Top 10 Intuit Quicken Alternatives

tenalternatives.net writes: Quicken is Americas #1 personal finance software. Make money management easy. Take control of your personal finances. Quicken makes it easy to manage your spending, stay on top of day-to-day finances, and stick to a budget. Intuit Quicken is Commercial application which compatible with Windows. We have searched on the web for the most suitable alternatives of Intuit Quicken. Here are the top applications which have same functionality with Intuit Quicken

Top 10 Intuit Quicken Alternatives :

                             

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You're about to find the most suitable Intuit Quicken alternatives. We have collect some data on the web to provide a useful information for you to consider the best Intuit Quicken alternatives.

GnuCash

GnuCash is personal and small-business financial-accounting software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL and available for GNU/Linux, BSD, Solaris, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. 21 languages; Designed to be... GnuCash is Open Source Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Android.

Mint.com

Mint (US and Canada only!) brings all your financial accounts together online, automatically categorizes your transactions, lets you set budgets and helps you achieve your savings goals. Mint.com is Free Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Online, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad.

HomeBank

«HomeBank» is free software. Use it to manage your personal accounts. It is designed to easy to use. Analyse your finances in detail using powerful filtering tools and graphs. «HomeBank»... HomeBank is Open Source Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Symbian S60, BSD.

You Need A Budget

Personal home budget software built with Four Simple Rules to help you quickly gain control of your money, get out of debt, and reach your financial goals! You Need A Budget is Commercial Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, Android, iPhone.

CalendarBudget

The easiest way to track and forecast your wealth - using a calendar. Put all of your income and expenses on a calendar so its easy to see your daily balances, when bills are coming out, get reminders and see... CalendarBudget is Free Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Online, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet.

Manager

Manager is free accounting software for Windows, Mac and Linux. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with modules such as cashbook, invoicing, receivables, payables, taxes and... Manager is Free Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, Linux.

KMyMoney

KMyMoney is a personal finance manager for KDE. It enables users of open source operating systems to keep careful track of their personal finance by providing a broad array of financial features and tools. KMyMoney is Open Source Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, Linux.

MonkeyPeanuts.com

Manage multiple bank accounts from one dashboard It's free and anyone can join Supports all major US banks and credit cards Fast • Directly connects to your bank • Doesn’t use slow third party... MonkeyPeanuts.com is Free for personal use Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Online.

Projex Checkbook

Take charge of your personal finances with Checkbook, a lightweight personal finance application. You can be up and running in minutes with our setup tools, and import your banking transactions with a few... Projex Checkbook is Commercial Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, Linux.

Moneydance

Java-based money organizer very similar to Quicken. New version every year, minimal license fee gives you free upgrades for three years. Moneydance is Commercial Intuit Quicken alternative which compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, Linux.

We also provide comparison charts for consideration to determine which one is best for you.

Google trends graphs below can also be your consideration to determine the popularity of each alternative. Please see the following graphs from google trends to determine the top Intuit Quicken alternatives.

The above data we collect from various sources which very accurate. I hope the above information can help you to choose the best Intuit Quicken alternatives.

With Shutdown Averted, 6 Tax Moves to Make Now / Tips to manage tax changes caused by Washington's fiscal wrangling.

Richard Satran for DailyFinance writes:  Taxpayers last year stood helplessly at the edge of a fiscal cliff waiting for Congress to act on the budget. This year, the earlier resolution of the debt stalemate gives individuals time to plan.

People will need it. They will have to deal with significant changes put into effect at the start of this year in the deal that averted that earlier run toward the fiscal cliff. Despite vows by both parties to simplify things, the four-million-word tax code got heftier, as it does each year. "You really need to do year-end planning," says Gary DuBoff, managing director of CBIZ MHM. "You can't just stick your head in sand. There are so many changes in the law, you need to understand the potential tax implications."

