What Is the Best Tax Software to Be Using in 2019?

Published on: 28 March 2019 Last Updated on: 04 November 2024

If you fail to file your taxes correctly, the IRS can fine you a penalty up to 20% of the amount you owe.

Taxes are a complete nightmare for many people especially if you can’t pay them. And the last thing you want to deal with is owing even more money to the government.

That’s why the emergence of tax software has helped so many people. It helps you make sense of the confusing terminology, perform calculations, and break the process down into easy steps.

But what is the best tax software and how does it help simplify everything? This article covers everything you need to know.

The Criteria for Best Tax Software:

Everyone is different and the tax software available now tends to be tailored to different audiences with bank products and other solutions available.

For example, a family of four with a house and one income earner will have a fairly straightforward process. But what about someone who is self-employed or a small business owner? In these cases, some companies offer tiered pricing models that can quickly become expensive.

When asking questions like “Why would anyone use a bank product?” or “Is this service right for me?” it’s important to consider the following.

Ease of Use:

There’s no point paying for a system that is just as confusing as the tax forms themselves. Check out reviews from other people to see what their experiences with the company were. Or watch a ‘how to’ video for a preview of the software.

Are Your Taxes Complicated:

Between deductibles, donations, and multiple sources of income, taxes can get complex very quickly. If you’re unsure what you qualify for and what options are available to you then tax software may be the way to go.

Look at State Tax Prices:

Some tax software companies include state tax in their services free of charge. Others ask for a fee and class it as an additional service. Be sure to look into the costs behind each one to be sure.

With that said, here are the best online tax filing options out there.

TurboTax:

Known for its simplicity and ease of use, TurboTax has many features and designs to help you file without a headache.

The use a simple step by step process that puts questions in laymen’s terms and does the hard work and calculations for you. They even offer a W-2 scanner where upload a photo of your form and it automatically sorts the information on your tax forms.

They have a free option for getting your taxes ready to file. But can charge past $100 if you want more premium services like a tax specialist to talk to.

Tax Act:

Similar to TurboTax, TaxAct offers a sliding scale of costs for users depending on the level of service they want.

Their layout makes it easy to input data and offers free state tax returns for simple forms. If you’re a homeowner or business owner however, then you will have to pay a fee for state taxes.

If you are unhappy with the service you’ve received from other tax software companies, TaxAct makes it easy to import your old information over to them.

H&R Block:

Known for their stand-out customer support, H&R Block takes the uncertainty out of the equation with tax specialists on call and online.

It has a similar model and pricing structure to the previous companies but also offers up to $3000 of interest-free loans to anyone entitled to federal tax refunds.

Shop Around:

Knowing what the best tax software is for you takes time and research.

This list helped narrow things down but you should still look into each company in more detail to see what will work best for you.

Check out our other finance articles for more tips and advice.

