| How much better can they get? That's what we | | | | also offer access to tax pros who can answer a |
| asked ourselves about the leading tax preparation | | | | specific question or review your entire return. |
| software packages this year, given the depth and | | | | This year's crop of PC-resident packages2nd Story |
| approachability we saw in the category last year. But | | | | Software's TaxACT, H&R Blocks's TaxCut, and Intuit's |
| indeed they've managed to improve, incrementally at | | | | Turbo Taxhave improved in subtle ways. Navigation is |
| least, delivering plain-English help on a broader range of | | | | better, and the depth of questioning in some topics has |
| topics and offering live advice for users with questions. | | | | been increased. In many cases, the programs' "voices" |
| As in the past, these packages provide the tools you | | | | have become friendlier and less jargon-laden. These |
| need to complete federal and state tax returns, doing | | | | and other, smaller changes make your apprehensive |
| all of the calculations required and nudging you to lay | | | | journey through the 1040 a little more palatable. |
| out all of your income and deductions. If that sounds | | | | Each company (not to mention a host of smaller |
| pretty basic, it's anything but. | | | | players) also offers an online-only version for users |
| Software companies have bent over backwards to | | | | comfortable with an ASP model. But these services |
| ensure that your path through the 1040ez is paved | | | | typically don't go live until January; hence they couldn't |
| with a ton of help and interpretation. Specifically, they | | | | be tested for this story. The bottom line: The vast |
| offer the option of a step-by-step interview that asks | | | | majority of filers will do very well with tax prep |
| you questions and puts the answers in the right place | | | | software, unless they're dealing with thorny topics like |
| on forms and schedules. And when you think you're | | | | depreciation and the sale of securities, which require |
| done, the software does a sweep of your return and | | | | more acumen. |
| highlights answers that may be problematic. You are | | | | If you used either of the leaders (TaxCut or |
| then ushered to planning tools that give advice on how | | | | TurboTax) last year and were comfortable with it, |
| to minimize your tax burden for next tax year. | | | | there's no compelling reason to switch to the other this |
| Help abounds, and it comes in several flavors. | | | | year, as they are very evenly matched. But if you are |
| Unfamiliar terms are hyperlinked to explanations. | | | | new to such packages, our favorite (and Editors' |
| Context-sensitive FAQs dot most screens, and IRS | | | | Choice) this year, by a nose, is TurboTax. While |
| instructionswith intelligible interpretations of themare | | | | TaxCut will more than meet the needs of the vast |
| available for each topic. Additional helpful text and tips | | | | majority of users and is the better bargain ($20 less |
| flesh out puzzling content. And all of the tax law | | | | expensive, not counting the free advice call buyers are |
| changes that have been incorporating since last year | | | | entitled to), we slightly prefer the interview process and |
| are built in. If you're still unsure of something, the leaders | | | | overall feel of TurboTax this time around. |