I wouldn't recommend using a different year tax software, since the code changes a little bit or a lot each year. But if your tax situation is not that complicated, and you want to do a little extra work, you can look at your previous year's forms and download them all from IRS.gov and print them out.
If your filing or business situation has changed a lot, this might not work too easily. But one year in the last big recession I really couldn't afford to buy the software, so I did the extra work of downloading the free forms. Then I could compare the old forms in my PDF copies, or even view them in the old tax software, then manually fill in the new year's figures. If you don't want to use a pen, you might be able to use a free-file online service to choose your forms as well.
But be very careful if your tax situation is very different than the previous year, or if your situation is very complicated. If you are a senior citizen, you may be able to find AARP or other free tax help.
