An Overview of the Best DIY Tax Softwares for the Self Employed

As April 15th nears, filing taxes is going to be one of the most popular topics around the United States. And rightly so. After all, there are not many things in life as certain as the IRS and tax returns, which why any income earned must be reported and lawfully taxed. For those who are self-employed, estimated at over 10 million, the entire endeavor gets a little more complicated. This is because of things like the self-employment tax, quarterly prepayments, health insurance deduction, expense justification, and much more. Nevertheless, financial services and people like Rusty Tweed can make this process very bearable as they bridge the gap between tax filing and unfamiliar citizens.

Generally, there are two ways to file. This involves a hard-copy submission that gets mailed to the IRS as well as a more timely resolution like filing online. So, what are some of the best, do-it-yourself tax software for completing the necessary obligation?

1. Turbo Tax

Turbo Tax is arguably the most popular method of filing taxes regardless of status. It enables simple paper scanning by reference numbers that convert all hard copies of W2s or 1099s into digital documents. People who would like to obtain the software can easily purchase it online or at stores like Walmart. Some of its most recognized benefits praised by millions of repeat customers include industry-specific deductions that Turbo Tax looks for, automatic credits considerations, additional guidance for complicated matters, refund tracking, asset depreciation, and nonstop error checking. On top of this, people can additionally obtain real-time advising from a certified Turbo Tax professional that can guide someone step-by-step through their return.

2. H&R Block

One of the biggest differences between Turbo Tax and H&R Block is 12,000 locations that H&R Block runs across the nation. This means that someone who begins filing their self-employed return and gets stuck due to unforeseen difficulties can seek out professional help in person. Furthermore, it is one of the few financial services that can offer online “Worry-Free Audit Support”. People who purchase this feature will get a professional that can guide them through a hypothetical audit or even represent them in a real one. Price-wise, it is very competitive with Turbo Tax and possesses many of the options mentioned above. One interesting differentiation includes four categories that people can choose from, depending on how difficult their return is. Those with simple streams of revenues and straightforward expenses can go with basic, while an investor who has numerous gains, expenses, sales, depreciable assets, and so on, can choose the premium software.

3. Tax Slayer

As with the previous two, Tax Slayer offers an online interface that can facilitate e-filing. People who decide to try this option will have access to all the necessary schedules that are explained in great detail. This is a useful tool especially since forms like Schedule C must be filled out to recognize any business income or loss. It further showcases previous-year return for comparison purposes, which is something that almost every software does nowadays. Besides the e-mail and phone support, it has a deduction guide that can explain why a business is entitled to subtract certain amounts. Lastly, one of the most obvious benefits of it is that the payment can be made once someone is satisfied. Unlike with Turbo Tax and H&R Block, Tax Slayer can be used for free until the potential buyer is confident in the return and wants to submit it.

4. Tax Act

The last product that matches the price and capabilities of the three other software mentioned thus far is Tax Act. Individuals can opt to let the company handle any IRS correspondence once their return is filed. Furthermore, there is a feature called “Audit Defense” that serves to protect people from any credit denials or fraud allegations. Its price lock guarantee is one of its unique powers, which enables people to pay exactly how much their original offer was showing. Another notable characteristic is a $100,000 accuracy guarantee protecting customers from any calculation errors.

In reality, someone would have to be an expert on the level of Rusty Tweed to recognize all the small differences between these four software. Their bottom line purpose is to help the average, non-CPA folks file a tax return that will require a minimum payment or provide the maximum refund. Certainly, some have perks that make them stand out, but people can prioritize these as they see fit. After all, a person who is profoundly familiar with the United States tax code, for example, should not classify the software by the best customer chat support as they will probably not use it. Also, buying the software and learning how to utilize it can be treated as an investment since people are likely to use the same outlet for many years to come!

 Jump to top

My Patriot Supply Review: Better Emergency Preparedness? Think About Gardening

When you think about being prepared for an emergency, do you ever think about gardening? These two subjects are closely tied together, for many reasons. The two most important reasons are that gardens provide food, and that items grown in gardens can have medicinal value.

In normal, everyday life, a garden is a source of beauty, enjoyment, and nutrients. Many people enjoy eating the fruits and vegetables that they harvest. In the case of an emergency, the nutrients from gardens will be key so survival. Sustainability is important to consider. When you think about the world now, it is very interconnected and regulated. If systems shifted and broke apart with the onset of a drastic situation, the connections that we rely on might be broken. The transportation system, economy and politics are all tied to our food sources. A garden can give an emergency prepper a way of being prepared in the case that systems no longer operate in the way that we are used to. Food from a garden can provide valuable vitamines, nutrients, and calories.

In addition to providing a source of self-sustainability, a garden can also provide a source of medicine. This is another aspect of being self-sustaining. An emergency preparation plan includes a method of healing wounds and ailments in the case that modern or conventional services aren’t offered. For example, if someone had an infection during an emergency situation, the conventional option of seeing a doctor for an antibiotic might not be available. Did you know that Native Americans used echinacia for many healing purposes including fighting infection?

An emergency preparedness garden can be started at any time. You could hold onto the seeds, and then plant them when the need arises, or you could start your gardening now and start producing food and medicinal herbs right away. One practical product to consider is the Medicinal Herb Garden offered by My Patriot Supply. This is a product that includes ten different kinds of medicinal herb seeds, all in varieties that work in a wide range of zones. This is helpful because the seeds are not specific to one climate, but rather can thrive in many climates. The seeds are sealed in Mylar bags, which makes them more resistant to heat or extreme cold, and they can last over five years in storage before you plant them. This product offers people a way to start their emergency preparedness garden quickly, because instead of having to research what herbs to grow so that you will have a source of healing when needed, the My Patriot Supply team has done the research for you. The ten varieties of seed that they have chosen are all non-GMO and non-hybrid.

Medicinal herb gardens can provide plants that could make a big difference in the case of an emergency situation. Though we often overlook the value of plants when it comes to healing properties, in a case of emergency we may find that we have to learn quickly. Why not be one step ahead of the game? Herbs can be made into healing salves and balms. They can also be ingested through tea or other methods. If you haven’t considered what gardening has to do with being prepared for an emergency, maybe now is the time to give it some thought!

Jump to top