Last year I was considering going to a CPA because my tax situation was becoming more complicated, with the side income I was reporting from the blog.
After looking into it, however, and procrastinating until the last minute, I ended up deciding to use the Deluxe version of the TurboTax software because April 15th was coming up quicker than I was ready for.
In the end, I was happy with the product and how easy it was to use, and I think I’ll probably be using it again this year.
If you file your own taxes I suggest using e-file to file your taxes as your tax return is processed a lot faster than if you send in a paper tax return. You can also get a refund in as little as 8 days with e-file, but it can take a month or more to receive a refund via check. Plus, if you meet certain income restrictions, you can file your federal taxes for free!
Filing Your Tax Return Can Be Free
If you are looking for an affordable option to e-file your taxes, there are several places that will allow you to do it for free, if you meet certain conditions. The IRS has a Free File program that allows you work with a number of tax preparation software companies in order to get free tax preparation if you had an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $58,000 or less in 2010. Some of the companies will have a lower AGI threshold than others, but in general most will offer free e-file along with having a free tax preparation option.
Companies Where You Can File Your Taxes For Free
If you’re looking to file your taxes for free, here are a few of the free filing options. Remember the required maximum AGI for free filing will vary from company to company. Click on the company name to start your free return!
TurboTax Free Edition– TurboTax is one of the better known names in tax preparation, and the company that I’ll be using this year. They offer:
- FREE preparation, FREE printing, FREE efiling for your simple tax return
- Guides you like a GPS through your simple tax return
- Double-checks your return to make sure it’s accurate
eSmart Tax Free – Complete Tax offers a free file option, and I’ve heard from others that the software works pretty well:
- 1040EZ Federal form only
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Single, and Married Filing Jointly filing status
- No children or dependents
Tax Act Online Free Edition –2nd Story Software Another great tax software that I’ve heard great things about. Free federal filing, and add state for only $17.95!
- Prepare, Print & E-file FREE for Everyone!
- Get your maximum refund guaranteed
- FREE e-mail and audit support
H & R Block at Home Free Edition– H & R Block took the Tax Cut software and rebadged it in their H & R Block at Home Free Edition. They offer the following with their free file service:
- Step-by-step guidance
- Double-checks for errors and guaranteed accurate.
- Easy for first-time users
- Ability to add state program
- 1 federal e-file
QuickTax Free Online Edition – QuickTax is the one Canadian option I’ll mention for our friends across the border. Their software offers:
- Free support by email
- No downloads and no software to install – do your taxes in your Web browser
- Your info is totally safe! QuickTax uses the same security features major banks do
Do you have your own tax software that you prefer to these options? Tell us which one you use in the comments!
And then they charge you an arm and a leg for state filing.
This year, I’m going to go with TaxAct. They have the best prices by far ($17.95 for deluxe version, both state and fed) and have gotten good reviews. I’ve been turned off this year by how much Turbo Tax costs.
@Mark, that has been my experience, as well.
I prefer to just pay for an accountant. It seems that these software programs create an “impatient me” and I’m not entirely sure I always get all the credits I should be. Plus, if there’s one thing I hate, it’s filing out taxes. One place where I’ll “splurge.”
In the past I’ve used the free version of TaxAct (the free version has no income limit cap).
But this year, I’ll have to decide between the deluxe version of TaxAct or Turbo Tax. I was even considering going to an accountant, but based your article, I think I will check out the software packages first.
Thanks!
Yeah, don’t get me wrong – some people would benefit from going to an CPA to get their taxes done, regardless of the added expense, yet I’m just not convinced I need to yet as I’m so immersed in this stuff from writing about it all the time, and my tax situation isn’t overly complicated.
For the last two years, we have qualified to use FreeTaxUSA and I have been pleased. Last year we got a credit that I had not known existed. The first year we used it, I did our state taxes on paper. Last year, I paid to e-file and it was much less time consuming and well worth the cost.