Comments on: 2009 Tax Software Shootout: TurboTax vs. TaxCut

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:37:08 +0000

I need to download via Turbo Tax for tax year 2007 again my long 1099 from Charles Schwab, because the first time I did it about two years ago, the file was subsequently glitched (erased), and so I haven’t been able to actually file the overall 1040 for tax year 2007 yet

Schwab has not helped, as so far they apparently can’t furnish it other than manually

REMIND EVERYBODY TO ASAP MAKE BACK UPS OF TAX STUFF, BECAUSE A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MAY BE NON HELPFUL IF A PREVIOUS DOWNLOAD WAS LOST BY CLIENT

By: cindy

cindy — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:21:44 +0000

I have been using Turbo Tax for 5 yrs.I think they suck, they have horrible customer service, (you are lucky if you can talk to someone in the USA. I do not feel they are user friendly at all. Every year I go thru the hassel of transferring my prior yr to the new year. I am sick of them, and this will be the last year for sure!

By: SP

SP — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:16:00 +0000

Help! I lived in two states, moving mid-year. Both states allow you to file ‘partial year resident’ status and prorate your taxes by the percent of income earned in that state.

What tax software can support this? I hope I don’t have to do this by hand.

Thanks.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:46:51 +0000

I’ve used TurboTax online for about 5 years now. You can ‘always’ find a link to follow to get a discount on their online version. This year you can follow http://www.aaa.com/turbotax. Sure they ‘have’ you data, oh well, anyone can get it anyhow. And the good thing is you can always log back on to grab the .pdf of your tax reports from years past.
I then always use Va i-File for free for the state portion just keying in the data.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:56:11 +0000

The biggest difference between filing your taxes online vs. software on your computer is who holds your data. Do you trust the big corporation with all of the details of your life and finances? If you think their IT departments are 100% safe from data theft, then go online. I prefer to keep everything on my computer.

I use TaxAct, by the way. Their three levels of packages are standard (free), deluxe ($13) and ultimate (deluxe + state, $20). I used to use the standard or deluxe, but *ahem* made a mistake moving data to Maryland’s iFile one year. Until my taxes become simpler, the extra $7 is worth it for me.

By: Mike1423

Mike1423 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:56:46 +0000

What’s the difference between Turbo Tax Premier software and the online version?

By: KD

KD — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:49:50 +0000

I second James. TaxAct is neat and cheap.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:55:17 +0000

Just got done with my federal through Turbotax. I got a 30% discount by going through Scottrade. $20.95. Also, I let Turbotax do the calculations and plugged the numbers into Md iFile for free.

By: James

James — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:35:25 +0000

Who cares? TaxAct is just as good and cheaper.

By: Eddy

Eddy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:56:08 +0000

I have used TaxCut many years now; it does fine if you are have filled taxes before. I usually efile IRS and print/mail State returns. Last year I used free online TurboTax and efiled IRS with it. But I also used TaxCut too, cross-checking between both, and printed/mailed State return. To me both programs have quirks/limitations that could be made easier for newer users. Do both TaxCut and TurboTax require registration on only a single PC??
Who is Benefiting from Efiling?? I agree with Jeremy who wondered why we citizens are paying “corporations” more and more money for software, while all it does is make it easier for IRS/States to do their job?? It would be much better for citizens if IRS offered free filing software for all of us (not limited). But corporate lobbyists would never let Congress reduce the huge profits corporations get from software sales and add-on pitches. I think one Congressman suggested such free IRS software some years ago; guess he was never invited to any more Beltway Bandit parties!

By: Jace

Jace — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:15:51 +0000

TaxPaperCut =D

By: The Travelin' Man

The Travelin' Man — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:01:48 +0000

I have always used TurboTax’s online edition. Is there a difference between the online version and the purchased software?

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:21:11 +0000

I’ve been using TaxCut for the past few years, primarily because they have all of my info and it’s easy to login and pull up stuff. I’m a creature of habit and don’t like change.

That being said, I also don’t e-file. I just complete my taxes with the program and then print everything out and mail it all in. Screw the IRS. I want to make it as hard as possible on them, so I hope they like processing papers instead of having it magically appear in a computer system

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:57:43 +0000

I’ve used Turbo Tax for many years. This year Turbo Tax (initially) was going to charge for every return prepared, even if you printed it out and mailed it in. I was furious and switched to Tax Cut. While I prefer Turbo Tax, and they eventually changed their policy, I’m insulted at the levels they stooped to all in an effort to milk more money from us after we purchased the software. I will never go back to Turbo Tax because of this.

By: Lowry

Lowry — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:25:15 +0000

I used TurboTax, mostly for the familiarity, and the ability to import last year’s data… it saves a bunch of typing. One other difference along those same lines is that TurboTax can electronically get your W-2s for a lot of providers. TaxCut doesn’t do this to my knowledge, or isn’t as extensive.