There are two major software programs for tax returns - Turbo Tax and Tax Cut. Are these programs reliable? If so, which is best? Consumer expert Clark Howard tells us

"There are people who love Turbo Tax and there are people who love Tax Cut. I don't care which one you enjoy using - enjoy is a funny word when you are doing taxes - but compared to doing taxes by hand I would say it is enjoyable. I think they are a great idea to buy one of these programs."

Clark says a review by the Wall Street Journal found Tax Cut was excellent for people doing a simple return. But if you have a home office or rental properties, the Journal says get a specialty software package from Turbo Tax. Clark says whatever; don't be too eager to get your return done early, because software packages usually have a few bugs in the early releases.

"You want someone else to be the guinea pig and find whatever problems there are with those software packages first, so that they are then fixed before you do your own return with them."

For more information go to Clark's site www.clarkhoward.com

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