Money Best Tax Software for 2016 Returns?

BWillie · 03:48 PM

I'm ready to stop giving a tax service $1500+ to do my taxes. It's too much of a racket, they're not always done right anyway. I'd like to attempt to do them with software this time. Other than it just being a pain in the ass, what other advantage is there to use a tax service? The shitty ones don't even use certified accountants anyway.

The software I've heard most about is obviously Turbo Tax. I'm not looking at the most basic tax software like Tax Slayer or Tax Act or whatever. I would probably need at least the Turbo Tax Home & Business. I have rental properties, lots of home interest to deduct, gambling income but I file as a pro (which seems to confuse everybody & nobody has ever done it the same), technically small business income w/ probably very few deductions (do not have an LLC even though live in KS so I'm probably a dumbass), used an HSA. Hopefully using a tax software will easily help me find deductions etc.

So, what do you guys believe to be the best tax software to use?

Turbo tax?
H&R Block?
Tax Act premium?
Jackson Hewitt online?
Any others etc

**loochy** · 02-21-2017, 03:38 PM

I've always used Turbo Tax, but my stuff is always relatively simple - 1 kid, 1 mortgage, a few charitable contributions, no business

BWillie · 02-21-2017, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

I've always used Turbo Tax, but my stuff is always relatively simple - 1 kid, 1 mortgage, a few charitable contributions, no business

If you get stuck on anything, their commercials appear to indicate they have tax people you can call to help you. Have you ever called them? Were they helpful?

**DaFace** · 02-21-2017, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

If you get stuck on anything, their commercials appear to indicate they have tax people you can call to help you. Have you ever called them? Were they helpful?

I've dug through their help files (which are reasonably informative), but never actually called.

**loochy** · 02-21-2017, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

If you get stuck on anything, their commercials appear to indicate they have tax people you can call to help you. Have you ever called them? Were they helpful?

No, I've never needed any help. The software basically just asks you a bunch of questions in plain language, and you answer with data.

**ptlyon** · 02-21-2017, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

No, I've never needed any help. The software basically just asks you a bunch of questions in plain language, and you answer with data.

What was last year's gross income?
$220,000

What's your feelings on Alex Smith?
**** off

**loochy** · 02-21-2017, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

What was last year's gross income?
$220,000

What's your feelings on Alex Smith?
**** off

It's more like this:

What's your feeling on Alex Smith?

Code:

				G	GS	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Sck	SckY	Rate	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	FUM	Lost
2016	Kansas City Chiefs	15	15	328	489	67.1	3,502	7.2	15	8	28	140	91.2	48	134	2.8	5	7	4

ChiliConCarnage · 02-21-2017, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

If you get stuck on anything, their commercials appear to indicate they have tax people you can call to help you. Have you ever called them? Were they helpful?

I've never needed to. Like the first year I did my HSA I wasn't real sure about something but they have a search/help function and it led me right to somebody who had the same question and it was already answered.

**DaFace** · 02-21-2017, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

I've always used Turbo Tax, but my stuff is always relatively simple - 1 kid, 1 mortgage, a few charitable contributions, no business

Yeah, same here (minus the kid). I think it's great, but I can't speak to how well it handles stuff like gambling revenue and rentals.

**loochy** · 02-21-2017, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Yeah, same here (minus the kid). I think it's great, but I can't speak to how well it handles stuff like gambling revenue and rentals.

My dad uses it for 3 separate retirement incomes, social security, 1 mortgage, 2 rental homes in different states without issue.

ChiliConCarnage · 02-21-2017, 03:52 PM

I've always used Turbo Tax. It makes everything really easy. Especially after your first year as it's basically auto-fills out most of the info for you. Did you move this year? No. Auto-fills in info. If you're with large financial institutions it can typically just import your data instead of hand typing from 1099-DIV forms, etc. You'd only have to do something if you changed brokerages from Schwab to Fidelity or something that year.

I imagine it would handle everything your doing easily with the exception of the gambling deal.. not sure on that.

