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Tax Preparation Software: Ratings of Sources
Total of 8 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. PCMag.com
As of Feb. 2011
Accounting and Tax
by Kathy Yakal
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentPCMag.com rates four of the major online tax-prep services. TurboTax Premier Online is this year's Editors' Choice. It beats H&R Block At Home Premium Online, TaxACT Online Ultimate Bundle and CompleteTax 2010. TurboTax is the most expensive, but reviewer Kathy Yakal says it's also always the easiest to use and gives the best guidance. Each online service is fully tested and reviewed at length, with clear lists of pros and cons.
2. CNET
As of Feb. 2011
Tax Software
by Jasmine France
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentCNET tests three tax-prep programs this year -- TurboTax Deluxe, H&R Block At Home Deluxe and TaxACT Deluxe. TurboTax wins the Editors' Choice award, with its broad document-importing abilities and clear instructions just edging out H&R Block. Each program gets its own clear, concise, test-based review.
3. The New York Times
Feb. 12, 2011
Tasting Three Flavors of Tax Software
by Tim Gray
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentTim Gray does his family's 2010 taxes using TurboTax, H&R Block At Home and TaxACT (the premier boxed versions). All work fine, but TurboTax works best, he says. It's able to import more of the family's investment information than H&R Block, and it smoothly handles a tax break for the family's new lean-burn Volkswagen, while the H&R Block software makes Gray hunt around the IRS website for information. The TaxACT software costs the least, but it doesn't work on a Mac.
4. About.com
Updated Feb. 15, 2011
Tax Software 2011
by Shelley Elmblad
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentShelley Elmblad, About.com's guide to financial software, reviews the latest online deluxe versions of H&R Block At Home and TurboTax. She finds pros and cons for each, but she gives TurboTax a perfect 5 stars, versus 4.5 stars for H&R Block At Home. Elmblad also provides several related articles on her site, including a brief explanation of the differences between basic, deluxe and premier tax-preparation programs. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
5. TheWisdomJournal.com
Feb. 1, 2011
TurboTax vs. H&R Block Online: Which Is Better?
by Ron Haynes
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentRon Haynes blogs about wise financial choices. Although he has used H&R Block Online (formerly TaxCut) for 13 years with no problems, this year he does his taxes with both H&R Block Online and TurboTax. Both came up with identical calculations, but Haynes finds TurboTax more user-friendly, with quicker phone support.
6. Amazon.com
As of Feb. 2011
Tax Preparation Software
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentIn their reviews, Amazon users describe mixed opinions on tax software. Various versions of TurboTax and H&R Block At Home get by far the most ratings, but both get some complaints from users who say they're not user-friendly or easy to install. Still, TurboTax products get slightly higher ratings -- 4 stars out of 5 for TurboTax Premier and TurboTax Home and Business.
7. MarketWatch.com
Jan. 28, 2011
Five Top Online Tax-prep Services
by Eva Rosenberg
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMarketWatch.com reviews five popular online tax-prep services: TurboTax, H&R Block At Home, CompleteTax, TaxACT and TaxSlayer. Reviewer Eva Rosenberg doesn't pick a favorite, but she does publish an up-to-date chart that compares the five services, noting which ones offer free phone support, audit support, etc.
8. TopTenReviews.com
Not Dated
2011 Online Tax Software Review Product Comparisons
by Editors of TopTenReviews.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentOn the surface, TopTenReviews.com looks like a terrific review source. Other sources only cover the two or three leading programs, and consumers want to know about other programs, especially cheaper alternatives. This site ranks nine online tax software programs, but all get at least a "good" rating, and no testing is described. The short reviews just address features and the interface. Most reviews are largely unchanged from last year's chart. TurboTax gets the No. 1 ranking and the site's Gold Award, but H&R Block At Home and TaxACT get identically perfect scores, and it is not clear why TurboTax is ranked higher.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
 
 
 
  
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