Use this simple tool to get a jump on your taxes and find out the bad--or good--news early.

by Chrystie Terrie, special to PC World
October 13, 1998, 5:13 p.m. PT

Of course you wonder about your income taxes. Will I owe money, or will I get a juicy refund this year?

Now Intuit, the personal finance software provider, makes it possible to find out for free with its Tax Estimator site, available in conjunction with Quicken.com. Tax Estimator helps you preview your tax situation by answering just a few questions.

The plain-English instructions and easy-to-understand steps make this site simple to use, but it's flexible enough to account for variables such as capital gains, investment income, and adjustments in order to calculate your tax estimate as accurately as possible. Tax Estimator also helps you identify potential tax credits, and can help you determine if changes to your W-4 form could optimize your tax situation.

The software can estimate taxes for both the 1998 and 1999 tax years, and will project future estimated tax payments as well.

Based on the figures I gave Tax Estimator, it told me that instead of owing money I should be getting a tidy refund. And for those who normally owe money, this can be a great way to find out how much, and make plans before April 15.

Overall, Tax Estimator is a helpful tool for determining your tax situation well in advance of the payment deadline--and of course, you can't beat the price.

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