Which is the Best Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Alternative? CPA Pilot

[Last Updated on 3 weeks ago]

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint is a widely used tax research platform trusted by many firms for accessing federal and state tax codes, regulations, and editorial interpretations. While it’s known for its depth of content, professionals across the tax industry are beginning to ask a critical question:

“Is Thomson Reuters Checkpoint still the best fit for today’s fast-moving tax practices?”

The answer depends on your workflow. As client demands increase and efficiency becomes essential, many CPAs, EAs, and tax professionals are looking for tools that go beyond static research. They need:

• Speed
• Automation
• Client-ready deliverables
• Ease of use
• Lower total cost of ownership

These evolving needs have fueled the rise of AI tools that streamline tax planning, compliance tasks, and client communication — without requiring deep legal research skills.

One such AI Tax Assistant is CPA Pilot, positioned not as a 1:1 legal research replacement, but as a modern AI assistant built for practical tax workflows. This guide will walk through how it compares to Thomson Reuters Checkpoint and what makes it a compelling alternative.

What Should You Look for in the Best Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Alternative?

To determine whether CPA Pilot or any platform is a strong Thomson Reuters Checkpoint alternative, it’s important to assess based on real-world use cases. Here are the key criteria that matter most to today’s tax professionals:

1. Compliance Confidence

• Delivers answers backed by IRS and state tax authority citations.
• Reliable enough for client-facing communication and audit readiness.

2. Ease of Use

• No steep learning curve.
• Natural language, conversational queries so you don’t have to rely on complex Boolean searches for most questions.

3. Workflow Integration

• Supports end-to-end workflows: tax planning, client memos, IRS notice replies.
• Generates deliverables that save time and reduce manual drafting.

4. Software Compatibility

• Integrates with Drake, ProConnect, QuickBooks, Lacerte, and other tools CPAs use daily.

5. Scalable Pricing

• Affordable enough for solo practitioners, robust enough for scaling firms.
• Transparent plans without enterprise-only lock-in.

What “Actually” is Thomson Reuters Checkpoint?

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint is a tax research and compliance platform designed for accounting firms, corporate finance teams, and legal departments. It offers access to a vast library of:

• Federal and state tax codes
• IRS regulations
• Court rulings and interpretations
• Editorial insights and practice tools

Key Features of Thomson Reuters Checkpoint:

• Regulatory Research: Navigate complex federal and state tax laws using advanced filters and Boolean search.
• Editorial Content: Access commentary from experts and analysts across areas like corporate tax, international taxation, and accounting standards.
• Audit & Compliance Tools: Built-in tools for audit preparation, accounting guidance, and legal compliance reviews.
• Integration with UltraTax CS and Other Tax Research Tools: Fits into the broader Thomson Reuters ecosystem for large-firm workflows.

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint is especially suited for firms that need comprehensive legal research capabilities — such as those preparing for audits, writing tax opinions, or working with multi-jurisdictional entities.

Why are Tax Professionals Seeking Alternatives to Thomson Reuters Checkpoint?

Despite its breadth, many tax professionals — particularly in small to mid-sized CPA firms — have found that Thomson Reuters Checkpoint doesn’t always align with modern workflow needs. Common reasons users seek alternatives include:

1. Time-Consuming Interface

• Search results, filters, and legal-style navigation can slow down day-to-day use compared with a conversational AI assistant for some workflows.
• Legal-style search interfaces and result lists can be a barrier for some non-law-trained professionals compared with a chat-style assistant.

2. High Cost

• Pricing tiers are quote‑based and oriented toward larger firms, which can make it less accessible or cost‑effective for some solo practitioners or smaller firms.

3. Lack of Workflow Automation

• Research output typically requires additional effort to transform into memos, letters, or client-facing responses.
• Does not auto‑draft client letters, IRS notices, or planning summaries in the same generative way as AI tax assistants like CPA Pilot.
• Includes research-oriented tools, calculators, and practice aids, but not a generative assistant that automatically produces personalized, ready‑to‑send communications.

4. Limited Flexibility

• Optimized for deep legal research, but less aligned with fast-moving tax advisory, client response, or AI-assisted planning workflows

Introducing CPA Pilot: The AI Copilot for Tax Professionals

CPA Pilot is a modern, AI-powered tax assistant designed specifically for CPAs, EAs, and tax professionals who need fast, accurate answers and ready-to-use outputs — without the complexity of legacy research tools.

