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How to save on tax-prep software

There's no reason to wait until April to submit your returns when there are some great tax-prep software deals out there right now.

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Mary Knox Merrill / The Christian Science Monitor
Tax season: A brochure provides instructions for filling out a Massachusetts W-2 form at the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance office at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston.

It's that time of year again. No, not the Super Bowl (although, that's coming up too). It's tax time, and there's no reason to wait until April to submit your returns when you've got our picks in the week's best software deals. Score a Best Buy gift card with H&R Block, Turbo Tax bundled with Quicken, and more.

H&R Block 2016 Tax Software for PC & Mac
Store: Newegg
Discount: Extra 30% off via code "USAVE30"

If you prefer using H&R Block's expertise to file your taxes, now's the time to score the software. You'll save an extra 30% off select H&R Block 2016 tax software downloads for Windows and Mac from Newegg via the code above. Prices start around $17, but one of our top picks is the H&R Block Deluxe + State 2016 for PC or Mac for $20.99, a savings of $5.
Of note, Best Buy also offers downloads of the H&R Block 2016 Deluxe Federal Tax Software for Windows or Mac for $19.99. Also available are downloads of the H&R Block 2016 Deluxe Federal + State Tax Software for Windows or Mac. Both items come bundled with a $10 Best Buy gift card and your choice of a $20 Shutterfly Credit or Shutterfly 8" x 8" Photo Book. (The bundled items appear in cart automatically.)
Best Buy also offers physical copies with the same freebies. Choose in-store pickup to dodge the $5.49 shipping fee.

TaxAct 2016 Online Federal / State Tax Prep
Store: TaxAct
Price: Free
Lowest By: $15

Anyone who is filing a 1040EZ or 1040A can do so for free with this TaxAct 2016 Online Federal and State Tax Preparation. You'll save $15 over similar services elsewhere. It includes seven years of access to your return and free phone support.
Of note, you have the option to import a prior year's info for $10.

TurboTax Home & Business 2016 for PC / Mac
Store: eBay
Price: $57.95
Shipping: $2.95 s&h
Lowest By: $9

If you prefer a physical copy of your tax software instead of a download, the TurboTax Home & Business 2016 for Windows and Mac is a solid pick. It's made for those filing personal or self-employed taxes. It includes both federal and state preparation with a free federal e-file. This software purports to flag you if anything in your return might trigger an audit, helping to ensure you prepare your taxes correctly.

TurboTax Deluxe + State 2016 PC / Mac Bundle
Store: Amazon
Price: $39.86
Lowest By: $34

Maximize over 350 deductions and credits easily with a download of Intuit TurboTax Deluxe + State 2016 for Windows or Mac. Even better, this tax prep software comes bundled with a 1-year trial of Quicken Starter Edition 2017 for Windows. (Physical copies are also available at the same price with free shipping for Prime members.) This software purports to ensure accurate prep through automatic import of financial data, W-2s, investment and mortgage info, and last year's tax data. It includes five free federal e-files and one download of a TurboTax State product.
No interest in the Quicken software? Staples offers physical copies of the TurboTax software alone for $39.89. Plus, Staples Rewards members qualify for free shipping. (Not a member? Click here to sign up for free.)

Liberty Tax Deluxe Service
Store: Liberty Tax Service
Price: $27.97
Lowest By: $12

Score tax prep from Liberty Tax for 30% off with this deal. You'll save $12 on the Liberty Tax Service Deluxe, which includes expert tax support. Best for business owners, you can report interest and ordinary income. It includes filings for Form 1040, 4562, 8829, and Schedule C.

This story originally appeared on DealNews.

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