Expert's Rating
Pros
- Program checks for deductions
- Series of questions walks you through your tax return
- Generally friendly interface
Cons
- Some interface elements can be confusing
Our Verdict
The April 15 deadline for filing income tax returns draws perilously close, forcing Mac users to gather up their W-2s, 1099s, and tax-preparation program of choice. And this year, Mac users do have a choice—H&R Block returns to the Mac platform after a one-year absence with a new version of TaxCut to compete with Intuit’s TurboTax.
Both Intuit and H&R Block have put their best foot forward this year. Intuit’s TurboTax claims the marquee spot among tax preparation programs, but H&R Block puts up a real contender and should be applauded for bringing TaxCut back to the Mac platform after its brief hiatus.
Read our individual reviews of each program:
Which of these two programs offers the best choice? It depends on what you’re looking for. While both applications sport clean interfaces and offer effective tools, this year’s edition of TurboTax is the better choice on two fronts—its interface is a bit more friendly and its deduction program feels better integrated.
Where customer support is concerned, however, the preference falls to TaxCut, which offers a better means of protection against an audit. While Intuit provides counseling and advice to TurboTax users, H&R Block has the brick-and-mortar advantage and can guide you to a local office if you need more help with a return.
Both companies have created compelling and competitive products this year. Even if filing a tax return isn’t the first thing you’d choose to do on an otherwise free weekend, these two competent, solid programs help make it much easier.
[ Chris Barylick is a technology journalist whose work has appeared in Mac Observer and the Washington Post . Despite having gone to business school, tax season still gives him the willies. ]