Workstation Processor

• Recommended: 64-bit platforms using AMD x86-64 or Intel® EM64T technology
• Minimum: 32- bit platforms using 100% IBM-compatible PC, Intel® Pentium PIII, or higher required

File Server Processor

• Recommended: 64-bit platforms using AMD x86-64 or Intel EM64T technology
• Minimum: 32-bit platforms using 100% IBM-compatible PC, Pentium PIII, or higher required

Operating Systems

• Workstation Operating Systems:
  • Microsoft® Windows® 10 Professional and Enterprise editions
  • Microsoft® Windows® 11 64-bit Professional and Enterprise editions 
    • Notes:
      • Important Security Note: We strongly recommend that all customers enable the enhanced security measures available in Windows 8 or higher operating system, including SMB 3.0 encryption for data in transit. SMB 3.0 requires explicit configuration.  For further information, please see our Data Security Best Practices knowledge base article.
      • Microsoft® Windows® 8.1 Standard editions, and Microsoft® Windows® RT editions are not supported.
      • Offline Files (file caching) should be disabled.
      • Using over 3 GB RAM on any of the above 32-bit operating systems is not supported.
        • For more information, go to our full operating system compatibility chart.
      • To ensure files are properly updated, administrator rights are required to perform installations or to run Workstation Setup.
• Server Operating Systems:
  • Microsoft® Windows Server® 2022
  • Microsoft® Windows Server® 2019
  • Microsoft® Windows Server® 2016
  • Linux® (Kernel 2.4.2 or higher, Samba 2.2.3a or higher)
    • Notes:
      • Important Security Note: We strongly recommend that all customers enable the enhanced security measures available in Windows 8 or higher operating system, including SMB 3.0 encryption for data in transit. SMB 3.0 requires explicit configuration.  For further information, please see our Data Security Best Practices knowledge base article.
      • Microsoft® Small Business Server®, Microsoft® Windows Server® Essential, and Microsoft® Windows Server® Foundation(FE) are not supported.
      • Installing CCH ProSystem fx Tax on a server that is also a Domain Controller is not supported.
      • Installing CCH ProSystem fx Tax on a server that is also the firm's Exchange Server is not supported.
      • Using over 3 GB RAM on any of the above 32-bit operating systems is not supported.
      • Virtual environments are supported as long as the virtual server meets our system requirements.
      • Novell® NetWare is not supported.

RAM Requirements

• Microsoft® Windows® 64-bit Operating Systems: 4 GB+ RAM
• Microsoft® Windows® 32-bit Operating Systems: Max 3 GB RAM, 2 GB RAM

Disk Space Requirements

• Program files per tax year – up to 300 MB
• Each tax product  - up to 1 GB 
• Client files - Size depends on the tax product and amount of return data

Citrix and Terminal Server Requirements

• Microsoft® Windows Server® 2019
• Microsoft® Windows Server® 2016
  • Notes:
    • Important Security Note: We strongly recommend that all customers enable the enhanced security measures available in Windows 8 or higher operating system, including SMB 3.0 encryption for data in transit. SMB 3.0 requires explicit configuration.  For further information, please see our Data Security Best Practices knowledge base article.
    • CCH ProSystem fx Tax must be run from a local drive. 
      • For more information:
        • How do I run a Workstation Setup for CCH® ProSystem fx® Tax on a terminal or Citrix server?
    • To ensure files are properly updated, administrator rights are required to perform installations or to run Workstation Setup.
    • Streaming applications is not supported.
    • Microsoft® Windows Server®  must have mapped drives properly configured within group policies.
      • For more information, see our article Group Policy Drive Mapping Preferences with Windows with Windows Server and Windows Workstation Operating Systems

Peer to Peer Environments

Peer-to-Peer environments (up to 20 for Microsoft® Windows® 8.1 or higher) running any of the supported Microsoft® Windows® operating systems listed in the above Operating Systems section.

Network Topology

For optimum performance, 100Mbps or greater

Note: Due to various factors inherent to the technology, when using wireless LAN technology (802.11 n/ac) with CCH ProSystem fx Tax, users may experience slower performance than wired networks, especially in larger environments.

Video Resolution Standards

• The preferred screen resolution is 1024 X 768. In addition, Tax Preparation also supports the following higher screen resolutions:
  • 1920 X 1200 (widescreen)
  • 1680 X 1050 (widescreen)
  • 1600 X 1200
  • 1400 X 1050
  • 1280 X 1024
  • 1280 X 800
  • 1280 X 768
  • 1152 X 864
  • DPI Setting – Smaller (96 DPI) is supported.
  • When using multiple monitors, the primary monitor should be the left-most monitor.

Additional Components

• Microsoft® Edge
• Google® Chrome™
  • Note: Incognito/Private Browser modes are not currently supported
• Microsoft® Office version 2016, 2019, and 2021
  • All Microsoft Office components (Word, Excel, etc...) must be at the same Microsoft® Office version and be locally installed. We do not support a mix or split install of Microsoft® Office.
  • Microsoft® Office 2021 is compatible with 2021.01000 Tax Preparation or later.
  • Microsoft® Office 2019 is compatible with 2018.01000 Tax Preparation or later.
  • Microsoft® Office 2016 is compatible with 2015.03050 Tax Preparation or later.
  • Microsoft® Office 64-bit editions are not supported.
• Adobe® Reader® versions DC
• Crystal Reports® v. 9
• Multi Monitor display – Multi Monitor support requires the primary monitor to be on the left.
• Monitor display – small fonts with a minimum screen resolution of 1024x768.
• Microsoft® .NET Framework 2.0 – If not detected, the setup program will load version 2.0.
• Microsoft® WSE 3.0 – If not detected, the setup program will load version 3.0.
• Microsoft® .NET Framework 4.5.2 – If not detected, the setup program will load version 4.5.2.

Virus Scan/Real-Time Scanning Software

• Real-time virus scanning must be excluded on all CCH ProSystem fx Office directories on both file servers and workstations.
  • For more information, see our article on Antivirus Setting.
• Wfx32 must be excluded from other real-time scanning such as real-time backups or file replication programs/services.
  • For more information, see our article on Backup Settings.
• If exclusions cannot be made in file replication programs and services, they must be disabled during installations or program updates.
• Anti-Virus scans and program backups can be done when users are not active in the program, but should not be done while active users are present.

Compression

CCH ProSystem fx files and folders must be excluded from any data compression.

Internet Connection

High-speed Internet connection (DSL or higher) is required for downloading program updates.

Laser Printer

• At least 2 MB of RAM.
• Printer must use PCL 5e or PCL 6 drivers (PCL 5e is typically preferred).
  • Note: GDI/Host based printers are not supported in a Citrix®/Terminal Server environment.