In the weeks that remain in 2013, here are six steps you can take to manage the impact of this year's taxes due April 15:

1. Match gains and losses on your investments. This is always the biggest issue to handle by the end of the year, and this year, the stakes have been raised. The tax rate on long-term capital gains remains at 15 percent for all but the highest income bracket (20 percent now). If you plan to cash in on stock market gains, you might also want to come up with stocks that have lost money that you want to dump. You are allowed to deduct up to $3,000 in losses in a given year. But you can use tax losses to save more than that by taking gains and matching them with losses. So, for example, if you have a $50,000 gain, you can sell an equal amount in losing positions and avoid that large capital gain. It's the net amount that matters for tax purposes. Once you've recognized a loss, you can repurchase a stock if you think it still fits in your portfolio. The so-called wash rule lets you sell a stock to recognize a loss and repurchase it within 30 days. "Time is running out on that one for this year's taxes," DuBoff says.

2. Review dividends to make sure you get lower tax. Qualified dividends get treated the same way as capital gains. The rate remains 15 percent for most people, and increases to 20 percent on the top bracket. There is a holding period of 60 days to qualify for the lower rate on common stock, and 90 days for preferred stock. "This higher rate can really take a tax bite for higher-income people" says Christine Fahlund, senior financial planner for T. Rowe Price Investment Services. "Especially retired people who depend on investment income."

3. Manage your bracket. There are two big cutoffs in tax brackets that have the most impact. If you are close to either, you might have to look for ways to limit your income between now and the end of the year. One way is to hold off on taking a capital gain. If you are a contract or self-employed worker, you can hold off on billing for services.

"Figure out if you are at or near the threshold. And consider ways to defer and avoid recognizing income," Fahlund says. What are the biggest bracket concerns?

• Upper-income taxpayers will see the biggest change. For those with more than $400,000 in income ($450,000 for married couples), the tax rate rises to 39.6 percent from 35 percent. At the other end of the spectrum, nothing changes.
• The most important bracket is the one you hit at the $72,000 income level for married couples, or $36,000 for single filers. This is a significant level, especially for young people and those who are retired. It's the point at which your U.S. income tax rises 10 full percentage points -- the biggest single incremental gain on the tax charts -- going from 15 percent to 25 percent on income above that level. What's more, it's also the point where you begin paying taxes on dividends and long-term capital gains. Welcome to the middle class!

Since most deductions and credits need to be based on expenses incurred before the end of the year, now is the time to figure them out. (There are numerous smaller brackets where rates rise by between three and five percentage points. You can find them on IRS.gov.) Apart from putting off capital gains, you can contribute to a 529 college fund, donor-advised funds or qualified charities to keep income levels lower, Fahlund says. The college contributions can be revised in later tax years if the money is not used, she adds.

4. Maximize your IRA tax benefits. You have until the tax-filing deadline April 15 to contribute to an individual retirement account, but start planning before the year is up. The amount you can contribute to an IRA has increased $500 this year. It's now $5,500, or $6,500 if you are 50 or older. (The contributions are tax-deductible, for the most part, but the deductions can be limited if you have a workplace plan, depending on your income level.) As part of your year-end check, "make sure you are putting the maximum into workplace savings plans that have a company match," DuBoff says. That's free money.

5. Prepare for the so-called Medicare surtax. This is a new tax that will hit upper-income payers. It will tax net investment income, meaning dividends or capital gains, with an additional 3.8 percent on investment income for people who make over $200,000 if they are single, or $250,000 for married filers. If you are in this income bracket and plan to take capital gains, consider the impact of this new tax before you do. "Harvesting capital losses is a common year-end strategy, but it is more important this year to minimize the 3.8 percent Medicarepayroll tax on investment income," says financial planner Jeffrey Christakos of Westfield Wealth Management.

