Online Tax Programs

SecureTax

https://www.securetax.com

Cost: $9.95 for both 1040-EZ and 540-EZ, federal and state; $14.95 for the longer 1040A/1040 and the 540, federal and state

Best for: No one

OK for: Knowledgeable taxpayers with simple to moderately complicated returns

Not for: Beginners or taxpayers with complex returns

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OneTax

https://www.onetax.com

Cost: $9.95 for both federal and state returns

Best for: No one

OK for: Knowledgeable taxpayers with simple returns

Not for: Beginners, taxpayers with complicated returns, business owners, many parents, people with casualty or theft losses, people with deductible employee expenses.

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Kiplinger TaxCut

https://www.taxcut.com

Cost: $19.95 for federal, $19.95 for state

Best for: Knowledgeable taxpayers with simple to moderately complicated returns

OK for: Most taxpayers, including beginners

Not for: Anyone who wants to access a return via the Web (Software must be downloaded and stored on a computer hard drive.)

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WebTurboTax

https://www.webturbotax.com

Cost: $19.95 for federal, $19.95 for state

Best for: Most taxpayers, including beginners

OK for: Taxpayers with complex returns

Not for: Taxpayers who must use an Internet connection that passes through certain corporate firewalls