No More Tax Software for Win 98/ME

[Jerry Martin]

Hello:

In recent years there has been only one U.S. tax software package that
continued to support Windows 98/ME: TaxACT from 2nd Story Software (
http://www.taxact.com/ ).

In May of 2009, I asked the company if they planned to continue supporting
Win 98/ME in the upcoming 2009 edition. They replied that "Currently, we are
still planning to support Windows 98/ ME in the 2009 edition."

However, they have just released the 2009 Preview Edition and the systems
requirements now states: "Operating System: Windows 2000, XP, Vista."

I emailed TaxACT customer support about this change and they replied today
that: "During the development of the 2009 TaxACT preview edition, the
decision was made to no longer support Windows 98 / ME."

So, sadly, there are no more U.S. tax software packages that support these
older versions of Windows.

Cheers,
Jerry

[J V]

Post by Jerry Martin
In recent years there has been only one U.S. tax software
package that continued to support Windows 98/ME: TaxACT
from 2nd Story Software ( http://www.taxact.com/ ).
In May of 2009, I asked the company if they planned to
continue supporting Win 98/ME in the upcoming 2009 edition.
They replied that "Currently, we are still planning to
support Windows 98/ ME in the 2009 edition."
However, they have just released the 2009 Preview Edition
Windows 2000, XP, Vista."
I emailed TaxACT customer support about this change and
they replied today that: "During the development of the
2009 TaxACT preview edition, the decision was made to no
longer support Windows 98 / ME."
So, sadly, there are no more U.S. tax software packages
that support these older versions of Windows.
Cheers,
Jerry

What does a tax preparation package do that requires something in XP that is not in 98?

[Tim Slattery]

Post by J V

Post by Jerry Martin
So, sadly, there are no more U.S. tax software packages
that support these older versions of Windows.
Cheers,
Jerry

What does a tax preparation package do that requires something in XP that is not in 98?

Nothing in particular, I'm sure. I'm also sure that Win98/ME users
were a tiny part of their user base, and that they figured supporting
those users was costing them considerably more than they were getting
back.

Just because they don't say that the package works in the older
versions doesn't necessarily mean it won't. It means they haven't gone
out of their way to make sure it will, they haven't tested it in the
old versions, and if you have a problem running it on the older
versions, they won't help. But it might work anyway.

[webster72n]

Post by Tim Slattery

Post by J V

Post by Jerry Martin
So, sadly, there are no more U.S. tax software packages
that support these older versions of Windows.
Cheers,
Jerry

What does a tax preparation package do that requires something in XP that is not in 98?

Nothing in particular, I'm sure. I'm also sure that Win98/ME users
were a tiny part of their user base, and that they figured supporting
those users was costing them considerably more than they were getting
back.
Just because they don't say that the package works in the older
versions doesn't necessarily mean it won't. It means they haven't gone
out of their way to make sure it will, they haven't tested it in the
old versions, and if you have a problem running it on the older
versions, they won't help. But it might work anyway.

If WinME is not included in the requirements, it will automatically reject
the program, will it not? It will be up to an actual user to test it,
because I don't use the software myself and cannot try it out.
Best of luck and success. <H>.

Post by Tim Slattery
--
Tim Slattery
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

[Tim Slattery]

Post by webster72n
If WinME is not included in the requirements, it will automatically reject
the program, will it not? It will be up to an actual user to test it,
because I don't use the software myself and cannot try it out.

The software's installation routine might detect the OS and refuse to
install on Win98 or ME, but that's not likely. The OS would not reject
an application.

[J V]

Post by Tim Slattery
The software's installation routine might detect the OS and
refuse to install on Win98 or ME, but that's not likely.
The OS would not reject an application.

I have tried installing ostensibly non-Win98 programs over
the years, sometimes just to see if they would work and
sometimes because I didn't know they were XP only. For me,
they have always failed, often with a message that did not
identify the problem.

That happened to me with Corel Draw 12, which dates from
2003. I wondered what it did that made it XP only. If it
only crashed ocassionally, that might not bad. However, I
never found any way to get around the block on the install
process.

[Greg]

Post by J V

Post by Tim Slattery
The software's installation routine might detect the OS and
refuse to install on Win98 or ME, but that's not likely.
The OS would not reject an application.

I have tried installing ostensibly non-Win98 programs over
the years, sometimes just to see if they would work and
sometimes because I didn't know they were XP only. For me,
they have always failed, often with a message that did not
identify the problem.
That happened to me with Corel Draw 12, which dates from
2003. I wondered what it did that made it XP only. If it
only crashed ocassionally, that might not bad. However, I
never found any way to get around the block on the install
process.

