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FILING THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY

Prefer to do your taxes the old-fashioned way, with paper and pen? You can download copies of forms and publications directly from the IRS and get plenty of expert advice by clicking on the appropriate link in the box to the right of this article.

USING TAX SOFTWARE AND YOUR PC

Spend $25 to $60 on tax preparation software and use your personal computer to do your own taxes. Print and file the hard copies, or file electronically with any of these packages.

TaxCut
Tax preparation software from H&R Block. Choose from several versions, including Tax Cut Standard for $9.99, Tax Cut Deluxe for $29.99 (includes free state tax software and free electronic filing, after mail-in rebate), Tax Cut Premium and State for $49.99 (includes limited free live professional tax advice from H&R Block, after mail-in rebate and other discounts), and Tax Cut Home and Business for $79.99 (includes everything you need to file your personal and business income tax returns, live professional tax advice from H&R Block, after mail-in rebate, and free state personal return software and free electronic filing).

Turbo Tax
Descriptions and ordering information for Intuit's Turbo Tax software packages, my personal favorite of tax preparation software packages, ranging in price from $19.95 for Turbo Tax Basic (download version or CD version) to $39.95 for Turbo Tax Deluxe, and $69.95 for Turbo Tax Premier (this version includes a state tax filing version).

Tax Act
Tax Act offers a variety of versions. The standard program is free to download and e-filing is also free for one Federal return. The Deluxe version is $12.95 to download and includes free e-filing for one Federal return. The Ultimate Bundle, which includes Federal and State tax returns, is $19.95 to download and includes free Federal e-filing fpr one return. You can save money by using the Web-based software, which requires no download and costs a few dollars less than the download versions.

USING WEB-BASED (ONLINE) SOFTWARE

Get your refund in as little as eight days by filing electronically. If you'd rather not purchase software to use on your personal computer, you can use one of these online tax preparation services to file electronically. Before using any online tax preparation site, make sure it's been updated for 2005.

H&R Block
Pay $39.95 for the Standard program, which includes free e-filing of your Federal return. Pay $49.95 for the Premium program, which includes the standard program plus answers to tax questions via interactive online video, and one free tax consultation with a tax advisor. Pay $99.95 for the Signature program, which includes the Premium program plus review of your return by a tax professional, year-round access to a tax advisor, and the promise that if your tax return is audited, H&R Block will accompany you to the IRS audit to answer questions about your return.

Turbo Tax for the Web
Updated for 2005 in January of 2006. As of November 27, 2005, Turbo Tax had not announced its 2005 pricing, but in 2004, TurboTax charged $5.95 to prepare and electronically file a federal tax return online and $9.95 for a state return if you filed form 1040EZ. Using the online version of the basic Turbo Tax software cost $19.95 before April 1, 2005, and $29.95 after that date. The Premium version ws $29.95 for Federal and $24.95 for state before April 1 and $49.95 for federal and $29.95 for state after that date. Voted the easiest to use and the most helpful of Web-based tax preparation services by Money Magazine.

World Wide Web Tax
Prepare and e-file your tax return online for $32.95, with no software to download or purchase.

Note: Prices for software and electronic filing may change. Check the Web sites for latest pricing.

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