If you usually slide through the post office door right before it swings shut on April 15, you're not alone. Each year, just before midnight, millions of last-minute filers cram into mail centers to beat Uncle Sam's tax deadline. "When it comes to something like taxes, we put them on the back burner. We know we have to deal with them eventually, but if it's not the crisis of the hour, we put it off," says Sandra E. Cox, executive director of the Coalition of Mental Health Professionals Inc. in Los Angeles and a member of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi). But times are changing. With the federal government's push to have 80% of tax returns filed online by 2007, now is a good time for last-minute filers to reap the benefits of procrastination. Toni Radcliffe, a district manager for H&R Block, says electronic filing is better because the return "gets there faster. It's checked for mistakes, such as math errors and Social Security number or name mismatches, and it goes back to you immediately to be fixed if there are mistakes." Anthony King, CPA, of the 45-year-old firm King, King & Associates P.A. in Baltimore adds, "If you do have a refund coming, it speeds up the process from six to eight weeks to four or five days." But he notes that there's no reason to file electronically if you owe taxes. Thanks to software, you won't have to play beat the clock or stand in long lines—unless you really want to. To help you meet the deadline gracefully, we've evaluated three tax preparation software packages and collected a few helpful tips. AUTOMATE IT The three popular tax preparation software packages we evaluated guide you through the filing process, remind you of possible deductions, and explain complicated items. If you're unsure about which information to include, you needn't be; these programs have electronic help buttons and provide assistance in the form of text or videos. Tax preparation software allows you to file electronically from home without going through a third-party service that charges a fee. In addition, the IRS has signed an agreement with Free File Alliance L.L.C. that will allow up to 78 million taxpayers to electronically file their tax returns for free since January 2003. Tax software companies will provide the service, and the IRS will provide links to them through www.irs.gov (where you can also download tax forms) and www.first \gov.gov. Each of the programs reviewed (TaxCut Platinum 2002, TurboTax Premier 2002, and TaxAct 2002 Deluxe) permits at least one free federal e-filing. TAXCUT PLATINUM 2002 H&R BLOCK WWW.HRBLOCK.COM TaxCut offers a step-by-step Next button format. The program features tabs that let you move freely between federal and state tax forms, information on the filing process, and tips on preparing next year's taxes. You can also answer questions and return to them later without losing information. The planning area helps you estimate 2003 taxes, prepare for life changes, and optimize your retirement plan; it even offers a free investment plan. Interview assistants help you deal with capital gains, business expenses, rental property, depreciation, and stock options. You can also look nine years ahead to see the effect of tax law changes that were made in 2001. Special features Configurable auto-save option and password protection Can import financial information from Microsoft Money, Quicken, and other programs that support Tax Exchange Format (TXF) files Can load last year's return created in TaxCut or TurboTax Up to five e-filings Shoebox dialog box lets you choose a type of document then tells you where to place it in your return  Pricing TaxCut Platinum for Windows: $29.95 after $10 rebate Federal e-filing: One free federal e-filing with mail-in rebate, then $14.95 TaxCut State: One free state income tax program with mail-in rebate, then $24.95 each State e-filing: $9.95 Ask-A-Tax-Advisor by phone or e-mail: one free with rebate, then $19.95 per topic  TURBOTAX PREMIER 2002 INTUIT INC WWW.TURBOTAX.COM TurboTax Premier 2002 has an EasyStep interview that walks you through the filing process. The program features guide words at the top of the screen that take you to a detailed drill-down menu of topics. TurboTax Premier comes with Internet Explorer 5.5 and Media Player 6.4 and offers video instructions at various steps. If you don't enjoy friendly video coaching, you can stick to the text help. You can also open the video library and choose topics independent of the Q&A process. If you use the EasyStep interview, Turbo Tax takes you to a Future Taxes section after you file this year's return. TurboTax doesn't automatically save your changes as TaxCut does, but it does give you the option. Intuit allows you to prepare tax returns from any computer using a trial version. But it will only allow TurboTax Premier to print or electronically file from the computer it was originally installed on. Special features Can load last year's information from TurboTax or TaxCut Can import financial information from Quicken, QuickBooks, and other programs that support Tax Exchange Format (TXF) files Can import data from dozens of financial partners such as A.G. Edwards and W-2 eXpress Up to five e-filings Video instructions aren't necessary, but are a nice addition. Includes electronic copy of Money magazine's Income Tax Handbook  Pricing Federal software: $49.95 after mail-in rebate Federal e-filing: one free after mail-in rebate, then $14.95 State software: one free after mail-in rebate, and $29.95 for others State e-filing: $8.95 Advice by phone: $19.95 for 10 minutes (can be in multiple calls within 10 days)  TAXACT 2002 DELUXE 2ND STORY SOFTWARE WWW.TAXACT.COM TaxAct has a unique appearance, with seven large icons arranged in a circle (but numbered in order). As with the other programs, you can skip around. But you can also use Continue buttons within each topic to cover everything from start to finish. As you enter data for the questions asked, the answers sometimes appear on a mock tax form. You can choose to go through the program in the forms view. Many IRS forms are included. The Life Events button allows you to go directly to topics such as a birth, job change, marriage, inheritance, lottery winnings, or lawsuit. You can jump to a summary of your return at any time during the process. And you can select whether to automatically save the information. Special features Can import last year's TaxAct return Links to Keen.com advice service, where customer can choose among advisors with prices listed Up to five e-filings TaxWatch feature tells you where your federal tax dollars are spent and makes planning for next year as important as completing this year's taxes. It even prints a new W-4 to prevent over- or under-withholding  Pricing Federal Software price: $9.95 Federal e-filing: One free, up to four additional at $7.95 each State software price: $12.95 State e-filing: $7.95. TaxACT 2002 Deluxe and TaxACT 2002 State with bonus free federal e-file: $19.95  Last-Minute Help Whether you use pen and paper, software, or a professional tax preparer, remember you can get help at the IRS hotline at 800-829-1040. Be sure to write down the name and employee number of the person with whom you spoke. You'll need this information in case you don't understand the answer or don't think it's correct. You can follow up on your refund at the around-the-clock, self-service tax refund hotline at 800-829-1954.      Â