The right tax software 2017 is worth the money: According to the Federal Statistical Office, the average tax refund is more than 800 euros when you submit a tax return. If this sum is compared with the average processing time, one arrives at a quite interesting hourly rate. Thanks to the current control software, no one today has to bother with paper forms. But for the income tax declaration on the PC there are many possibilities. What is the best control software 2017?
There were only two
The cheapest way to electronic tax returns to the tax office is via Elster Online, the free offer of the financial authorities. However, this is not an electronic filling aid with little explanations. The control software ElsterOnline is therefore suitable for experienced users and especially simple control cases.
Control software 2017: The test candidates in the overview
For all other users, PC control programs or a paid online tax return is the better way. But here, too, there are exceptions, because a control software is aimed at the masses. Anyone who earns money as an entrepreneur or manages complex assets is better off with a tax consultant. The same applies to taxpayers who are too expensive to spend their time on taxation.
Picture gallery
Much wrong can not be made anyway with the software purchase. With the current version, the Freiburg-based manufacturer Lexware leaves the development of the two taxpacks "Taxman" and "QuickSteuer" to the direct competitor Akademische Arbeitsgemeinschaft. So, if you take it carefully, there are only two providers of control software 2017: the Duo Lexware / Academic and Buhl Data with "tax 2017" and the "WISO Steuer-Sparbuch 2017"
Advanced user guidance
Within the two warehouses, the control calculation is identical - no matter what is on the packaging of the control software. There are only differences in equipment, surface design and user support. Control programs can be divided roughly into three categories: for the standard versions from 10 euros onwards, the supplementary programs for the self-employed, some of the reference works and some - rather special - sections of the tax declaration are missing.
The medium class from 25 euros, on the other hand, is fully equipped. Special variants are available for this purpose, for example to pensioners, landlords or self-employed persons. The price surcharge is justified by additional advisors or functions. The tax calculation itself, however, is the same as the middle class.
The main aspects of user management are the same for all programs: on the left the navigation bar, on the right the program help, in the center the input of the control data. The preselection of relevant areas reduces the scope of the tax declaration. During the data input, the interview (question-answer) has prevailed. The details are then queried successively. For almost all applications, the sections can be flipped or directly access the forms.
The latter is often faster with simple data such as personal data. The Trio Taxman, TaxSponse and QuickTime controls have been particularly successful: Predefined menus and selection boxes reduce the amount of input required. In addition, the tax interview can be additionally limited in some sections. In the case of complex issues such as contributions to capital or changing locations, assistants help. In contrast to the WISO control scarf, the control slider is directly assigned to the individual input areas as a planning instrument. Users can immediately answer the question as to which tax effect would have a higher cost.
In WISO tax incentives, the most important is the effective index search. It facilitates the chaotic illuminating of the stack by simply looking for terms such as cleaning woman, chimney sweep or dentist. The references to current tax changes, on the other hand, might be more pronounced. Only in the case of the tax clearance declaration and STEUER-easy are they easy to recognize.
In the "Videos" section, WISO Steuer-Sparbuch was able to expand its leading position. The video store now contains nearly 150 clips on tax issues. With the new video browser, videos can be searched and played for the first time.
The input of our taxation did not pose a serious headache for any of the candidates. Rather, it is a matter of comfort. Taxman & Co made a particularly good impression: With the activity expert, it was easy to find the first place of work in the case of changing locations. This ensures that the mileage allowance is fully exhausted and the catering pensions are not given away.
The changed game rules for travel expenses are implemented with every software. Invoicing is involved in the relevant locations, such as out-of-office activities, profit-making or training costs. For all applications, a plausibility check checks the running inputs. Discrepancies, such as the number of credit cards on the date or a questionable relationship between salary, taxes and social contributions, are generally discovered. Taxman & Co. likes the decent implementation of the check on the right side of the screen.
The biggest differences between the control tools are found on the sub-levels. This is true at least for the middle class, since entry-level products are rather slender. Taxman is interesting for freelancers and self-employed. You can optionally use the integrated profit calculation or the accompanying professional programs for the compulsory income-surplus calculation (EÜR). The integrated variant is tailored to commercial beginners.
Comfortable data input
However, the lack of clarity is noticeable when the number of documents increases. The included programs are stripped versions of "Lexware travel expenses" and "Lexware account holders". They are a good starting point for start-ups, with a restriction: The results of the profit determination are to be transferred manually into the tax declaration.
The taxpayers' declaration has to offer a commented separate profit determination. As with the WISO tax package, the figures can be transferred to the tax declaration at the touch of a button. However, an additional travel expense account is missing both programs.
Battle only at minor locations
With the technical innovations of the tested control software 2017, the WISO Steuer-Sparbuch has the nose ahead this year. For the first time, users can decide for themselves whether they can settle the tax declaration on the PC, via a web browser or with the mobile "Steuer: App 2017". For this purpose, the personal tax data are stored in the cloud and are then available across platforms. This is perhaps not very convenient for everyone. The tax deduction can be done continuously by the way - be it in front of the TV or in the recliner on the terrace.
Taxpayment and Taxman can only counter the improvements in detail and the new document manager. This means that relevant invoices and contracts can be collected and assigned during the tax year. The actual "killerfeature" - the content recognition by OCR - did not work at the time of the test yet and will be updated later via the Internet.
The best control software for 2017 does not exist. There are more or less suitable solutions for individual tax cases. In addition, subjective influences and habits play a major role in product selection. All counterparties in the entry and middle class are closely related. Decisive for the result were the equipment with reference works, work aids, interfaces and other conveniences. In the middle class, the WISO tax package is the winner. It convinced with regard to equipment and flexibility: over many interfaces, existing data can be imported from commercial programs. There were additional points for the mobile strategy. Taxman and the Taxpayers agree to the processing of the tax, but in the case of integration, cuts are to be accepted. Why e.g. Lexware offers a phone support, but does not accept any e-mail inquiries?
Tax declaration at the Tablet
Conclusion: control software 2017 - the test winner
In the entry class, QuickScale makes the race. Compared to the slightly better equipped tax 2017, the software can score with a more comfortable user guide. This is balanced overall. The visually similar STEUEReasy is more strongly reduced in the areas.
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