Customer Reviews

TaxCut Deluxe 2003

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(39)

 

 

The transition went better than expected as I was able to transfer schedule B and similar stuff that saves retyping...not just name, address, etc. Turbotax users will, of course, find the interface a bit different...but the learning curve isn't steep. When I had a question, I was able to talk to support on the phone without paying for it. Speaking of paying, Taxcut is usually 20-30% cheaper than equivalent Turbotax...has been for a long time, so I'd expect those making the change to reap the savings benefits for years to come. Also, this year I got Money 2004 Deluxe for free after rebates with Taxcut Deluxe running $...after rebate. Since Quicken has gone way downhill in recent years [read user reviews] it seemed a good time to make the change.
For those concerned about spyware/adware, a common complaint with Turbotax: I ran Adaware 6 & Spybot S&D after installation and found no spyware or ad generators.

Last year, I switched from TurboTax to TaxCut. The main reason being that the makers of TurboTax decided to include a piece of spyware with their software which couldn't be deleted from your computer. Plus, you had to jump through considerable hoops in order to even install it. No more of that nonsense for me.

TaxCut, to be honest, seems to be a step behind TurboTax. Not a huge step, but a step nonetheless. The program is intuative enough, and will get the job done for you without the hassles though. Basically, it's a trade off. You get slightly less functionality with whole lot less hassle.

I have been a loyal Turbotax user for years and decided to tryout TaxCut this year. I was EXTREMELY unhappy after last year's fiasco where Intuit installed Spyware without users knowledge in order to cutdown on copyright infringement of their product. Unfortunately, they ticked off the loyal users like myself. I believe they have lost/will lose more sales based on that fiasco than they could've possibly saved by catching a few people trying to copyright infringe!

Anyway, I was impressed with TaxCut especially for the price. I paid about 40% less for TaxCut Deluxe & TaxCut State than I would have paid for Turbotax Deluxe & Turbotax State.

For the most part, the programs are very similar. TaxCut does the usual interview process just like Turbotax and it makes it very easy to work with. Where TaxCut needs a bit more polish is in the fine details. Missing was the ability to save your tax returns into Adobe Acrobat format. I love that feature in Turbotax and really missed it.

In addition, I had a little trouble with form 4767 because I claim deductions for a home office and sold my house/moved this year. It worked out after some reading of the help file and IRS.gov site, but it could've been more intuitive.

Other than those couple of items, I was very happy with the program(s). I ran my return through Turbotax's website (without purchasing or filing it) and the numbers came out the same so I am satisfied with the accuracy of the software as well. Overall I'm glad I switched to TaxCut this year. I doubt I'll look at Turbotax in the future.

My Dad uses turbo tax(he has the paperwork in quickenbooks, dont ask about the problems with that product) and I have been using taxcut so I have had the time to compare the products, and have to question what product the people complaining about the user interface are talking about. I see really no meaningful difference between the two.

Personnaly I will stick with and recommend taxcut for 3 reasons
1) Does not have a history of installing stupid additional software with it.
2) has all the features of turbo tax for the average user(if you are running a buisiness and have a tax consultant go with turbo tax)
3) it is cheaper.

If you want additional support of have alot of capital gains from stocks get the premium version.

After 10 years of using TurboTax, I tried TaxCut this year in protest of TurboTax's invasive anti-piracy mechanism last year. I've been shocked to find out that TaxCut is actually easier to use!

TaxCut has an interview system that allows you to quickly skip the steps not applicable to you. It does so by periodically presenting lists of possible conditions that may or may not apply to you, and you just check off the ones that do. Then the interview covers only those. As a result, I think I got through my taxes much faster this year than ever have before. I did both my federal and state, and e-filed, in one evening.

My taxes aren't super complex, so I can't vouch for complicated scenarios. But for the average household that isn't running a business or juggling investments, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this.

After using TurboTax for years, I finally recognized that Intuit can no longer be trusted, and I switched to TAXCUT. I was reluctant and hesitant but am now glad I did.

I found TaxCut to be a very easy to use piece of software that completed my return as easily or more easily than any other tax software I've used. Everything from completion of my returns to electronic filing went smooth as silk. All I had to do was follow directions.

I have need for a small number of forms that most people don't use (Schedule C, etc), and was able to find virtually everything I needed in TaxCut. Fine job by the folks at H&R. I'm now a permanent TaxCut customer.

