PC-TAXCUT - Whole Earth Software Catalog - Version 1.3 - evaluation

JAMES STOCKFORD: The whole Earth Software Catalog operates a special interest group on CompuServe (type GO WEC at any prompt) in which members discuss our recommended choices and suggest alternatives. Recently, Michael Seibel logged on to give us this hot tip:

PC/TAXCUT is the fastest selling tas preparation software on the charts, right now. Two programs come in the same box -- one is a tax planner that helps you to choose where and how much to invest to minimize your tax bite; the other is the tax preparer.

MICHAEL SEIBEL: I bought OC/TAXCUT on April 14, 1984. I entered my tax data, deductions, and so on in response to program prompts and menus, and got my return in the mail on time the next day. not only would i have overlooked tax deductions without it, but with that little advance planning I would no doubt have messed up the math as well.

I used the program on an IBM PC with dual floppies, calling for some disk swapping, which the program handled well. Swaps are only called for when you use unusual tax forms. The program is not copy-protected (although the print diskette is) and works on a hard disk without swapping floppies. I found the documentation quite clear, although I admit didn't need it much, since the menus and prompts are easy to follow.

The tax planning program uses your basic tax data as defaults to calculate coming taxes based on the next year's tax rates/brackets and changes in the rules. the tax planner will let you save different scenarios for future reference. I used the planner to figure whether it was better taxwise to buy a huse or rent when I moved to D.C. recently. You can use the planner without using the preparation program, but once you've entered your data it sure is nice not to have to enter it again for the next year's planning.

I have since received the update for the 1984 TAX PREPARATION program with a partially updated 1985 TAX PLANNER (more to come when the IRS publishes their latest rules). By the way, annual updates cost $75 per year, deductible.

JAMES STOCKFORD: Annual updates include new manual inserts as well as revised prep and plan programs.

The TAX PREPARER is not an electronic IRS form but a series of questions for you to answer. As it puts your answers together it makes comparisons to its built-in-expertise (can such-and-such be allowed, fully? partially? depending on another answer?). As it runs it calculates deductiosn to your maximum legal benefit. For instance, after quizzing you on your itemizations it may decide to file the short form, should that be to your benefit.

Onscreen help is of two varieties. One is help with the program manipulation, the other is an exact page reference to the manual for more information on each question asked; the manual is a completely and clearly rewritten version of current IRS tax information.

ANDREA AND DANIEL SHARP: This type of tax prep/planner is a great aid, if not a total replacement for your accountant. It does not advise, but it does everything else. If you need to refer to past years (for income averaging or credits) it directs you to the exact line of your old returns. This program is a pleasure to work with; we found nothing objectionable in using it. You could succeed at even complex tax returns on your own, or take a printout with you to your tax appointment to greatly streamline the procedure.

COPYRIGHT 1985 Point Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group