Sarasota PC Monitor
TAXCUT PREMIUM 2003
A Software Review
by Herb Goldstein
Member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc.In my pre-retirement life, I always used a professional service to complete my tax return. What with the many business complexities in volved in taxes, I figured I would save more than the cost of a professional preparer, and after all, it was a valid business expense. After retirement, shelling out a few hundred bucks for what was then a much less involved return bothered me considerably. To add insult to injury, I noted that all my accountant did was feed the information I supplied him into a computer. The insult was that my computer was as capable as his, and the injury was the $500 his time at the keyboard cost me. So I figured that with the right software, I could save myself half a grand. I was right!
All that remained was to choose the right software. My choice between the two most popular programs available was TaxCut. Site unseen, I figured that any software that combined the joint efforts of the two most popular tax mavens, H&R Block and Kiplinger, had to be the way to go. Right again!
Consequently, and not without trepidation, I laid out my 40 bucks, easily installed the software and prayed. With each subsequent stroke at my keyboard my smile grew wider. I couldn't believe it. Up and onto my screen came an accountant in a fancy-shmancy suit and tie and began talking to me. He told me what to do and I followed his instructions. Even without his cheery advice, I soon discovered that any 5th grader of average intelligence could readily prepare a tax return. It was that simple. Essentially, all you need do is gather your paperwork (1099's, expenses, W2's, brokerage statements, etc.) and answer simple questions. When you are finished answering questions, TaxCut will review all your information and prepare and audit your return. It will check to make sure that you haven't entered anything that will raise the hackles of the IRS (and offer corrections if you did), and at the touch of a key it will print out a beautiful tax return, complete in all details, tell you what you owe or how much Uncle owes you. You can either mail it or submit an electronic return which TaxCut will obligingly do for you for free. The latter choice will speed your refund if one is owed you.
If at any point along the way a question should arise, a copious context sensitive help menu will immediately come up and focus on your progress point. It will provide you with complete instructions from H&R Block, Kiplinger financial, the IRS.or all three. All the math is done automatically and with absolute accuracy by the software as you go.
Here are some (there are many more!) additional features TaxCut provides:
Calculation of whether you are better off taking your standard deduction or listing your deductible expenses.
Advice on how to lower your taxes next year and tailor made advice for you this year. You will get personal super money-saving tax and investment planning advice.
The very latest tax law changes will be incorporated into the program before you start.
The Premium Edition of TaxCut provides free consultation by phone or email with an H&R Block professional.
You can import information from Quicken, Money or TurboTax.
Free TaxCut state tax program.
TaxCut is available in 3 editions, Standard, Deluxe or Premium. Your choice will depend upon the complexity of your tax situation. You will find them at a street price of $10, 20, and 30 (after rebate) respectively. For specific features in each addition, visit hrblock.com. You will also find some interesting tax advice and tools there.
This year's software has incorporated numerous enhancements and new features. Be certain (the software will remind you) to update with the all the last minute tax law changes which you will easily download from Block's web site before starting on your return.
Copyright 2004. This article is from the February 2004 issue of the Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For further information about our group, email: admin@spcug.org/ Web: http://www.spcug.org/
The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,100+ members and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are members of the America Online Ambassador Program.
See http://www.spcug.org for all reviews from the Sarasota PC Monitor, go to the Newsletter Section.