Annoying, frustrating problems with TaxCut in order of importance -

#1 - Calculations are off. In doing my state taxes, the always visible window of running totals for fed/state amounts owed (or refunds due) was showing my state refund at one dollar amount, while the main screen was telling me "I see you have a refund of (ten dollars less than the running totals window was showing)". Not good. In printing out my state returns, one copy read "1078" for medical deductions; the next day when I printed out another copy the numbers were altered (no one else was working on this but me )and the number printed out as "178", which threw all of the other numbers off. Also on the state return, my refund on screen appeared as one number, and on the printout of the instructions on how to file, the refund number was off by $200 (on screen it had been off by $10).
#2 - The TaxCut Deluxe box advertises (screams) that if you buy the Deluxe version, the State program is free. How do you go about getting the necessary form for your state refund? Don't bother looking on the TaxCut Deluxe box, you'll find no helpful information there. If you download the state product, you will find no references whatsoever to this mythical "rebate"; and if you get clever and visit the H&R Block website, you're also in for a surprise - finding this information is not easy (almost impossible actually.
Do enough digging and you will eventually be led to a link that tells you the form you need is buried in your program files under TaxCut/Setup in PDF version (why would anyone think of looking there in the first place??) It's not there, so don't waste your time searching.
If you're not computer savvy and you are trying to work through these instructions, you have probably already given up. The key to success here is to refuse to accept worthless automated replies for an answer and demand the rebate form that was promised to you. That tactic eventually worked for me. If they really cared about the customer and wanted to avoid deceptive marketing practices, they would have simply posted the needed forms on their website. H&R Block certainly does NOT want to make it easy for you to get the refund they lured you with to buy their product.
#3 If you are downloading the state program, you are given a choice of purchasing a $4.99 "download backup protection service." Click "no" as I did and learn afterwards that you were charged for this unwanted tack-on anyway. Email your complaint (best of luck finding the contact email) to have this resolved.
Last point(s)...be careful when you set up & install TaxCut..unless you scrutinize the instructions you'll find EarthLink busily installing itself as your new dial up ISP(again the less computer savvy would be duped into thinking this installation was a necessary element of the TaxCut program)
Finally, after all of this, be prepared to endure quite a few irritating pitches for H&R Block products/services & related information while you're stressing out, aggravated as hell & trying to concentrate on completing your returns.

I used Tax Cut last year, after having used Turbo Tax the few previous years. I had absolutely no problems with the software or e-filing, for either fed or state. It was very quick and easy to use. And it cost much less. Maybe those that had problems have an old computer or operating system.

I used Turbo Tax for several years with few problems but decided to try TaxCut this year, since it is cheaper and, according to reviews at Amazon, quite similar.

I may have saved about ten dollars, but it took me four or five hours longer to do my taxes than would have been the case had I used Turbo Tax. TaxCut does not download 1099 information from most financial institutions, the "help" feature is almost always well... unhelpful. One calculation in my return was unquestionably wrong (the software designers seemed to suspect that it might not give the right figure for many users and thus suggests overriding the program's calculation--but overriding a single figure means the program will not allow you to file electronically. The program mysteriously made extra copies of many forms.

The main point of TaxCut seems to be to sell H&R Block products. If you want a user friendly tax preparation program, you would do well to look elsewhere.

It never ceases to amaze me how people decide to denigrate a product because of "trouble" with a vendor (shop someplace else!), customer support (is any of it good these days?), unrealistic expectations (a $20 software program isn't a $75/hr financial consultant), their system problems (when was the last time you ran disk clean-up?), etc. Let's stick to reviewing the PRODUCT, shall we?
OK, TaxCut Deluxe is a real bargain. It's consistently cheaper than Intuit, does as good a job (yes, I've used both), saves time and money by filling in a ridiculous number of tax forms, electronically transmits everything (getting you a faster refund), and pays you back for the cost of one e-file and the state version. So it doesn't meet ALL of the people's needs ALL of the time ... what product does?! It has always handled everything I could throw at it, and has caught things I know I would have missed without it. I can't give it 5 stars, because of a minor input glitch (the program would jump back to the top of a column whenever I clicked the next box in one input screen), but otherwise, it was fast and easy.
Now, if you want to gripe about other things, use online forums. Amazon has ALWAYS been a straight-shooter with me, that's why I keep coming back! I've used countless software programs, yet consistently have problems with only one manufacturer (#@!* Microsoft!). Finally, I'm not one of the 2 dozen people in the US who need Form XC-3249Q. If your like most people, you'll love this software, and have more money in your pocket afterwards ... and isn't that what you REALLY wanted to know?