Yeah, it's the calculator and pad of paper at the table, working it out with a pencil. Seriously. A few years ago my ex brought home one of those programs to try and I didn't trust it. He did the taxes on the machine and I did them on paper, and I came up with bigger savings, never disputed by the IRS. And the damned program was going to fine us for some obscure thing we'd never heard of. Our taxes are usually simple and straightforward. Not the 1040EZ, but the 1040 and less than a half-dozen others attached to it.

You don't need to go through Turbo Tax to file electronically, and you can file for free. I think you go through a sponsored site (through an agreement with IRS) so you see some ads, but you get links for free electronic filing here.

For all of the trouble this caused last year and probably this, I think the $100 to an accountant might be cheaper and a heckuva lot easier. Good luck, John! You've offered us a lot of inspiration in solving our computer programs here at Mudcat. Ironic that one of the few times I can offer you a suggestion it is rather retro. ;-)

SRS