How to Buy Tax Software

Tired of spending hours upon hours doing your taxes by hand, or worse, paying someone lots of money to do them for you? Then jump into the 21st century—prepare your taxes on your computer with the help of tax software.

Tips on buying tax software

1. Begin by getting a feel for the different types of tax software on the market. It’s highly recommended that you consult magazines as well as the Internet for reviews of different software. Needless to say, you should compare and contrast features, including online tax filing charges, as well as the price of the actual software package.
2. Be sure to shop for a tax software package that allows you to not only file your federal return, but your state return as well.
3. If you want the added security of educational materials to guide you through the process of filing online, purchase a deluxe edition tax software package. You’ll get advice, tips and pertinent publications from the IRS on proper filing.
4. Unable to spend a lot of money on tax software? Get the word out to friends, family and co-workers that you are looking for tax software to use for filing. You might just find someone who can lend you the tax software they already own. Do make sure the person has software for the given tax year. The versions of tax software programs change every year, as do tax laws.
5. When you are ready to make a purchase, be absolutely sure the software you’re buying works with your computer’s operating system. If you’re out shopping in software or computer stores but are unsure of what to buy, talk to a salesperson. Chances are he will be able to guide you in the right direction.
6. Place your receipt in a safe place after making your purchase. If you are not ready to file when you get home, at least pop the software into your computer and make sure that it installs properly. If there are any uncorrectable technical problems, return the software immediately.

Caution

Do not wait to the last minute to file your taxes using tax software. If there is a glitch with the software that prevents you from properly filing, you could be in deep trouble.

Where to buy tax software

There are lots of great places to shop online for tax software. Check out these recommendations—

TurboTax is by far the most popular tax software package on the market. You can purchase any one of their products online, and you can also try what you’re interested in purchasing for free before paying!

Shop for a variety of tax software packages at Office Depot. You can break the results down by brand or price range. Create a shopping account for free if you are going to make a purchase.

The "tax software solution" is TaxACT. You'll find personal, Web-based and professional tax software packages for sale, plus a tax reference library, info on tax law changes and a calendar of important dates to remember when filing taxes.