By Andy Perdue
Mid-Columbia Macintosh Users Group

Democrats are loose in Washington, D.C., and the Internal Revenue Service is itching to get into our pockets. At this time of the year, when we need to dig out our box of receipts and take on the unpleasant task of figuring out what we owe our reckless uncle, it might seem as though we havenÕt a friend.
Fortunately, Macintosh users have a buddy in San Diego who will do our taxes for us each year. And this chum gets friendlier each year.
A couple of years ago, ChipSoft of San Diego ported TurboTax, its popular MS-DOS tax-preparation program, to the Macintosh platform to take on SoftviewÕs MacInTax. Last year, ChipSoft decided it was easier to buy the competition than go head-to-head again. That was a move I liked because TurboTaxÕs most outstanding feature was its help system (which also was MacInTaxÕs AchillesÕ Heel). Combined into one package, ChipSoftÕs MacInTax was a tremendous improvement.
But it still had weaknesses (as does every software product) and in the year since, ChipSoft has worked hard toward making MacInTax even better.
Taxes are generally difficult, perhaps one of the most daunting and loathsome tasks we face each year. So MacInTax can become an even bigger hit by easing our pain.
Welcome to the new MacInTax and EasyStep.
It only gets easier
EasyStep is one of two ways we can prepare our 1992 tax returns with MacInTax (the other is the Òclassic approachÓ or, more accurately, the more difficult approach). When we launch MacInTax, weÕre given the option of going with EasyStep or going it alone.
When it comes to taxes and math, I never go it alone, so I love EasyStep. Especially since ChipSoft guarantees its calculations, even to the point that if youÕre audited and the mistake was MacInTaxÕs calculations, ChipSoft will pay the penalties.
No matter how difficult your taxes might be to prepare (to some limit, of course), EasyStep holds our hand throughout the process and patiently asks each question. No flipping through pages of IRS mumbo-jumbo trying to figure out what form to use. EasyStep starts at the beginning and gently leads us through this difficult terrain.
My 1992 taxes were simple to figure out, even without MacInTax (though I no doubt would have gotten the math wrong, or at least would have felt uneasy until the Treasury Department check arrived in my mailbox). I took the 1040EZ approach. My experience, however, will give you an idea of EasyStepÕs approach to tax preparation.
I selected EasyStep when the application finished loading into memory and was given a quick tutorial on how EasyStep works. ItÕs almost like a HyperCard stack with right and left arrows. Then MacInTax asked what form IÕd like to use and by clicking on each form, I could discover which I was eligible to use. I chose 1040EZ and began the interview process. MacInTaxÕs interview system is not new, but combined with EasyStep, it makes much more sense because weÕre being pampered from the time we launch the program until we print the final form.
After IÕve selected our primary form, MacInTax wants to know if IÕd like to import some of the information from last yearÕs MacInTax return (if IÕve used MacInTax before) or from Quicken or CheckFree.
EasyStep doesnÕt miss a thing (and if I try, MacInTax will warn me). MacInTax fills in all of the blanks, helps with deductions, figures out the math and makes the process almost enjoyable. After I finished the interview and, essentially, finished filling out the tax return, MacInTax helped me decide if I needed any additional forms to handle any miscellaneous receipts.
The last three steps of EasyStep are the coolest.
¥ MacInTaxÕs built-in accountant checks over my return for the possibility of being audited (it should have laughed at mine) and for missing or inconsistent information. It even makes suggestions on how I could save money on taxes. I donÕt know how ChipSoft was able to stuff both H and R Block into those disks.
¥ No Command-P needed here; MacInTax knows itÕs time to print and gets ready to spit out my document.
¥ If I want to forget the stamp and save a tree, the final part of EasyStep allows me to file electronically. While this isnÕt directly to the IRS, it can get my return in my hands much more quickly (reportedly three to six weeks faster). I can even have my refund deposited directly to my bank account. To be able to file electronically, I must have a refund or zero-balance return and a modem. IÕll have to fill out an extra form (which MacInTax, of course, handles for me) and it costs $20.

