Predictika · Tax and accounting software quotes

An AI sales agent's tax software quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a quote for a small accounting firm that wants a CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package from the Wolters Kluwer online store: the package size, additional returns, returns outside the package and the state option. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published package terms and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: CCH Axcess Tax Essentials packages of 100, 200 or 400 returns (online store): new-customer eligibility, firm size, additional returns, out-of-package returns, states and the stated total. See everything this validator covers

This validator models quotes for the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials packages as published on the Wolters Kluwer package and online store pages (read October 6, 2026), not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Packages and prices — the 100-return package at $2,814.00, the 200-return package at $4,039.00 and the 400-return package at $5,264.00, with additional returns at $60.55 each; the number of additional returns must cover the returns the customer expects.
  • Returns outside the package — specialty returns (Forms 1041, 5500, 706/709) and corporation power pack returns at $53.90 per return, and consolidated returns at $199 per return.
  • Eligibility and states — the packages are for new customers only and are designed for firms with four or fewer full-time tax professionals; five states are included, and more states need a pay-per-state or an unlimited-states option whose price is not published, so those quotes go to a person.

Any CCH Axcess Tax Essentials quote that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: the state charge (not published), additional users, support, taxes, any negotiated discount, and the other CCH Axcess Tax packages (Core, Accelerate, Advantage, Tax Complete, Tax Pro, Tax Solutions) and other Wolters Kluwer products such as UpToDate. Assumptions: the page lists the package sizes as returns and as authorizations in different places; this model treats the 100, 200 and 400 as the returns included.

The AI sales agentBuilds the tax software quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Additional returns that depend on the volume the customer expectsOnly with care
The number to buy comes from the expected volume minus what the package includes; a rule can compare them, but it needs a calculated field and the quote must always carry both.		The needed additional returns are computed from the package and compared with the quote on every call.
A package that only new customers may buyOnly with care
Eligibility is a condition on the customer rather than on the product, so it is often left to a manual check.		An existing customer on a new-customer package is a blocking finding.
A state option whose price is not publicOnly with workarounds
The price cannot be looked up, so the quote either shows a wrong number or relies on a rep remembering to add it.		The quote is routed to a person to add the state charge, in the same answer as the other findings.
A stated total that differs from the buildOnly with care
A validation rule can compare a stated total with a calculated field, but only if the stated total is a field on the quote, which it rarely is.		The stated total travels with the quote and is compared with the computed one on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The customer expects 450 returns, the package includes 400, so 50 additional return(s) are needed; the quote has 20.
2The customer expects 101 returns, the package includes 100, so 1 additional return(s) are needed; the quote has 0.
3The CCH Axcess Tax Essentials eStore packages are for new customers only; they are not eligible for purchase by existing CCH Axcess or ProSystem fx Tax customers.
4The package is designed for firms with four or fewer full-time tax professionals; the quote has 5.
5The customer files in 6 states but the quote covers only the 5 included states; additional states need a pay-per-state or an unlimited-states option.
6The price of additional states (pay-per-state or unlimited states) is not published on the public pages; a person must add the state charge to the quote.
7The quote states a total of $4,000.00; the published list prices give $4,039.00.
8The quote states a total of $4,039.01; the published list prices give $4,039.00.
9The customer files in 7 states but the quote covers only the 5 included states; additional states need a pay-per-state or an unlimited-states option.
10The quote states a total of $0.01; the published list prices give $4,039.00.
11The customer expects 600 returns, the package includes 400, so 200 additional return(s) are needed; the quote has 100.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Returns beyond the package: Package 200 with 520 expected returns, too few additional returns and a total that leaves out the specialty returns

