OpenTaxSolver -- U.S. and Some State Tax Prep Software
Posted: Wed 10 Jan 2018, 17:08
Hi All,
A couple days ago, Festus published a new version of MaterPDF Editor, http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 453#979453 and Flash quipped "Just in time for tax season. "
So I thought I'd bring to your attention Open Tax Solver, http://opentaxsolver.sourceforge.net/, which was what I used, together with Masterpdfeditor, last year to prepare my tax returns. I live in New Jersey, and although OpenTaxSolver has a module for preparation of that State's Tax Returns, I found it helpful to also create a spreadsheet that followed that State's Return form, more or less line-by-line, to handle computations. While doing so is somewhat time consuming, this year I'll be able to use last years spreadsheet as a template, making adjustments as necessary. It's fairly easy to find the what changes a State makes from year-to-year.
Other than creating the spreadsheet, it actually took less time to do taxes this way than using TurboTax or H & R Block. You just plug in your figures rather than answering occasionally confusing questions. Moreover, this system enables you to see what's actually happening rather than submitting your information to a 'Black Box' and hoping for the best.
Of course, since the U.S. Treasury receives all the information from various financial institutions and employers it needs to calculate your Taxes it would be a simple matter for it to send you an itemized bill, or statement with a refund. But that wouldn't serve the interest of TurboTax or H & R Block, a lots of independent accountants.
Even though we may have entered the Age of Big Data, the mind-set of our Legislators is stuck on Bob Cratchit sitting on a stool filling out ledgers by hand.
mikesLr
A couple days ago, Festus published a new version of MaterPDF Editor, http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 453#979453 and Flash quipped "Just in time for tax season. "
So I thought I'd bring to your attention Open Tax Solver, http://opentaxsolver.sourceforge.net/, which was what I used, together with Masterpdfeditor, last year to prepare my tax returns. I live in New Jersey, and although OpenTaxSolver has a module for preparation of that State's Tax Returns, I found it helpful to also create a spreadsheet that followed that State's Return form, more or less line-by-line, to handle computations. While doing so is somewhat time consuming, this year I'll be able to use last years spreadsheet as a template, making adjustments as necessary. It's fairly easy to find the what changes a State makes from year-to-year.
Other than creating the spreadsheet, it actually took less time to do taxes this way than using TurboTax or H & R Block. You just plug in your figures rather than answering occasionally confusing questions. Moreover, this system enables you to see what's actually happening rather than submitting your information to a 'Black Box' and hoping for the best.
Of course, since the U.S. Treasury receives all the information from various financial institutions and employers it needs to calculate your Taxes it would be a simple matter for it to send you an itemized bill, or statement with a refund. But that wouldn't serve the interest of TurboTax or H & R Block, a lots of independent accountants.
Even though we may have entered the Age of Big Data, the mind-set of our Legislators is stuck on Bob Cratchit sitting on a stool filling out ledgers by hand.
mikesLr