Turbotax 2016

[LastOfTheBoomers]

I switched to HR block last year - it read my TT file from 2014 and cost so much less - and face it HR Block has been doing taxes a long time

 

[Sunset]

Today I bought the H&R Block Deluxe software with State (not State e-filing). for $21.99

This is great !!

I do get the State included Version even though my State allows you to do it online at their site for free. Because after having done all the Fed entries, the State one built in is a few more entries and I'm done, vs Starting from scratch.

I mail in my State one as it's not worth $15 or more to e-file it.

 

[jazz4cash]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed.

 

[Al in Ohio]

Even though Fidelity gives me the big (100%) discount only on Premier, I've never found anything I couldn't do just as easily with Deluxe. Premier has slightly more hand-holding in the interview routine, but that's not at all necessary for me. If I were buying it myself, it would definitely be the Deluxe version, and I'd wait for the Costco sale on it.

This has been exactly my conclusion over the years after having used both. I buy the Costco Deluxe disk and it covers all I need quite well.

 

[RE2Boys]

I've used both TT and HRB software through the years and had a slight preference for the HRB product. Usually got the one that cost least, but past five years I've been given free copies of TT and so use it. Never efile state return, just mail it in.

 

[Ready]

The price jumped back to $44.99 today so hopefully everyone that wanted it had a chance to purchase it yesterday. I'm sure it will go on sale again though. I am running the mac version, and it seems to be just fine, and almost identical to Turbotax. I feel good about not giving Intuit my business this year after all of the problems they created with their deluxe version years ago.

 

[tulak]

Does anyone have any experience with ESPP shares with programs other than TT?

I tried H&R Block when they were offering a free version for disgruntled TT users, but I ended up using TT because it was easier to deal with ESPP shares. If there are other programs that handle this as well as TT, then I'd give them a shot.

 

[FIREmenow]

I just got a un-requested HRB mailer in the mail with a CD-ROM inside. Deluxe is $9.95 to activate, Deluxe+State is $14.95. I'm in.

 

[Sunset]

I wish HRB would would would send me a mailer some year, I never get any now..... I wonder how they decide to mail them ?

 

[FIREmenow]

I wish HRB would would would send me a mailer some year, I never get any now..... I wonder how they decide to mail them ?

Don't know - I did pay full price the first time I used them. Been about 3 years. This is the first time I got a mailer, though.

 

[COcheesehead]

I have used the two almost interchangeably over the past 20 years. Whichever happened to be cheapest and worked with my particular operating system at that time. For MY purposes, there really isn't a difference. Last couple of years I used Block/Taxcut, but this year I got a free download for TT from Fido, so I'll be using that.

I like sticking with one brand. It is easier for carry over amounts and data, like tax loss, 8606 IRA basis, donations, even little things like prepopulating your address and such. It cuts 20% - 30% off my tax prep time when I don't have to fill in all that data every year.

 

[RunningBum]

HRB takes data from TT. Not sure if it goes the other way. Anyone know offhand, to save me the trouble of looking it up? I probably should've checked before buying HRB this year, and somewhat locking in.


Edit: a quick google confirms that TT will use HRB data, so there should be no problem losing any data switching between programs. This will be my first time to see this for real, so I'd be interested to hear if anyone has had problems.

 

[braumeister]

I'm pretty sure all the major packages are able to read a pdf of your return from last year. Everyone keeps their return as a pdf, don't they?

 

[COcheesehead]

I'm pretty sure all the major packages are able to read a pdf of your return from last year. Everyone keeps their return as a pdf, don't they?

Reading online it looks like it will read your TT file, but not as a PDF. It will look for your TT file extension.

 

[jazz4cash]

I'm pretty sure all the major packages are able to read a pdf of your return from last year. Everyone keeps their return as a pdf, don't they?

+1
I always save my files as .pdf as well as whatever extension the software mfr defaults to so I can view them even without the program.

 

[Ready]

I had no problem importing last year's Turbo tax file to HRB.

 

[bobandsherry]

I had no problem importing last year's Turbo tax file to HRB.

No problem with me either. Been with TurboTax for years but HRB offer of $9.95 for their Deluxe version with state was just too good to ignore. I also wanted to play some what of scenarios before year end for planning purposes. Getting HRB now saved me a $$$ with tax planning. After trying HRB I find it to be very similar to TT and had no learning curve.

 

[pb4uski]

Y'all have piqued my curiosity about HRB. How many Federal e-files do you get? Cost for each federal or state filing?

With TT I get 5 free Federal e-filings which is just enough and each state filing is $20.

 

[braumeister]

Y'all have piqued my curiosity about HRB. How many Federal e-files do you get? Cost for each federal or state filing?

With TT I get 5 free Federal e-filings which is just enough and each state filing is $20.

Usually, the state return is small enough that it fits nicely into an envelope and only takes one stamp.

 

[REWahoo]

For years I've bounced between HRB and TT, selecting whichever was the least expensive. I don't find a lot of difference between them as they have both worked well for me.

 

[RobbieB]

I stick with TT because I don't want to learn new software if I don't have to.

Learning new software is required by your employer and I don't have one anymore -

 

[REWahoo]

Both TT and HRB involve answering questions. Not much of a learning curve.

 

[RobbieB]

Yup, answer the questions and fill in the blanks. I just know how to do it all with TT and never even tried HRB.

 

[pb4uski]

True, but I'm lazy and hate printing and mailing.

 

[GreenER]

Are both programs sufficient when doing forms for Roth conversion?