Last Minute Tax Tech

If you haven't done your taxes already, this weekend is a good time to get it done. And you can do them yourself with the help of technology. CNet.com shows off some good programs to get it done.

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Software: When you do your taxes, most people look to one of these two programs.

TurboTax 2007 introduces an Audit Risk Meter; integration with It'sDeductible to manage charitable contributions; Live Community support; improved interview.

H&R Block TaxCut adds help for those in the military; includes free audit support for electronic filing; adds weekend technical help to its free support; costs less than Intuit's TurboTax Premier. The bottom line: H&R Block TaxCut is relatively affordable and well-designed tax-prep software, although we found TurboTax's interview to be more direct and thorough.

Scanners: Scanning receipts and other paperwork is a breeze with these scanners.

NeatReceipts is a compact, intelligently designed sheet-fed scanner almost makes it a pleasure to generate expense reports and calculate itemized income tax deductions.

Personal Finance Software: You might get an unpleasant shock come tax time if you don’t track your personal finances all year long.

Quicken 2008 has a huge feature set that can balance your checkbook, pay your bills, track your stocks (including stock options and other vehicles), calculate your mortgage payments, budget for your retirement, integrate with tax planning products, and so on. It has more features than anyone can use, but I continue to be surprised by the weird financial transactions it can handle.

Mint is not a full-fledged personal finance product, but people keep comparing it with Quicken. However, it's a simple--too simple--personal financial analysis tool. It will tell you where your cash is going and how to save money, but it doesn't handle stocks, bills, long-term planning, or taxes. It’s a good supplement, but not a replacement for Quicken.

Backing up your Data: Don’t forget to save all your data! You never know when you might need it.

Lexar JumpDrive TouchGuard gives new meaning to the term thumb drive by installing a fingerprint scanner in a USB flash drive, allowing you to protect documents and sensitive Web site login information. Forget carrying around a scrap of paper with usernames and passwords. With a swipe of your finger on the JumpDrive TouchGuard, you can log in to up to 200 Web sites.

LaCie's Rugged All-Terrain portable hard drive (120 GB) is an all-around winner: it's fast, it's durable, and it boasts multiple connection options. This belongs in your laptop bag. The rubber bumper and the scratch-protected aluminum case keep your LaCie Rugged All-Terrain drive looking good and working hard. It's fast and quiet and comes with backup software. It’s also an CNET Editor’s Choice