One of the most frustrating annual rituals for nearly every adult is preparing his or her tax return. Virtually no one actually enjoys preparing a tax return. (The only exceptions are those professionals who make their livings doing returns for other folks. And, even these people do not tend to be jumping up and down for joy with the prospect of finishing a bunch of tax returns.)
Perhaps the worst part of the whole tax return process is the consequences if a return is not prepared correctly and, as a result, taxes are not properly paid. For this reason, it is vital that anyone preparing his or her own taxes have reliable software to utilize in preparing a tax return.
There are innumerable free tax software programs available on the Internet. Literally thousands of sites have cropped up on the Internet offering free tax software. With all of these choices, however, extra caution must be taken to make certain that the free tax software a person latches onto will accurately prepare an appropriate return.
Clearly, it is more than a waste of time to obtain free tax software that does not compute correctly. In fact, a free tax software program that does not work well may ultimately result in a taxpayer owing more in taxes, interests and penalties.
A solid free tax software program should provide explanations of its functions in addition to properly figuring and computing a return. Particular attention must be paid to deductions and the rationale behind them in a free tax software program.
Income tax deductions offer taxpayers many creative ways to shave dollars off their taxable income totals. However, there are many rules for claiming deductions, which makes it easier to commit mistakes. A solid free tax software program will include information such as:
• listing all of the commonly claimed tax deductions
• describing how each tax deduction works
• explaining how easy it is to claim deductions when you e-file