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Home > Smart Spending > Archives > 2009 > February > 26
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Many happy (tax) returns using computer software?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This time each year, I dig into my folder stuffed with receipts, documents, notes, bills, copies of checks, credit card statements and used napkins. (How did they get in there?)
Then I sort them, jot down data from them, cram them back into the folder … and turn it all over to my income tax preparer.
She does fine work but charges a pretty penny — 150 of them per hour, to be precise. So, my annual tax-related ritual includes this question: Can I perform this overwhelming task myself on income tax software?
Far as I can tell, three similarly named software products share billing as the most popular. You’ve got TurboTax, TaxAct and TaxCut.
Have you tried any of these? Thumbs-up or thumbs-down?
Sampled any programs besides the Big Three?
Each seems best-suited to a straightforward, simple return. If so, that deters folks like me, with my money-sucking hobbies (slow racehorses and stupid stock transactions).
Will any of these products work for those of us unable to file simple returns?
I sure would like to give the software a stab. I’m just afraid it will cause a mess with the IRS, which not even those used napkins could clean up.