6. Figure out that messy alternative minimum tax so you can finally forget about it. This provision "hits particularly hard those taxpayers who have not done any tax planning," says Nina Olson, the IRS's National Taxpayer Advocate, in her annual report calling for its repeal. Getting it wrong can trigger fines and unexpected taxes. Congress took some action to soften the provision at the start of the year, effectively keeping the provision from hitting middle-income taxpayers.

What is this much-misunderstood tax provision? The AMT is a separate tax you must calculate that figures your tax without adding in often-used deductions. It was instituted decades ago as a way to limit the overuse of deductions. Starting this year, it will have an inflation index so that middle-income earners will be less vulnerable. But you may still need to figure it out on your taxes this year.

(The back-of-the-hand calculation on who pays: Everyone gets an AMT exemption on income of $51,900 for individuals and $80,800 for married joint filers. Then, you apply a rate of 26 percent if your income is below $179,000 or 28 percent if you make more.
if the calculation is more than the tax you figured on your old 1040, you must pay the difference.) The Tax Policy Center of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution estimates that 4 million people will still pay AMT, but the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 spared an estimated 23 million who would have paid under existing rules.

The AMT is complicated -- a 55-line calculation on your tax form. If you figure out that piece of your tax puzzle this year, you might not have to worry about it again, maybe ever, thanks to the new inflation index fix. It's a good thing to ask a tax adviser.

Do-it-yourselfers will be happy that electronic returns can actually make filing taxes easier. The online calculators help get you through some of the rough spots. But e-returns are difficult for those who itemize deductions. Consider getting a professional to help if that's your plan. Remember, there have been 4,680 changes to the tax code since 2008, or one per day, according to the Taxpayer Advocate's Office. That's a lot for an amateur to keep up with.

The IRS now has an immense amount of personal data on you, and it is starting to cross-check your personal charge card records and brokerage transactions by computer. Keeping good records is more important than ever. It might be a good year to get a comprehensive review with a tax adviser to go over every item ahead of time.

Ever try to get an accountant's attention in April? Now is the time to get the best help so you are ready for the new tax year.

The Road Ahead For Entrepreneurs And Tax Reform

 DEAN ZERBE  for Entrepreneur writes: There is much talk in Washington about tax reform. But what does it mean for entrepreneurs?

The possibilities of sweeping tax reforms happening in the next year are remote, with the only real glimmer being a possible deal as part of addressing the shutdown/debt ceiling. That's further down the line—call me after the elections, but I would still say it is highly unlikely for the next three years.

Why is that? It is not for lack of effort or commitment by Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Sen. Max  Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. They have certainly been pulling on the oars of tax reform.

In this case, the fault does lie in the stars – i.e., the Congressional leadership and the administration. The two parties leadership roles are poles apart on what they want to accomplish in tax reform, with the Democrats looking to emphasize corporate tax reform and raising significant revenues (tax increases) and the Republicans wanting broader business tax reform (more on that below) and that reform be revenue neutral (no net tax increases).

Another dividing line between the parties has been whether there should be a discussion of only corporate tax reform, which, as readers know, is a primarily bigger entity, or business tax reform, that would encompass all types of businesses (including pass-thru's such as LLC’s, S Corp’s, and partnerships). Most start-ups are organized as a pass-thru. Chairman Camp has had some success in moving the discussion towards business tax reform, but it is taking a good deal of educating congressmen and senators to understand that most start-ups and the 93 percent of businesses organized as pass-thru's don’t benefit from corporate tax reform.

Overlaying these divisions is the simple reality that tax reform is not a priority for the administration. (Note: I don’t say that as a criticism. The administration has other items on its “to do” list. That’s fine, but tax reform isn’t one of them.) That makes it all the harder for Chairmen Camp and Baucus to push the rock.

So, all that said – if you were going to have tax reform, what are the possibilities that might matter to entrepreneurs?

