
If you have time to spare, you could enter your data in two products and compare results.Įvery year the BBB receives thousands of inquiries about tax preparers, and unfortunately complaints from consumers. Downloaded software often comes with a money-back, no-questions-asked guarantee.

Paid products typically don't require payment until you print or e-file, and many brands allow you to try the products without creating an account. Whether you're new to tax preparation software or switching brands, don't be afraid to take a couple products for a test drive. Take a close look at product websites and consider checking out expert reviews in top technology and software publications. You pay for help whether you use it or not. While some brands offer "free" help, their software costs more. Fees for one-on-one tax and technical help vary widely. State returns usually cost extra.īesides product fees, look at any fees for tax help and electronic filing of your return.
Professional tax software reviews 2011 upgrade#
You can upgrade if you need or want to later. If you're not sure what forms you need, start with the free product. TaxACT is the only free federal product that includes all e-fileable forms for simple and complex returns. Several brands even offer free federal products, though most only include forms for "simple" taxes, meaning forms for Form 1040EZ and non-itemized returns. Products range from free to more than $100, but most taxpayers should find the lower-priced products more than adequate. Though the look and feel of user interfaces vary some across brands, the key differentiator between tax preparation software is price.

The IRS reports that 9.8 million tax returns were self-prepared and e-filed last year, a 14.2 percent increase over the previous year. Instead of paying a professional to do their taxes, an increasing number of U.S.
