TaxACT: Press Releases

TaxACT® Prices Remain Fixed for Late Filers

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:11:20 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — March 27, 2009 — Although some tax preparation software companies may raise prices for late filers, all TaxACT prices will remain steady through April 15. According to its Web site, Intuit® may raise prices for most of its TurboTax® Online (SM) products by $20 to $30 for the millions who don’t file by March 27.

According to the IRS, 1 in 5 taxpayers wait until the final week to file by the April 15 deadline. Last year, 27.1 million taxpayers – more than 20 percent – waited to submit their income tax return.

In a year when tax returns e-filed from a home computer are at a record high of nearly 52 million¹ , it would make perfect sense for 2nd Story Software®, Inc., the makers of TaxACT, to follow competitors’ lead. However, company leaders believe taxpayers should not be punished for filing closer to April 15. Their view is rooted in the concept the company was founded upon – that no one should have to pay to prepare their federal taxes.

"We believe taxpayers should have the choice to prepare their returns for free or at an affordable cost, regardless of whether they file on January 15 or April 15. That’s why our prices have remained steady after they’re set at the beginning of each tax year," explained Leigh Aragon, spokeswoman for 2nd Story Software, Inc.

TaxACT Standard allows all taxpayers, regardless of income level, to prepare, print and e-file their federal return for free. Designed for both simple and complex returns, TaxACT Standard includes forms and schedules that other free products do not, as well as maximum refund and accuracy guarantees and unlimited e-mail support from tax specialists. TaxACT Online Standard customers can prepare, print and e-file a state return for $13.95.

At $9.95, TaxACT Online Deluxe includes extra features, most notably phone support from tax specialists, audit-backed values for non-cash charitable donations and a FAFSA worksheet. TaxACT Online Ultimate Bundle, the highest priced TaxACT Online product at $16.95, allows customers to prepare, print and e-file both a federal and state return.

Despite the explosion of free federal tax preparation software in recent years, TaxACT has remained the No. 2 destination² for online tax preparation. TaxACT products continually provide users with well-informed tax strategies in an easy-to-use application, while maintaining focus on providing the best value for customers.

As of March 6, 2009, the IRS estimated the number of e-filed tax returns had increased 6 percent compared to the same time last year.
According to collective week end reports for the Web site, www.TaxACTOnline.com, released by Hitwise™ during the 2005, 2006 and 2007 tax filing seasons.

The Bancorp Bank Partners with 2nd Story Software, Inc. to Offer the Endeavor Card™ Prepaid MasterCard®, Supplying Tax Refunds on a Prepaid Card

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:35:29 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del --(BUSINESS WIRE) — The Bancorp Bank Payment Solutions Group, a division of The Bancorp Bank ("Bancorp"), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBBK), today announced their partnership with 2nd Story Software, Inc., the nation's pioneer in providing free online federal tax preparation software and electronic filing services.

This partnership enables customers of TaxACT®, an online tax preparation service designed by 2nd Story Software Inc., to file federal and state taxes online at www.TaxACT.com, and choose to receive their IRS refund on a fully reloadable personal use prepaid MasterCard card. The Endeavor Card™ Prepaid MasterCard, issued by The Bancorp Bank, can be used wherever MasterCard debit cards are accepted and at millions of ATMs worldwide. Cardholders are able to reload their cards via MoneyGram® and direct deposit.

"Customers look to TaxACT Standard for a complete and free federal tax preparation solution for simple and complex returns. They also look to us for a pleasant user experience. The Endeavor Card Prepaid MasterCard issued by The Bancorp Bank enhances the user experience by offering another way to receive tax refunds, providing greater flexibility for our customers," says Lance Dunn, CPA and President of 2nd Story Software, Inc.

"The Bancorp Bank is focused on its commitment to ‘Changing the Way America Pays.’ We are excited to announce this partnership with 2nd Story Software, Inc. as it is consistent with our commitment of developing innovative products to meet changing payment needs. Our goal is to simplify payment processes and 2nd Story Software, Inc. has created the infrastructure to assist all American taxpayers by improving user experiences while keeping costs low," says Jeremy Kuiper, Managing Director – The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group.