Capital Gains Tax. Always of interest to investors – the general betting is that capital gains (currently 20 percent plus 3.8 percent ACA add-on) would go up in a deal on tax reform. The Democrats have been keen on increasing the rate and bringing it closer in line with taxes for ordinary income (top rate 39.6 percent plus 0.9 percent Medicare tax). What has surprised me is what used to be a “never retreat” position of the Republicans gave way in the deal this past January that saw the capital gains rates go from 15 percent to 20 percent. In discussions with Republican staff, the comment was that they just were not hearing of this as a priority from constituents. I could see capital gains going up to 25 percent (plus the 3.8 percent add-on). 

Dividends. Will stay linked with capital gains. When they go up, so do dividends.. 

Ordinary Income. While some Democrats will want to see the top rates go up further, this is where the Republicans dig in. The real fight will be on deductions and credits (think mortgage and charity), which both sides have indicated some openness to scaling back. The rough difference is that Democrats would use the savings from limiting deductions (it can be hundreds of billions of dollars over ten years, depending on how you limit the deductions) for more spending, while the Republicans would use the money to offset lowering the ordinary income rates. Same bed dreaming different dreams. At a minimum, ordinary income rates stay the same, and it’s hard to see a deal Republicans are willing to take that doesn’t have a reduction in the rates.

Estate and Gift Tax. Nothing happens. This dog sleeps. Some view the estate tax as too generous, some want to eliminate the estate tax. Most members view that this was a good deal ($5 million per person indexed for inflation and 40 percent rates) and don’t want to kick the slumbering hound.

International Tax and Repatriation. No repatriation without international tax reform – no dessert without spinach. Move to a territorial system. Chairman Camp’s proposal is the early-bird blueprint for what reform in this area would look like.

Corporate Tax. The corporations are banging for a rate of 25 percent. My read is that the lowest the rates could go (keeping revenue neutral and getting rid of various deductions and credits) is around 28 percent. This will not make the corporate folks happy, and they will be even more unhappy when the tax-writing committees get to 28 percent by goring ox and slaying sacred cows. Many of the corporate folks are happy for reform if it gets the rate to 25 percent and does so by getting rid of the other fellow’s tax benefits. Awakening will be rude. 

Entrepreneurs and Startups. Credit the Senate Finance Committee for putting together a useful compilation of proposals on innovation and startups. In addition to some standards – increased expensing for startups and small businesses, there are also suggested proposals on Section 1202 stock (expanding dollar caps $75 million and also allow S Corp's and LLC's to be eligible). Also included is expanding the availability of credits (especially the R&D tax credit) to startups and allowing its deduction against the AMT – all good ideas. 

As a general note, both sides of the aisle are open to proposals to help startups and entrepreneurs ,and I am interested to hear from readers what they think would be useful for Congress to consider.

The bottom line: While tax reform is being talked about, it will be a long and winding road before any big changes in law occur. Entrepreneurs need to not wait for Washington, but they do need to sharpen their pencils to make certain that they are taking full advantage of what is already available at the state and federal level to lower their taxes.

Kashoo's Startup-friendly Software Enables Anyone to be an Effective Accountant

Elliot Chan for TechVibes writes: The number of small businesses in the country is growing, and for a while we thought that accounting software were never going to catch up.

One of two things needed to happen: either people had to get smarter, be more organized, and find more time in their day to process all their book keeping—or the act of accounting had to become more accommodating.

Well, I don’t know if we’re any smarter, organized, or efficient at what we do—but one thing is certain: Vancouver-based Kashoo, an online and mobile accounting application, is revolutionizing the way small companies establish and maintain their business. The result is no more headaches, neglected invoices, and taxing shoebox of receipts.

“Every small business owner hates accounting and record keeping,” Jim Secord, CEO of Kashoo, told Techvibes in an interview. “It’s hard to do, it’s confusing, and the tools are antiquated—there is QuickBooks or Simply Accounting. With the advent of Cloud and mobile, we saw an opportunity to do it a lot differently. Not only to make it easier, but to make it more convenient. And really disrupt the accounting software world that largely went unchanged for the past 20 years.”

