EmailBest Reviewed
Tax Preparation Software
- Best tax software for complex returns Intuit TurboTax Premier Federal + State 2008 *Est. $75
- Best tax software Intuit TurboTax Deluxe Federal + State 2008 *Est. $50
- Tax software for simple returns TaxACT 2008 Ultimate *Est. $20
- Free online tax preparation IRS Free File Program *Est. $0
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Best tax software for complex returns
- Intuitive interview
- Superior guidance and support
- Good for complex returns
- Extra tools not useful for basic filers
- Expensive
February 2009. Intuit TurboTax Premier tax-preparation software is the nearly unanimous choice of reviewers, who call it the best tax package overall. TurboTax features a comprehensive interview process, including such complicated topics as multiple stock sales, business deductions, depreciation, mortgage refinancing, rental income and expenses, and reviewers praise its guidance and comprehensive support for less common scenarios. TurboTax Premier includes federal software and one free download of state software; state electronic filing costs an additional $19.95 each, but five free federal e-files are included with each package. However, if you don't need the extra tools for stock sales or rental property, experts say Intuit TurboTax Deluxe 2008 (*est. $50) is the better buy.
Intuit TurboTax is the most frequently reviewed tax preparation software on the market; we consulted particularly thorough tests by PC Magazine and two separate guides (for financial software and taxes) at About.com.
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Yakal compares TurboTax Premier 2008 to both TaxCut and TaxACT. Once again, TurboTax is given the PC Magazine Editors' Choice award, but this year it wins by a slim margin. Yakal concludes that TurboTax is the most well-designed program of the three.
Review: Turbo Tax Premier 2008, Kathy Yakal, Jan. 16, 2009
2. About.com
Shelly Elmblad, About.com's guide to financial software, provides a side-by-side comparison of the 2008 versions of TaxCut and TurboTax. She concludes that TaxCut is the better price value but that TurboTax provides better online support. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: TaxCut vs. TurboTax: Which Tax Software to Buy for Tax Year 2008, Shelley Elmblad, Jan. 27, 2009
3. About.com
William Perez, About.com's guide to taxes, gives TurboTax four out of five stars for its extra guidance and LiveCommunity help. He especially likes the 401(k) Maximizer feature found on Premier and higher versions. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Turbo Tax, William Perez
PC World reviews, rates and ranks five online tax filing services and gives TurboTax Premier 2008 the highest rating of all. Tina Orem says that Intuit's tax preparation software gives the best guidance as well as the best explanations, but that better deals are available for simple returns.
Review: Intuit Turbotax Premier, Tina Orem, Feb. 4, 2009
5. Amazon.com
Consumers at Amazon.com are frustrated with TurboTax's ever-increasing prices and what they amount to as shady business practices. While several reviewers have switched to competing software with good results, others claim that TurboTax is still worth the money it costs.
Review: Turbo Tax Premier Federal + State + eFile 2008, Contributors to Amazon.com
Tax Preparation Software Runners Up:
3 picks by top review sites.
H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Premium Federal + State + e-file
 from Amazon.com New: $3.79 In Stock.
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