Tax prep software

[pb4uski]

I got TurboTax free as a Fido client earlier this year. I used it to try to match the figures from my own spreadsheets, the ones I have been using for 20 years. My taxes aren't very complicated. But TT gave me nonsense numbers, so off-base that I couldn't enter any fake numbers to match my own taxes. To me, TT is garbage.

Did you try to diagnose the differences using Forms view? What you wrote doesn't make sense to me.... not consistent with my experience.

 

[VanWinkle]

TaxAct just sent me an email offering 30% off (I used them last year) as a part of a Cyber Monday offering. Is this a buy or not?

I will need a Fed 1040 and related State return. Also I usually prepare the returns for 3 friends, all the same state, using that program.

I do them for AARP and they are free!!! That is the best deal in my book.

VW

 

[scrabbler1]

Did you try to diagnose the differences using Forms view? What you wrote doesn't make sense to me.... not consistent with my experience.

The main problem was with entering itemize deductions. Nothing I entered could match what I used on my own forms/spreadsheets. It made no sense to me, either, which is why I abandoned TT and will never waste my time going near it again.

 

[bobandsherry]

The main problem was with entering itemize deductions. Nothing I entered could match what I used on my own forms/spreadsheets. It made no sense to me, either, which is why I abandoned TT and will never waste my time going near it again.

Don't take this the wrong way, but any chance your spreadsheet has an error? With millions using TT to complete their returns, if there was a problem with TT it would seem that would make headlines.

 

[RunningBum]

Hard to say what the problem was without more info. Trying to enter fake numbers to get it to match seems like a lot less useful effort than trying to figure out where the numbers diverge and why. Maybe a special case error that TT couldn't handle. Maybe an input error. Maybe a spreadsheet error. I've never seen such an error, and I've itemized every year, though nothing too special.

 

[gerntz]

TaxAct just sent me an email offering 30% off (I used them last year) as a part of a Cyber Monday offering. Is this a buy or not?

30% off what ? $50? $200? "Off" doesn't interest me. $ "on" does.

 

[gerntz]

I want convenience. I've used TT for years & will this one too. Difference between free & $100 is immaterial vs. confidence that it's accurate (based on comparisons with a CPA for a couple of years.) & vs. $10K+ in Fed + State tax bill & vs. a CPA's charges.

 

[mn54]

It's probably pretty good. I have been using Turbotax free from Fidelity for the last few years.

+1 The offer for free TT usually comes the end of december.

 

[RobbieB]

I buy TT Premier early and could care less about discounts or what it costs.

Never using anything else and never will. Enter in the forms as they arrive and file them "entered and date"

Easy wins over cheap every time -

 

[Senator]

I buy TT Premier early and could care less about discounts or what it costs.

Never using anything else and never will. Enter in the forms as they arrive and file them "entered and date"

Easy wins over cheap every time -

+1.

I am amazed at what people do to save $50 over the course of a year...

 

[Souschef]

+1.

I am amazed at what people do to save $50 over the course of a year...

It is not the money as the thought that Intuit is trying to mess over us. I have to use premier because of capital gains, and I resent it.

 

[RobbieB]

Don't buy anything from people that piss you off.

I paid a CPA 3 grand to do the returns when Pops died. I'm happy to pay a hundred bucks now. For 3 grand I can buy TT for the next 30 years.

But I'll be dead by then so it wont matter.

 

[razztazz]

It is not the money as the thought that Intuit is trying to mess over us. I have to use premier because of capital gains, and I resent it.

Didn't they go back to allowing Deluxe to handle cap gains? I thought it was just that one year a few yrs back that they tried that nonsense. Making a very very simple common tax situation require Premier?

 

[Senator]

It is not the money as the thought that Intuit is trying to mess over us. I have to use premier because of capital gains, and I resent it.

No doubt, Intuit plays marketing games and costs money.

From what I see, they are the best game in town. I save many thousands by doing my taxes for myself and my companies.

Never cut off your nose to spite your face.

 

[bobandsherry]

No doubt, Intuit plays marketing games and costs money.

From what I see, they are the best game in town. I save many thousands by doing my taxes for myself and my companies.

Never cut off your nose to spite your face.