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Insurance- Need of the time

Everything comes with a risk and it may result in financial losses. To handle these risks efficiently, insurance is required. Insurance is a prudent process to transfer the risks to the insurance agency and everything starting from assets, damages, and destruction can be covered through insurance policies. It is a legal agreement between the insurer and the company, which laid down the policies and procedures to be done in case of any contingency. Contingencies can be any event that puts the insurer in the loss. The insurer has to pay a premium on regular intervals or quarterly or annually according to policy terms. How Insurance Help you? 1. Beneficial for Homeowners: It helps you to claim for the repairs and replacement of any damage and protection against theft, damage from fire or water, all which covered in the insurance policy. It is essential for mortgage lenders to know that home is insured. 2. Drive vehicles: Though it is a legal requirement, insurance helps you to reduce financial strain by covering accidental damage, medical care and legal costs related to your automobiles. 3. Help for the standard of living: In case of critical illness and recovery will take a long time, an insurance policy can be used to cover daily expenses and heavy expenditures including debt to give you time to focus on recovery. 4. Health care and support to Family: In case of death, life insurance policies have many variants to address the long and short term needs to protect your family’s assets, loan, and lifestyle. 5. The backbone for business: To manage the risk in business, an insurance policy can be used for the owner, business and employee coverage. Retirement plans and group benefits can be provided. 5. Tax benefits: Apart from financial losses coverage and security points, income tax benefits can be reaped. Income invested in paying the premium is exempted from tax deductions and it may vary policy to policy. Spend time on insurance research to find the best insurance policy for home, individual or business. In-depth knowledge helps you to take new risks and support in bad situations. You can visit sites like this to get detailed information about insurance schemes. Major insurance types which everyone needs to spend life without worries: i). Life Insurance: According to the name, it is for the safety of your life. It can be purchased to help the dependents to live life easier in case of untimely death. It helps your family to stand again in severe circumstances and helps them to pay loans, bills, or educational costs. ii). Health insurance: Severe illness is equal to bankruptcy, and most of the organizations opt for medical insurance for its employees as a mandatory joining requirement. Premium paid under the policy is mainly supports you in case of ailments, suppositories, and hospitalization. iii). Vehicle Insurance: The vehicle is a valuable asset and it needs to safe and covered financially. Few of the insurance policies provide protection for natural calamities such as storms, earthquakes or floods. iv). Home Insurance: Protecting a house is a tedious task and it can do by taking the right insurance policy to deal with fire and lightning. Choose the right insurance policy to save your assets and loved ones. Read Also: The Top Benefits of Using an Insurance Broker 6 Common Myths busted for the insurance agent exam 5 Proven Ways to Reduce Your Home Insurance Rates

HybridBlock: Why Binance Is Investing In Crypto-Fiat Trading

Binance is currently known as one of the largest cryptocurrency exchange firms in the world. Changpeng Zhao heads the company, and he recently unveiled that the company will be focusing on a shift to trade cryptocurrencies for fiat money. According to Zhao, this move would make it possible for investors to perform an increased number in trading volume, an increased number of participants in the market, higher liquidity, and more speculators. He said that it would also boost the trading industry, and more people will be drawn to the world of cryptocurrency which will bring positive effects to the industry. Changpeng Zhao’s idea was lauded by financial experts around the world, saying that his plans for the future of cryptocurrency exchange are one of the most plausible given the factors that affect the market today. Zhao has been a veteran in the financial industry, and he previously established several companies; one of them is Fusion Systems which was founded in 2005 and presently headquartered in Shanghai. It became his stepping stone to know more about trading and how the financial world works. As cryptocurrency started to develop and to draw in more investors, Zhao decided to learn more about this new mechanism in the financial industry. He chose to join Blockchain.info in 2013 to develop his skills in dealing with cryptocurrencies, and he successfully learned new tips and tricks on how to become successful by trading cryptocurrencies. He, later on, founded several other companies that relied on blockchain technology, and in 2017, he decided to establish Binance. Initially establishing the company’s headquarters in China, Changpeng Zhao decided to move it in Japan after the government started pressuring him. He later opened offices in Taiwan, while at the same time looking at how his company grew tremendously. In 2018, Zhao expressed his idea of moving his company to Malta after he received several warning letters from the government of Japan and Taiwan. They are telling him that his company is not registered, and there can be legal consequences if he did not abide by the country’s financial rules and regulations. Despite these warnings, Binance continues to grow, and in 2018, it managed to gain a market capitalization worth more than $1.3 billion. It is more successful than traditional banks, and Zhao stated that the future is bright for their company as he sees that cryptocurrency will further increase in value. Changpeng Zhao stated that after his company completed its transfer to Malta, he will enable their users to convert the digital tokens that they have in their wallets into various fiat currencies. He also added that Malta is one of the few countries on Earth that are supportive of cryptocurrency traders, just like him. He wanted to transfer his operations in Malta because he said that there would be fewer legal problems in the small European island state. The government of Malta is working hard to persuade cryptocurrency giants to transfer their operations to the tiny Mediterranean Island. Malta wants to become known as the Blockchain Island, and they are developing new legislation that would encourage cryptocurrency traders to transfer their operations. One of the most important advantages of the idea proposed by Zhao would be the generation of new cryptocurrency traders and the balance to the world economy that it would bring. If the participants in the market increased, it would signal a rise in the demand for more cryptocurrencies, and it would transform the whole industry into one that could easily surpass traditional companies that are not keeping up with technology. Zhao wants to change how the world looks at the global economy, and he stated that his idea could become a reality. According to Zhao, fiat money is one of the best materials to be traded for cryptocurrency because it has a designated value given by the government. He is optimistic about the effects of his decision on the future of trading, and he believes that more people will become aware of its advantages. He continues to inspire a lot of people because of his perseverance to create new mechanisms that would innovate the financial sector. The experts who are working with the largest financial companies are saying that Binance have really shaken up the competition in the industry, and they are hoping for more people like Changpeng Zhao to come out and increase the competition in the sector. Read more about Changpeng Zhao and Binance at the HybridBlock Blog. Read Also : Hiring A Blockchain Developer 5 Awesome Facts About CryptoCurrency What Should Be There In An ICO Whitepaper? Expert Take