For more information regarding The Bancorp Bank’s prepaid card payment solutions, please contact Lindsey Frank at lfrank@thebancorp.com or 952.449.6014.

The Endeavor Card Prepaid MasterCard is issued by The Bancorp Bank pursuant to license from MasterCard International Incorporated. The Bancorp Bank; Member FDIC.

MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.

About The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group

The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group, a division of The Bancorp Bank ("Bancorp"), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBBK), offers secure, creative and innovative payment solutions to the prepaid card industry. As a leading issuer of prepaid cards, The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group contributes to the success of Fortune 500 companies through the development of cutting-edge prepaid card programs that meet the rapidly changing needs of the prepaid industry. Through long-standing relationships with the MasterCard, Visa, and Discover card associations, leading program managers and processors, The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group designs innovative and flexible prepaid card programs which deliver outstanding results. For more information about The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group, please visit www.thebancorppsg.com.

TaxACT® Asks Taxpayers "Where Do You Do Your Taxes?"

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:41:07 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA--(Marketwire - February 4, 2009) — 2nd Story Software, Inc., the creators of TaxACT tax preparation software, announces the launch of WhereDoYouDoYourTaxes.com. The site features thousands of comments from satisfied TaxACT customers, a daily stream of tax tips and important tax news. Additionally, WhereDoYouDoYourTaxes.com includes an interactive video section currently featuring more than a dozen videos created by TaxACT employees.

"'Where Do You Do Your Taxes?' is TaxACT's advertising theme for the 2008 tax season, and we wanted to extend that idea in a fashion more concrete than through traditional banner ads and our homepage, www.TaxACT.com. WhereDoYouDoYourTaxes.com allows us to share positive feedback from our customers and provide those unfamiliar with our products reasons to try TaxACT," said Leigh Aragon, spokesperson for 2nd Story Software.

Ms. Aragon continued, "We're launching a video contest on February 1. Visitors will be able to submit videos to the site between February 4 and April 10. Anyone can visit the site and vote for their favorite video. The top vote-getter will win $500, with prizes for the top 6 vote-getters. Winners will be announced on April 15. Video criteria and official rules can be found on the website. We'll be adding additional features to WhereDoYouDoYourTaxes.com throughout the tax season that will create additional opportunities to engage our customers and help us improve their experience with our product."

WhereDoYouDoYourTaxes.com is TaxACT's first true entry into the rapidly emerging social web. "We wanted to make sure that we were using best practices and ethics for the space before we dived in. By taking steps to ensure we started off as good citizens in new media, that led to a longer timeline for developing this content," explains Greg Hollingsworth, Online Marketing Specialist for 2nd Story Software and developer of WhereDoYouDoYourTaxes.com. "We felt it was important to weigh the experiences of others before jumping in and treating the social web as another direct marketing channel. This site represents the beginning of what we hope will become a great resource for our customers, as well as a way for us to become closer to them. We want our customers to know that their feedback is of the utmost importance to us and that we take their requests very seriously. This website puts us in a better position to open that direct line of communication."

Mint.com Partners with TaxACT® to Simplify Online Tax Filing and Maximize Deductions

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:16:15 GMT

Mountain View, Calif., January 22, 2009 — Mint.com (www.mint.com), the nation’s leading online personal finance service, today announced a partnership with TaxACT®, the pioneer in offering free online Federal tax preparation, to make the process of filing taxes and identifying deductions free, simple and convenient.

Mint.com’s award-winning, free personal finance management tools offer a new and better alternative to hunting down and digging through a year’s worth of paper receipts. Users can easily see all of their tax-related expenses and income in one place, as Mint.com automatically categorizes bank, credit card, mortgage and loan account transactions across 7,500 U.S. financial institutions. They can readily identify deductions by expense type, merchant name or bank account using Mint.com’s robust search features. This information can then be easily exported to a document which can make tax filing with TaxACT even faster and easier.

"Our technology makes it incredibly simple for anyone to find all their tax-deductible transactions,” says Aaron Patzer, CEO and founder of Mint.com. “We’re excited to partner with TaxACT to bring together our powerful and free online services to help more Americans get their maximum refund this year – a goal that’s more important than ever in this economy."

