H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Basic Federal + e-file [OLD VERSION]

by H&R Block

Product Features

• TaxCut includes up to 5 free federal e-files and H&R Block expertise in every version
• Answer simple questions and the program does the rest
• The program automatically double-checks your return for errors and omissions
• Everything you need to complete a simple federal tax return at a great low price
• Worry-free Audit Support included when you e-file

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001HO8TOW
• Item model number: 1033600-08
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 1, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,327 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)

Product Description

Amazon.com

Easy, low-cost tax preparation made simple. Quickly import last year's TaxCut online or software data, H&R Block office data and TurboTax data. Answer simple questions and the program does the rest. Prepare and e-file your simple federal return quickly and easily.

Everything you need to complete a simple federal tax return at a great low price.

Prepare and e-file your simple federal return quickly and easily.

Easy, low-cost tax preparation made simple.

• Fast: Quickly imports last year's TaxCut online or software data, TurboTax software data and H&R Block office data (only available from participating H&R Block offices).
• Easy: Answer simple questions and the program does the rest.
• Accurate: The program automatically double-checks your return for errors and omissions.
• Economic: Everything you need to complete a simple federal tax return at a great low price.
• Supported: Get real audit support from a real person--really. Worry-free Audit Support included when you e-file. In the event of an audit, receive personal assistance from an IRS-licensed Enrolled Agent with audit representation expertise--not a self-serve Web site or FAQ page.

Product Info

Easy Interview
Our interview asks simple questions to quickly walk you through the tax preparation process.

Seamless Imports
Quickly and easily imports last year's TaxCut online or software data, TurboTax software data and H&R Block office data (only available from participating H&R Block offices).

Error Check
The program automatically double checks your return for errors and omissions.

Advice for Changing Tax Situations
Receive tax guidance on changes in your life, such as getting married, having a baby, buying a home and more.

Get Your Refund Fast
E-file your return, and get your refund in as little as 8-15 days.

Convenient Payment Options
Pay for your preparation fees with your refund.

Guarantees

Worry-free Audit Support
You can rest easy knowing H&R Block is there to help in the rare event of an audit. Included when you e-file your federal return with us.

Accurate Calculations Guaranteed
If TaxCut makes a calculation mistake, we'll pay resulting IRS penalties plus interest. See the license agreement for details.

Maximum Refund Guarantee
Get the maximum refund you're entitled to or your return is free.

Product Description

Guidance for all your personal tax situations. Includes federal forms and eFile.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tax tool, but this version is limited, January 3, 2009

By 

Joseph Boone (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Basic Federal + e-file [OLD VERSION] (CD-ROM)

TaxCut offers individuals a powerful option for preparing an income tax return that is relatively easy to use. TaxCut assumes that you know little or nothing about income tax law. The software will ask a number of questions and will prompt you for information based on your answers. It will help tremendously if you gather as many of your tax documents as possible before starting. This software is significantly cheaper than paying a service to prepare it and much easier than doing in manually.

The e-file option has been around for some years and is a great way to get your refunds faster. But if you owe money, there's not as much of an advantage. Still, you get five free electronic filing so you might as well use one. In the unlikely event that you plan to prepare more than five returns, make sure you use the e-file for the ones due a refund and file the ones with money due manually. The program will print all the forms you need so it's easy to do and it will save you the cost of the fees for the additional e-files.

There are a couple of issues to take note of if you buy this version of TaxCut. First, this version covers only federal tax returns and does not include a program for state taxes. If you live in a state with no income tax, this is the version you want. But if you do need to file with your state, you'll want to buy the H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Premium Federal + State + e-file version. Second, there are some tax tools not included in this package that would require the H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Premium Federal + e-file version. These probably won't be needed by everyone, but take a good look at the chart in the product description area to see if you will miss the features or not.

If you don't itemize your deductions and have a very simple return, you might be better off preparing the forms manually on your own. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you have a return with major league complications, you should probably go to a good CPA. For everyone else, this is really a no-brainer. It's inexpensive, easy to use, and accurate. I've been using TaxCut for quite a few years and would not even consider giving it up.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Minimize the pain of taxes, January 9, 2009

By 

RetiredProf (East Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Basic Federal + e-file [OLD VERSION] (CD-ROM)

Several years ago I switched from TurboTax to TaxCut because TaxCut was less expensive and did virtually the same thing. Since then that has always been the case so I have never switched back. For most people, TaxCut basic will handle all your requirements. I recently started using Schedule F and it was complete and simple. I was worried that I might need Premium, but now I can't see why anyone who doesn't need to file a state return would would need anything but Basic. I live in Texas, but it's still hard to find anything but the Premium version in the stores. But no matter which version you get, the questionnaire makes it easy to get every deduction you are entitled to and navigation to any form is easy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beware Mac Users.....PC too maybe., March 4, 2009

By 

Robert Merivel - See all my reviews

This review is from: H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Basic Federal + e-file [OLD VERSION] (CD-ROM)

I've recently reviewed Turbotax as well, with it's shortcomings I ordered Taxcut as well since my faith in TT was not very sound. I give Taxcut 4 stars for finding deductions, three stars for usability and 1 star for the most important thing of all: getting me my refund! It would not let me electronically file informing me: The IRS is not ready to receive your return due to certain tax form delays. An update will be ready on February 7th. This was January 31st...no problem. On February 7th it was updated to March 10th. I should have pursued it further but eventually today I contacted Taxcut support to see what the real story was. Even though the forms were updated Jan 31st they hadn't finished the update for the software and now it would be March 12th! I will take some responsibility here. But they should have advised me it would have been faster to paper file and not have blamed the IRS for their shortcomings. I returned to Turbotax and filed that way with no problem. So basically Turbotax + Taxcut MIGHT = a real tax software program.

When it comes right down to it, there is not a lot of software out there that is used for ONE basic thing. This software is for filing your tax return in a correct but also a timely manner. As far as I can tell both Turbotax and Taxcut fail if you don't have all but a very simple return to file this year.
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