Are you still holding on to that old computer in your office? Do you really think it can survive another tax year? It’s time to let go and upgrade your computers. This tax season will be a busy one for you, and the last thing you need is a slow computer crashing on you.
Not sure if it’s time to upgrade? The average useful computer life is 3-4 years, and that depends greatly on the quality of the computer when it was purchased.
A good rule is to go based on the TaxSlayer Recommended System Requirements:
- Computer: Processor with a minimum PassMark score of 7500 for a transmitting computer or a minimum score of 5000 for a workstation (https://www.cpubenchmark.net/)
- Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10
- Memory: 8 GB of RAM
- Disk Space: 1 GB per tax year will be sufficient (Additional disk space may be needed if you have a large client database and utilize Paper Cut paperless office)
- USB: The computer should be equipped with USB 3.0 or higher
- Printer: HP Compatible Laser Printer (Inkjet printers are not recommended for check printing)
- Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768
- Internet Connection: High Speed Internet Connection – Internet Explorer 11, or the latest version of Chrome or Firefox
- USB or Flash Drive for backing up data (USB 3.0 or higher strongly recommended)
- Latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Latest version of Microsoft .NET Framework
Or at least based on the TaxSlayer Minimum System Requirements:
- Computer: Processor with a minimum PassMark score of 3000 for a transmitting computer or a minimum score of 2500 for a workstation (https://www.cpubenchmark.net/)
- Operating System: Windows 7 with the latest updates
- Memory: 4 GB of RAM
- Disk Space: 750 MB per tax year
- Printer: HP Compatible Laser Printer (Inkjet printers are not recommended for check printing)
- Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768
- Internet Connection: High Speed Internet Connection – Internet Explorer 11, or the latest version of Chrome or Firefox
Okay, so you’ve decided it’s time to buy a new computer. What’s next?
You’ll need to know a couple things before you go and buy a new computer, such as if it will have enough RAM, the amount of disk space you’ll need, and which CPU will work best. If you aren’t very technically savvy, we encourage you to print this blog post and take it to your local computer store. The staff there will be able to help you find just what you need.
RAM or memory – The minimum amount of RAM required to run TaxSlayer Pro is 4GB, however we recommend at least 8GB.
Disk Space – This amount will vary from customer to customer. Most users will only use about 1GB of disk space per year. For customers with a large number of clients or those who use TaxSlayer Pro Premium, it is recommended you have at least 3GB of disk space per year.
Monitor Resolution – The tax program requires a minimum resolution of 1027 x 768
CPU – TaxSlayer Pro does not recommend any specific brands of processors (or CPU). The processor you purchase should have been released within the last 1-3 years and should have 4 or more processor cores. For the best performance, the processor should have a PassMark score higher than 7500 for transmitting computers and 5000 for any workstation.
- Processors from AMD, such as A8 and A10 series, the FX series, or the Ryzen series will be fine.
- Processors from almost any Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 will be fine.
Operating System – TaxSlayer Pro will run on Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012. TaxSlayer Pro can also run on a table, such as Microsoft Surface Pro 3, as long as it is running one of the above mentioned operating systems and meet the same hardware requirements.
- TaxSlayer Pro will NOT run on Windows 10 S, Windows RT, Windows Phone, iPad, or any iOS device.
For more assistance with system requirements, give our Customer Support Division a call! We can help you determine if you need a new computer, and what may be the best recommendation for you.