Unlike traditional tax research platforms that require navigating dense legal databases, CPA Pilot uses conversational AI to deliver compliance-cited responses, generate client-ready documents, and assist with real-time tax planning — all in a matter of seconds.

What makes CPA Pilot Different from Other Tax Tools?

1. Natural Language Tax Research

Ask plain-language questions like:

“Can I deduct startup expenses for a single-member LLC?” “What are the IRS rules for reasonable compensation in an S-Corp?”

CPA Pilot responds with answers that include:

• IRS and state citations
• Updated regulations
• Brief contextual explanations

2. Ready-to-Send Client Deliverables

Generate drafts instantly:

• IRS notice responses
• Client memos
• Tax planning summaries
• Email templates

CPA Pilot bridges the gap between research and execution — reducing the need for manual drafting or back-and-forth edits.

3. Built-In Tax Planning Scenarios

Unlike traditional research tools, CPA Pilot lets you explore “what-if” situations, such as:

• QBI eligibility with rental properties
• Switching from LLC to S-Corp
• Passive vs non-passive activity rules
• Entity structuring for real estate clients

These simulations are grounded in tax law, with IRS and state citations included in the output for your review.

4. Works With Tools You Already Use

CPA Pilot is designed to work alongside platforms like:

• Drake Software
• ProConnect
• QuickBooks
• Lacerte

You can copy outputs directly into return prep or client emails — with minimal extra formatting required. 

🧑‍💼 Who Uses CPA Pilot?

CPA Pilot is built for:

• Solo CPAs and small firms
• Mid-sized tax practices scaling advisory services
• Professionals who need to respond quickly to IRS notices and client questions
• Teams looking to save time, reduce burnout, and deliver more value

While it’s not a line-by-line replacement for Checkpoint’s legal database, CPA Pilot is becoming a popular alternative for many modern tax professionals who prioritize speed, automation, and workflow integration.

Next up, we’ll break down a side-by-side comparison: CPA Pilot vs Checkpoint.

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint vs CPA Pilot: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

If you’re deciding between Thomson Reuters Checkpoint and CPA Pilot, the most important question is: What do you need your tax software to actually do for you?

Here’s a detailed, side-by-side breakdown of how each platform compares across the features that matter most to modern tax professionals:

Feature / Capability	Thomson Reuters Checkpoint	CPA Pilot
Primary Function	Tax/legal research database	AI-powered tax assistant
User Experience	Search-based, legal-style interface	Conversational, natural language queries
Answer Format	Statute/reg text + editorial commentary	IRS/state-cited summaries with context
Output Type	Research notes, PDF exports	Client-ready memos, emails, letters
IRS Notice Replies	Manual drafting required	Auto-generated responses
Tax Planning Support	Research-focused tools and ‘what‑if’ style aids that still require manual interpretation.	Built-in AI scenario modeling
Client Communication Drafts	Practice aids and some template letters; no generative drafting of personalized client communications	Yes — generates full draft letters, emails, and memos for professional review.
Integrations	UltraTax CS and other Thomson Reuters tools	Works alongside Drake, Lacerte, QBO, and ProConnect via copy‑paste outputs and workflow guidance.
Learning Curve	Moderate to high	Low — usable by junior staff immediately
Best For	Large firms, audit/legal teams	CPA firms, solo practitioners, tax planners
Pricing	Quote‑based, enterprise‑oriented pricing that can be expensive for some small firms	Starting around $19/month, with scalable options for growing firms.

What This Means for You

• If your goal is research depth, especially for legal/audit work or multi-jurisdictional tax issues, Thomson Reuters Checkpoint is still the traditional choice.
• If your goal is workflow efficiency, client communication, or scaling planning deliverables, CPA Pilot is purpose-built to give you faster, smarter output — with less manual effort.

Why is CPA Pilot the Best Alternative to Thomson Reuters Checkpoint?

When evaluating alternatives to Checkpoint, it’s not about finding a clone — it’s about finding a solution that fits the realities of how today’s tax professionals work.

