Used TaxAct for My Taxes This Year

TaxAct

The American tax code stinks, and everyone knows it, yet politics and money prevent reform.


So we are forced to waste a lot of time wrestling with filing every year, and I hate it.  I really do.

The prohibitive cost of using a certain popular online tax preparation service prompted me to try something new this year.  I tried TaxAct (www.TaxAct.com +TaxAct ) and I am very pleased to report that I can recommend it.

The site made everything easy for me, though I will confess that my tax situation is relatively simple this time around.  I was able to process both my federal and state returns for free, and I was able to e-file my federal with the IRS for free to boot.  Very cool.

For those who have to mess with all kinds of deductions, credits, allowances, etc. the pricing for premium preparation packages is not that bad with TaxAct.  Much cheaper than many competitors.

If you use TaxAct online, the pricing looks like this:

TaxAct Online

If you choose to download the TaxAct software instead, it will cost you more:

TaxAct Download

My lady has an old friend who's an accountant and he does her taxes for free; nice to have friends like that.

For those of you struggling with a stressful tax situation, and you're doing your taxes by yourself: my heart aches for you!

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- --> SITEMAP <--

Free Credit Score with Credit Sesame

Credit Sesame - Free Credit Score

Just signed up with Credit Sesame (www.CreditSesame.com - +Credit Sesame Inc. ) to see if they offer anything unique in the free-credit-scores game.

Not much to report here.  Very similar to Credit Karma, which I use often, but in this duel of free-credit-score websites, Credit Karma wins, because the site offers free access to both my +TransUnion and +Equifax scores, while Credit Sesame only gives me the Equifax version.

You can pay for premium services at Credit Sesame (see image below), but for me these extras don't offer much value.

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- --> SITEMAP <--

Just Tried FreeCreditScore.com

Just tried www.FreeCreditScore.com ( +freecreditscore.com ) to see what the site is offering. The site is owned by +Experian.

The site gives you free access to your Experian PLUS Score (pictured) but this score doesn't have much meaning, because lenders don't use it.  My PLUS score, 717, is not even close to my FICO®-based scores.  Meaningless.

If you want access to your FICO credit score -- the score all lenders recognize -- the site will ask you to pay $1 for it.  Feels very much like a bait-and-switch to me, therefore I am still recommending Credit Karma for free credit scores.

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- --> SITEMAP <--