Best Online & Software Tax Programs For Mac
- Best Online & Software Tax Programs For Mac Download
- Best Mac Software Programs
- Professional Tax Software For Mac
- Business Tax Software For Mac
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Tax Day 2017 falls on Tuesday, April 18 this year, and although taxpayers get a few extra days to file, you'll need the right tools to get the job done. AppleInsider is rounding up the best tax prep software and filing tools to not only meet, but beat the deadline.
Jan 04, 2019 That's an excellent question. Not all tax prep programs support Form 2555 and Form 2555-EZ. The top two tax software programs, however, do support Form 2555 (foreign income exclusion) and Form 1116 (to claim the Foreign Tax Credit). TaxAct and TurboTax (Basic and Live versions) support the foreign income forms. A top choice due to its easy to use interface, TurboTax has a wide range of online and boxed software options available for tax year 2016. Simple tax returns (1040EZ/1040A) may qualify for. H&R Block Online Deluxe or Premium, or H&R Block Software Basic, Deluxe, Premium or Premium & Business get unlimited sessions of live, personal tax advice with a tax professional. You can ask our tax advisors an unlimited number of questions at no extra cost (excludes business returns).
With a little over six weeks left before this year's April 18 filing deadline, finding the right software to get the job done can be paramount. For those who are self-employed or have a variety of investments, having the proper tools to import statements and double check for errors can save time and money. AppleInsider this week is rounding up a list of the top tax preparation software and where to find the lowest prices on both downloadable and boxed versions of each.
A top choice due to its easy to use interface, TurboTax has a wide range of online and boxed software options available for tax year 2016. Simple tax returns (1040EZ/1040A) may qualify for TurboTax's Federal Free Edition, but users needing more robust features, such as expert help from certified public accountants (CPAs) and enrolled agents (EAs), can opt for the Deluxe version. Those who are self-employed or have investments and rental properties will want to opt for the higher-tier versions to handle more complicated filings. Please note, some MacOS Sierra users have had difficulty opening the application. Please ensure you're logged in to the machine using an account with Administrator Rights.
If you're ready to get started on taxes and want to download the software right away, shoppers can save up to 40% on Mac versions at Amazon or $20 to $25 when purchased directly from TurboTax. TurboTax is also throwing in a free credit score from Mint when you order online at TurboTax.Intuit.com.
For those that prefer a physical disc, Amazon and TurboTax are also offering the same discounts on boxed versions of the tax prep software. Warehouse clubs, such as Costco and Sam's Club, periodically offer coupons and rebates on boxed TurboTax software as well.
TurboTax Basic 2016 Federal + Fed e-file for Mac $28.49 @Amazon
TurboTax Deluxe 2016 Federal & State + Fed e-file for Mac $39.86 @Amazon
TurboTax Deluxe 2016 No State + Fed e-file for Mac $29.86
TurboTax Premier 2016 Federal & State + Fed e-file for Mac $50.65 @Amazon
TurboTax Home & Business 2016 Federal & State + Fed e-file for Mac $64.94 @Amazon
Boxed software
TurboTax Basic 2016 Federal + Fed e-file for Mac $28.49 @Amazon
TurboTax Deluxe 2016 Federal & State + Fed e-file for Mac $39.86 @Amazon
TurboTax Deluxe 2016 No State + Fed e-file for Mac $29.86
TurboTax Premier 2016 Federal & State + Fed e-file for Mac $50.65 @Amazon
TurboTax Home & Business 2016 Federal & State + Fed e-file for Mac $64.94 @Amazon
H&R Block
A staple in the tax world, H&R Block has prepared more than 680 million tax returns, and the company continues to offer online solutions ranging from basic tax software to premium products for small business owners in 2017. Users can also take advantage of free unlimited advice from a tax expert and up to five free federal e-files.
While H&R Block software starts at $29.95 for the Basic version and runs up to $89.95 for the Premium & Business option, users can save 30% instantly with link-activated offers at H&R Block directly. However, the best deals can be found at Amazon where the software is up to 43% off with a 5-10% refund bonus on an Amazon gift card.
Please note, H&R Block Basic, Deluxe, and Premium offerings are Windows and Mac-compatible, but Premium & Business works in Windows only.
H&R Block Basic 2016 for Mac $14.97 @Amazon
H&R Block Deluxe 2016 for Mac $19.95 @Amazon
H&R Block Deluxe + State 2016 for Mac $29.99 @Amazon
H&R Block Premium + State 2016 for Mac $44.95 @Amazon
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Boxed software
($5 off + refund bonus offer)
($15 off + refund bonus offer)
H&R Block Deluxe + State 2016 for Mac $29.99 @Amazon
H&R Block Premium + State 2016 for Mac $44.95 @Amazon
TaxAct
TaxAct, a budget-friendly alternative to TurboTax and H&R Block, offers users three products for tax preparation: Free, Plus and Premium. TaxAct Plus, the most popular option, is best suited for homeowners and investors, while the Premium product is tailored for freelancers, contractors, and those that are self-employed. TaxAct also offers free phone support and seven years of access to your tax return with a price lock guarantee.
TaxAct is currently knocking 15% off Plus and Premium versions of the tax prep tools, bringing the prices down to $22.95 and $31.45 respectively. At this time, TaxAct Online is Mac-compatible, while downloadable TaxAct products are not.
There are several other tax prep tools on the market today. Credit Karma just launched a free tax return service, but several forms are not included, such as multiple state returns and estate and trust income from Schedule K-1. TaxSlayer also offers four tax prep products, including a Military Edition that gives active duty military members 50% off federal and state returns. Neither are as robust as TurboTax, but they do offer an economical solution for simple tax returns.