CPA Pilot is a strong Thomson Reuters Checkpoint alternative for firms that:

• Need speed and simplicity
• Want AI to handle document drafting
• Focus on tax planning and client communication
• Operate with small or mid-sized teams
• Care about pricing transparency and scalability

Here’s why CPA Pilot stands out:

1. Built for Workflow, Not Just Research

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint offers comprehensive research — but often requires professionals to manually turn insights into action. CPA Pilot shortens that path dramatically.

With CPA Pilot, you can often go from question → cited answer → client‑ready draft deliverable in a minute or two, depending on complexity.

2. Delivers Output You Can Turn Into Client-Ready Communication Quickly

Whether you’re replying to a client email, handling an IRS notice, or preparing a memo on reasonable compensation, CPA Pilot doesn’t just tell you what the rule is — it drafts explanations and letters you can review, edit, and share with clients much faster.

3. Replaces Repetitive Tasks with One-Click Automation

Tax professionals spend hours every week on tasks like:

• Drafting responses to 1099 or W-2 mismatches
• Explaining business deductions
• Outlining entity structure pros/cons
• Responding to first-time penalty notices

With CPA Pilot, these can be handled in a fraction of the time — with reusable templates and AI-generated content.

4. Perfect for Growth-Stage CPA Firms

As you bring on more clients or junior staff, CPA Pilot helps:

• Standardize quality
• Reduce senior staff review time
• Provide consistent tax guidance firm-wide

Instead of scaling headcount, you scale output.

5. Affordable and Transparent Pricing

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint pricing often requires enterprise negotiation, long-term contracts, and feature bundling. CPA Pilot keeps it simple:

• Monthly or annual plans
• No per-seat restrictions
• Use it as much as you need

It’s designed to make powerful tax automation accessible — even for solo practitioners or small firms just starting out.

If your work is heavily research-focused and driven by legal nuance, Thomson Reuters Checkpoint may still make sense. But for practical, real-time tax execution, CPA Pilot is built to do the job faster, easier, and more cost-effectively.

Next up: real-world questions and scenarios where CPA Pilot clearly outperforms.

Real‑World Q&A: Where CPA Pilot Outperforms Checkpoint

Tax professionals don’t just need research — they need answers they can act on. CPA Pilot excels in real-world situations where speed, clarity, and client-ready communication matter.

Here are actual scenarios where CPA Pilot can outperform traditional research tools like Checkpoint:

Q1: “A client got an IRS CP2000 notice. Can I respond quickly?”

Checkpoint: You’d search IRS guidance, read editorial explanations, and manually draft a letter — which can easily take 30 minutes or more.

CPA Pilot: You paste the notice type or description and can get a pre‑drafted, customizable response in just a few minutes — with IRS citations included for your review.

Q2: “What’s the best way to explain S-Corp reasonable compensation rules to a client?”

Checkpoint: You’d find commentary and rulings but still need to translate it into plain-English explanations or slide decks.

CPA Pilot: Ask the question in natural language and get a client-friendly explanation with IRS citations, which you can copy directly into an email or client memo.

Q3: “I need a memo on QBI limitations for a real estate investor.”

Checkpoint: Requires piecing together various IRC sections and manually interpreting real estate activity tests.

CPA Pilot: Generates a memo draft with tax law background and tailored explanation — including limitations, aggregation rules, and planning tips — which you can review and finalize for the client.

Q4: “Can my junior staff help draft IRS responses?”

Checkpoint: Not without training. Risk of misinterpreting legal content or citing the wrong provision.

CPA Pilot: Staff can input the scenario, choose the notice type, and instantly generate a review-ready letter — reducing senior review load and speeding up client comms.

Q5: “How do I handle multi-state W-2 allocation questions during busy season?”

Checkpoint: Manual research and document formatting.

CPA Pilot: Ask the question once, and get a state-by-state breakdown with guidance you can forward to clients.

Pattern Recognition: When CPA Pilot Wins

CPA Pilot excels when:

• The question needs to turn into a deliverable
• You want plain-English + citation-rich responses
• You’re under time pressure
• Your team needs scalable support
• Your clients need answers — not just research

In the next section, we’ll help you decide: When should you choose CPA Pilot vs. Thomson Reuters Checkpoint for your firm’s needs?

