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54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very pleased. Solution to a registration hick-up included., December 28, 2011
I've used H&R Block's tax software (formerly called TaxCut) every year since 1995. Several times when I saw a promotional deal I purchased both TaxCut and TurboTax to compare. I found that TurboTax did not do anything better than TaxCut while costing consistently more. In addition, I like the option of being able to file 5 free Federal e-files as I do taxes for other relatives who are less computer savvy. H&R Block software also wins if compared to the free on-line options. I don't like using the on-line tax programs for two reasons (1) I don't want my financial data to be on someone's web site (2) free offers include the Federal tax only. This year I used a digital download for the first time rather than a boxed version. I liked the security of having a physical CD in case I need to re-install on another computer several years down the road. But you are supposed to be able to download the software again to a different computer and when the boxed version was not available I went digital. REGISTRATION ISSUE Downloading the software was easy, however during the install I got an error registering the software. When I started the software it immediately gave me a prompt to enter a key-code which (the prompt said) I should have received in the email after purchasing the software. The email I received from Amazon contained no such key-code. I had to call Amazon support and they told me that this information can be found following these steps
1) Log into Amazon
2) Select Your Account at the top right of the page
3) Select Games and Software downloads which is towards the bottom of the long page you see when you log in
4) Then under H&R software entry you will see the key-code that you need to enter to unlock the software Once this was done the rest of the software functions well. In fact it looked more polished than in prior years. I always had minor display problems because I use large fonts and they never scaled quite right. This year everything displayed perfectly. DISPLAY ISSUE I read one review which mentioned a problem with seeing selection boxes. The problem there most likely caused by low screen resolution. Both Windows and Mac minimum requirement for screen resolution is 1024 x 768 pixels or higher. At a lower resolution, there will be problem with display such as not seeing selection boxes. Screen resolution can be changed on your control panel by change PC's display settings. TAX PREPARATION I did a preliminary tax return and below are my observations. 1. Copy and Paste from Interview screens is not possible. Sometimes I wish to do it for some issue as a reminder to myself. My solution is to do PrintScreen (holding ctl key, shift key, and PrintScreen key at the same time). This generates an image of the screen, which I paste into paint or photo editing software which I can print or save for later. 2. I don't use the default location for the tax returns, as I want to my backup program to back up only the data not the software itself. The software does not initially remember this new location on startup, it tells me I have no returns. I needed to pick the return manually from the File menu, as it does remember recently used files. The third time I started the software, it finally knew the location of the tax return file. 3. Some forms (such as foreign tax credit over the limit to be directly on 1040) in the past required to be filled out without much assistance. This year the foreign tax credit form is more automated, when you hit next button it takes you to the next place on the form you need to fill out with explanations for each field (last your you were just presented the form to fill out on your own). This form is not that hard to do manually as this form does not change year to year. 4. I use large font option on my monitor display and in the past had display issues (some things were displayed on top of each other). This year all forms displayed properly with this option. This is the first time in all the years I've used H&R Block software that I have no complaint about the display and did not need to change my monitor settings just to do the tax preparation. Nice! 5. In prior years the package include DeductionPro software. This year, like last year, this software is only available as an online tool. I will not use software that requires me to put my financial data on their site, and DeductionPro wants to import the data to H&R web site, so I will not be using it. Disappointing. 6. The price on this package changes day to day. I found a nice tools that shows history of Amazon prices and allows you to generate an email alert when the price reaches our desired price range. If you enter "price history alert" in Google it will come up at the top, it has the word camel in the name. I find this tool very helpful. Updated: 7. **Error alert** if you are using 64-bit Windows please see review by SD_James, who describes how to solve the installation issue for Windows 7 64-bit operating system. I have been a H&R Block/TaxCut user for many years. The interview process is helpful in reminding you things you might have forgotten. On-line help is useful. 2011 H&R Block package appears more polished and has a number of improvements to a couple of small pet peeves I had in the past. So I am quite pleased with it and recommend it! Ali Julia review
