While complicated and error-prone for us to calculate, these programs can quickly evaluate and suggest the best options, saving money. Getting comfortable with taxation can help when planning future strategies, something these programs can also report on. All in all, knowledge of how the government taxes us is knowledge well worth having, and these programs all do an excellent job of showing you where everything goes. After the entering is finished, the program can review the information, suggesting options or pointing out errors. The other way, interviewing, involves the computer asking a series of questions to guide you through tax preparation.
Information is entered in pieces, and checked constantly.
CanTax CanTax is considered the professional's tax preparation software and the advertising for the product points out that it has benefited from the input of its many professional users. The left column shows the various forms available. Selecting from these displays the form in the main right panel, suitable for entering data. Optionally, a separate Explorer-type window can be launched, letting you select from that list. A feature I found very welcome was tabs for the forms displayed on the right.