| Are you going to use income tax software to file your | | | | Most tax preparation software is designed to be |
| taxes this year? Or are you willing to risk overpaying? | | | | intuitive and works by asking you questions to decide |
| The General Accounting Office of the federal | | | | what forms you are actually required to file. |
| government estimates that most taxpayers overpay | | | | The programs then look for mistakes and unused |
| by at least several hundred dollars. | | | | deductions to compute the least amount of tax that |
| This is the government themselves admitting the | | | | you owe. There are usually several different help |
| over-payments. But you probably won't get a nice | | | | options ranging from e-mail to live agents to which you |
| note from the IRS saying, oops you paid too much, | | | | can talk if you have a question. |
| here is a refund. So there are basically four ways to | | | | Most even offer a guarantee of accuracy to assure |
| complete your taxes. | | | | you that they will pay any fines and penalties if there is |
| Have your Uncle Joe do them for you: | | | | a mistake in your tax filing caused by their software. |
| -Don't worry, he really knows what he is doing. | | | | But the best part, is that most offer free or low cost |
| Hire a professional: | | | | e-filing. This is where they send your tax paperwork |
| -Even though this costs more than a $100 on average. | | | | directly to the IRS electronically. This means no worries |
| Do them yourself: | | | | about whether or not your return lost in the mail and |
| -Doesn't that sound like fun. Trying to decode and | | | | will even help any refund that is due to you get |
| understand all the different forms and what deductions | | | | processed quicker. |
| you can use. | | | | Bottom line. Sure, income tax software can cost you a |
| Use income tax software: | | | | little, but you'll be far less likely to make a mistake and |
| -Let the people who design the programs figure out | | | | pay out too much of your hard earned money so in |
| what you need to complete your tax return. | | | | the long run you'll probably end up saving money. |