Customer Reviews

TaxCut 2005 Deluxe + State [Old Version]

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(57)

 

 

I have been using the Taxcut Deluxe version for the past seven years and have extremely happy with it. When I started using it seven years ago I doubted I could prepare my own tax return without making any mistakes, so for the first two years I had my sister, a licensed CPA and CFO, review my returns after I prepared them with Taxcut. She not only verified that everything was correct, but she noticed that Taxcut calculated items that she would have overlooked, since she was managing a corporate accounting department and was not preparing personal returns anymore. After those first two years, I have not had her review my returns and she started using Taxcut to prepare her own. My father, also a licensed CPA and retired CFO, was using Turbotax to prepare his personal returns and was becoming frustrated with it. He switched to Taxcut a few years ago when he heard about Turbotax installing [...]and he decided he didn't want to hassle with it anymore. In addition, he was filing state returns in two states and Taxcut state allowed him to do that at no additional charge. Between the three of us, Taxcut has worked without any errors and we have had no problems using or installing it. [...]

This year, I have already imported my files from last year and have begun to plan my tax return. It only took a few minutes to install both the federal and state programs and import my files from last year, which I had backed up on CD. I am currently using it to plan my tax liability for this year and will be prepared to file as soon as my wife and I receive our W2's and year-end statements from our investments. I haven't used Deduction Pro in the past, but I did install it this year since it was in the box and I figured I would see how it worked. My wife and I make donations every year and never thought they were worth much. Not thinking there was much value to any of the items we donated, I itemize just a few, so far, and it looks like they were worth more than I thought. I will definitely be itemizing all of our donations this year.

I give Taxcut five stars because it's easy to install, easy to use, and simple to back up and uninstall when you are finished using it. Most importantly, it accurately calculates your taxes.

If you've gotten used to downloading your 1099 info from Fidelity (or other places) into TaxCut, get ready for a big disappointment. It's gone in the 2005 version, they didn't say why when I called tech support. Even if you only have a moderate number of trades, or do any options trading, this means a lot more work for you since you have to enter everything by hand.

Update 1/16: I spent more than an hour on the phone with the people from TaxCut trying to get them to honor their "refund if not 100% satisfied" offer. Got bounced from person to person as everybody claimed it was "the other department's" responsibility. Finally somebody said I would get a refund (and a courtesy call!) within 24 to 48 hours. It is now a week later, and no call and no credit to my credit card.

So you can buy this product with complete confidence that if it doesn't work for you, they will cheerfully make sure that they waste your time and don't refund your money.

Update 2/19: TaxCut has never refunded my money. I have switched over to TurboTax. Should have done that years ago, it is easier to use, more complete, and more intuitive. Also, my money won't be going to those [...]people at TaxCut.

Let me start by saying I've used Tax Cut for my 3 previous returns, with no issues whatsoever. So last year I pre-ordered when I filed my tax returns, and a CD arrived a couple of days back. I then tried to install it........that's when things started to go down hill. I should also point out that I've worked in IT for the last 10 years, so I know a bit about software and PC's.

The first 4 attempts to install all halted at the exact same spot, 21% complete, while trying to install a file called mmvdpro.swf in the ...help/us folder, no problem I thought, I'll look at their solutions on the web site, see if there's a patch or fix availabe, unfortunately there wasn't, so I decidedto open a trouble ticket with their customer service.

Initially they responded with a cut and paste of the FAQ from the web - asking me to reboot, when I had clearly stated in the original mail that I had done this twice. I replied asking for some real help, they told me to disable my Anti-virus and Firewall software "it should only take 5 minutes" they said. This is the most absurd piece of "help" I've ever been offered, first off; they don't even ask what AV or Firewall software I was running, secondly; do they know it's 2005, I'd no more go out into the street naked than turn off both my firewall and antivirus software. A couple of emails later, they told me to apply for a refund!!!!!!! Way to go guys. Now if I could install Tax Cut while disconnected form the web, disabling my security software MIGHT be an option, but you have to be connected to the web to install!

I've tried and tried to get the darn thing to install - all with no help whatsoever from H&R Blocks technical support. You wonder how a company becomes so succesful turning customers away.

