Tax Software

[TJK]

After 15years with "THAT COMPANY" (the one many of you seem to dislike) I am thinking about quitting (not retiring quitting). I will still be preparing returns for relatives and friends. I have never charged them in the past and don't intend to charge them now. I will be preparing about 25 to 50 per year. I have obtained an EFIN (needed it in order to use the EAR system) and will use electronic filing. Since I won't be charging anyone, I would like to find an inexpensive tax software. I know most of you use expensive systems in your large practices, however I hope you remember when you were small and could recommend a good program.

I have checked the internet and found one TAX SOFTWARE.COM that has unlimited state and federal filing for $299.00. It sounds too good to be true. WORLD WIDE WEB software looks pretty good for $400.00. Has anyone had experience with either of these?

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

[Bees Knees]

Who is "THAT COMPANY" ?

[BOB W]

After 15years with "THAT COMPANY" (the one many of you seem to dislike) I am thinking about quitting (not retiring quitting). I will still be preparing returns for relatives and friends. I have never charged them in the past and don't intend to charge them now. I will be preparing about 25 to 50 per year. I have obtained an EFIN (needed it in order to use the EAR system) and will use electronic filing. Since I won't be charging anyone, I would like to find an inexpensive tax software. I know most of you use expensive systems in your large practices, however I hope you remember when you were small and could recommend a good program.

I have checked the internet and found one TAX SOFTWARE.COM that has unlimited state and federal filing for $299.00. It sounds too good to be true. WORLD WIDE WEB software looks pretty good for $400.00. Has anyone had experience with either of these?

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Why would someone spend money on equipment, supplies and tax programs to do free tax returns for family and friends?? Something does not sound right here.................

[Grumpy]

You can check out

TaxAct.

http://www.taxact.com

This should be adequate for friends and relatives, unless they have very complicated returns.

[Kram BergGold]

Another option

http://proseries.intuit.com/tours/tours_ty08/tour_basic_web.jsp

This is the basic version. I use the professional version so I can't comment on what it si like.

[David1980]

World wide web tax used to resell IntelliTax. They likely are selling TaxWise now.

TRXalliance.com gives you a gimped version of taxwise with unlimited free efiles for $300. The only real handicap it has over normal TW that I am aware of is that you can't efile business (1065, 1120s,...) returns. But if you're just doing normal 1040's it should be able to do it juts fine.

You might look around to see if there's any "free" software where they put all the fees into the transmission fee. Kind of like pay per return.

[Lion]

ATX Pay Per Return

When I did a couple of dozen returns on the side, I used ATX pay per return. But, the price has jumped under the new Dutch owner. Ask how much your current software would cost you for 1040 only and pay per return only. You have a lot of friends and relatives!

[erchess]

Call Drake Software at

800.890.9500 and ask about their pay per return program. What I read on the website indicates that for $285 they will give you all their software except the accounting package and you can print all the returns you want, efile 15 returns for free and buy all the additional free efiling you want for $19 a pop. The only thing is that I am not sure that they will really let you do unlimited printed returns.

I will be using the unlimited version with everything for the first time this coming tax season. Note that you could have had that version in May for just under $1K.

Since you have been working for a storefront preparation firm I am assuming that tax preparation has not been your main source of income. I would think that it might seem mentally stimulating and fun to do up to 50 returns if each is well within your capability. I would caution you, however, that if you leave your employer you will need to find a good update class and then starting in 09 you will have to pay for whatever continuing education you need to do to at least maintain if not advance your skills. To me at least all the time and expense would be easier to justify if you got paid for doing at least some returns. In the alternative perhaps you could contact the AARP which offers free preparation to anyone with a grant from the IRS. You would make no money but your costs would be negligible and I think they offer education for free. See what you are talking about doing has almost all the costs and risks of starting your own for profit business without any hope of economic gain.

[TJK]

Who is "THAT COMPANY" ?

I have been reading this message board for two years and have enjoyed the many humorous posts and my first attempt at humor bombs!!!!! Sorry

[TJK]

Why would someone spend money on equipment, supplies and tax programs to do free tax returns for family and friends?? Something does not sound right here.................

My how cynical! For years I have done the 18 free returns allowed by my company on their software and in addition I have used IRS fill in forms; IRS free e-file vendors; tele-file , before it was discontinued; bought additional software and paid filing fees out of my pocket. Why?- because it makes me feel good. But tax prepartion is not my primary source of income.

[TJK]

TaxAct.

http://www.taxact.com

This should be adequate for friends and relatives, unless they have very complicated returns.

Thank you. I did notice them but wanted a second opinion. The e-file cost is $7.95 per return which seems ok.

[TJK]

http://proseries.intuit.com/tours/to..._basic_web.jsp

This is the basic version. I use the professional version so I can't comment on what it si like.

Thank you very much!!

[TJK]

World wide web tax used to resell IntelliTax. They likely are selling TaxWise now.

TRXalliance.com gives you a gimped version of taxwise with unlimited free efiles for $300. The only real handicap it has over normal TW that I am aware of is that you can't efile business (1065, 1120s,...) returns. But if you're just doing normal 1040's it should be able to do it juts fine.

You might look around to see if there's any "free" software where they put all the fees into the transmission fee. Kind of like pay per return.

Thank you for your informative reply. I will definitely give them a look.

[TJK]

800.890.9500 and ask about their pay per return program. What I read on the website indicates that for $285 they will give you all their software except the accounting package and you can print all the returns you want, efile 15 returns for free and buy all the additional free efiling you want for $19 a pop. The only thing is that I am not sure that they will really let you do unlimited printed returns.

I will be using the unlimited version with everything for the first time this coming tax season. Note that you could have had that version in May for just under $1K.

Since you have been working for a storefront preparation firm I am assuming that tax preparation has not been your main source of income. I would think that it might seem mentally stimulating and fun to do up to 50 returns if each is well within your capability. I would caution you, however, that if you leave your employer you will need to find a good update class and then starting in 09 you will have to pay for whatever continuing education you need to do to at least maintain if not advance your skills. To me at least all the time and expense would be easier to justify if you got paid for doing at least some returns. In the alternative perhaps you could contact the AARP which offers free preparation to anyone with a grant from the IRS. You would make no money but your costs would be negligible and I think they offer education for free. See what you are talking about doing has almost all the costs and risks of starting your own for profit business without any hope of economic gain.

Good points!! Thank you. I've been an EA for ten years and have paid for all my required CPE hours, because I did not like the company's.

[Lion]

Software

OK, I get it now. If you worked in an office preparing entity returns and are already familiar with TaxWorks, you should try it out for your own. Send for demos from EVERY company out there. Ask for pricing for your expected situation, 50 1040s with efiling of federal and state or whatever. If you have a buddy who prepares taxes for profit or not, you might want to consider his software company, just so you have someone to talk with. Also, if you're going to be on your own, then support might be a high priority for you. Call support re a technical question and re a tax question to check out their responses. Ask other users their typical response time during tax season. Check out bulletin boards/message boards for the software you're considering.