Fish · 02-21-2017, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

I'm ready to stop giving a tax service $1500+ to do my taxes.

scho63 · 02-21-2017, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

I'm ready to stop giving a tax service $1500+ to do my taxes. It's too much of a racket, they're not always done right anyway. I'd like to attempt to do them with software this time. Other than it just being a pain in the ass, what other advantage is there to use a tax service? The shitty ones don't even use certified accountants anyway.

The software I've heard most about is obviously Turbo Tax. I'm not looking at the most basic tax software like Tax Slayer or Tax Act or whatever. I would probably need at least the Turbo Tax Home & Business. I have rental properties, lots of home interest to deduct, gambling income but I file as a pro (which seems to confuse everybody & nobody has ever done it the same), technically small business income w/ probably very few deductions (do not have an LLC even though live in KS so I'm probably a dumbass), used an HSA. Hopefully using a tax software will easily help me find deductions etc.

So, what do you guys believe to be the best tax software to use?

Turbo tax?
H&R Block?
Tax Act premium?
Jackson Hewitt online?
Any others etc

I'll give you a little piece of advice.......if your tax forms and deductions are roughly the SAME for the past 4-5 years, it should be simple for you to look at your last few years tax returns done by a professional and then make sure you are not missing anything.

I've been doing my taxes the last 11 years and no issues. I'm no CPA or accountant and it's easier than you think if you just follow the instructions.

There are so many forms online that help.

Msmith · 02-21-2017, 04:41 PM

Does Turbo Tax do the tax for free for certain people?

**DaFace** · 02-21-2017, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Msmith

Does Turbo Tax do the tax for free for certain people?

I believe that they have an online version that is free as long as you're just doing basic W-2's and standard deductions.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal...ompare/online/

02-21-2017, 03:29 PM	Topic Starter
BWillie Future NBA Finals MVP Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Earth Casino cash: $2271241	Best Tax Software for 2016 Returns? I'm ready to stop giving a tax service $1500+ to do my taxes. It's too much of a racket, they're not always done right anyway. I'd like to attempt to do them with software this time. Other than it just being a pain in the ass, what other advantage is there to use a tax service? The shitty ones don't even use certified accountants anyway. The software I've heard most about is obviously Turbo Tax. I'm not looking at the most basic tax software like Tax Slayer or Tax Act or whatever. I would probably need at least the Turbo Tax Home & Business. I have rental properties, lots of home interest to deduct, gambling income but I file as a pro (which seems to confuse everybody & nobody has ever done it the same), technically small business income w/ probably very few deductions (do not have an LLC even though live in KS so I'm probably a dumbass), used an HSA. Hopefully using a tax software will easily help me find deductions etc. So, what do you guys believe to be the best tax software to use? Turbo tax? H&R Block? Tax Act premium? Jackson Hewitt online? Any others etc Last edited by BWillie; 02-21-2017 at 03:48 PM..
Posts: 46,164

02-21-2017, 03:38 PM	#2
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $1980752	I've always used Turbo Tax, but my stuff is always relatively simple - 1 kid, 1 mortgage, a few charitable contributions, no business __________________ Hey Loochy, I'm hoooome!
Posts: 40,542

02-21-2017, 03:52 PM	#11
ChiliConCarnage TACO SALAD Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: yes Casino cash: $1638468	I've always used Turbo Tax. It makes everything really easy. Especially after your first year as it's basically auto-fills out most of the info for you. Did you move this year? No. Auto-fills in info. If you're with large financial institutions it can typically just import your data instead of hand typing from 1099-DIV forms, etc. You'd only have to do something if you changed brokerages from Schwab to Fidelity or something that year. I imagine it would handle everything your doing easily with the exception of the gambling deal.. not sure on that.
Posts: 5,898

02-21-2017, 04:41 PM	#14
Msmith Veteran Join Date: Jan 2004 Casino cash: $9078035	Does Turbo Tax do the tax for free for certain people?
Posts: 1,999