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02-04-2020, 07:26 PM
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#1
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 471
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Tax Software
Does anyone use the online versions of Turbo Tax or Tax Act to file their taxes?
Any worries about the theft of your information. I have always used the download version of these programs to keep my info private. The extra cost has been worth the peace of mind in past filings.
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02-04-2020, 07:50 PM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Santa Paula
Posts: 4,076
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by 2soon2tell
Does anyone use the online versions of Turbo Tax or Tax Act to file their taxes?
Any worries about the theft of your information. I have always used the download version of these programs to keep my info private. The extra cost has been worth the peace of mind in past filings.
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I actually buy the CD rather than downloading the program.
__________________
Retired Jan 2009 Have not looked back.
AA 60/35/5 considering SS and pensions a SP annuity
WR 2% with 2SS & 2 Pensions
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02-04-2020, 08:08 PM
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#3
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 7,591
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I use TurboTax but not the online version, I use the desktop version. One less risk. I file on paper for the same reason.
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02-04-2020, 09:05 PM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,225
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I've used the online version of TaxAct in the past. If you efile, you're introducing a third party when filing, even if using the downloaded/CD version. If you print and mail, no third party involved.
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02-05-2020, 04:49 AM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,003
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Been using free online Turbotax from Fido for a few years. We also have an extra security layer from our ESET software.
__________________
"The mountains are calling, and I must go." John Muir
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02-05-2020, 05:20 AM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 2,676
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DrRoy
Been using free online Turbotax from Fido for a few years.
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Same. I also require 2-factor authentication via authenticator app, and only access it from my home or work computers, on those secured networks. As long as you practice good security overall so your computers and networks aren't compromised (which would be an issue whether you did your taxes online or with the software), it should be as safe as online banking.
__________________
-Looking to FIRE in the mid-2020s, which would be our mid-50s.
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02-05-2020, 06:11 AM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,252
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I am unconcerned about privacy of my tax return because it is rather uninteresting.
However, I don't use online-only tax software because I like to test multiple scenarios in order to minimize my taxes throughout the year. I will have 3 or 4 similar returns on my computer at the same time. For instance, three major things I test are:
(a) How much Roth conversion to make?
(b) How much stock to donate to charity?
(c) How to split my property tax bill into two tax years?
I do bunching of itemized deductions in alternate years, so instead of averaging $24,000 of standard deduction per year, I average a higher amount and save on my taxes. And I don't need an internet connection to do all this.
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02-05-2020, 11:58 AM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Western NC
Posts: 4,633
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Offline software only.
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02-05-2020, 12:11 PM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,370
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Desktop version but because it comes with 5 free e-files and I use all of them for us and family.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
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02-05-2020, 01:27 PM
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#10
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Administrator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,126
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Desktop version so I can also do my son’s, plus I like to run different scenarios while planning Roth conversions and capital gains.
__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
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02-05-2020, 01:56 PM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
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We have been using the online version of TaxAct for several years. I am not concerned with the security of it. If you are using a computer that is connected to the internet, then the risk of having information compromised is probably higher with a "local copy" of the program vs a cloud based version. Of course, this is highly dependent on how effective you are at securing your network.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
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02-05-2020, 03:07 PM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Madison
Posts: 1,337
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I'm thinking of ditching the reduced cost on-line Fidelity Turbo Tax deal as it is not allowing me to input my kids tuition from their 1098-T. It is only showing books and equipment. When I click on Tuition payments it says I have already input the amounts for 2019. That's funny since I just got the documents today. And you can't bring up the forms on the on-line version.
Crap.
__________________
Wild Bill shoulda taken more out of his IRA when he could have. . . .
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02-05-2020, 03:32 PM
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#13
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Madison
Posts: 1,337
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Definitely looks like I have to get the CD version. Somehow the online version thinks I made too much to deduct tuition. That is not true. At least with the CD version you can bring up the actual tax forms to fill in. Oh well.
__________________
Wild Bill shoulda taken more out of his IRA when he could have. . . .
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02-05-2020, 03:39 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,024
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We use the desktop/download version of TurboTax Premiere with 5 free e-files, which Fidelity provides for free. We use the software to plan and file for ourselves, DMIL, and each of our 2 kids. The kids each do their own return but they use our desktop computer and me for consulting.
I don't obsess about security on tax returns. All of our SSNs are in the wild at this point anyway. The rest of the return is very uninteresting as LOL! points out. If Fidelity/Intuit forces us to use the online version at some point in the future, I won't moan too much. And I really don't think putting paper into the USPS is any safer than e-filing, but who knows.
__________________
Retired at 52 in July 2013. On to better things...
AA: 85/15 WR: 2.7% SI: 2 pensions, SS later
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02-22-2020, 02:53 PM
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#15
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 257
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Desktop version so I can also do my son’s, plus I like to run different scenarios while planning Roth conversions and capital gains.
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Same here, TurboTax desktop.
I filed our 2019 taxes earlier this week. Now I want to do some planning for this year but I can't find the "What-If" worksheets in the Forms section of TurboTax. I heard about this section in TurboTax from this forum and it's invaluable for planning purposes.
Now I can't find it!
Any ideas where it is? I hope they haven't done away with it...
__________________
too cheap to even use dryer sheets - never mind recycle them!
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02-22-2020, 04:48 PM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Beaverton
Posts: 1,382
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I buyTurbo Tax at Costco. I never think $50 per year is too expensive for me. I use TaxSlayer for volunteer work. Both are fine and user friendly. Data is always imported and investments downloaded off Schwab and Fidelity. I'm not as money conscious as many to try and get things free online. Any way it goes it works for me
__________________
Jump in, the water's warm.
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02-22-2020, 07:12 PM
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#17
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,723
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Souschef
I actually buy the CD rather than downloading the program.
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I download the desktop version of H&R Block, but I burn it to a CD before I install it (along with the unlocking code in a text file). Then I install it from the CD on my desktop and laptop. This way, since I save the returns on a CD also, as long as there's a Windows system or Windows emulator, I can install and pull-up any old return, if I need to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LOL!
However, I don't use online-only tax software because I like to test multiple scenarios in order to minimize my taxes throughout the year. ...
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Same here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski
Desktop version but because it comes with 5 free e-files and I use all of them for us and family.
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Yep
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02-22-2020, 07:47 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: The Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
Posts: 2,791
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sengsational
This way, since I save the returns on a CD also, as long as there's a Windows system or Windows emulator, I can install and pull-up any old return, if I need to.
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Only if you have a CD reader in the future. 
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02-22-2020, 08:23 PM
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#19
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Coronado
Posts: 3,706
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jj
Same here, TurboTax desktop.
I filed our 2019 taxes earlier this week. Now I want to do some planning for this year but I can't find the "What-If" worksheets in the Forms section of TurboTax. I heard about this section in TurboTax from this forum and it's invaluable for planning purposes.
Now I can't find it!
Any ideas where it is? I hope they haven't done away with it...
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I have it in TTax Premier 2019. Go to Forms mode, click on Open Form and type "what" in the search box
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02-22-2020, 08:39 PM
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#20
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,396
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Good point, I don't have a CD reader anymore on any of my computers.
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