There are scores of tax deduction software available in the market. Several of them are web-based, while a few can be loaded in your PC. The more popular among these are:
1. For complex tax returns: If you run your own business, rent properties, have invested in partnerships or have lots of stocks you need a program that can handle multiple entries. In this category, the best buys are TurboTax Premier and Complete Tax.
Both are web-based tax programs though Turbo Tax has a PC-based version too. Turbo Tax Premier, in particular, is the ideal choice for anyone who has rental income. Complete Tax on the other hand is very good when it comes to importing capital gains entries directly from Gainskeeper. This saves the active investor a lot of time.
2. For Straight-Forward Tax Returns: If you have some interest coming in from banks or dividends from mutual funds and you have W-2s from your job you would want a tax software that can calculate your returns quickly and accurately. Tax Act is your best bet. It calculates your returns and also gives tells you about penalties, if any.
The web version of Tax Act charges $7.95 to e-file a federal return, and another $7.95 to file a state return. Another good tax software is Snap Tax. It is reliable, quick and fills out Form 1040-EZ in 15 minutes and e-files your returns in half an hour.
3. For unique tax situations: There are a number of unique tax situations that can crop up in a community of tax payers. It is impossible for a single software to handle all these issues. Your best bet in such a situation is to get yourself an experienced professional. Turbo Tax Premier is the nearest you can get to professional help, but then you would have to rely a lot on your own judgment.
4. Free Tax Software: The IRS , in partnership with various software companies, provides easy-to-use, free or almost free software to customers who meet a certain eligibility criteria. The best of the lot are: CompleteTax, which: offers web-based interface; Free File, which can help prepare and e-file your state return for no extra charge; Tax Act Online, which has a very good free file version and is one of the fastest; Tax Engine, which is free for everyone, ($10 extra to prepare state return) and offers an easy-to-use tax program that features both the interview-style and forms-based input; H&R Block Free File, which offers free tax preparation if your adjusted gross income is $34,000 or less. It is recommended only for the simplest tax returns. Preparing a state return costs an extra $19.95 to $29.95. Besides this, Online Taxes can be used for free if you have a gross income of less than 150,000$.