How easy is it?

Since this is the third year in a row IÕve used MacInTax, I can safely evaluate the improvements ChipSoft has made. However, somebody with less confidence might be able to better evaluate just how easy MacInTax and EasyStep are. So I put MacInTax in front of my friend Laurie Williams. Laurie hasnÕt had her Classic II for too long, but she is a budding guru nonetheless.
I got her started, then left her alone Ñ without the manual Ñ to see how sheÕd do. Laurie reports that the process seems easy enough, especially with EasyStep, but at one point she was asked if anything appeared in Box 17 of her W-2, which she did. MacInTax informed her that she might not be able to use 1040EZ because of this (though she could, the IRS later told me, because it was a 401(k) contribution) and she tried to convert the data sheÕd already entered to the 1040 or 1040A. This she found difficult, especially without the manual. She also wanted to see what various IRA deposits might do to her total tax picture, which she found cumbersome.
With the manual (and if she didnÕt have to try to convert the data), IÕm confident the process would have been even smoother for her.

Documentation

If the size of the manual is any indication of a programÕs ease, MacInTax must be getting better each year. MacInTaxÕs documentation now consists of a thin 84-page manual. And really, thatÕs all we need. In fact, I thought too much room was given to installing the software, since this yearÕs version (on four double-density disks) uses the Apple installer, which makes it a snap.
In addition to installation, the manual also covers using EasyStep, using the traditional approach and answering common tax questions.

Help!

WeÕre all looking for help when it comes to filling out our tax returns. This still is MacInTaxÕs greatest strength. In addition to EasyStep and the interview process, MacInTax provides a comprehensive tax help function, along with official IRS instructions.
The help menu explains changes to both MacInTax and U.S. tax laws. MacInTaxÕs cross-reference function brings up help for whatever part of the form weÕre on.
MacInTaxÕs status bar also is a big help. A window in the upper left corner provides a message for whatever kind of field weÕre in (such as text input, calculated value, itemized value or numeric input). And as your pointer passes over icons in the status bar, this message tells what each is (such as IRS instructions, reminder notes, tax summaries and itemizing).
If that isnÕt enough, ChipSoft has technical support for extended hours during tax season. It also has a toll-free fax line for technical questions, a 24-hour, 2400-baud bulletin board system and support areas on CompuServe and GEnie.
The one weird thing (and I complained about it in last yearÕs version, too) is that MacInTax doesnÕt take advantage of System 7Õs balloon help. IÕm not a big fan of balloon help, but MacInTax is one program where it would really make sense.

Conclusions

EasyStep is a big improvement over last yearÕs version of MacInTax. It simplifies the entire process and does a better job of holding our hands.
The price, too, isnÕt so prohibitive. Street price is around $50 (renewals are $40) for the federal version and $35 for state versions (including Oregon). A year ago, I suggested that ChipSoft might do better making available a cheaper specialized version for those of us who donÕt need all of the forms. This idea, apparently, still hasnÕt caught on, as just the one version is available.
I have another idea, though. WouldnÕt it be cool if ChipSoft made a deal with America Online to have an online tax form that would go through the interview process just like the one we get on disk? ChipSoft could charge, say, $30, which would cover the ÒsoftwareÓ and the electronic filing fee. Since it would be on America Online, users would have the benefit of a real graphical user interface (as opposed to CompuServeÕs lame attempt), plus we could have it billed on our monthly accounts (and directly to our credit cards). And we wouldnÕt even have to wait for MacWarehouseÕs overnight shipping!


Reprinted from The Finder, monthly newsletter of the Mid-Columbia Macintosh Users Group. Nonprofit computer user groups have permission to reprint this article as long as the author and the Mid-Columbia Macintosh Users Group in Tri-Cities, Wash., are fully credited and a copy of the newsletter in which the article appears is sent to:

Andy Perdue, editor
Mid-Columbia Macintosh Users Group
4711 W. Metaline #120
Kennewick, WA  99336

© 1993, The Finder