TaxGeek 2006

Your Open Source Solution to Tax Time [screenshot here]

TaxGeek is a Mozilla-based US income tax program that includes Form 1040, Schedules A, B, C, C-EZ, D, E, K-1 (1065), SE (Short and Long), W2, Form 8880, Form 8863, Form 3903, and Form 2441 with access to most other files as PDFs. It is also intended to be extensible so that developers can easily add other forms that are needed without affecting the existing file formats and stored data.

TaxGeek will do all the calculations required in the forms it supports. It can use tax-tables, tax-formula, and the qualified dividends and capital gains methods. It has 95% of the supporting worksheets for 1040 implemented and working and many of the supporting worksheets for schedules and forms that are supported. Additionally, TaxGeek has a context-based repository of PDFs of all the commonly used IRS forms that aren't officially supported. These forms are clearly marked for identification by developers of what needs to happen next.

TaxGeek will also create PDFs of all the supported Forms so that you can not only do your taxes, but also print them and send them in to the IRS. PDF creation support is only possible with the installation of Perl PDF::Reuse. At this point, e-filing is *not* supported. Communication with the IRS has proven their firm committment to corporate tax programs and an unwillingness to work with Open Source projects. But this may change if sufficient demand emerges as they do publish the e-file API.

Frankly I still find it pathetic that the IRS doesn't allow you to e-file for free. It doesn't make any sense. It would save them money. But no. Instead I do it online, print it, mail it, and they have to re-enter the data.