Anyone have experience with the free tax software programs available? TurboTax and TaxAct are the two I have heard about but have never used.

Your thoughts on either?

TIA!

I have used both. Turbo Tax cost me more but got me more $.

If you want the best return possible without the headache or worry of making a mistake - use a CPA!

I'd recommend the Houston Forum sponsor, Scott Burgess. He even gives a discount to all TexAgs users!

79 - Interesting. Seems like the refunds calculated through either would be the same.

Kurt - Thanks for the rec, but I have used a CPA for the prior two years...and his error cost us a cool $11K. I will likely give Scott a call since we have certain nuances this year that we didn't have previously.

In the meantime, I would like to try the free programs to see how they work so I can get an idea of what to expect.

TurboTax for 1040A or easier.

I use TurboTax. Dad has gotten it for the longest and it is (to me) the easiest. He got the other one and had issues with it when doing returns (don't know if it was the year or what).

BiL, who lives overseas and deals with 3 different currencies/accounts uses TurboTax. Take that as you will.

~egon

I just do the Free eFile.

I use the turbo tax and if they ask you to pay for it after your one year trial period is up, or after you've used it once, just go through the same program, but at the end when it comes time to pay, just go to review your 1040 and it will give it to you and you can just write it on your own form and mail it in. Taxes are bad enough without having to pay someone else to do them. I can see if I had my own business and things were more complicated I might do that, but otherwise I have to go the cheap route.

Happy Passover to you and your family.

Old Army is dead. It used to be Aggies don't lie, cheat or steal. Now Aggies are proud of stealing $29.99 from TurboTax.

I have used Turbo Tax for about 5-6 years now, got started with it because my dad uses it and still does.

I think it's great and does what I need plus some. We have a home based business and file a schedule C as well and it takes care of all of that.

I wouldn't call it stealing. If they didn't want to post the data on there, they could avoid it by not making it an option. The turbotax added value piece comes in for people who don't want to fill in the sheet themselves and mail it in, and they provide the e-file option. So what if I use them as an online tax-help calculator.

HR Block Home is what my dad uses. I use lacerte though but thats because i work for a small firm. Sassafras, your smart enough to figure it out. just use TurboTax or the HR Block one and you should be just fine.