tax time - programs for doing it

[JHZR2]

Hello,

Ive always done taxes myself, by hand. Not much too it... I can do math, I can do it in excel so I dont screw up, etc.

This year I got married. Now the whole structure gets more complex... married, married filing seperately, etc. WHile doing the whole iterative thing and comparing results is fine, I have to wonder if it might be more worthwhile to let some software do it.

The wife has 3 or 4 jobs this year because of her part-timer in college, some paid work she did as research in her graduate program, then two medical jobs she has now. I just have one job. We both paid tuition this year, she now has student loans which she is paying interest on. We own a house, no kids.

Its mildly complex, but not terribly so. I can't imagine doing by hand a few times will be that terrible. But I assume that a program can e a big timesaver, unless of course data entry kills you time-wise.

So, any thoughts? pros? cons? benefits? issues?

The software is ~$40, thats going out to a decent dinner. If Im going to spend about the same amount of time either way, I might as well save the bucks. Does using software really save time???

Thanks,

JMH

 

[Pablo]

I think you can score turbo tax for under $30. I haven't checked to see if Fidelity is offering anything good this year.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I use TaxAct. It's free, at least for the federal return. There is no state tax here in FL, so I'm all set.

 

[dkryan]

Use TurboTax. Get the basic version. Skip the Deluxe edition.

 

[97tbird]

I think we used "TaxCut" last year...it worked fine for us, but our taxes are pretty simple to do. That was the 1st time we ever did using software, and I have to say it was very easy and convenient to do, and pretty neat, too.

 

[Bob Woods]

TAX ACT is the answer, its free for most users, and you can Efile.

 

[dwendt44]

I use Turbo Tax too. Basic version is all most need.
The state forms just ask for figures off the federal return anyway.
I do returns for several friends so I'll stick with TurboTax. I like the control I have with my 'own' program. I can leave and return easily.
The first time the data entry took some time, but you an import for succeeding years if you stay with TurboTax.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

I use a local family run company to do my taxes. My taxes aren't as complicated as they used to be, but still, with 3 income streams, an extended capital loss and quite a bit of tax deferred income, it is easy to overlook something. Cost me $123 this year and it's money well spent.

If you're ever in the area and need tax help, look up WebTax. Really good people and they have high cred with the IRS. My taxman told me this year that they have had only 1 client audited in 20 years and the IRS was wrong.

 

[Slick 55]

I've used TaxCut for 5 years now with no complaints. Watch sales at STaples and you can get some other free stuff with the purchase.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

I used to use the Intuit's Turbo Tax until 2002. Found out they install DRM & spyware on the computer. After a hard drive crash, I found out the hard way that I had to call customer support for a new unlock key-code. Took 45 minutes to do that even though it clearly stated that "only takes 5 minutes" if a new key code is needed. Dunno if they still operate in such stealth mode by placing hidden folders on your computer , but I refuse to take the chance.

More info about this fiasco here: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,821479,00.asp

Been using Kiplinger/H&R Block's Tax Cut since then. Easy to use & easy to import previous year's data. Took me less than 30 minutes to do taxes this year. Very nice! ...and no serial number unlock codes to deal with.

 

[doitmyself]

If you google "best 2008 tax software" (I think), there are one or two good reviews that show a side by side comparison of these programs.

Here's one review I liked:

http://tax-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

 

[Schmoe]

I've used turbo tax since late 90's. Watch the state returns. You have to really open it up to get all the state deductions.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: Schmoe
I've used turbo tax since late 90's. Watch the state returns. You have to really open it up to get all the state deductions.

TurboTax since 2003 Tax year. I use the DeLux version. One thing I would suggest: Do not e-file with the State. If the State has any kind of problem with their system. Which has happened twice...The Federal efile will not go through until the State has accepted theirs Screw that. Have turbo tax do it; but print it out and mail it in.

 

[NJC]

I used Intuit Quicktax for years ... but they priced themselves out of my market. So last year I used http://www.ufile.ca/default.asp last year. Cheesier than Quicktax but it worked out OK. Because I detest taxes, last year's filing had this with it

Which of course took longer because I had to check my work a few times.

 

[levi]

Have turbo tax do it; but print it out and mail it in.

Yep. What we've done for years. TurboTax has a pretty good program, IMO.