As a leading tax preparation service for more than a decade, TaxACT’s online deduction, credit, and income examiner tools make it easy to prepare, print, and e-file Federal tax returns for free. TaxACT Alerts inspect returns for omissions and errors, and ensure that income tax deductions and credits are maximized. For a low cost, TaxACT Deluxe includes additional features for increased guidance, including Donation Assistant™ to accurately track your non-cash donations, unlimited phone support, and a tool that accounts for life events like marriages, birth/adoption, or home buying.

"TaxACT was created around the belief that no one should have to pay to prepare their Federal taxes, and that philosophy is what keeps TaxACT at the forefront of the tax preparation software industry," says Lance Dunn, CPA and President of 2nd Story Software, Inc. "Our focus for this season was to create a better user experience for our customers. We’ve worked hard to simplify the program’s interface and navigation."

Here are some other tax season tips and reminders from TaxACT and Mint.com:

Identify all possible deductions, including healthcare, unreimbursed business expenses and earned interest. If you’re unclear of eligibility or if you’ve experienced major life changes since last year, check out www.TaxACT.com.
If early calculations show that you’re getting a refund, file as soon as possible. Deposit your tax rebate directly into a high yield savings account. It’s easy to identify the highest interest savings accounts currently available using Mint.com’s Ways to Save feature, www.mint.com/features/save/.
Plan ahead for 2009 tax preparation. Tag tax-related transactions in Mint.com to make it faster and easier identify and estimate your deductions next year.

For more information on preparing and filing taxes with Mint.com and TaxACT, visit: http://www.mint.com/solutions/taxes/.

About Mint

Mint.com is the leading online personal finance service, providing more than 800,000 users a fresh, easy and intelligent approach to money management. And it’s free. Mint is tracking over $50 billion in transactions, $15 billion in assets and has identified more than $100 million in potential savings for its users. Designed to be effortless, Mint.com takes less than five minutes to set up. Users register anonymously using only a valid email address. Mint then does the rest, securely downloading transaction data from more than 7,500 bank, credit card and investment accounts on a daily basis. Users never need to import or synch their data. Mint applies patent-pending technology and proprietary algorithms to categorize transactions; provide a unified view of all account activity; alert users to low balances, bank fees, upcoming bills, and even potentially suspicious account activity; and give users personalized suggestions for significant savings opportunities.

Mint.com is rated top in its category by Kiplinger, Money, PC World and PC magazines and was named one of the 50 Best Websites of 2008 by Time magazine. The company was named one of 34 international Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum in December, 2008. The product has received two Webby awards, an American Business Award and accolades from The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek and TechCrunch since its September, 2007 launch.

Mint’s management team includes seasoned industry veterans drawn from the ranks of Charles Schwab, eBay, Expedia, Intuit, PGP and other leaders in the finance, security and software industries. Investors include top venture capital firms and prominent individuals whose past investments have included Google, Intuit, eBay, PassMark Security, PayPal, Yahoo! and others.

For more information on Mint.com’s free online personal finance service, please visit www.mint.com.

TaxACT® 2008 Deluxe — Taxes Done Right

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:12:13 GMT

Cedar Rapids, IA – January 8, 2009 — 2nd Story Software®, Inc., announces the release of TaxACT 2008 Deluxe. TaxACT Deluxe users receive all the benefits of TaxACT Standard with additional features like TaxACT's new Donation Assistant™ and unlimited live support via phone or e-mail. Users who e-file using TaxACT Deluxe and utilize direct deposit can have their tax refund in as few as eight days¹.

"We've spent the last decade providing top-of-the-line tax preparation software to our users at low prices. While our competitors have raised their prices and tacked on fees, our focus has been on improving our users’ experience while keeping costs low," says Lance Dunn, CPA and President of 2nd Story Software, Inc.

"We worked very hard this year to make valuable additions to TaxACT Deluxe and we think we've done that with the new Donation Assistant™. This tool will help our users track their charitable donations and provide fair market value for more than 700 items based on the condition. Donation Assistant is just one more way that TaxACT can help our users get their maximum refund. Given the current state of the economy, we want our customers to know they’re getting the biggest refund possible, without spending a lot to get it."

