[Request] Tax Software!

CPUnltd · 2011-02-08 07:43:12

I just found this randomly looking for something that runs on Linux and is up-to-date... and it's just been updated as of a few days ago for 2010 tax preparation! I am posting a request, even though I am considering packaging this up myself (if I can, people may see me on IRC a lot if I do make time to take this up myself)... hoping to get eyes on this, because it's something that EVERYBODY says is sorely lacking on Linux...

OpenTaxSolver (OTS) is a free program for calculating Tax Form entries and tax-owed or refund-due, such as Federal or State personal income taxes.

The updated version of OTS for the 2010 tax year has been posted. It contains the updated US 1040 with Schedules A, B, C, D, and L. It also contains the State Tax form updates for CA, VA, OH, NC, NJ, PA, NY, and MA. Some significant improvements were made to the GUI this year - namely, an automatic results viewer.

To get instant email notification of new updates, click the Subscribe button under the Freshmeat project page (you must have a Freshmeat account to use that), or check the OTS Blog for status updates. Contributions of additional forms is appreciated. Special thanks again to all contributors.

A much requested Payroll Withholding Calculator was added to the project during the year. It helps you adjust your weekly pay-check deductions throughout the current year, to avoid under-deducting or over-deducting.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/opentax … z/download

Last edited by CPUnltd (2011-02-08 07:43:48)

Inxsible · 2011-02-08 14:39:51

I have a Windows install simply for this reason. To use during tax time.

I'll have a look at OTS, but with Tax (or any government related forms submission) I am a little wary since I don't want a bug in the software tobe responsible for IRS coming knocking on my door and auditing me for the last 5 years !

This year, I will use OTS and Turbo Tax and see if they match up - just to boost my confidence in OTS. Does it allow online filing ?

CPUnltd · 2011-02-08 18:07:07

do not see an option for online filing, but I did email the author about that as well as a few other future features that would be nice. There are a couple of forums around about it, but not a whole lot, which is surprising considering how many people in the US would be benefiting from this (vs having to buy a program from a department store or visit some tax person who takes like 10 0r 20%... Especially since this is completely cross-platform.

CPUnltd · 2011-02-11 06:38:53

Have been in contact with Ashton (who is a dev over at the opentaxsolver site... he had this to say in response to your inquiries, Inxsible:

Yes, we have always had some interest in automatically filling out the pdf forms.
If you check the project's discussion list archives, you will find a bit of discussion about approaches for doing this over the years. And some bit of effort was spent in trying various ways to do it. Unfortunately, we have yet to find a general portable way, which does not depend on external packages, and that will work everywhere reliably. Since this has been a long term goal, we are interested in any new ideas. We may eventually achieve it.

Yes, there are several a discussion forums. You can find them under the forums tab of project pages:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/opentaxsolver/support

Similarly for online filing. we have been looking for methods to do that too. Unfortunately, our efforts to date indicate the government's filing interface is not really open to us. Since it is of only minor benefit, this has been a low priority.

Thanks for your interest and support,
-- Aston

also, just stumbled on someone working on the PKGBUILD for this that posted their work about a week ago... no idea how I missed that before!!!

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=89974

would be cool if a mod could merge the two, if not, it's whatever...

litemotiv · 2011-02-11 12:59:36

Please continue at the link above.

Closing to avoid duplication.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-02-08 07:43:12

[Request] Tax Software!

#2 2011-02-08 14:39:51

Re: [Request] Tax Software!

#3 2011-02-08 18:07:07

Re: [Request] Tax Software!

#4 2011-02-11 06:38:53

Re: [Request] Tax Software!

#5 2011-02-11 12:59:36

Re: [Request] Tax Software!

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