TaxCalc alternative?

A question about : TaxCalc alternative?

I was just about to purchase Taxcalc 2004 for completing my tax return when I came across a company that provides a free product that does a similar job.

www.freefile.co.uk

It's on the offiicial list of Inland Revenue authorised software packages.

Best answers:

• Thank you, Seamus.
• You can, of course, use the Inland Revenue's own website to file your tax return.
  For more complex tax returns, that the Inland Revenue website cannot cope with, there are a number of other pieces of software (that are recognised by the IR) that will do the job:
  https://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/efil...g/soft_dev.htm
  Software is available for individuals, partnerships and trusts.
• Yeh
  You don't need software anymore the Inland Self Assessment Site will do the calcs for you, same as if you were using software.
• I have recently received a letter from Intuit saying that TaxCalc will not be available in future.
  Can anyone recommend an alternative free or cheap software programme for doing one's tax return?
• check out the inland revenue online filing. Unless you need certain specialist pages, it does everything for you.
• I have always used taxsaver but wonder why I bother paying for it each year when as cash99 says the IR's own system does the job. I think the consumers association (which) did a tax software program at some point too?
  R.
• The great advantage of TaxCalc was that it gave you advice, tips etc as you went along and also calculated the tax owing (or the reverse if you were really lucky!) as a running total. All for c. Ј20-Ј25.
  Being offline you could complete and review it over a period of days or weeks until you were finally happy to press the button to send it to the Government gateway.
  Does the IR's online system also provide this degree of comfort?
  PS TaxCalc started as the Consumers' Association's product but latterly moved to Intuit - who probably produced it all along.
• Can't help on the friendliness of the IR online service, but I think it also enables you to save as you go along.
  Digita, who made taxsaver deluxe, also seem to have stopped providing it but offer a free online calculator and form filling service.
  I have just received a letter from the IR saying I no longer need to file a return. I think they are trying to reduce to mountain of returns they process which are uneconomic for the amount of tax due. If you regularly get a refund though, you can still keep filling one in voluntarily.
  Here is the link to the free digita software. Haven't tried it so don't know if it as good for tax saving advice as the Ј20 version used to be.
  https://www.digita.com/taxcentral/hom...rn/default.asp
  R.
• I think the Inland Revenue's online service is quite user friendly (but I am a Tax Advisor by trade so know what the boxes mean!).
  The online service does save as you go along, so you can put bits of information in as and when you like, and go back as many times as you like before pressing the button to submit to them!
  Although the tax bill isn't shown when you are inputting the data you can look at the calculation at any time and so see where you are.
  The IR website also gives links to some commercial software providers whose software can be used to file online. I haven't checked these out but some of them offer their software for free for personal use. List is here.
• Thanks. This is very helpful and the list is longer than I expected.
  I wonder if anyone reading this has any personal experience of using the software included on the list?
• Originally I used a product for 2/3 yrs that was only Ј10, it was good, but then could not get hold of it one year, so for about 4 yrs I used Taxcalc
  which generally sells at Ј25, although I usually paid between Ј15-Ј20 ( if your return is simple - there is often a cut down free version on the pc mags)
  this year I could not find it below Ј25, so tried the free LEGATIO download
  ( supposed to be for online submission, but allows print anyway)
  It had less tax guides/ help ( but info generally available anyway) and the note making and saving was awkward, but it worked and was free. No need to send anything online during the completion , but did need to register for an online password with IR for it to work.
• For information, i have just come across the following on another website:-
  Assured Solution Providers (ASP), creators of Taxchecker, have acquired the self-assessment software brand names of TaxCalc (a former Which? product additionally developed by Intuit UK) and TaxChecker. A new product TaxCalc 2005 will be available in April 2005 and will offer users the best features of TaxCalc and TaxChecker.
  It will be very easy to transfer data from 2004 files into TaxCalc 2005 and will have the functionality and features familiar to existing TaxCalc users including both an "Interview" and a "Forms based" approach. More information soon at: www.taxchecker.co.uk
• Received a letter from Intuit this morning. As mentioned earlier by another member, Assured Solution Providers Ltd has acquired the TaxCalc brand. TaxCalc 2005 will soon be available to buy at Ј19.99 (for download) or Ј24.99 for CD from www.taxcalc.co.uk.
  Also, all previous versions of TaxCalc (fully functional and unlocked) are available for free download from www.taxcalc.co.uk/support/downloads.asp
• Can anyone recommend easy to use book keeping software that is suitable for self assessment?
  Thanks
• After over 20 years of regularly completing my tax returns, the revenue advised me that I did not need to do one for 04/05. However, my own calculations show that I will have some tax to pay etc, Thought that I would do return online via revenues system and have duly received logon details etc. Was planning to fill in today, using revenues software, only to discover that it does not cover CGT! They list numerous 3rd party suppliers and phone nos, some of which presumably will cover CGT. I am have no intention of buying 3rd party software to enable me to complete my tax return online to presumably save Inland Revenue some money - does anyone know of any free software that works with Inland revenue online self assessment that covers CGT/share options etc as well as basic employment forms etc.
  If not then looks like phone calls etc to Inland Revenue to get relevant paper forms that I would be more than happy to complete if only they sent them to me. Want to get done by 30 September deadline.
  many thanks
• Hi hoof
  I have moved your thread here in hope that you may find the info you require.
  Good luck
  savvy
• Yes, Ј17.99 from what I can see?