My Top Three Favorite Tax Preparation Websites

It is that time of the year again right around the corner as 2009 comes into eyes view. We will be just beginning our new year when the tax season will be rip roaring and running, ready to start a new year of gathering information, filing and paying or receiving money for the new tax season. It is a dreaded season for many and others a time of monetary relief from the ever increasing debts we have all incurred throughout the year and especially during the Christmas season.

But tax season doesn't have to be something we fear or even dread if the right type of software or a really great website with great tax tools available for our ease of use. I personally have three favorite websites that I will be referring you to, two of which have been personally used by our family over the last 5 years or more, multiple times and one of which gets rave reviews anywhere you look for it on the net.

The first site I will point you towards is Complete Tax, located at www.completetax.com. Their site is not only user friendly but they offer free e-filing, federal filing for only $29.95, state filing for an additional $14.95 and a new offering in this past year of getting a RAL (Refund Anticipation Loan) if approved. They offer a refund through RAL in 48 to 72 hours if approved for up to $2500 for a loan fee and preparation fee (which is included in the fee if you get approved for this type of loan) of at max $110. If you are not approved you can still expect a refund in as little as three weeks and they only charge $19.95 for filing that way. I have never had any problems with their tax preparation software, been able to go back and check the status of my return as often as I choose, a trustworthy encrypted website that I have went back to year after year just because of how comfortable it made me feel when filling out our taxes. My husband works for himself and we have several forms to fill out and I have never had any problems and have a running check on the site of the page letting you know helpful information, how much you are going to get back or have to pay and ease of being able to go back and fix something if necessary. I definitely recommend Complete Tax to anyone who would like to file their taxes online.

The second site that I will send you to check out won't be open for viewing again until January 16, 2009. It is the IRS website. I actually found the complete tax website by going through them a few times. You can go on their site and based on how much you make, if you can file a 1040EZ or not and if you will have any children (EIC) included on your taxes, they can whip up a number of sites for you to go to for free, yes FREE or low cost tax preparation just by going through their link for them. In fact a few of the years I used the tax service above, I got from the IRS website and got my Federal tax preparation for FREE. I love that word; FREE! There's nothing like getting some help and something for free during tax season. You can start your search on January 16, 2009 on the page: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html. Just scroll down near the bottom of the page and click on "Free file: step by step instructions". From there you will be asked a few questions such as listed in this above paragraph and from there the list from the IRS will be generated for you. How easy is that and again, you could be getting something for FREE. Yay!

The last website I will recommend to you for use I have not used myself, but every place I have looked on the web gave this site and its software, rave reviews. It is Turbo Tax, located at www.turbotax.com. They have from the simplest forms of tax preparation software, both available online and as a download or a CD, where you only need to file a 1040EZ to the hardest and most complex of tax preparations that include filing for professionals. Turbo Tax seems to carry it all and include free e-file where in some cases you can receive your refund back as soon as 8 days. They include a 100% guarantee of accurate calculations, your biggest refund guaranteed or your money back, guarantee their ease of use and a big kicker, if you file your taxes online by midnight on April 15, 2009 and for some reason they have a power failure, etc and your return is deemed late, THEY will pay all and any late fees, penalties and interest on your return. Now that is one GREAT guarantee!

So never fear tax season again. With the multitudes of easy tax preparation software and online websites available with help from our own IRS website, faster returns, bigger and better guarantees, this tax season and those to come should prove to just get better and better for millions of people throughout the USA.