Anytime I hear people talk about tax software, it's always either TurboTax or TaxCut. A package called TaxACT from 2nd Story Software has been out for years now and is free for the basic version. I had always resisted the temptation to use it, figuring TurboTax was more "professional" and more likely would include what a freebie did not. However, after getting burned myself last year by the activation fiasco, I decided to give TaxACT a try this year.

I was very impressed. It did everything I ever wanted my tax software to do, and it was free. No activation, ads, or other funny business. When it came time to file electronically, I had the option of either paying $7.95 to file (very reasonable) or $9.95 to upgrade to the deluxe version, which included one free electronic filing. At that point, I was already so impressed that I decided to upgrade and send them the paltry extra money. It was still half the price of TurboTax basic on sale, before having to pay them to file electronically.

I also just checked their professional offerings, and they have numerous packages available specifically for professional tax preparers. They talk about client forms and organization and growing your business. I even downloaded a copy to check out the license agreement, and there are no exclusions related to third-party preparation.

Take a look, and you might want to alert your readers to the better alternative. (By the way, I have no affiliation. I'm just a satisfied customer who will never go back to TurboTax.)

Ken