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Tax Software Advice Wanted

January 30th, 2012 at 10:51 pm

DH wants to buy tax software because this year is going to have the most complicated return we've ever had and he wants to make sure he doesn't miss anything. It's not really complicated enough to take to a tax professional, but he feels some kind of software might be necessary. He has always done our taxes by hand and then gone through it step by step with me so I would know how to do them, too if I ever had to. (I used to do my own when I was single).

So I've heard of TurboTax and Quicken, but which is better, more user friendly? I am also curious as to whether there was anything else out there. Possibly something that didn't cost anything at all? From what I understand you have to buy new software every year with the two name brands, you can't just update it. Is that true?

6 Responses to “Tax Software Advice Wanted”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1327964560

    I have used TurboTax and TaxAct. I use the online versions, which as far as I know as the same as what you would log onto online. If you buy the software, yes, you would need to buy the next years version as tax laws and forms change.

  2. Mary Ann Says:
    1327968895

    Quicken is a money software. TurboTax is a tax software. I have used TurboTax and Taxcut. You can buy them but it is cheaper and just as easy to do them online, possibly for free!

  3. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1327976935

    I use TT online. It saves your info from year to year and walks you through everything ad nauseum.

  4. PauletteGoddard Says:
    1327985044

    Because I love to hear a man beg for mercy, I tell my husband each year he should do the taxes. Seriously,your financial institution might offer you a discount for using the tax software through them. My credit union's offering 15% discount and my brokerage is offering 35% discount. Believe me when I tell you that for the past three years I have spent hours looking for some way to do taxes online for free, and as I am not poor, disabled or elderly my searches are fruitless.

  5. Looking Forward Says:
    1327986297

    As I commented before - freetaxusa.com
    We've used it for several years. It costs $10.

  6. baselle Says:
    1327989914

    The IRS site has a list of "free" tax software providers. I used those for a couple of years - they are tricky though because the business model is that they'll do your fed tax for free (only for the EZ form) but will charge to do your state income tax. (As well you know, WA has no state income tax. Yet.) Hence, out of a list of 50 or so providers on the IRS list maybe 5 of them will possibly do it ... but you have to click in, select WA and be disappointed over and over.

    For the complicated years, I had them done, and for this last year I bought and used TT. It was straightforward. I think I will use TT from Vanguard this year.

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