Preparing taxes on your own for the first time is a huge step up from simply passing the job on to a professional, but everything becomes way easier when an online tax prep solution is involved with the process. Accurate tax returns can be created by even less experienced users thanks in large part to the straightforward quizzes and document importing, automatically filling the resulting data into the return to reduce manual entry to a minimum. This is enhanced by the fact that W-2 forms and entire tax returns from previous years can easily be imported into the software either from competing sources or by using the program’s mobile app counterpart.
There is no need to worry about erroneous data entry, either, as tax programs are intelligent enough to warn you should something look wrong. This intelligence is present when it comes to credits and deductions, too, because tax preparation software can automatically select which tax saving options are best for you based on your answers.
There’s also some comfort in the fact that help is at hand during the preparation process. Tax apps come with built-in help tools like a knowledge base or tax glossary. However, remember that there is always the option to turn to the tax experts of the chosen tax company who can further clarify tax-related issues as well as answer any questions related to the software itself.