For the 2010 tax season, H&R Block has upped its usefulness by giving its app for iPhone and iPod Touch an overhaul. The new version, called Tax Central, is available as a new free download, rather than as an update to last year’s H&R Block Tax Answers.
Tax Central offers many of the same features as Tax Answers, but in a slicker interface, this time using icons rather than a boring list format (taxes are dull enough!). Holdovers from Tax Answers include H&R Block’s glossary of tax terms, the tax quiz and the standard H&R Block location finder, but I was pleased to see the new features in Tax Central. One upgrade is the tax estimator. While estimators are just that, the slider-bar interface makes it easy for everyone with a simple return to see roughly how much Uncle Sam is returning to their bank account (or how much they can expect to shell out).
Tax Central can also create a customized tax checklist based on personal needs. By answering a series of yes or no questions, Tax Central determines what paperwork you’ll need to prepare your taxes, and displays the appropriate deadlines for the remainder of the year (such as the estimated quarterly tax deadlines).
The help center has changed, too. Gone is the Q&A feature, but in its place is an answer guide of some of the most-asked questions. Added is a video gallery, but users will sort through the H&R Block advertisements to see the actual educational clips. The “News & Updates” section keeps users up-to-date on tax code changes, and provides articles with filing tips and tricks. These sections, coupled with the glossary, make Tax Central a relatively comprehensive tax companion.
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