Well now that Christmas and New Year's is finally over (Thank Goodness). Here, in the U.S. we are heading into the big Tax Season. I noticed ads on TV, the internet, radio, and everywhere else there is ad space being filled with Tax Related software. Everywhere I look I see a Turbo Tax ad online. On TV I have seen an assortment of other companies and services.

How on earth did Turbo Tax even get so popular? I have used Turbo Tax on a number of occasions in the past, and I have to admit it is relatively easy to use and understand. For most people out there it can be much cheaper than a tax professional. It can be a little scary doing your own with software such as Turbo Tax, but at the same time those tax professionals spend about 20 minutes with you in a consultation. Do you think you can give them your entire years history in the 20 minutes you have with them, and expect them to get every single deduction available?

At any rate if you work for an employer and do not own your own home, and do not own a business Turbo Tax would be a breeze for you. If you own your own home or buying your home, you might have a little more work to do. Overall it is still very easy and the software guides you through it all.

When you get up into owning your own business, have investments, buy and sell stock, etc. Then, you start to get into the more time-consuming and more complex forms to fill out. The software still helps a lot, and can be much cheaper than a tax professional. If you find it too confusing or complicated and time-consuming it might be worth the extra money to hire a tax professional.