Best tax refund software?

I

imported_RedlineIRL

New member
This year I am wanting fill my tax refund out online with some sort of software, I haven't done before in any prior years. I can't see paying some tax service place over $150 for something that I can do myself and it cost much less. Anyways, which software do you all reccomend using that works well and is pretty easy to follow with step by step wizards throughout the process?
 
RedlineIRL said:
This year I am wanting fill my tax refund out online with some sort of software, I haven't done before in any prior years. I can't see paying some tax service place over $150 for something that I can do myself and it cost much less. Anyways, which software do you all reccomend using that works well and is pretty easy to follow with step by step wizards throughout the process?
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I've been using TurboTax since 1994. The only downside is as they kept modifying the program if I needed to open a previous year's file I needed to reinstall that year's version of the software. A few years ago they began allowing you to save the file in .pdf format which made things easier.



I've been using TurboTax Online for 2 or 3 years and recommend it. It's ease of use and format mirrors the hard drive installation version. Cheaper too as the fee to upload to the IRS is included.



TurboTax® Tax Preparation Software, FREE Tax Filing, Efile Taxes, Income Tax Returns



Step by step idiot proof direction, just answer the questions. If you use it next year all your personal info conveniently loads in the return. I uploaded my return on 1/19 and the refund was in my checking account on the 29th.



TL
 
I have used either turbo tax and taxbrain.com I actually like taxbrain.com They have been great with me and I actually got a rapid refund threw them 2 years ago with no problems, Now adays though I got a nice account.
 
Have you ever thought about having a professional Accountant to your taxes? Unless you're fluent with tax codes, if might be worth paying a little more to have a CPA do them. A few hundred more spent could gain you thousands.
 
turbo tax is what my parents have used for years and what I started using. It is great and you dont have to know all the tax codes as it really guides you through it and helps you get the most back.
 
David Fermani said:
Have you ever thought about having a professional Accountant to your taxes? Unless you're fluent with tax codes, if might be worth paying a little more to have a CPA do them. A few hundred more spent could gain you thousands.
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Once again I agree with you David...



I used to do my own taxes thinking "I can follow simple instructions"... well, for the past 4 years I have had a tax professional prepare my taxes and I have been more than happy and he has more than paid for himself!
 
David Fermani said:
Have you ever thought about having a professional Accountant to your taxes? Unless you're fluent with tax codes, if might be worth paying a little more to have a CPA do them. A few hundred more spent could gain you thousands.
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For those of you Pro's, David is exactly correct, a CPA with plenty of tax experience (unlike myself) would be your best bet. I am a CPA (deal more with Financial Reporting than taxes) and I could not image trying to keep up with all the goofy depreciation laws on work vehicles, power equipment, section 179 write offs and all the other stuff. Also, if your state or local government has income taxes, the rules could be different there also. I can't imagine someone who does not do tax preparation as a profession would be able to keep up with all the numerous tax rules and regulations.



Now, for those of you who are not professional detailers and who only do a few details a year for friends and don't depreciate anything (like me) and your taxes consist of one or more W-2's, interest, dividend and capital gains, home mortgage interest and real estate taxes, and charitable giving, going to CPA may be overboard. H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt or those types would probably be fine for you. And if you are daring, doing it yourself with software may work also. I used to use Turbo Tax but now I use TaxSlayer.com. I really like TaxSlayer.com, pretty cheap and does pretty much everything Turbo Tax did for me.
 
I switched from Turbotax to TaxAct. I used TT for over 10 years and I think I liked Tax Act better, but my situation is pretty straight forward. Alot of my friends use TT or TA and see a CPA for their returns. CPA saves them money for complex situations.
 
I started using Turbo Tax after H&R charged me over $300 to do my taxes in 07. Tried TT in 08 and received more then I did using H&R (basically the $300 H&R ate I got to keep). So I used it again this year and I'm happy with it. It really is super easy to use. If you can read and follow directions you can use Turbo Tax.
 
for simple taxes do it yourself. Unless you have like a full blown operation with employees and all that good stuff then i would say use a CPA.



If it's straight forward with just yourself i use TaxAct. Use to use turbotax but you of course need to buy the software. TaxAct is free to do online (software wise) you just pay a small fee to file your returns and you are done.
 
We own a rental property and I find TurboTax Premiere works very well for that and is generally user friendly and comprehensive for all the typical tax forms.
 
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