TaxACT Deluxe

TaxACT Deluxe gives customers access to more one-on-one support and several features that provide additional advice and guidance. Some of the features available to Deluxe users include:

NEW! Donation Assistant: Turn your charitable contributions into big tax savings. Donation Assistant lets you accurately track your donations and provides you with certified resale values for nearly 700 commonly donated items, eliminating the guesswork and putting more cash in your wallet.
NEW! Maximum Refund Pledge: If you receive a larger refund or smaller tax due from another tax preparation method with the same data, we will refund the applicable product price paid for your TaxACT Deluxe federal return.
Unlimited Phone Support: No matter how complicated your tax related question is, our dedicated Taxpayer Support team will work with you to resolve it. No time limits, no fees; just a trained specialist waiting to provide you with the help and information you need.

¹ In general, the IRS estimates that it will take 8-15 days for taxpayers who e-file their return and direct deposit to receive their federal tax refund from an accepted tax return. IRS processing delays may occur, delaying receipt of the taxpayers refund. The IRS begins accepting e-filed returns on Jan. 16th.

TaxACT® 2008 Standard — Taxes Done Right

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:56:21 GMT

Cedar Rapids, IA – January 8, 2009 — 2nd Story Software®, Inc., developers of TaxACT, announces the release of TaxACT Standard for the 2008 tax year. TaxACT pioneered free Federal tax preparation software to all taxpayers more than a decade ago and continues to be a value leader in tax preparation software. TaxACT allows users to prepare, print and e-file their Federal tax return for free starting today. If users opt for e-filing with direct deposit, they can have their return in as few as eight days¹.

"TaxACT was created around the belief that no one should have to pay to prepare their federal taxes, and that philosophy is what keeps TaxACT at the forefront of the tax preparation software industry. Our focus for this season was creating a better user experience for our customers. We’ve worked hard to simplify the program’s interface and navigation. We’ve also added videos to the interview that will help users transition through the process," says Lance Dunn, CPA and President of 2nd Story Software, Inc.

"We also wanted to provide our Standard users with a clearer picture of the information they’re providing to the IRS, so we added the Credit, Deduction and Income Examiner™ which provides a top-down overview of their information. Plus, with our new Maximum Refund Pledge, if you get a larger refund anywhere else, we’ll give you $4.95, just for trying TaxACT."

TaxACT 2008 Standard

TaxACT Standard is a fully featured tax preparation product that provides support for 1040EZ, 1040A and long form 1040 returns and supports 70 tax forms and 16 schedules (including Schedule C for small business owners). TaxACT users have the added assurance that Taxpayer Support™ is available without limits on time or number of questions via email. No other leading tax software package provides unlimited tax help to its customer at no additional cost.

TaxACT: Straightforward Pricing leads to Best Overall Value

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:43:10 GMT

Cedar Rapids, IA – December 11, 2008 — There has been a lot of discussion over the last few days about the increasing costs consumers may see when preparing their taxes next year. Rising software costs, new fees, charges for e-filing, these are all important factors to consider when choosing tax preparation software. However, there is one thing that is not being talked about, the cost to file a state return.

"Most people have to file both Federal & State taxes, and State tax preparation is where the cost really lies for many taxpayers. With TaxACT, users will never pay more than $13.95 to prepare, print or e-file a state return. In some cases our competitors charge as much as $50 to prepare and file one state return," said Lance Dunn, CPA and President of 2nd Story Software, Inc, the makers of TaxACT.

"TaxACT has spent more than a decade producing a high-quality, low-cost tax preparation solution for American taxpayers. While our competitors have historically raised their prices and fees, TaxACT has made a commitment to being a value leader in the industry."

TaxACT Standard is free for all taxpayers, regardless of income or age and can handle 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ federal returns. It also supports more than 150 forms, schedules and worksheets. TaxACT Standard users can add a State return for only $13.95.

