It's Tax time again

And you might as well do it early if you are going to get a refund.This is my 4th year using TaxACT and find it very easy and absolutely free.I'm not sure if you reach a certain income level and then it costs something but mine isn't the simplest return with even a minuscule self employment income and it's still free.They do offer a Deluxe package a number of times while you are working but I don't see the purpose.

I tried TurboTax through my bank and it was gonna cost more than my Tax man was charging. I gave that up real quick

With TaxACT you download the program and work on it at your leisure.If you used it before your previous year can be opened and refereed to as needed .... or just print out the various forms.

Another Tax year with TaxAct

TaxAct has been sending notices since October for specials on their Deluxe Edition software which most people don't need. The Free Edition works fine for most unless you owe money, earn over $58,000 or have a State Tax return. What they didn't tell you is the only software available for download was the 2008 version. Me thinking they'd forgotten to rename it, went through the whole application only to find it could not be excepted because of the date.

Notices since December

Don't download 2008 for 2013

Asking tech support I only got the answer that the IRS is not excepting returns until after the 31st which is incorrect.   They never said 2008 software would not work for 2013 but that is what they were offering.  I went back last Friday and they had the 2013 package available and I breezed through it like I have the last two years.  It's true that the IRS is not processing returns until February but it is accepting early submissions .... so said my acceptance notice. 

The lack of an answer almost had me headed for Taxslayer.com, the other recommended free to use software for taxes.  Like I've said before, TurboTax cost me what a live human tax consultant costs just because I have multiple incomes no matter how small.   The H&R Block solution is for people that need online help.

Here is the IRS Free File page to let you make your own decision for software.  Income below $58,000: Free File Software

So now it's off to pay yearly property taxes and the city water.

E-File Taxes

I'm more and more amazed at what you can do over the Internet and I just did my taxes online today.  The IRS website has tons of good info if you know what you are looking for; like: how to get an E-File PIN from them and a list of free or inexpensive websites/software to use.   I checked a few of their recommendations, read reviews and decided to try TaxACT.   Very happy with them so far and the website said my form was accepted by the IRS but don't have the final results.   They did have a bunch of bad reviews but it seemed to work well for me.

TaxAct had all the forms you could possibly need right from the start.   When I tried Turbo Tax last year everything was extra .... like multiple income sources and small business income.  I would have paid Turbo Tax what I pay my tax man in person.   TaxACT has down loadable software and an online version but I downloaded so I wouldn't have to be online for the 3+ hours it took me.

I suggest you have your previous years tax form in front of you to check consistency, know last years adjusted gross income and last years PIN number.   Of course you need your 1099's but most all should be available online.  Not much of a rebate this year due to IRA withdrawals to build the house .... but did get a small one and it was free !!

TaxACT Website

IRS E-File page