Harnessing the possibilities of touch screen features and mobile convenience, Kashoo is making rock stars out of accountants. The old image of a tepid individual in a dimly lit room, with empty cups of coffee, file folders and a calculator on the desk is no longer a correct portrait of accountants—today with smartphones, tablets, and portable computers, anybody can be an accountant.

“I don’t think software can ever replace [accounting] expertise,” said Kasey Bayne, Kashoo’s director of business development. “With Kashoo, accountants aren’t doing things like entering your receipts—but more high value things such as business planning and making smarter decisions. More like a business advisor type of role.”

Some people cringe at the word “accounting,” but Kashoo is doing more than changing people’s opinion—they’re gaining popularity success. After iOS 7 was released in September, Kashoo had been the top 10 business apps in 83 countries, top five in 54 countries and number one in Canada.

“Accounting software is pretty much international,” said Secord. “For a small business person, whether you are running it in Canada or if you are running it in Nigeria—it’s very similar.”

The app has over 100,000 registered small businesses in over 180 countries. Kashoo’s iPad app is currently available in English, Spanish and French (with Japanese and German in development).

All in one, but still focused on the specific needs of small businesses, Kashoo offers features that allow users to track income and expenses, making the worrisome annual tax season less of a chore. Features including a built in camera to capture receipts, a quick expense entry function and on-the-go invoicing, not only makes the job easier for business owners, but they’ll be inclined to do it.

“A lot of time, it comes down to the expenses,” said Secord. “There are tens of millions of dollars that small business people in Canada lose because they’re just not organized with their records. They don’t claim the proper deductions.”

With technology becoming so accessible, work and personal life are blending together—so why not make it easier? Kashoo enables users the flexibility of managing business even on vacation. Although some may be repulsed by the idea of having work everywhere, the ability to operate anywhere anytime is a liberating advantage.

On October 10, Kashoo announced its partnership with Paychex, a leading provider of payroll, human resources, and other solutions for small to medium size businesses. Collaboration was more logical than strategic, since both companies have overlapping qualities. Those who use Kashoo will also use Paychex and vise versa.

“[Paychex] recognized the synergy of having an accounting software with payroll software,” said Secord. “When people are starting a business or when their business gets to a point—it may be two or three years—and they say maybe it’s time to get organized and stop running out of a shoebox or an envelope and handing it over to the accountant. Paychex understood that and if they wanted more payroll customers, then why don’t they offer accounting software. They looked around, found Kashoo, and said that is the accounting software they wanted to offer.”

IRS Delays Start of Tax-Filing Season / Agency Needs More Time to Program, Test Computer System

JOHN D. MCKINNON for the Wall St. Journal writes: 

The Internal Revenue Service said it would delay the 2014 tax-filing season for one to two weeks because the government shutdown disrupted its computer programing and testing.

The season for filing 2013 tax returns likely will start between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, the agency said. The April 15 deadline for filing won't be changed, but the agency noted that filers could obtain automatic six-month extensions.

The extra time for the opening of filing season is needed to program and test systems after the government shutdown. The shutdown came during a peak time for systems preparation, the agency said.

The announcement underscores the strains the shutdown placed on some government agencies. About 90% of IRS operations were halted during the shutdown. That put the agency nearly three weeks behind its timetable for starting the 2014 season, the IRS said.

The announcement also highlights the challenges the government faces in designing large computer systems. The IRS must handle almost 150 million returns each year. It planned additional training and programing this year to beef up its efforts to combat refund fraud by criminals who sometimes exploit weaknesses in the IRS systems.

"Readying our systems to handle the tax season is an intricate, detailed process, and we must take the time to get it right," Acting IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel said in a statement. "The adjustment to the start of the filing season provides us the necessary time to program, test and validate our systems so that we can provide a smooth filing and refund process for the nation's taxpayers. We want the public and tax professionals to know about the delay well in advance so they can prepare for a later start of the filing season."