Final answer:
The sales associate should offer to reserve the software once it arrives. The correct answer is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this situation, the best option for the sales associate to help the customer is to offer to reserve the software once it arrives. This way, the customer can come back to the store and purchase the program when it is back in stock. The associate can inform the customer about the expected arrival time of the new supply and assure them of the reservation.
Option A, recommending another software program, may not be ideal because the customer has already chosen a specific software program. Option B, suggesting hiring a professional tax service, might not align with the customer's intention of doing their own taxes. Option C, advising the customer to complete taxes online, can be a viable alternative, but it is not the best solution if the customer's preference is to use the software program. The correct answer is D.