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

By: Les

Les — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:13:07 +0000

First, I agree with jojo that the $5 difference isn’t enough to sway me either way.

I’ve been a TaxCut user since it started many, many years ago as “Ask Dan”. I was basically happy with the product, but — like Wendy — noticed certain unusual items were missing or mis-connected (K-1s don’t flow quite automatically, and the R&D credit form is totally missing). No big deal to work around, but would have been nice to get right.

So, a few years ago I bought TurboTax, figuring that I ought to try it. I have several PCs, including several desktops, a laptop and a backup laptop. I have never had any trouble installing TaxCut on all of those machines. I was dumbfounded when I tried to install TurboTax and discovered that it’s copy-protected, and will only allow one installation per copy.

I use the software legally — only one user, don’t “sell” the service or “rent” it — but I insist on having it installed on more than one machine at a time. Turbo Tax simply won’t allow that. And, consider what will happen if next year you get a new laptop and want to move everything, including your old tax prep software, over to the new machine. Being able to reinstall the software without having to call the company and get them to give you some sort of authorization code — assuming they’ll do it — seems priceless to me.

The year I bought TurboTax, I also bought TaxCut, and I’ve never swayed from that course since.

By: Ken Geisinger

Ken Geisinger — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:00:37 +0000

I agree mattmac. I would have thought that if one would publish an article that compares software products, one would purchase the software and actually try them out, at least on a couple of representative hypothetical examples. I guess that’s too much to ask.

By: mattmac

mattmac — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:50:29 +0000

I agree the comparison is weak. Pricing is comparable, is that all your recommendation is based on? I have had nightmares with Turbotax, and like Sam have purchased it just out of familiarity. The “help” function has decreased to the point of being ridiculous. Used to be able to jump to IRS publications on the field in question, was very helpful, now gone. How difficult was that to support? I’m trying tax cut because I wont tolerate turdotax’s declining functionality.

By: Wendy Lerner

Wendy Lerner — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 04:14:01 +0000

I have a fairly complex return in that I have K-1′s from publicly traded limited partnerships. I purchased the H & R Block product. It did not carry the figures from the input sheet to the 1040 itself. I ended up buying Turbo Tax Home and Business. So far it seems to be doing a respectable job of handling the entries shown on the K-1. Were I not an accounting I doubt that would have realized that these figures were not carried to the front page of the 1040.

There is a note on the form that you will need to perform some special calculations that we don’t cover. Even with some tax knowledge I was not sure what they expected me to do.

In the future I will buy Turbo Tax, among other reasons is that Tax Cut tech support was rude to me when I was using on line chat.

By: jojo beans

jojo beans — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:05:50 +0000

Go with TurboTax because its $5 cheaper? thats the most ridiculous advice I’ve ever heard. The cost of a cheap hamburger?…Really?, there’s no difference between the two? ha….what an insightful article…maybe there should have been more research done besides price!

By: Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:40:33 +0000

I have been very disappointed with Turbo Tax. I forget from year to year the tax filing secenario. So recognizing a familiar name; I click on Turbo Tax free e-file. Before I start they have me up to $79.00 for the delux version, not including State Tax. I give them my personal information and make up a pass word etc.
I click continue and I get an error message saying some one else is using my e-mail and pass word; then it hits. This happend last year and the year before. I now use anything else including mailing in a hand written 1040 A. I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE RETURN, Turbo Tax has a memory of where I lived three years ago and does not up date. Wow it is advertised so much cheaper every where else, these guys are con artist.

By: Henry Ellingsen

Henry Ellingsen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:58:15 +0000

I thought the PDF feature was great. You can always print a paper copy, but try to search through it for information needed. Having the same document available in PDF format and searching becomes a snap or click…..literally
BTW I’ve been using TaxCut since the first year it was available, and it has never let me down.

By: Henry Ellingsen

Henry Ellingsen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:50:41 +0000

Hands down, for people who don’t pay state income tax, TaxCut is the best. Online purchase of TaxCut was $14.95 for HR TaxCut basic. The cheapeast we found TurboTax Basic was at Office Depot for $24.95. Each has 5 free federal e-files. Other features are a toss up unless you consider the HR support in case of an audit to be a plus???

By: KC

KC — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:49:46 +0000

Just curious in what way does pdf saving format on hrb stink? I had no issue with it. If steps to access was the issue, as I remember it, all you needed to do was go to file on upper left border and click to get the pull down menu then save as pdf. I haven’t used it in 6 weeks so I may be wrong on that.

Specifics would help on all comments, to say “not as through (sic)” doesn’t help assess either. ‘through’ = thorough?

In addition not all needs are the same so what stinks for you may be fine for others. I know hrb was fine for me.

I have no dog in this fight, I don’t work for hrb, don’t sell tax software, I’m just trying to help assess which stands out for what reasons so someone contemplating using either has the info they need, which of course can’t be gotten from any other sources I found in my google search.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:18:44 +0000

I have always bought Turbo Tax but this year I bought Tax Cut….In a word….DON’T…..
The PDF saving format STINKS….it is not as through and Turbo Tax and I will not use Tax Cut next year.

By: Tony W

Tony W — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:06:34 +0000

I have used Taxcut every since it was available. Now they are called H&R Block. This new version, which excluded Microsoft for the 2009 tax year, in my opinion, STINKS. I have ran into many different problems, that is due to software design, not install problems. The major one for me is that, H&R did not reach an agreement with TD Ameritrade and some other major stock broker companies. Because of this, I can not import my stock info into the program. This means that I have to enter my stock info by hand. (name of stock, date of purchase, how many shares, date of sell, etc….) When you buy and sell as much as I do doing the year, this is a major task. I called H&R and asked if there was another way to enter the info, they stated “NO”. I asked for a refund or even a partial refund since this is less of a program than it has been in the past. (Of course, they did not advertise this situation) They said there is nothing they can do. I told them I was going to eat the cost of the program and go out and buy Turbo Tax tomorrow. And because of their lack of concern and compensation, I will never use their software again.

By: jerry zeller

jerry zeller — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:34:36 +0000

I file federal plus 3 different states & have filed on line the last 3 years with Turbo Tax Premier. I am looking for a price break due to the fact I have to pay for 3 state filing which come to over $150.00

By: CALou

CALou — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:12:45 +0000

I’ve used the Mac version of TTax for at least 10 years. It seems to be more “user hostile” to use than in years past . For example… 1) no documentation; 2) Difficult (but can be done) to print just one sheet esp. if it is the screen that shows up when the state “rejects” the return and you get instructions on how to correct “rejection”; 3) Reaching a human to speak with isn’t easy like in past. In fact no tel numbers are avail. on site to do that. Also, chat is usually “unavailable” or it is difficult to find the screen when on the Intuit turbotax site.

This is probably my last year of using TTax Deluxe

By: Fabiole

Fabiole — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:21:39 +0000

I know this response is a year late but I just came across your statement today.

You cannot claim the purchase of your PC as a deduction unless you have a business. Also, if you are a business person, the investment would be a depreciable expense. I believe straight line for 5 years.

By: MW

MW — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:39:02 +0000

Because common sense doesn’t apply, John!

I pay taxes in two states, and both consider the previous year’s refunds as income when computing this year’s refund.