CCH Small Firm Services has purchased the tax preparation software company IntelliTax, which will now be able to offer the TaxWise program to its clients.

TaxWise is used by 45,000 firms while IntelliTax offers its own program to 4,000 similar firms. These firms will be offered TaxWise to use for the 2009 tax season, and IntelliTax will be discontinued.

In a letter to tax preparers, CCH Small Firm Services (SFS) said TaxWise has been a leading software program for tax businesses with a high volume of e-filed returns, especially for those with many offices. The company lists what it views as benefits to TaxWise but also notes that the biggest advantage is its "continuing commitment to and investment in technology infrastructure."

SFS will offer businesses free orientation assistance, training programs, and a custom program to convert all their data, SFS said. Preparers will not be charged. The TaxWise special support line can be reached at 800-316-2710.

"The acquisition is great news for small tax firms that specialize in individual and business tax services for their clients," said Jeff Gramlich, president of CCH Small Firm Services (SFS). "SFS already focuses on the type of high-volume electronic filing that is so important to many IntelliTax users. In addition, TaxWise will offer them an even wider range of tax forms and features than they have now."

According to SFS, it processed and electronically filed more than 15 million tax returns this year to the IRS and state revenue agencies. And for the past 11 years, TaxWise has been the exclusive provider of tax software to more than 10,000 IRS-sponsored Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA) sites and IRS walk-in offices.