[COLUG] Tax Prep on Linux

[Bill Baker]

On Sat, 2008-01-26 at 17:16 -0500, Robert Foreman wrote:
> I was wondering what people are using for Tax Prep this year.
> 
> For years I used Intuits web based service before it stopped working
> with Linux and Firefox. For the past few years I have used H&R Block's
> web tax service, but now it looks like it no longer allows Linux and
> Firefox.
> 
> I took a quick look at Open Tax Solver
> (http://opentaxsolver.sourceforge.net/index.html), but I'm not sure if
> it would actually be any easier than doing them the old fashion way.
> 
> >From the Open Tax Solver web site I discovered the Web Tax Service
> (http://www.webtaxservice.com/services.php) link which looks
> promising. Has anyone used this one?
> 
> In the past I have also used the Ohio I-File service
> (http://tax.ohio.gov/online_services/online_services_welcome.stm)
> which worked well enough. It's pretty basic and it's free for state
> and local school district taxes, but obviously doesn't help for
> Federal taxes.
> 
> My basic requirements are:
> 1. It must work with Linux and Firefox. I do not run Windows and I
> have absolutely no desire to purchase a copy just to do my taxes.
> 2. I like the web based services and have generally given up on the
> idea of ever having a usable Linux desktop based application.
> 3. It should be reasonably priced for e-file supporting Scheduled C etc.
> 4. Federal and State would be nice, but just Federal would be enough.
> I could also go back to using the Ohio I-File service if I absolutely
> had to.

If you're not too picky about it being on Firefox, you could use
ies4linux to install Internet Explorer on your Linux box.  The web page
is here: http://www.tatanka.com.br/