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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Installation is a royal pain, but it can work, January 20, 2012
OK, so I downloaded and tried to install this program on my Windows 7 64-bit OS. The program H&R Block Premium Home and Business has two components, H&R Block 2011 (this is your personal tax software), the second is the H&R Block Business 2011 (this is your business tax software, i.e. LLC, Corp, etc). I found no problems with H&R Block 2011, but had major problems with H&R Block Business 2011. Installation errors indicated that OLE2.DLL is not compatible... When I tried to start H&R Block Business 2011, I could not update or move through the program without it crashing. After several hours of effort, I finally found a solution. First off, I have to say that H&R Block is EXTREMELY LAZY in how they process installation files. Essentially, I discovered that they placed numerous files (called .ocx files) in the wrong locations, a major flaw in their approach. First off, go to the directory where the program was installed. Since I am using Windows 7 64-bit, my program was installed in the following directory: c:\program files(x86)\H&R Block Business 2011\ Note: If you are using a 32-bit version of Windows, it will most likely be under c:\program files\H&R Block Business 2011\ Once you have navigated to the appropriate folder, look for a file called "!Tax2011_Errors.log" Open the file with Notepad.exe This file is critical because it lists all of the problems that H&R Block Business is having during its use. Mine indicated that files RICHTX32.OCX and MSCOMCTL.OCX were not properly registered. What that means is that the program cannot find them or they do not exist. I found these programs in C:\Windows\system32 folder. However, this is the wrong location for Windows 7 64-bit. This is not a 64-bit program, H&R Block software is 32-bit, which is completely distinct. These files must be located in the C:\Windows\sysWOW64\ folder. Simply copy the files from the C:\windows\system32 to the C:\Windows\sysWOW64 folder. After you have copied the software to the correct folder, you may also need to register or activate these files as well. To do that, you need to open a command prompt (click Start, type cmd in the search field and choose cmd.exe)
at the c:\ type the following
regsvr32.exe c:\windows\sysWOW64\richtx32.ocx
then press enter and wait a couple of seconds and you should see a dialog box that says it was successful back at the c:\ prompt type the following
regsvr32.exe c:\windows\sysWOW64\mscomctl.ocx
then press enter and wait a couple of seconds and you should see a dialog box that says it was successfull You should now be able to use H&R Block Business 2011. Remember that the log file will help to identify your problem, and if it is not the one described above, you should be able to dissect the problem. Good Luck,
James
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
BIG Problem with Sch K-1 - Can't E-file 1040!, January 30, 2012
I have used H&R Block's software for more than 10 years, and this year I am extremely disappointed, and I will probably never purchase their software ever again! I have spent hours over several days speaking with support and managers at H&R Block and to no resolve! I downloaded from Amazon the Premier +Efile +State. ($79.99 USD) I updated the program. I completed the 1065 Partnership return. Then I brought up the personal 1040 and filled it all out. I got to the end of the return to efile it and it will not let me - it states that the Schedule K-1 is a DRAFT form and I cannot e-file yet. I visited the H&R Block Website and looked at their list of approved forms, and it shows that the form had been approved by the IRS. I went to the IRS website, and I do not find any mention that the Sch K-1 1065 is being held up for any reason. I manually downloaded the approved form at H&R's site. Installed and rebooted the computer. No Go - same Issue. Called H&R support - spent 3 hours - 3 HOURS - on the phone with someone who sounded like I just woke them up. This person tried brushing me off and telling me I would just have to mail the return in, that e-filing would not work for me. WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT IS THAT???? L-A-Z-Y!!! I asked them, "So you are telling me, that EVERYONE using your software who files a Sch K-1 from a 1065 or S Corp is going to have to file their returns via mail, that they won't be able to file electronically? Does the IRS know about this issue with your software? She finally put a manager on with me, and all I got was, "Well, we are still working on the software!" So, everyone - you are using a BETA version for your tax software????? Tried updating the program, looked at all the forms in the software - Not one one of the Sch K's had the word DRAFT printed across them - they were all dated correctly. Everything looked good. Rebooted the machine - did everything I could think of to make it work. No Go. Called H&R back that afternoon, hoping to get someone who had a brain pan larger than a gnat's. Did talk to someone who told me - after spending an hour of putting me on hold, then off hold, then on hold, ad-nauseaum (with the worst music in the world blaring in my ear!) that there would be another update coming. Update to what??? The program is full of bugs. I will not use H&R Block's tax software ever again. Oh - and I want my money back!
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