TaxACT Deluxe, which includes additional features such as Donation Assistant and the FAFSA Worksheet, is $9.95. Deluxe users can add a State return for only $7.00. Additionally, the desktop version (which sells for $12.95) allows users to prepare and print an unlimited number of federal returns, with one free efile and up to 5 total e-filed returns for $7.95 each.

About TaxACT

TaxACT is the pioneer of free Federal tax preparation and TaxACTOnline.com is the #2 destination for online tax preparation . TaxACT is designed to make preparing your taxes easy, fast and reliable while maintaining a focus on providing the software to taxpayers at the best value possible.

About 2nd Story Software, Inc.

2nd Story Software, a privately held company founded in 1998, is critically acclaimed as being a leader in developing affordable tax preparation software and Web-based services directly to consumers. TaxACT products continually provide their users with well-informed tax strategies in an easy to use format, while maintaining focus on providing the best value for our customers. More information regarding the TaxACT product line may be found by visiting www.TaxACT.com.

¹According to month-by-month aggregate data contained in Hitwise® audience measurement week end-reports for the Business & Finance – Accountancy Category, which details the traffic share of the top tax software titles during the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 primary tax seasons, TaxACT Online ranked second in the percent of traffic it received as compared to other Web-based tax preparation services monitored. More information regarding Hitwise may be viewed by visiting www.Hitwise.com.

TaxACT® and Shoeboxed partner to make filing taxes and organizing receipts easier

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:21:02 GMT

Cedar Rapids, IA – December 02, 2008 — TaxACT, a leading online tax preparation service, has formed a strategic partnership with Shoeboxed, a popular receipt organization service, the two companies announced today. As tax season begins, TaxACT and Shoeboxed provide complementary services to make it easier to file taxes and organize receipts and other documents necessary for tax returns. Shoeboxed will promote TaxACT's critically acclaimed tax preparation service to its customers, and, likewise, TaxACT will make its users aware of the benefits of Shoeboxed's receipt and business card organization service.

When used together, TaxACT and Shoeboxed provide consumers with an easy way to complete tax returns on time, protect themselves from IRS audits and maximize their deductions. Shoeboxed helps consumers organize receipts, including some tax-related documents without having to do any scanning, data entry, or organization themselves. By just putting receipts into an envelope, they can have receipts archived in a format that can easily be referenced when filing their federal tax return. Additionally, Shoeboxed scanned receipts are an accepted IRS format for proof of purchase. TaxACT allows users to file their tax forms online, streamlining the process to save time and frustration.

"Many of our current customers are using Shoeboxed to get organized for taxes anyway, so we are very excited to join TaxACT in offering an easy, stress-free way to get ready for April 15, 2009," said Taylor Mingos, CEO and Founder of Shoeboxed. "As we work with TaxACT, I hope we encourage more people to use the Internet to make taxes less of a pain."

"TaxACT has been providing free tax preparation services to taxpayers for over a decade; partnering with Shoeboxed allows us to provide even better value for our customers," says Leigh Aragon, spokeswoman for 2nd Story Software, the makers of TaxACT. "The Shoeboxed service is a perfect complement to TaxACT, giving people yet another service that makes preparing their taxes even more hassle free."

About Shoeboxed

Shoeboxed (http://www.shoeboxed.com), a leading receipt organization service, scans and organizes its users' receipts and business cards to make them more manageable for taxes, reimbursements, budgeting and bookkeeping. When users mail receipts to Shoeboxed in the company's prepaid envelopes, they are scanned and entered into their accounts online with the store name, date, total, payment type and expense category. Users can also send in email receipts or upload receipts themselves for a complete receipt archive. Business cards are scanned and uploaded with the data from the front and back of each card. Mail-In plans start at $9.95 per month, but use of the Shoeboxed website is free and includes comparable features to expensive offline software solutions in the market.

Other features of Shoeboxed:

No scanners or software upgrades required
Export receipts to Quicken, Excel, CSV, PDF expense report
Import business card contacts to Outlook, Salesforce, LinkedIn, and other digital address book solutions
Free catch-up scanning for receipt and business card backlogs

About TaxACT

TaxACT is the pioneer of totally free federal tax preparation software and online services. Dedicated to providing taxpayers with a complete Web-based tax resource for more than a decade, TaxACTOnline.com is the 2nd most visited destination for tax preparation services.¹ Designed by CPAs, accountants, and seasoned software programmers, TaxACT makes preparing taxes electronically possible for everyone for little to no-cost – no restrictions, no fine print.

