Income Taxes Computer Program or Paper?

JLD · Jan 13, 2004

TurboTax is the way go, been using it for about 8 years.

jwstewar · Jan 13, 2004

I've been using TaxCut since '98. Is it better than TT? I don't know, but it is the one that I use and for my simple (mortgage, kids, and wife's tuition) it works for me. I usually pay $20 for the Deluxe version. That gets me a free state program as well as free electronic filing after rebate. There are also incentives with Microsoft Money where you can get up to $40 back toward the purchase of Money. I'll buy Microsoft Money Deluxe at Sam's Club for $24.97 and get that refunded. I'll also buy McAfee Antivirus for $19.99 and get a refund for that amount because I also purchased TaxCut and that'll keep my virus subscrition going for another year. Total out of pocket expense is usually about $20 for all 4 programs (fed, state, Money, and AntiVirus) and electronic filing for both Fed & State.

TerryinMD · Jan 13, 2004

Started with MacInTax, swiched to PC's used Turbo Tax, and now use TaxCut. Both work essentially the same and both can import financial information from various sources.

Pick the cheapest in your area and do your taxes. We use the Home and Small Business edition which works very well with assisting in depeciation, Schedule C's, etc.

Have fun!!!!

Terry

BigDave · Jan 14, 2004

I used to use Turbo Tax or TaxCut, which ever was cheaper that year. For the past three years, I use Turbo Tax Online through my credit union - so no more buying software. I just pay a fee, print out a copy for my records & everything is done. All of my data is saved, so it is easy to get started & plug in the new numbers. It takes so little time that I'm usually afraid to submit to the IRS until I had a day or two to try & see if there was anything I forgot.

frank_f15 · Jan 14, 2004

have been using turbo tax for a # of years. find it to be very good, i e file and then use direct deposit. very quick..

BXMMCC · Jan 15, 2004

I used TurboTax for years, then tried TaxCut because it was cheaper. Worked just as well as TurboTax.

NY_Yankees_Fan · Jan 15, 2004

Thanks for all the info guess we will give TurboTax a try, off to Staples I go /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rbeitz · Jan 18, 2004

Years ago, in the late 80's, I was paying my accountant $150/year to do my taxes. (I had number of rental properties at the time.) Well the one year I'm sitting there watching him just key my data into the computer and spit out the return. I asked what software he used and he said JK Lassiters Your Income Tax. Well the next year I went out and bought the software for like $20 bucks and I've been doing my own taxes ever since. Sometime in the early 90's JK Lassiter became Kiplingers TAXcut and then sometime in the last few years HR Block bought the company. Last year they came out with a premium version that says it deals with rental properties better than before but I haven't really noticed a difference from previous years. It calculates all my depreciation and walks me through the appropriate expense catagories. It is very thorough.

I've never used Turbo Tax but I've been using Quicken since 1989. I'm sure TT is good but I've been happy enough with TC that I see no reason to switch.