software needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Lacerte cloud-based?

No, Lacerte tax software is a desktop-based tax filing and preparation software with robust features and comprehensive tax form support.

Which method is best for Lacerte remote access?

It depends on your business requirements. Each method has pros and cons, but cloud hosting seems a good solution for most businesses as it lets you get started quickly and outsource all the technical hassles to a cloud hosting provider.

How much does Lacerte hosting cost?

The overall costs of Lacerte hosting depend on the total number of users, additional add-ons, and computing resources you need on the cloud. For detailed information, check Lacerte tax software hosting pricing.

What are the drawbacks of accessing Lacerte remotely via RDP?

Accessing Lacerte remotely using RDP has some security concerns and could potentially lead to data breaches, along with performance degradation because of network latency.

Can multiple users access Lacerte remotely?

Yes, but user access depends on the hosting setup and Lacerte Fast Path seats. Firms should plan user count before tax season to avoid access issues.