About 2nd Story Software, Inc.

2nd Story Software, a privately held company founded in 1998, is critically acclaimed as being a leader in developing and marketing affordable tax preparation software and Web-based services directly to consumers. The comprehensive suite of TaxACT products continues to empower its users to devise well-informed tax strategies with ease, while looking out for the cost-conscious. More information regarding the TaxACT product line may be found by visiting www.TaxACT.com.

TaxACT® — Your year End Tax Planning Guide

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:29:08 GMT

Create Your Tax Savings Strategy Fast and Free with TaxACT® 2008 Preview Products

Cedar Rapids, IA – October 01, 2008 — 2nd Story Software, Inc., developers of TaxACT® software and pioneer of free federal tax preparation software and services for more than a decade, announces the immediate release of TaxACT® 2008 Preview products – now available through December 31, 2008.

TaxACT.com is the only Web-based tax planning and preparation solution to offer taxpayers a year-round solution – providing up-to-date insight to complex tax laws, planning opportunities, and potential pitfalls to avoid based on recent tax law changes and pending legislation before Congress. As part of a comprehensive tax planning strategy, taxpayers can use TaxACT Preview Editions (Standard or Deluxe) at no-cost to forecast their federal and state income tax refund or liability amounts.

TaxACT Preview Editions outline tax-savings strategies tailored to your personal tax situation, which can be implemented prior to the end of the year - helping you to save money on your taxes. Both Standard and Deluxe Editions include complex forms, such as forms for Business Income, Capital Gains, Rental Property, Itemized Deductions, Depreciation, and much more. Additionally, consumers can choose between two platforms: TaxACT Online (over-the-Web) or TaxACT software (a download file that installs to your hard drive).

Backed by a 100% Accuracy Guarantee, TaxACT Standard is completely free to taxpayers who want to prepare, print and e-file a personal 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ federal income tax return. Whether you claim the standard deduction or use the Deduction Examiner™ to ensure the biggest refund possible, TaxACT Standard's straightforward language, extensive reference tools, and auto-check for completion make preparing taxes online fast, easy and reliable.

The TaxACT Deluxe Online Edition, normally $ 9.95 when you choose to print or e-file a federal return, is packed with addition help and guidance – now just $7.95 for those who register and take advantage of TaxACT's Early Bird Special.

Deluxe Preview is a powerful tax planning service that enables taxpayers the ability to easily perform end-of-year tax planning for both their federal and state taxes with the TaxACT State Planner feature. Other Deluxe-only features include access to: a College Student Financial Aid Worksheet, additional calculators and reports, as well as more in-depth help features and guidance systems including: Donation Assistant™, a non-cash donation calculator powered by "MONEY - For Your Used Clothing"™ and TaxTutor Guides powered by America's all-time best selling tax guide, J.K. Lasser's™ "Your Income Tax Guide" by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

About TaxACT

TaxACT is the pioneer of totally free federal tax preparation software and online services. Dedicated to providing taxpayers with a complete Web-based tax resource for more than a decade, TaxACTOnline.com is the 2nd most visited destination for tax preparation services.(1) Designed by CPAs, accountants, and seasoned software programmers, TaxACT makes preparing taxes electronically possible for everyone for little to no-cost – no restrictions, no fine print.

About 2nd Story Software, Inc.

(2) According to month-by-month aggregate data contained in Hitwise® audience measurement week end-reports for the Business & Finance - Accountancy Category, which details the traffic share of the top tax software titles during the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 primary tax seasons, TaxACT Online ranked second in the percent of traffic it received as compared to other Web-based tax preparation services monitored. More information regarding Hitwise may be viewed by visiting www.Hitwise.com.