There is a program that may or may not let it work on windows 98se.
It called KernelEx-4.0-Final2

However, it is open source and some people claim if you use that, it
like running windows xp original without any updates. However, I
think it more like running windows xp sp2 without any further updates.
JMO

Some programs work and other programs don't.

I don't know if it safe to use firefox 3.5.3 and KernelEx on secure
sites or not.

Greg

[Robert Macy]

Post by Greg

Post by J V

Post by Tim Slattery
The software's installation routine might detect the OS and
refuse to install on Win98 or ME, but that's not likely.
The OS would not reject an application.

I have tried installing ostensibly non-Win98 programs over
the years, sometimes just to see if they would work and
sometimes because I didn't know they were XP only.  For me,
they have always failed, often with a  message that did not
identify the problem.
That happened to me with Corel Draw 12, which dates from
2003.  I wondered what it did that made it XP only.  If it
only crashed ocassionally, that might not bad. However, I
never found any way to get around the block on the install
process.

There is a program that may or may not let it work on windows 98se.
It called KernelEx-4.0-Final2  
However, it is open source and some people claim if you use that,  it
like running windows xp original without any updates.    However,  I
think it more like running windows xp sp2 without any further updates.
JMO
Some programs work and other programs don't.
I don't know if it safe to use firefox 3.5.3 and KernelEx on secure
sites or not.    
Greg

I just use the cheapest WinXP Pro I could find, install it, run stuff,
and then let the license expire, until I need it again. I just
reserve about 5GB on the disk for it.

[webster72n]

Post by Tim Slattery

Post by webster72n
If WinME is not included in the requirements, it will automatically reject
the program, will it not? It will be up to an actual user to test it,
because I don't use the software myself and cannot try it out.

The software's installation routine might detect the OS and refuse to
install on Win98 or ME, but that's not likely. The OS would not reject
an application.

My Windows Vista does and so does ME, if my memory serves me correctly, but
there's always the possibility of being mistaken.
I definitely will not insist on being right. <H>.

Post by Tim Slattery
--
Tim Slattery
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

[Julie]

Turbo Tax is dropping their support of Windows 2000 this year also.

Post by Jerry Martin
In recent years there has been only one U.S. tax software package that
continued to support Windows 98/ME: TaxACT from 2nd Story Software (
http://www.taxact.com/ ).
In May of 2009, I asked the company if they planned to continue supporting
Win 98/ME in the upcoming 2009 edition. They replied that "Currently, we are
still planning to support Windows 98/ ME in the 2009 edition."
However, they have just released the 2009 Preview Edition and the systems
requirements now states: "Operating System: Windows 2000, XP, Vista."
I emailed TaxACT customer support about this change and they replied today
that: "During the development of the 2009 TaxACT preview edition, the
decision was made to no longer support Windows 98 / ME."
So, sadly, there are no more U.S. tax software packages that support these
older versions of Windows.
Cheers,
Jerry

[MEB]

Post by Jerry Martin
In recent years there has been only one U.S. tax software package that
continued to support Windows 98/ME: TaxACT from 2nd Story Software (
http://www.taxact.com/ ).
In May of 2009, I asked the company if they planned to continue supporting
Win 98/ME in the upcoming 2009 edition. They replied that "Currently, we are
still planning to support Windows 98/ ME in the 2009 edition."
However, they have just released the 2009 Preview Edition and the systems
requirements now states: "Operating System: Windows 2000, XP, Vista."
I emailed TaxACT customer support about this change and they replied today
that: "During the development of the 2009 TaxACT preview edition, the
decision was made to no longer support Windows 98 / ME."
So, sadly, there are no more U.S. tax software packages that support these
older versions of Windows.
Cheers,
Jerry

Not exactly what the discussion entails, however, there are other
options [for 2008/2009 though will be reflected for 2009/2010]:

free-file
Free File is the fast, easy, and free way to prepare and e-file your
federal taxes online.
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

e-file
http://www.irs.gov/efile/index.html

Forms
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

Its a bit early in the tax preparation year for 2009/2010
[individuals], so reviews for and 9X/ME capable preparation programs may
come more towards the applicable time period.

http://financialsoft.about.com/od/otherfinancialsoftware/a/Accurate_Taxes.htm

One can still use the various offered online calculators [like offered
on the tax prep sites] in conjunction with manual paper entry, or the
full online offerings, or you may find some shareware/new-ware
applications offered [like for this year 2008/2009 tax time].