If you've been rooting around the Mac App Store for an app that'll help you prepare and file your tax return, you've likely come up empty-handed — there aren't any on Apple's Mac app store.
That said, you don't actually need an app: There are plenty of great web-based services to help you get your taxes done on time and, hopefully, audit-free.
Note: We will note that arguably, you shouldn't need specialized tax software or companies to prepare your taxes — the U.S. government has entertained several proposals throughout the years to simplify its tax code, but lobbyists from the top tax prep companies have spent millions of dollars to squash those plans to save their own bottom line. This isn't necessarily an argument against using these services — many of iMore's U.S. writers still use them. But it's worth being informed.
TurboTax Online Edition
TurboTax is often the top name you might recognize when it comes to self-filing, largely because Intuit's online software is simple and quick to use. TurboTax breaks down the whole process to make filling straightforward and simple, and it makes sure you're giving the IRS all the necessary information and in turn maximizing your return.
You can file your federal taxes for free and file state taxes for free if you're filling a 1040EZ or 1040A. If you're someone who makes under $100,000 and you don't own a home, this is the way you will file. Otherwise, it costs about $30 per state to file with TurboTax. If you need more help, this site also offers Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed, and TurboTax Live versions for higher price points.
TaxAct
TaxAct is another online service in the same vein as TurboTax. It's a simple, step-by-step guide that will walk you through all the necessary questions and paperwork to make sure you get the most out of your return. These kinds of filling sites are quick and easy to follow, not to mention quite a bit cheaper then TurboTax.
You have three options for filing: Free, Basic+ for $15, Deluxe+ for $50, Premier+ for $60, and Self Employed+ for $80 as well as an additional $20-$40 for each state. You'll get free phone support with each package, so if you prepare your return and get stuck, you can call up a TaxAct rep to guide you through the process. TaxAct also has a 'Price Lock' guarantee, so you'll pay the price listed at the time you create your return, even if you decide to file months later.
H&R Block
Like TurboTax, H&R Block's online filing service breaks everything down from the very start. When you arrive on the site, you'll be able to choose the options that best describe your situation to get the preparation process that fits you the best without frivolous details or questions in the mix. You can file online and even have a tax professional take a look at your return beforehand to make sure everything's in order and you've maximized your return.
You can choose their Free version, Deluxe version for $33, Premium for $46, or the Self-Employed version for $68, based on which one best fits your lifestyle. Free is great for the simplest tax returns, and going up to Premium is for rental property owners or contractors. All of these options are started for free and paid out by the end of the return, whether it's out of pocket or out of the return.
Credit Karma
Credit Karma is heard every where, be it TV or radio, but not typically for taxes. The company doesn't just offer a free way for you to check your credit score, you can also prepare and file your tax return on its website. Currently you can file both your federal and state taxes for free — with no hidden fees — though Credit Karma offers significantly more complicated step-by-step instructions than a service like TurboTax.
Even though it's not as simple as H&R Block or TurboTax, going more in-depth with your refund isn't necessarily a bad thing. Credit Karma guarantees to get you the most out of your refund, and it's easy to see that with all the information they get out of your paperwork. If you're not sure Credit Karma is right for you, you can even make sure that it supports all the forms that are relevant to your tax return.
TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer offers several tax packages designed to help you prepare and file your federal and state tax returns and get the tax deductions to which you are entitled. Each version of TaxSlayer, Classic, Premium, Military, SimplyFree, and Self-Employed, let you prepare, print, and e-file your taxes, offer an accuracy guarantee, and let you upload last year's tax return.
Best Online & Software Tax Programs For Mac Download
Except for the SimplyFree version, TaxSlayer also focuses on getting you your deductions. For $17, TaxSlayer Classic also offers support for every type of tax form and IRS inquired assistance. The $37 Premium package offers IRS audit assistance, support from tax professional and priority support. The TaxSlayer Military offers the features of Classic for free to members of the military. All of TaxSlayer's plan pricing is for your federal return, while adding your state return will cost an additional $29 on top of the rest of these plans.
IRS Free File
If you don't trust online tax prep services or you just want to go straight to Uncle Sam, check out the IRS's Free File service. Logitech unifying drivers. It's free-to-download software that helps you prepare and e-file your return, and it's available Free in two versions: one for people with an income of less than $66,000/year and the other for those with an income greater than $66,000.
The IRS service is very DIY so make sure you know a bit about self-filing your taxes. If you make under $66,000, you have software to file both federal and state taxes for free. However, if you make more than $66,000, you'll have to print the forms for federal taxes and manually mail them in since there's no software option. The IRS does not have state forms for you to mail in, so use Free File's lookup tool to find out where you can get them, or it can help you find free federal and state filing options if you're not interested in filling out the form directly.
What to know if you owe
Hopefully you'll be receiving a big refund from your completed taxes but for those of you who end up owing the IRS, there are several payment methods available. Most people will pay their tax liability by direct withdrawal from their bank account or with a physical check. You also have the option to pay using a credit or debit card but you'll have to go through a 3rd party service and pay fees upwards of 1.99% on credit cards and a flat fee of up to $4 on debit cards. Except for a few fringe cases, those added fees basically wipe out any points or miles benefits when paying with a credit card. If you're unsure which payment method to use, we'd recommend reaching out to a tax professional for assistance.
How do you file on your Mac?
Do you file your own taxes using your Mac? Which service do you use? Tell us in the comments below and let us know why you like it.
Updated April 2019: Added TaxSlayer and updated pricing for the 2019 tax season.
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