2nd Story Software, Inc., company and product logos, TaxACT and TaxACT Online, among others are registered trademarks of 2nd Story Software. Other party trademarks are the property of their respective owners and should be treated as such. Prices are subject to change without any prior notice. As a practical note, taxpayers are encouraged to consult a legal or tax professional when in doubt. TaxACT provides general guidance and not legal or specific tax advice. Information in this release has been verified as of October 1, 2008. More information regarding TaxACT's 100% Accuracy Guarantee may be found at http://www.taxact.com/company/company_aguarantee.asp.

TaxACT® Announces the Launch of It's Store on Amazon.com

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:21:28 GMT

Cedar Rapids, IA – January 23, 2008 – 2nd Story Software®, Inc., developers of TaxACT® and pioneers of totally free federal tax preparation software, announces the launch of its online store on Amazon.com for the 2007 tax season.

With the number of tax preparation software options available, consumers can become overwhelmed when trying to decide which option is going to best meet their needs. Amazon customers shopping TaxACT's Amazon Store will benefit from having a single online destination to research their options prior to purchasing tax software. By TaxACT becoming an Amazon merchant, more consumers can become familiar with the value and added ease TaxACT provides - including a completely free tax software option(1) TaxACT Standard.

About TaxACT

Dedicated to providing consumers with a complete Web-based tax resource for a decade, TaxACTOnline.com is the 2nd most visited online destination for tax preparation services.(2) Designed to make preparing taxes electronically possible for everyone for little to no-cost, TaxACT was the first to offer free federal electronic tax preparation, printing and electronic filing services directly to all American taxpayers.

About 2nd Story Software, Inc.

2nd Story Software, a privately held company founded in 1998, is critically acclaimed as being a leader in developing and marketing affordable tax preparation software and Web-based services directly to consumers. The comprehensive suite of TaxACT products continues to empower its users to devise well-informed tax strategies with ease, while looking out for the cost-conscious. More information regarding 2nd Story and the TaxACT product line may be found by visiting www.TaxACT.com.

(1) Shipping and Handling fees may apply. (2) According to collective week end-reports released by Hitwise™ during the 2004, 2005, 2006 primary tax seasons, TaxACT Online ranked second in the percentage of traffic it received as compared to other monitored Web-based tax preparation services. More information regarding Hitwise may be viewed by visiting www.hitwise.com.

2nd Story Software, Inc., company and product logos, TaxACT and TaxACT Online, among others, are registered trademarks of 2nd Story Software. Other party trademarks or service marks are the property of their respective owners and should be treated as such.

As a practical note, taxpayers are encouraged to consult a legal or tax professional if in doubt. TaxACT provides general guidance and not legal or specific tax advice.

New TaxACT® 2007 – Here to Help You Do Your Taxes!

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:25:04 GMT

Cedar Rapids, IA – January 8, 2008 – 2nd Story Software®, Inc., developers of TaxACT® and pioneers of totally free federal tax preparation software, announces the release of TaxACT Standard and Deluxe Editions for the 2007 tax season. Taxpayers using TaxACT Standard can prepare, print and e-file their federal return today for free. For the fastest refund, TaxACT customers who opt to use direct deposit and e-file can rest easy knowing no other method will help them to get a faster tax refund - in as few as 8 days.(1)

"TaxACT Standard continues to be a value leader in tax preparation software for taxpayers – making it free for everyone to prepare, print and e-file a federal return. This season our principal focus for improving TaxACT Deluxe reflects our desire to deliver a total tax solution. For the Deluxe Edition, we've expanded life event help topics and incorporated additional guidance and search features - giving taxpayers a greater ability to prepare their own tax return with ease." says Lance Dunn, CPA and President of 2nd Story Software, Inc.

"No matter how comprehensive we believe TaxACT's design to be, some taxpayers will have more in-depth, very specific tax questions – unique to their tax situation. Our solution is one-on-one tax help provided by our in-house tax experts who stand ready to provide taxpayers with the guidance they need to file their return with confidence. Our new TaxPayer Support^TM service offers tax guidance for both federal and state issues." (2)

TaxACT users have the added assurance of knowing that TaxACT's TaxPayer Support is not governed by the time it may take to answer a question or by limiting the number of questions users may ask. No other leading tax software package offers unlimited tax help to its customers at no additional cost – making this a unique and revolutionary feature.