    
The agent's request. Please quote the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package of 200 returns for a new customer, a firm with 3 full-time tax professionals that expects 520 returns this season, with 100 additional returns, 12 specialty returns, in 5 states on the five included states plan. The quote states a total of $10,094.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Not enough additional returns. The customer expects 520 returns, the package includes 200, so 320 additional return(s) are needed; the quote has 100.
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  • Stated total does not match. The quote states a total of $10,094.00; the published list prices give $10,740.80.
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2. Returns beyond the package: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package of 200 returns for a new customer, a firm with 3 full-time tax professionals that expects 520 returns this season, with 320 additional returns, 12 specialty returns, in 5 states on the five included states plan. The quote states a total of $24,061.80. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Quote summary. Package of 200 returns, 320 additional returns, listed-price total $24,061.80 (before state charges, additional users, support and taxes).
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3. Package 100 with returns outside the package: Package 100 with 260 expected returns and too few additional returns

    
The agent's request. Please quote the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package of 100 returns for a new customer, a firm with 3 full-time tax professionals that expects 260 returns this season, with 100 additional returns, 2 corporation power pack returns and 3 consolidated returns, in 5 states on the five included states plan. The quote states a total of $9,573.80. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Not enough additional returns. The customer expects 260 returns, the package includes 100, so 160 additional return(s) are needed; the quote has 100.
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4. Package 100 with returns outside the package: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package of 100 returns for a new customer, a firm with 3 full-time tax professionals that expects 260 returns this season, with 160 additional returns, 2 corporation power pack returns and 3 consolidated returns, in 5 states on the five included states plan. The quote states a total of $9,573.80. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Stated total does not match. The quote states a total of $9,573.80; the published list prices give $13,206.80.
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5. Package 100 with returns outside the package: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package of 100 returns for a new customer, a firm with 3 full-time tax professionals that expects 260 returns this season, with 160 additional returns, 2 corporation power pack returns and 3 consolidated returns, in 5 states on the five included states plan. The quote states a total of $13,206.80. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Quote summary. Package of 100 returns, 160 additional returns, listed-price total $13,206.80 (before state charges, additional users, support and taxes).
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6. States beyond the five included: Package 400 for a firm filing in eight states on the five included states plan

    
The agent's request. Please quote the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package of 400 returns for a new customer, a firm with 3 full-time tax professionals that expects 400 returns this season, with 0 additional returns, 5 specialty returns and 2 consolidated returns, in 8 states on the five included states plan. The quote states a total of $5,931.50. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • More states than the five included. The customer files in 8 states but the quote covers only the 5 included states; additional states need a pay-per-state or an unlimited-states option.
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7. States beyond the five included: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package of 400 returns for a new customer, a firm with 3 full-time tax professionals that expects 400 returns this season, with 0 additional returns, 5 specialty returns and 2 consolidated returns, in 8 states on the pay-per-state option. The quote states a total of $5,931.50. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • State charges are not published. The price of additional states (pay-per-state or unlimited states) is not published on the public pages; a person must add the state charge to the quote.
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  • Quote summary. Package of 400 returns, 0 additional returns, listed-price total $5,931.50 (before state charges, additional users, support and taxes).
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a quote for a small accounting firm that wants a CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package from the Wolters Kluwer online store: the package size, additional returns, returns outside the package and the state option. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published package terms and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote the CCH Axcess Tax Essentials package of 200 returns for a new customer, a firm with 3 full-time tax professionals that expects 520 returns this season. The quote states a total of $10,094.00. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. The customer expects 520 returns, the package includes 200, so 320 additional return(s) are needed; the quote has 100. The quote states a total of $10,094.00; the published list prices give $10,740.80.
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  6. The validator returned two blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other and against the stated total.
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  7. What this shows: for additional returns that depend on the volume the customer expects, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the additional returns on the quote to 320 and the stated total to $24,061.80.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. The validator also returns the line-item quote. It starts with CCH Axcess Tax Essentials and Additional returns; the other line is on screen.
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  13. Both earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's total, $24,061.80, matches the quote.
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  14. Two problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean $24,061.80 quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer.
    15.