TurboTax for Free: A Tax-Season Must-Have

Before I begin, let me share a deep, dark secret I've concealed for years: I've never completed a tax return, federal or state, by myself.

I've never had much desire to pour through dozens of pages of IRS tax code struggling to read the tiny print, stressing over exemptions and dependents and itemized deductions--I save those headaches for the guy at the local tax office.

But having come across a free version of TurboTax Basic on the internet, I decided to save myself a few bucks and do them myself this year. And thanks to TurboTax, it couldn't have been simpler.

Before it began it asked that I create a log in name and password. The process couldn't have been easier: create a username, password, security question and answer combination, provide your email address and you're ready to go.

After that it took my basic information-name, social security number, address, telephone number-and skipped right into the W2. TurboTax showed me precisely where on my W2 I could find the information it asked for, and provided a help and explanations icon on each section. After inputting my W2 came a series of 'yes' or 'no' questions, such as "did you receive unemployment insurance in 2007?"

And after five minutes of that, I signed my document electronically and the entire process was completed. TurboTax forwarded my information to the IRS and even sent me a confirmation message a few days later when the IRS had received and accepted my document. What a quick and painless experience!

TurboTax keeps every question as straightforward and simple as possible, with an extensive help section to provide further assistance with any given question. It follows a linear process so the user only has to answer the question in front of them, making the process as effortless and streamline as possible.

It even double-checks the information it receives. At one point I made a typing mistake while entering my W2 and TurboTax alerted me before moving on, showing me the exact box in which the error was made.

The only downside to TurboTax is its state income tax filing, which isn't free. TurboTax's website claims to offer state e-filing at no charge, but I was asked to provide $29.99 in order to complete my state return. I declined and found the IRS e-file website, where I was directed to a site offering the service for free.

Overall, TurboTax offers a quick and painless way to file your taxes from the comfort of your own home, even for an IRS novice like me.