Final Verdict: When You Should Choose CPA Pilot or Thomson Reuters Checkpoint?

Both Thomson Reuters Checkpoint and CPA Pilot serve the tax profession — but they solve different problems. Choosing the right tool depends on what you need most: deep legal research, or real-world execution speed.

Choose CPA Pilot If You:

• Run a small to mid-sized CPA firm or solo practice
• Want fast, client-ready IRS letters, memos, and tax explanations
• Need to save time on research and document drafting
• Prefer natural language over complex search filters
• Are you looking to scale without hiring more staff
• Want pricing that’s transparent and accessible

CPA Pilot gives you automation, compliance-cited output, and productivity tools that boost your entire tax workflow, not just research.

Choose Thomson Reuters Checkpoint If You:

• Need deep legal research for audit, litigation, or tax controversy
• Work in a large firm with a dedicated research team
• Require multi-jurisdictional and international tax law coverage
• Have an established workflow inside the Thomson Reuters ecosystem
• Don’t mind navigating legal interfaces or interpreting statutes manually

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint is best suited for complex legal or audit-focused work where interpretation of law is the primary task, not client communication or rapid document output.

The Bottom Line

Use Case	Best Choice
Research depth & legal interpretation	Thomson Reuters Checkpoint
Speed, automation, deliverables	CPA Pilot
Budget-conscious small firms	CPA Pilot
Enterprise compliance programs	Thomson Reuters Checkpoint
Scaling advisory capacity	CPA Pilot

In many modern U.S.-based CPA and tax practices, especially those focused on small business and high‑volume filings, CPA Pilot can deliver faster ROI and less manual work — making it a practical and accessible Thomson Reuters Checkpoint alternative for these firms.

FAQs About Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Alternatives

Can CPA Pilot replace Thomson Reuters Checkpoint completely?

Not in every scenario. CPA Pilot excels at day-to-day tax workflows — client memos, IRS replies, planning scenarios — but doesn’t aim to replace Checkpoint’s deep legal research functions used by audit teams or litigation support. Many firms use CPA Pilot for execution and keep Thomson Reuters Checkpoint for legal research.

Is CPA Pilot as accurate as Checkpoint?

Yes, for the scenarios it is designed to handle. CPA Pilot provides IRS- and state‑cited answers to support compliance‑backed work, but professionals should always review outputs and apply their judgment just as they would with any research tool.

What kind of firms benefit most from CPA Pilot?

CPA Pilot is best for:

• Small and mid-sized CPA firms
• Solo practitioners
• Tax teams focused on planning, communication, and efficiency
• High-volume firms looking to reduce manual drafting time

Can CPA Pilot be used by junior or non-technical staff?

Yes. Unlike Checkpoint, which has a learning curve, CPA Pilot uses plain-language inputs and generates outputs that junior staff can understand, use, or forward with minimal editing.

Does CPA Pilot work with common tax software?

Yes. It’s designed to work alongside and export outputs you can use with:

• Drake Software
• ProConnect
• Lacerte
• QuickBooks Online
• General client email and CRM workflows.

Is CPA Pilot secure and compliant?

Yes. CPA Pilot follows industry-standard security protocols and does not train its models on user data. Sensitive data is encrypted, and the platform is designed with practitioner confidentiality in mind.

Can I use both Thomson Reuters Checkpoint and CPA Pilot together?

Absolutely — and many firms do. Use Thomson Reuters Checkpoint when you need detailed legal research or court decisions. Use CPA Pilot when you need fast answers, planning support, and client-ready output in real time. 

How does CPA Pilot pricing compare to Thomson Reuters Checkpoint?

CPA Pilot is designed for accessibility — with plans starting at $19/month, no long-term contracts, and unlimited use across features like memo generation, IRS letters, and planning tools. In contrast, Thomson Reuters Checkpoint pricing is enterprise‑focused and quote‑based, often involving higher fees, bundling, and multi‑seat licensing — which can make it less affordable for some solo CPAs or smaller firms

Disclaimer: This article is provided by CPA Pilot for educational purposes. While we may offer tax software/services, the information here is general and may not address your specific facts and circumstances. It does not constitute individual tax, legal, or accounting advice. U.S. federal and State Tax laws change frequently; please consult a qualified tax professional before acting on any information.