Get with the program: our man interfaces with three popular tax packages for the personal computer

Article Abstract:

Three software packages designed to aid in tax return preparation are informally compared. The packages are Andrew Tobia$ TaxCut from MECA Software, J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax Software from Simon and Schuster Software, and TurboTax from ChipSoft Inc. All three packages are priced in the $40 to $50 range and run on IBM PC-compatible microcomputers. Andrew Tobia$ TaxCut is somewhat awkward for novices to use, with vague on-screen help and difficult access to some forms in the software. J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax Software is easy to use, but it also fails to cover some oddities of tax preparation. The most satisfactory of the programs is TurboTax, which features a more logical method of working step-by-step through the various special forms before combining the results into a single process.

Tax returns, evaluation, Comparison, Software Packages, Simon & Schuster Reference Publishing Group. Simon & Schuster Software Div., Andrew Tobias' TaxCut (Tax preparation software), MECA, J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 1991 (Tax preparation software)

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Software makes doing taxes easier but no less boring

Article Abstract:

There are a variety of tax preparation software packages available for IBM-PC users or Apple Macintosh users. Tax preparation software can be organized as either an on-screen representation of tax forms or as an interview process, which automatically finds the proper forms and fills in the appropriate information. Programs costs between $29 and $65; they are not intended to replace an accountant or tax preparation service. The best tax form software products are ChipSoft's TurboTax and MacInTax. The TurboTax product arbitrarily limits the length of some entries. TaxCut is the best tax preparation package that uses the interview process. The least expensive product, Parsons Technology's Personal Tax Edge costs $29 and performs adequately, but not as thoroughly as other products.

Financial software, Income Tax, Parsons Technology Inc., TurboTax for Windows (Tax preparation software), Personal Tax Edge (Tax preparation software)

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These two programs offer some relief in taxing situations

Article Abstract:

Meca Software's TaxCut and ChipSoft's TurboTax/MacInTax are two fine programs for microcomputer owners with a fairly uncomplicated tax situation. Both programs are well-designed and come in DOS, Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh versions. Both are a great help in navigating the bewildering array of Internal Revenue Service forms. However, neither program is as good as a flesh-and-blood financial adviser or accountant. Of the two programs, TaxCut gets the slight nod. TaxCut's explanations are more comprehensive and better written that those found in TurboTax/MacInTax. TaxCut sells at a discounted price of about $37 to $40, compared to $49 for TurboTax/MacInTax. Meca Software also gives better phone support.

Software packages

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