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7 Apr 2011 By Chris

The Best Free Tax Preparation Software Alternatives

7 Apr

Get Your Tax Preparation Out Of The Way In A Matter Of Hours With Software Downloads For The Budget Conscious

Are you interested in free tax preparation software? Although there are many software applications that you can purchase, some people are in a position to use a free version.

If you are going to use free tax software you need to be aware of all your options. There are two free programs that most people in your situation rely on.

H&R Block at Home Online Federal Free

With this tax software filing your final return is simple. After conducting a simple interview, the information provided is used to complete several tax forms. For beginners with a simple return, H&R Block at Home Online Federal Free is a great choice.

Some features to be aware of include:

Step by step guidance
Federal e-file included
Double checking to ensure accuracy, and
Access to IRS publications.

TurboTax Federal Free Edition

This program was designed for taxpayers with simple returns that do not call for a lot of assistance. In addition to a step-by-step filing process, the software will search for eligible credits and deductions.

Are you unsure of whether or not TurboTax Federal Free Edition is a good choice? If so, get started today and let TurboTax decide if another option would be better. Those who need access to more features, due to a more involved return, will be best off upgrading to another Turbo Tax version.

Free tax preparation software has a lot to offer. At the same time, the programs above come up short in some areas. For example, schedules C (self employed income), D, E (royalty income), and F (farm income) are excluded.

If you can use free tax preparation software, great! If you cannot, upgrade to a paid version to ensure an accurate return.