TaxACT 2007 Products

Both Standard and Deluxe Editions include complex forms, such as forms for Business Income, Capital Gains, Rental Property, itemized deductions, depreciation, and much more.

TaxACT State Editions fully integrate with the Standard and Deluxe Editions, ensuring that the data from your federal forms automatically transfers onto state forms – saving time and reducing the opportunity for mistakes.

TaxACT 2007 Standard

The pioneer of totally free federal tax-preparation software and online services, TaxACT Standard is free of restrictions. All American taxpayers can use TaxACT Standard to prepare, print, and e-file a federal return completely free-of-charge at www.TaxACT.com. TaxACT Standard includes the forms, schedules and worksheets filers need to prepare 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ Individual Income Tax Returns. With its user-friendly, interview-like format, TaxACT is designed to make tax preparation fast, easy and reliable by providing extensive reference tools and automatic alerts that meticulously inspect returns for errors, incomplete information and omissions.

TaxACT 2007 Deluxe

TaxACT's Deluxe Edition provides access to more in-depth help and support features, advanced calculators, reports, extra advice and guidance systems. Some new features exclusively available in Deluxe 2007 include:

New! TaxACT TaxPayer Support. Doing your taxes is stressful - especially when you're stumped by a tax question. Many do-it-yourselfers need the guidance of a tax specialist to walk them through a specific tax situation. Via phone or e-mail, TaxACT TaxPayer Support provides Deluxe and State purchasers access to a highly qualified panel of TaxACT experts at no additional cost.
Enhanced! Life Events Guidance. Life can turn on a dime. Get the direction you need to manage the events that have an impact on your unique tax situation. Pinpoint the deductions and credits you're eligible to receive this tax season with even greater precision while spending less time preparing your tax return. This season, TaxACT expands its guidance and tax consequences for 15 major New Life Event categories, including: Bankruptcy, Child Care Expenses, Community Property Sales, First Job/First Time Filing, Foreclosure/Abandonment, Foreign Nationals, Hosting an Exchange Student, Major Illness, Military, Multiple State Filings, Non-business Bad Debt, Purchase A Vehicle, Received an IRS Notice, Received Tip Income and Sold A Home.
New! "Learn More" Self-help Feature. Get answers to your questions faster! Help is on the way with the new "Learn More" link on Quick Q&A Topics.

About TaxACT

Dedicated to providing consumers with a complete Web-based tax resource for a decade, TaxACTOnline.com is the 2nd most visited online destination for tax preparation services.(3) Designed to make preparing taxes electronically possible for everyone for little to no-cost, TaxACT was the first to offer free federal electronic tax preparation, printing and electronic filing services directly to all American taxpayers.

About 2nd Story Software, Inc.

2nd Story Software, a privately held company founded in 1998, is critically acclaimed as being a leader in developing and marketing affordable tax preparation software and Web-based services directly to consumers. The comprehensive suite of TaxACT products continues to empower its users to devise well-informed tax strategies with ease, while looking out for the cost-conscious. More information regarding 2nd Story and the TaxACT product line may be found by visiting www.TaxACT.com.

¹(1) In general, the IRS estimates it takes 8-15 days for taxpayers who use e-file and direct deposit to receive their federal tax refund from an accepted tax return. Some IRS processing delays may occur for tax year 2007. (2) TaxPayer Support is available during primary tax season Customer Service hours. As with all products and services, 2nd Story reserves the right to change pricing and service parameters. Depending on the amount of research needed to respond, Tax Support response time may take 24 to 48 hours. TaxPayer Support is available to TaxACT Deluxe and State users via email and phone, and to TaxACT Standard users via e-mail only. (3) According to collective week end-reports released by Hitwise™ during the 2004, 2005, 2006 primary tax seasons, TaxACT Online ranked second in the percentage of traffic it received as compared to other monitored Web-based tax preparation services. More information regarding Hitwise may be viewed by visiting www.hitwise.com.

As a practical note, taxpayers are encouraged to consult a legal or tax professional if in doubt. TaxACT provides general guidance and not legal or specific tax advice.