TT isn't only game in town, I used them years ago and switched over to H&R Block several years back (this will be 3rd year using HRB) as it seemed TT raised prices each year (maybe to make up for all the free copies they give away to Fido customers). HRB is very similar in the way you enter your tax info, simple/easy guide yourself or follow along interview.... same end results, only difference is I have a few more bucks in my pocket. But I get it, some people just have a preference for sticking to what they are used to.

 

[Sunset]

I used TT a long time ago, and then found H&R Block Taxcut, and since it was cheaper, tried it.
Very similar, and worked fine.
Taxcut has always been cheaper every year by a lot, and my taxes are complex (rental, SE, investments,..)
I'll use either one no problem, but for the last 10 years Taxcut has always been $20 -> $40 cheaper.

I do returns for 3 other people as well and it works for them.

I think both TT and Taxcut are pretty equal in ability and usage, just not cost.

 

[scrabbler1]

Don't take this the wrong way, but any chance your spreadsheet has an error? With millions using TT to complete their returns, if there was a problem with TT it would seem that would make headlines.

No chance at that. I do my return by hand, too, as a check against the spreadsheet. I have been using the spreadsheet for over 20 years. The TT numbers were total sci-fi. In my world, I can't figure out how TT ever gets it right! (Re: Invasion of the Body Snatchers)

 

[scrabbler1]

Hard to say what the problem was without more info. Trying to enter fake numbers to get it to match seems like a lot less useful effort than trying to figure out where the numbers diverge and why. Maybe a special case error that TT couldn't handle. Maybe an input error. Maybe a spreadsheet error. I've never seen such an error, and I've itemized every year, though nothing too special.

To me, it's pretty simple. TT was garbage. It couldn't add a few simple numbers in the itemized deductions. My spreadsheet and my calculator can add a few simple numbers. TT could not. I would not have used TT even if the fake numbers DID match. I just wanted to see if subsequent calculations off the fake numbers matched. Couldn't even get that far. TT is garbage.

 

[Brat]

Can anyone compare TaxAct to H&R Block's software products?

 

[bobandsherry]

Can anyone compare TaxAct to H&R Block's software products?

Found this, may be interesting read.

What’s the Best Online Tax Preparation Software? TaxAct vs TurboTax vs H&R Block

Another comparison:

H&R Block vs. TaxAct 2017

 

[LOL!]

Part of the confusion is that some of the downloaded versus online software versions have the same name ("Deluxe"), but different functionality.

I want the download version, so that I can use it throughout the year with multiple "What if?" scenarios. I am not a millennial and don't need to use my phone to do my tax return.

 

[Gotadimple]

Can anyone compare TaxAct to H&R Block's software products?

TaxAct was bought out two seasons ago. I switched from TaxAct to HRB for 2016 taxes because the pricing was significantly higher. They both do the same thing. Both are comprehensive (same with TT) and both have similar interfaces (depends on the flavor you buy).

My post (#6) above compared the the Deluxe versions - to cover itemized deductions, capital gains, and Roth conversions - for cost between on-line and downloadable. My preference is downloadable so I can monitor throughout the year, but, really on-line offerings have come so far, that one could model throughout the year on an on-line version.

Seriously, I got spoiled with the old TaxAct (I was buying at $9.99 + tax when they offered advance reservations in the summer). So it is sticker shock to see $30 - $70 for the same offering. But, overall, I think both are good products and equal to each other. TaxAct was good with updates, as was HRB, offering updates after 4/1 and the ability to enter a 1040-X if needed.

-Rita

 

[aza455]

It is not the money as the thought that Intuit is trying to mess over us. I have to use premier because of capital gains, and I resent it.

You don’t have to use TT Premier to process capital gains. Not in the last 2 years at least. There is a little less handholding needed in Premier but it is no more capable of capital gains than the Deluxe version.

 

[Souschef]

You don’t have to use TT Premier to process capital gains. Not in the last 2 years at least. There is a little less handholding needed in Premier but it is no more capable of capital gains than the Deluxe version.

Interesting-I went to the Intuit website to determine which I could use, and they said I had to use Premier. I will check again
Thanks

 

[LOL!]

^That's another reason why I switched to HRBlock a few years ago. TT was always trying to sell me a higher-priced version than I needed by using fear, uncertainty, and doubt.