PEI's history spans more than four decades of innovation.

The 60s

In the early 1960s, as the boom of the post-war era begins to fade, Leroy Petz, Sr., looks for ways to supplement the income from the family farming operation in Northern California. The tedious task of manually preparing an often erratic farm payroll is a common problem in need of a solution. Founded as Agricultural Computations or Ag-Comp, the family business is started in 1964 to supply accounting forms and wage/tax charts to agri-business firms.

The Petz family develops, produces and distributes these first products from their home in Tracy, California. Within a few years, these simple, yet innovative products garner a substantial following among farmers around the country.

The 70s

As the company grows, so does the need for outside computing services. Through a partnership with a local university, a computer service bureau for payroll tax processing and reporting is started. Ag-Comp begins delivery of on-demand wage and tax processing for its agri-business customer base.

The company is incorporated in the State of California as Petz Enterprises, Inc in 1974.

Eventually, the company builds its own in-house data center and moves service bureau operations from San Jose to the Tracy headquarters. Payroll processing expands well beyond the original farm focus to include the manufacturing, distribution, and construction industries.

Demand for the service bureau business model begins to decline as computer prices fall in the late 70s. PEI forms a dealer relationship with Retail Sciences, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia to sell and support Peachtree Accounting and Payroll software. By the end of the decade, the company has transitioned to the delivery and support of custom accounting systems to end-users.

The 80s

PEI develops a strong regional presence as a professional services firm that builds, installs and maintains business accounting applications and systems infrastructure.

Through the decade the company expands its portfolio of systems and applications to include the mid-range version of the PeachTree™ product line, custom products for wholesale distribution management, RealWorld™Accounting, ProMation™ Job Costing, Man-Trak™ Applications for Manufacturing and custom database applications.

During this period, the company installs and maintains custom-built accounting, payroll and tax management systems for mid-market companies around the western United States. By the end of the decade, the company has a total install base of more than 1,000 systems.

1988

A meeting of commercial software developers with the Internal Revenue Service spawns development of what was later launched as the CrossLink Electronic Filing System. The new PEI service is to provide the software, infrastructure and technical services for commercial tax software products to electronically transact individual income tax returns with the IRS.

1990

The CrossLink Electronic Filing System goes to general release and the company is transformed from a professional services firm to a provider of packaged software and information services.

1991

PEI is awarded a contract by the State of California to develop the new electronic tax filing system for the California Franchise Tax Board.

1994

Revenues from the electronic filing and tax related financial services eclipse all other product lines. PEI divests itself of the accounting systems business and shifts full focus to the tax applications and electronic filing market.

1995

The CrossLink product line is expanded to include preparation of federal and state individual income tax returns. While electronic filing remains an important component of the product line, development and services move strongly into tax computation, compliance and practice productivity.

1997

Building upon the company's experience in electronic banking transactions, PEI enters the EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) market with the launch of the QuickAccess® service. Through this system PEI distributes government entitlement payments and private payrolls through its network of QuickAccess service centers in seventeen states.

2000

PEI creates its first internet venture with the launch of the TaxBrain Online Tax Center. The infant product extends the company's core competencies of tax computation, electronic banking, and information services to a new audience of consumers.

2002

PEI makes a major investment in the expansion of the TaxBrain Online Tax Center to serve a broader audience with a full line of preparation, advice, electronic filing, and financial services. The new service is scheduled for launch in December 2002.

PEI's most important strength has been its expertise in combining accounting, tax, and engineering with service delivery. Along the way, the company has built a reputation by consistently delivering highly effective solutions and superior customer support.