Customer Reviews

TaxCut from H&R Block 2001 Basic Filing Edition

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I have used Taxcut at least 6 years now. I used Turbo Tax Deluxe once between tax years and returned back to Taxcut because it was a better price. This year I was ripped off. I should have gone with Turbo Tax. Not only did the software crash on XP, but it crashed at the end of my "Interview" of entering in all my information. Locked up every time I got to this point. There were also a few points along the way where data was lost for charitable contributions and a couple of other worksheets. In all I think I had at least 4 quirks to work around in the software. I did eventually figure out the lockup problem and got my taxes finished. Then after downloading the CA State and e-filing I spent another $45. I could have paid a tax guy to just do all my taxes in the long run. Taxcut will never get my business again. I am going to Turbotax next year.

I do not do this too often, I usually try to remain positive. At this moment I am looking at my tax return that was returned to me by the IRS. I should have known that there might have been something wrong when the program asked me to find specific answers to my questions on the IRS web site. I use tax programs to help me file, given that I do not know all the current tax laws, I did not expect the program to ask me to find the answers to my own questions.

Taxcut took me twice as long to file then when I use Turbo Tax. Errors were hard to correct and manual corrections would void your ability to file electronicaly. A full day went into preparing my taxes and now I will have to spend another day redoing my taxes with Turbo Tax. I do not think I will ever use Taxcut again.

I would like to close this review on a positive note, but I can only say that I am positive that I will not use H&R's products again.

I used the TaxCut 2000 last year and found it to be very easy to work with. I had no problems what so ever and it took no time at all to complete. It asks all the questions that are stated very simply, and if you need further explainations you can get those as well. You can also get support from H&R Block or go to H&R Block's website for more tax information. I highly recommend this program and will purchase the 2001 edition for this year.

I used TaxCut for 2000 and had no problems, so I bought it again for 2001 and I have had nothing but problems with this year's program, I had to redo my taxes at least six or seven times because the program will not correct mistakes by the interview process -- and if you try to manually correct a mistake on the form, it warns you that you will NOT be allowed to e-file if you do that. The problem turned out to be "user error" but I interpret that as NOT "user friendly." The instructions were very vague and hard to understand. I finally had to complete my taxes on a paper form 1040 using the IRS's easy to understand instructions and then I was able to transfer that information into the program. In addition, the program also refused to allow me to e-file, stating that I was required by my state to file my state return electronically at the same time I filed my federal return (definitely NOT true!), and that I had to go back & purchase their state software program in order to complete that section. I had downloaded their update yesterday using the "update" button provided at the beginning of the interview -- however, when the program repeatedly refused to allow me to e-file until I bought their state program I realized that there had to be an error in their software. So I downloaded an update today using the "tools" button at the top of the screen - this time it was definitely a MUCH larger download and once the download was complete, the program finally allowed me to file!! What should have been a simple process took me two days and a LOT of aggravation to complete. Next year I'm getting TurboTax!

The program crashed all the time. Tech support was a joke. I tried the product on several computers and set it up different a couple of time. Same results everytime, it crashed. Spend the extra 5 bucks and buy turbo Tax. I still can't beleive I bought this garbage, never again.

Found it difficut to follow and the first time through some entries were not correct and on the wrong lines. After going back several times and very carefully checking the return is correct I hope. It would have been much easier to have made the entries on the 1040 Forms.

TaxCut is great! Never any problems. Intuitively easy to use.
I was burned by Turbo Tax two years in a row. They didn't have all the forms I needed and the electronic filing didn't work. I wound up having to hire H&R Block to do my taxes. I tried to get the "guaranteed" refund from TurboTax, but nobody answered the phone number they gave you to request the refund. TurboTax was a big ripoff. Buy TaxCut instead--you'll be much happier.

This software was pathetic at best. It made assumptions about certain forms and even tried to charge me self-employment Tax on almost $5000! Good luck if you need to go back and make changes.. If you do you'll find yourself having to manually choose forms and fill them out without a walk through or any worthwhile help.

I hope I don't get audited!!

I have used TaxCut for 4 years and this will be my 5th. I had taxes prepared by a professional for years and find this software asks the same questions he did...but without an hourly charge! If you buy the non-final edition you can expect some idiosyncracies...it's best to wait until the final edition is published as tax laws change right up to December 31. This is true of ALL tax software. The only thing I would change are some of the explanation screens; some seem not complete, and others are jargon-filled. A good all-around buy for basic tax-prep!

The product should not be released to the consumer. I found sections in the application that said it was for testing purposes only and would be removed before production. Live update reports that I have the latest version. In addition, I get abnormal termination errors. My system is very well maintained and I do NOT get errors with any other applications.

Would you thrust your taxes to such an application?