| Every year the tax payer must go through the | | | | prime candidate to use online tax preparation |
| arduous process of filing their tax returns with the | | | | software. |
| federal government and the State or States in which | | | | In recent years, online tax preparation software has |
| the filer earned income for that year. Most people (that | | | | progressed to the point where most people can |
| do not do it themselves), pay a Certified Public | | | | benefit by using these convenient tools to file their |
| Accountant (CPA) to prepare and file their returns | | | | returns each year. Whether you are self-employed or |
| each year at a cost of between $250 and $2,500 | | | | are an employee of a company, you can save time |
| depending on how complicated their returns are. | | | | and money by using these convenient tools. |
| In reality, most working people have relatively simple | | | | The benefits of filing your return online are as follows: |
| returns. They may itemize their deductions, but most if | | | | 1. Significant cost savings as compared to filing with an |
| not all of their income is recorded on a W-2 statement | | | | accountant; |
| at the end of the year. This "W-2" income is income | | | | 2. Most services have free customer support; |
| derived from working as an employee, as opposed to | | | | 3. With e-filing and direct deposit, you can get your |
| as a business owner or independent contractor (in | | | | refund in as little as 8 days; |
| which case you would receive a 1099 statement at | | | | 4. Less paper work; |
| the end of the year). When you have primarily W-2 | | | | 5. No postage; |
| income, or even if you are self-employed, you are a | | | | 6. Fewer documents to assemble. |