income tax software

has anyone used it to file there income tax?? my accountant is up to about 160.00 dollars and i don't have anything that you would call extensive to file and i have been thinking of giving it a try.

thanks

I've been using Turbo-Tax for many years - never a problem.

Bill

thanks

We switched to Turbo Tax on-line a few years ago because our accountant kept going up on her prices. It is the way to go.

We use Tax Cut (instead of Turbo Tax), and we like it a lot. :-)

Herbie, I used to work for H & R Block,....yes, I am a tax preparer too....TaxCut is all I'll use. It is easy to get around and you can get answers online through H & R Block as they own TaxCut. I have tried TurboTax before and didn't like it. I get each year's program and do taxes for the kids and friends and all my info is held and transfers from year to year. You don't have to input it each year.

Our taxes were over $200 when I took the class to become a preparer. The class was cheaper than one year of tax preparation. Having the farm, we had many schedules to do. Well, I did so well in the class and really enjoyed it that they asked me if I wanted a job, so I worked for them for close to 6 years....probably still would be if my family hadn't gotten into a car wreck and our life stopped for a while. Haven't paid a tax prep fee since.

:) Kathy

I should add that Turbo Tax has another incentive as well. If you will take some of your tax returns in gift cards (Lowes, Borders, and some others - yeah, I know the selection was limited) then you can get up to $200 extra in gift cards. We opted to get the full $200 (Visa gift card I think?) so we got $1000 in gift cards (most it was Lowe's) as part of our return. The $200 was well over the $70 or so to pay Turbo Tax. It was like getting $130 for using it if you didn't mind shopping at a few select stores.

The other nice thing about preparing it online is you get your return in a matter of days and is deposited in your bank. The state taxes are done as well this way.

We've used both. We have to file long form and the tax guy we used to take them too never found any deductions the programs don't.

I used to do taxes for other people, too.

When the feds changes the rules, I quit.

Bought several different software packages when first available - some were ok, some not ok. Best at the time was Parson's, but they merged with TurboTax, so was forced to change. They are so much better today than they have ever been. And they do copy forward from last year.

eSmart Tax (recently acquired by Liberty Tax)

> http://www.esmarttax.com/

* along with a dandy DEMO, here > http://www.esmarttax.com/demo/


OR .. TurboTax (by Intuit)
> http://turbotax.intuit.com/

We'd used Turbo Tax, thru to the tax year 2003 .. then there was a minor lil fee descrepancy * that came into question, with filing out our State tax form, for the tax year 2004, of which Turbo Tax insisted we didn't 'qualify' for - - so we checked out, and used eSmart Tax for 2004. And have used eSmart Tax since.

* We learned later, that the descrepancy with Turbo Tax was a mistake in their AR state tax software, of which {they} finally admitted to the oversight .. and attempted to make amends for the mistake. But, we've held with eSmart Tax since.

My best to ya, HERBIE43 ..

- Magpye

i'm a little confused. are you all saying that even after i purchase the software i also have to pay whatever software maker i use?? i thought that by just buying the software that would be all i had to do. please let me know about this. it doesn't really matter since it seems that the charges are reasonable. thanks

You can buy the software and install it or just go to the web site and run the tax program there for a fee. I think the price is about the same. I think the online version will keep all your figures on their servers for safekeeping (you have to trust them to keep your information safe). If you buy it then everything would be on your local drive.

If you buy it and install it, it's just extra work (installing) and one more thing on your hard drive taking up space. Seeing how it is only good for the current year, it doesn't make sense to buy and install it each year. There may be other benefits on buying it and installing it but I don't know what it would be.

I have been using Taxact for 6 years now. I download it online and do my taxes then file online, no charge! One year I did pay for the deluxe. It did nothing for me financialy so I haven't paid for it since. The little amount of space it takes on your computer is nil..
Yes I do file a long form. And even if you don't purchase they still have the same basic warrenty the others do.
www.taxact.com
Fran

I buy every year, but have several people that use it, so it is justified.
Yes, it takes a little room to keep on the hard drive, but has an uninstall option that will keep the return file, but delete the software. I have not bothered removing any of the old versions, and was able to assist someone who had not filed in several years, as a result. Also handy if someone needs another copy for some purpose years later - just reprint with the proper year's software and it matches the original.

We don't buy any software. Hubby uses Taxslayer online. It's free. Once you submit your info, there is a $10 fee to send the info. He's used it the last 3-4 years and really likes it.

I use the online version for free then pay a filing fee...I've used it both ways and never had a problem with it. It brings over last years info and makes filing a snap. Takes less than 30 minutes and within a few weeks we have our return..

Taxcut sends us the updated CD every year and we just have to go online and either pay to activate the program on our computer or do their online version and pay for the processing. My husband says every year that he is going to do it online next time... but when the time comes he decides he still isn't quite ready to have that much information swimming around and he does it on the computer instead. Maybe this year! LOL

* HERBIE43 *

The two I've mentioned above: Turbo Tax and eSmart Tax .. you DO NOT have to purchase any software!!

They're both available to fill/file/print ON-LINE .. @ the two links I've provided ..

- Magpye

Wanted to add ..
The US Gov't's IRS.gov site .. offers FreeFile .. for those that qualify

All the criteria/explanations are right here > http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

- Magpye

Frank,

As a senior, you have access to the services any Senior Center provides--free!!!!! Do you have Senior Centers where you live? They have qualified volunteers to do your taxes. Just call and make an appointment!

Here in Baltimore, last year, I discovered a place called "Tax Solutions" that will do your taxes for free. Again, it is manned by volunteers (fellow seniors), but they sure know what they are doing! It is also done on the Computer and submitted instantly. You also get a copy of both Federal and State tax returns. I will be going there from now on!

I did use one of the free tax-programs on the Computer in the past 2-3 years and there was never any charge. I just had to print out the pages and mail them off.

GIta

gita - thanks, that never dcrossed my mind.