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MacInTax Deluxe 1997 Tax Year,
Federal Return 1040
Company: Intuit
Estimated Price: $30-55
http://www.macintax.com

Am I the only person in the United States who actually looks forward with enthusiasm to preparing a Federal 1040 Income Tax return? (Editor's Note: YES!) If any other taxpayers relish the experience, I expect they also use MacInTax Deluxe.

This tax season is my third one using MacInTax Deluxe (MITD). Each year the software is very good, with noticeable improvements in the next year's version. Upon first glance, MITD '97 continues that practice. I won't have the delectable opportunity to have my return completed and filed before our My Mac Magazine software review deadline, so here is my "first look" commentary on this year's MITD, based on personal experience.

SETUP AND INSTALLATION
MacInTax Deluxe comes on one CD (mine is version 97.00), with a tiny printed manual. The Quick Start Card walks the user through the brief and painless installation process. MITD consumes approximately 20MB of disk space. The CD also includes software for Internet Explorer 3.0.1 and the Concentric Internet Access Kit, so as to encourage users to take advantage of the direct links to the MacInTax site on the World Wide Web at http://www.macintax.com . (Netscape 3.x or 4.x work equally well for this purpose, as does any ISP. The AOL browser does *not* work.)

I recommend the Easy Install, unless you have very good reasons for performing a Custom Install. The Easy Install takes about a minute on most systems. The Read Me (please read it!) document refers to additional forms and product updates, all of which are available from the MacInTax Web site. Next comes Internet Setup Options, to select a default browser for linking to MacInTax on the Web.

After installation, a "Welcome" video provides a basic summary of MITD '97, and explains the new "?" (help) and "Take Me To" buttons, plus several additional features introduced with the current software. MITD '97 uses buttons on both the Toolbar and the Shortcut Keys. In general, I suggest viewing every video (they appear automatically at the appropriate time while completing your tax return).

NEW FEATURES

Tax Law Changes: instantly linked in the application with hypertext documents.

EASY STEP
MacInTax imported my 1996 tax return data and then transferred all of last year's financial records to the current edition in just a few seconds! A new 1997 tax return is then automatically created and named. As with every important file, ***BACK UP*** the new data and always keep your backups current.

Easy Step walks the user through every phase of the tax filing process, calmly and slowly. Gather all your end-of-year paper and electronic records, put some relaxing music on the stereo, and proceed. Quicken reports are imported almost effortlessly. The Easy Step process has been streamlined, making the Interview routine more efficient than in the past. Users can also jump back and forth between Easy Step and the actual IRS forms by using "Forms."

At every point during the Interview, users have multiple opportunities to receive assistance, including the "Guide Me" button and a library of expert books and IRS publications built into the CD-ROM disk. Telephone technical support is available 19 hours per day, 7 days per week, until April 15.

Upon completion, MacInTax performs a Final Review, offers Tax Planner suggestions for 1998 and beyond, and facilitates filing, whether via modem or snail mail. I personally use and recommend electronic filing, which is fast, secure, and efficient. (Note: Users only receive free electronic filing with the Deluxe version.) The Refund Monitor helps keep track of the status of pending refunds, which appear in the mail with impressive speed for electronic filers.

Regretfully, Intuit does not provide free online trial versions of MacInTax software, only TurboTax. Individual state editions and business versions of MIT '97 can be obtained from Intuit either from their website or their postal address (2650 Elvira Road #100,Tucson, AZ 85706). Their phone number is (800) 4-INTUIT (446-8848). Intuit has a generous 100% Accuracy Guarantee, which I have never needed.

MacInTax Web SITE
Product updates and online support are easy to navigate using buttons from the MacInTax software. Don't be alarmed by references to TurboTax, which is the name of the identical application for that other platform. Here is a peek at the site.

RECOMMENDATIONS
I highly recommend MacInTax Deluxe '97 and electronic filing if you normally prepare your own tax return. The software is excellent, and the quantity of free assistance is unequaled Requirements: 2X CD-ROM drive, 8MB of memory, 68030 or later processor, Mac OS 7.0 or higher.

---

John Nemerovski (nemo@mymac.com)

Websites mentioned:
http://www.macintax.com

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