A Turbo Tax testimonial.

For years I did my own taxes using the 1040EZ form. And for years I got a modest refund. I was happy. This year when I went to do my taxes I was amazed that I owed the government money. I don't make much money. Never have and probably never will. So I went to the IRS website (www.irs.gov) and e-filed my tax return using one of the free tax filing options the IRS does in affiliation with commercial tax filing companies. I used Turbo Tax. And let me tell you this: if you use their "walk me through it" option you may find--all of our situations are different-- a bunch of deductions and exemptions as a writer that you would have never found on your own or even known about. It took me two hours but that's because they cover "every possible" way to increase your refund for your filing status. They even have a little box in the upper left hand corner of the page that keeps adding up how much your refund is going to be every time you find a new deduction or exemption. My filing status was "graduate student/writer." Since I went to school on a generous fellowship my status as a writer (which I can prove by the tax form my publisher sent me for a royalty check of $21 dollars) got me all kinds of deductions and exemptions. To start with I bought my computer last year (and all that goes with it) which means I took a financial lose as a writer.

So if you haven't done your taxes yet and you do them yourself check out the e-file options at www.irs.gov. Oh, I'm very happy with my refund. PS. If you choose the direct deposit method for your refund they say you'll get it in a few days. I should have mine next week. Good luck!