Thomson Reuters — Thomson Service Bureau Payroll CS

From the September 2009 Review of Professional
Payroll Programs

Thomson
Reuters recently launched its new web-hosted Service Bureau Payroll CS, a professional
live payroll application intended for practices with significant payroll service
functions that serve more than 100 clients, and who therefore have greater need
for high-volume capabilities, streamlined management and batch processing needs.
The payroll management system includes the ability to support any number of
clients with any number of employees with simple to complex payroll needs, multi-state
taxation capabilities, customizable deductions, electronic filing and payment
of federal and state returns, advanced bank account reconciliation functions,
due date management, remote data entry, impounding of client funds, and other
tools. Pricing for the system is based on the total volume of payments processed
through the system, starting at $0.10 per check plus $250 per month for users
converting from sister product Payroll CS, and $0.15 per check plus $500 per
month for other subscribers.

DATA ENTRY & KEY FEATURES:
Although web-hosted, Service Bureau Payroll CS shares a similar interface with
other programs in the CS family, starting with the standard home screen from
which users access CS applications. Within Service Bureau Payroll, customizable
dashboards help keep users apprised of key client service information, due dates,
account balances and other data, while the screen also offers a firm menu on
the left displaying links to firm management and payroll functions. Because
the system is intended for high-volume payroll providers, setup of new clients
and employees is facilitated through the use of templates, while tabbed information
collection screens and smart entry fields and selection lists speed common entry
tasks. Additionally, the program offers state-by-state employment tax lookup
and verification based on address during setup or editing of client and employee
information. TIN and SSN verification is also included.

When manually processing payrolls or entering/editing emp-loyee data, time,
accruals and other information is offered on a multi-employee spreadsheet view.
Most data for payroll runs is populated automatically (salaried staff, default
time for hourly staff, deductions, taxes, etc.), with users primarily making
adjustments to data and reviewing for accuracy. The system can support any type
of paid employee and any number of pay rates per employee, while also accounting
for tips, commissions, bonuses, loans and other factors. Likewise, any number
of standard or custom deductions can be applied to an employee’s pay,
including third-party payments, benefits plans and insurance.

As a “service bureau” system, most of the processes are geared
toward batch use, allowing professionals the unique ability to quickly run multiple
payrolls across several companies at the same time, with each of the direct
deposits processed from correct banks, each check printed on appropriate company
logo stock, and transactions recorded with appropriate GL account information.

The client billing and management functions in Service Bureau Payroll CS also
provide comprehensive impounding capabilities that enable liability and third-party
fund management. Client invoicing functions allow customization of graduated
scale and standard rate fees as well as setting of an unlimited number of fees
and fee schedules for processing tasks. The system uses the Thomson Reuters
Virtual Office CS platform for remote access, allowing professionals to access
the system from anywhere. If firms wish to offer the convenience, clients can
be given remote access to specific functions of the program, such as data entry
or on-site check printing. Employee self-service portals are also available,
providing historical copies of pay stubs and W-2s.

REPORTING CAPABILITIES:
Service Bureau Payroll CS houses an impressive reporting utility that includes
traditional payroll management options for summaries, period comparisons and
registers, along with analysis and productivity options. Reports can also be
run across all clients or groups of clients, allowing users to quickly generate
reports of open liabilities, taxes or other issues. Built-in report and layout
designers provide generous customization options, including the ability to save
to PDF. The system includes e-filing of SSA and IRS reporting.

INTEGRATION/IMPORT & EXPORT:
Service Bureau Payroll CS offers direct integration with other programs in the
CS suite if using them via Virtual Office. Most notably, these include applications
for write-up, document management and planning. The system provides electronic
filing of quarterly federal reports, plus the ability to output into PDF format
and email from within the program. Integration with third-party accounting packages
is not available.

RELATIVE VALUE:
For professional firms with high-volume payroll clients, Service Bureau Payroll
CS is a welcome addition, providing comprehensive payroll capabilities and customization
options, along with workflow tools designed especially for a practice that produces
thousands of paychecks per month (direct deposit or paper check).

2009 Overall Rating: