Best Reviewed
Tax Preparation Software
- Best tax software for complex returns TurboTax Premier 2010 *Est. $70
- Best tax software for most TurboTax Deluxe 2010 *Est. $50
- Tax software for simple returns TaxACT Online Ultimate 2010 *Est. $18
- Best free tax preparation TaxACT Free Edition 2010 *Est. $0
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- Free preparation and e-filing for federal returns
- Includes all e-fileable federal tax forms
- Inexpensive state e-filing
- Open to anyone, regardless of income
- Little guidance for complex tax topics
- Mac users must use online version
Note: TaxACT free tax software has been updated; See our more recent coverage of TaxACT Free Edition 2010 (Free).
The only expert source we found that goes into great depth about free tax-prep programs is About.com's guide to taxes, a seasoned tax professional who tests and rates TaxACT Free Edition and 17 other companies' free offerings. Users rate TaxACT Free Edition at Download.com and Epinions.com.
Our Sources
1. About.com
About.com's guide to taxes, William Perez, tests the IRS Free File version of TaxACT alongside 17 other free-file programs. TaxACT gets the highest score, a perfect 5 stars. The program breaks data entry into a lot of different screens and has nag screens urging an upgrade to a paid version, which slows things down, but it's also one of only two free-file programs to catch a typo in a W-2 entry. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: TaxACT Free File, William Perez
2. Download.com
About 40 users have rated TaxACT's 2009 Free Edition at CNET, giving it an average of 3.5 stars. A few users add brief comments; one agrees with About.com's Perez that data entry is a slow process, but overall users like that it's free and that it works.
Review: TaxACT 2009 Free Federal Edition 1.0, Contributors to Download.com
3. Epinions.com
Only one user had rated the 2009 version of TaxACT Free Edition when we checked, but nearly two dozen others had reviewed it in previous years. Overall, TaxACT Free Edition enjoys a high 4-out-of-5 rating, although a few users complain that the process dragged on or the website crashed.
Review: TaxAct.com, Contributors to Epinions.com
Tax Preparation Software Runners Up:
1 pick by top review sites.
TurboTax Home & Business Federal + e-File + State 2010 - [Old Version]
In Stock.
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