TurboTax

pros and cons

• TurboTax has put a lot of thought into how to guide you through the paperwork process, offering helpful explanations of the steps involved
• It also turns tax jargon into plain-English.

• It can be hard to find some features of the program, such as the ability to snap a picture of a 1099-NEC
• It's as if some features are not ready for users yet.

The best software can't take all of the pain out of tax filing, but it may come close.

Filing 2021 taxes will become more complicated this year for people with pandemic-related tax credits for sick leave, small business grants, and other new considerations. Some of that complexity can be smoothed over by using the dominant package in tax reporting, TurboTax, created by financial software powerhouse Intuit.

See also: How to file your taxes if you received unemployment benefits in 2021.

The program can guide you step by step through the question and answer process of adding up your income, your expenses, and your special deductions. Then, the software can either electronically file your return or give you printable forms to send by mail.

Some government tax forms are not finalized -- and may not be for another month -- but TurboTax will let you get very far along in the process in just a couple hours' time. That is, assuming you have at least a rough idea of what is going to show up on your W-2s and 1099s.

There's an extra incentive to get started now, which is that TurboTax offers discounts on the software price for those who start early. 

The offerings

TurboTax has three product categories: online filing using a web browser; a human-assisted online version called TurboTax Live, where a CPA will field questions and also chat with you via video session; and the old-fashioned download route, where you get a desktop app that runs the software outside of the browser. 

TurboTax has expanded the Live offering with a Full Service version, which is akin to hiring an accountant to do all the work for you (albeit for a more affordable price).

The prices range from free using the online option, to$120 for the Home & Business CD/Download version that will handle such forms as 1099s. State filings are free with the free online product option, but extra for all other online products.

The CD/Download products are priced based on both the preparation of the state paperwork and the actual electronic filing charge -- that is if you decide to file electronically rather than mail in your paperwork. 

The online products, including the Live versions, let you start out your work without any charge and pay only when you file. The free product is free to file, including the state filing charge. 

Bear in mind, TurboTax has add-ons that you can purchase as an