Small Business Guide to Private Health Insurance Exchanges

When it comes to building a business, health insurance is often a concern. Entrepreneurs who venture off on their own sometimes leave a great health insurance plan behind when they do so. For many aspiring entrepreneurs, this risk is one of the main limitations that prevent them from pursuing their passion. There are complexities that small business owners with employees will face that will never be an issue for one-person organizations. Figuring out how to offer health insurance, and what’s required in this politically tumultuous time, can be confusing and overwhelming. That’s why so many small business owners are using a broker and a private health exchange. Using a Broker : First of all, let’s look at why so many small businesses choose to use a broker when it comes to health insurance. Researching options and trying to understand the insurance industry jargon can be an absolute nightmare. As a business owner, you wouldn’t tell clients seeking your expertise to handle their business themselves. People come to you because you’re an expert in your field. Why wouldn’t you do the same? A broker can do the research, and understand what is being offered. They can translate the industry language into something you can understand and process, and make recommendations based on your needs. They save you time and money, not only finding something that works for you but helping with the enrolment process. In a nutshell, health insurance procuration is something you can delegate while you focus on operating your business. What is a Private Exchange? When told to consider a private exchange program, small business owners often ask the same question: “how does a private exchange work?” Private exchanges are a flexible approach to group health insurance that allows employees to pick and choose aspects from various health plans to fit the allocated budget. Employers and small business owners get control over their contribution and, with a broker, find something that fits their budget upfront. Rather than being presented with one option, employees can choose from a wider range of plans. So if Jim in sales has different health coverage needs than Pam in reception, they can choose different plans that suit their individual requirements. If their needs extend beyond what you have budgeted for, they simply pay the difference in premiums themselves. When you use a broker to procure health insurance through a private exchange, you don’t have to deal with multiple bills from multiple providers. Rather, everything is consolidated and billed to you directly through the broker on one convenient invoice. Political and Business Considerations : There has been a lot of back and forth about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and President Trump’s proposed redactions and changes. Many of these changes won’t take place until late this year or early 2019. For now, the same Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) apply. These benefits include things like emergency services, ambulatory care, prescription drugs, prenatal and postnatal care, etc. While it is possible that changes are coming in the near future, for now, it is best to go with what you know. Working with a professional broker can help you navigate the murky waters and better explain how proposed changes will impact your small business, what you can do to prepare, and how things will work in the meantime. As a small business operator, a lawsuit resulting from not properly adhering to what is expected of you regarding insurance can break your business. Unlike other options, like Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) you still have complete control over other aspects of your business with a private exchange. Private exchanges are not only convenient for you and your employees but help you cover your assets. Read Also: How To Get Low-Cost Life Insurance For Seniors Tips To Lower Your Insurance Costs Fred Loya Insurance Company

What Is the Best Tax Software to Be Using in 2019?