Why I Prefer to Use TaxACT for My Tax Return

I have used TaxACT to work on my tax returns for several years now. Several tax preparation software packages and online programs will allow you to file for free, but TaxACT has specific benefits beyond the cost which make it the program I choose to use.

They offer several versions on their website, and the free version is available on the web, or as a software download. For an additional charge, you can use their Deluxe or Ultimate versions, which include expert advice, the ability to import information from your last years' tax return, and a series of calculators to help people make the most out of their finances. The Deluxe and Ultimate versions also have the ability to import W2s from selected payroll providers, which may benefit many people.

For me, the one benefit to TaxACT that makes it stand out from the other free tax software programs out there is that the free version is not limited to simple tax returns. I'm self-employed, and although my tax return is not terribly complicated, it's not terribly easy, either. The first year that I had to file a self-employment tax return, the TaxACT program walked me through the whole form with ease. If I were a larger business, or had a large amount of deductions and expenses, I don't believe I would even feel comfortable using online software at all, but for right now it suits me perfectly.

On the minus side, I don't believe there is a sufficient warning system to let you know if you have made a significant error. This year, when completing my taxes with TaxACT, I got all the way to the end and looked at the size of my return and immediately I knew that something was wrong, but I had to go through each section of my return to find the error. I had somehow skipped the Earned Income Credit worksheet entirely, which is, as those of you with children will know, huge.