This software is years behind TurboTax, which I've used for the 4 years prior (with no audits and no problems). I gave it a shot this time around because it was cheaper, but found numerous bugs that have left me very nervous about submitting my taxes. Here's a HUGE one: If you live in California, you can deduct a portion of your vehicle registration fees under state and local tax. Turbotax explicitly asks you for this. Taxcut MAKES NO MENTION OF IT. If you didn't know to enter it manually (how ridiculous!), you wouldn't get this credit. And for most people, this credit will reduce their taxes (or increase their rebate) significantly-- for me it was far more than the cost of this stupid software.

If you want to be wary about your taxes, use Taxcut. If you want to miss obvious deductions and credits, use Taxcut.

Unfortunately most of us are stuck with either TurboTax or TaxCut! I switched to TaxCut this year from TurboTax. Last year I had to boot up in safe mode to install AND run TurboTax. So I thought I'd give TaxCut a try this year. Low and behold I got the dreaded 21% hang while trying to load the mmvdpro.swf file. I had to boot up into safe mode again this year to install TaxCut. However, I was able to run TaxCut from normal boot, so a little improvement.

Once installed TaxCut imported my TurboTax file and everything seemed to work smoothly. As TurboTax did last year. I'm not sure what these companies are doing with their software builds as the Tax software are the only programs I have installation problems with.

Now, I just have to wait until I get the latest TaxCut updates (due in mid Feb) to submit my return.

p.s. I'm using Premium +State

After four straight years of using TaxCut, I believe I'll use TurboTax next year. As others pointed out, after TaxCut indicated no further errors nor warnings, the return got rejected by the IRS because, in Form 8801, the program did not subtract line 38 from line 37 and put the results in line 40. I won't be able to e-file because of this basic mistake in TaxCut's compliance with how the form should be filled out according to the IRS.

I have always used Quicken's turbo tax. This year I decided to be cheap and bought Tax Cut at Wal-Mart. BIG MISTAKE!!! A long story short, I lived in two states last year. The first one does not accept e-filing of part year residents. No problem I sent a paper filing. BUT, taxcut would not allow me to submit the second state because it said the first state couldn't be efiled. There is no way to submit one state and not the other. The software is so idiot proof that you can;t delete one state to circumvent the issue. I called technical support. They had no idea what I was talking about. They never offerred to refund what I paid for two state tax additions. Their brilliant suggestion. "It would be best to just send the return on paper." Then why did I buy the product?

Like many others, I bought TaxCut Deluxe + State on CD and Taxcut told me "If you purchased a state program, please copy and paste the Install Key and Name from the confirmation e-mail" when I tried to install and activate the state software.

Well, there is no e-mail and no key. Apparently, Taxcut assumes that I downloaded Taxcut from the Web site, instead of from a CD.

I tried to email H&R Block and also tried their online chat. No luck.

Their Web site touts "24 hour response time" for e-mail, but it has been three days now, and I haven't gotten a reply.

When I tried their chat support, it kept saying that an agent would be with me shortly, but after 30-40 minutes of this it declared that it was terminating my chat session.

After being a satisfied Taxcut customer for several years, H&R Block has converted me into a permanent H&R Block NON-customer.

I returned the software and bought TurboTax.

TaxCut is not able to handle the Social Security worksheet. Attempts to print or file taxes without using the worksheet, even though zero SS tax are due, is met with an error message. Therefore,I am not able to print a paper tax form or electronically file. Calls to TaxCut resulted in the statement "they are aware of the problem and they are working on the issue". So far they have had over 10,000 complaints. Date of error fix is unknown. So if you received any SS and if you want to file anytime soon, use Turbo Tax.

I have been a Taxcut user for the last 5 years and have experienced minor problems each year -- specifically related to filing in 2 states that other reviewers have pointed out as well. Twice, the New York State taxes turned out to be incorrect and I had to pay follow up charges.
Each year after filing I have thought that I would never use this package again, but each year I have succumbed to their advertising and the hope that it will be easier since my previous years taxes are in the same software and can be readily imported. THis year is the worst.
The program imported fine and we have been entering the new data as it comes in. Last week, in explicably the program dies at the launch time with a message"Line 1 syntax error". Can't figure out anything I can do since I cant even access the help info. Have written to TAXCUT (no reply in 4 days -- so much for the promised 48 hour turn around) and have sat with the phone for several hours (in multiple tries) waiting for someone to pick up after they put you on hold. You get disconnected eventually. A very negative experience.