Boston Gal's Open Wallet

taxact with federal efile 0.00
ohio tax refund site 0.00 no income limits

 

Hi Boston Gal,

I've been reading your blog on & off since the later part of 2006 & have enjoyed your writing tremendously.

A quick question, is there a reason you don't use TaxACT which offers federal & state preparation with e-filing for under $15? Does rental ownership make things too complicated for TaxACT? I used it for the firt time without any issues last April, but then again, I have just investment gains, interest income & mortgage interest to account for over & above my salary.

Thanks in adv & keep up the good work!

 

Hey Jane,

I tried to leave a comment, but blogger seemed to be having some
problems
loading the page. I just wanted to let you know that you can use TaxCut
basic for free (which maybe you are already aware of). I wrote a post
about how you can use it online for free if you have a connection to
the
military (http://www.moneymatics.net/2007/01/18/taxcut-for-free/), but
it
also looks like anyone can download it as well
(http://www.download.com/H-R-Block-TaxCut-Basic/3000-2047_4-10608845.html).

I don't know enough about the differences between Basic and Premium,
except that I imagine with these Basic programs you would definitely
have
to print and file by mail. However, if the cost is free then maybe
that's
not so bad.

I really enjoy your blog and especially its Boston touch. Thanks for
all
your posts.

-Joshua
http://www.moneymatics.net/

 

Why I use TaxCut instead of other tax prep software...

Basically I use it because I am comfortable with the product. TaxCut has helped me prepare and file my tax returns since 1997. I switched for one year to TurboTax - it was ok - but I had to input a lot of stuff (which TaxCut would have just prepopulated for me - since I keep using it year after year).

So basically I am now hooked on TaxCut. That is not to say it is any better or worse than other tax prep software - just that I like it and want to keep using it (I just don't want to pay full retail - I like a bargain!)

Premium has more tutorials and step-by-step guides than Basic. I have found these useful in the past - so now keep buying this version. Since I only do my taxes once a year, occassionally I forget some write-offs - which the tutorials prompt me about - so it is worth the small cost to me.

 

I bought Turbo Tax Deluxe with State and it came with Free Quicken 2007. I paid $25 after the $20 coupon I got at the kiosk instore for trying out a magazine subscription. It's pretty expensive this year without the coupon alone!

Is TaxCut pretty helpful with calculating the real estate stuff for taxes like how much you can write off and repairs?

 

Hi SF Money Musings,

Yes, TaxCut is VERY helpful with the rental stuff. My taxes are fairly complicated now, which is another reason I am hesitant to switch products again. TaxCut was also very helpful when I was self-employed. I first started using software when I became a home owner. Before that when I just took the standard deduction (did not itemize) I just used the paper and pencil method with the EZ form.

The software works for me, so I am happy with it. I am sure if I had started out as a TurboTax person instead of TaxCut I would have kept with that brand...

 

Have you looked into any of the online tax return programs? I used Turbotax last year and with my tax rebate was able to "purchase" gift cards at a reduced rate (i.e. $100 gift card at Lowe's for $80). This made me reserve some of my tax refund for home improvements...

I don't remember how much offhand I paid to submit them online, but perhaps it's worth looking into. does anyone else have a comment on this?

 

Amazon seems to have a deal now where, if you buy $65 of other amaozn stuff, then buy TaxCut Premium, they will refund the purchase price up to $29.99. Because the purchase price is about $27 (NOT with e-file), this makes it free (assuming you needed the $65 worth of other amazon stuff).