Customer Reviews

TaxCut 2005 Deluxe (non-tax states) [Old Version]

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

 

 

I've used Taxcut for a few years and fairly happy with it. But this year it missed the sales tax deduction (I live in a state with no state income tax). The program defaulted to using state income tax (Schedule A line5). It should have seen no state income tax reported in the worksheet and compared to estimated

sales tax table and went with that. (a fairly large deduction)

I also think the way HSBC tries to sneak in it's additional $12.95 fee for 'easy pay' is rather underhanded.

I just purchased the software and successfully installed it on my computer. When I got to the point of entering dividends and capital gains, I couldn't figure out how to import the data from Fidelity that I've done for the last few years. Looking around on the Fidelity website, I can across the following statement: "For the 2005 tax year, Fidelity information will not be able to be imported directly into H&R Block's TaxCut programs. H&R Block expects that these products will have this functionality restored for the 2006 tax year." Unfortunately, this is the reason I'm using a software tax prep program, looks like it's back to TurboTax!

I cannot believe that Taxcut can no longer import capital gains info from Fidelity, which is has been able to do for several years. I was a happy customer, now I'm a MAD customer.

Installed on Windows XP with no problem and have already done an e-file before the "mid-Feburary" update mentioned by others. No problems with either. Having used TurboTax for 6+ years, I had been led to believe that TaxCut was inferior to TurboTax. I was pleased to discover that TaxCut is just as good as TurboTax and it's cheaper too! It also includes a rebate for a free Federal e-file, something that Intuit quietly has removed from this year's TurboTax. I plan to use TaxCut from now on.

The software has bugs, if using XP you cannot load the software without downloading a patch. After completing the information there is a second download. Trying to e-file you will get a message that there will be a mid February download needed to complete the e-filing. That is unless there will be a late March update. I should have stuck with TurboTax.

After spending over an hour waiting on their help line and trying all of their non-functioning suggestions, I was still unable to install this on either of my PCs. They don't want to admit it, but their ad for Deduction Pro kills the software install at 21% (or 26% for the standard version). And no, their "font patch", killing all startup services, upgrading the Flash Player, nor starting in Safe Mode did not resolve the problem. I'm out the money on this and am switching to TurboTax. H&R Block has lost this customer.

I've been using TaxCut for many years. It beats paper and pencil and plowing through IRS instructions and worksheets. Does it reduce my taxes to the lowest possible amount? How would I know? I'm certainly not going to pay for this software, spend the time to use it, then take my return to an accountant to see if he can save me any more.

I've been unhappy with TaxCut support for several years. Two years ago, for example, they had a bug that prevented me from being able to file electronically. To make it up to me, they let me have the next year's product for free. Last year, their Update Taxcut software function wouldn't work and I had to instead download the entire new version. At dial-up speeds, that was a no-go. I had to go to a friend who has DSL, download the new version, copy it to CD, then bring it home. This year, the updates still don't work, but at least the TaxCut web site has a solution posted. It involves changing my proxy settings.

Another enduring complaint: they can't seem to get it right when they release the "final" version in January. You have to keep downloading updates. That means, if you file early, you can't be sure your return will be right or if subsequent updates will be affecting your return.

I used to get furious at their NJ state version because it left too much to be done by hand OUTSIDE the program. For instance, last year, NJ had a tedious, complicated set of calculations for determining my penalty and interest. I ended up trying to construct an Excel spreadsheet to incorporate the NJ worksheet, but gave up. But this was something that TaxCut NJ should have included. There was nothing imponderable in the calcs, just lots of them.

Despite my dissatisfaction, I keep using TaxCut for the reason stated above: it beats paper and pencil.

My husband and I bought our copy of TaxCut and this is the first year we've used software to do our taxes. We have XP and the installation was smooth. At some points the software wanted to update itself, but all we had to do is click "cancel". Not a big deal.

I think we bought it for $19.95 and it's $15.95 to eFile. There is a rebate on the eFile fee, which is nice. We did our taxes February 1st and had our return deposited February 10th... not a bad turn around.

For us it was a good program and simple to us because we are good at using computers, so the installation and actual use of the program was fine. We don't have a billion deductions to keep track of also, and if we did, I'd pay the $50-$75 to have someone else do my taxes... I wouldn't trust myself to try and figure all of that out. I wouldn't want the headache either.

**We did by the Deluxe Edition, but I do believe it was going to charge an eFile fee for State returns... so we just opted to do our state taxes on the actual state website instead of using this program. Using the state's website for taxes has always been simple and easy, so we just used that again this year. It's free in our state also.** I'm not completely sure that it was going to charge a fee, so if I'm wrong-- sorry! The hubby does the taxes and I just watched.

I think I read a review before we bought the software about someone trying to use the software on Win98...? Yeah... it might be time to upgrade to a new computer with your tax refund this year. No wonder you're having problems.

So basically, if you've done your own taxes before, and you're familiar with computers (and have a decent-working system) this should be fine for you.

It's the first time I used TaxCut after years of TurboTax. Didn't have any installation problems and even the data import from last year went fine. It's basically the same thing as TurboTax, but not as slick. I guess less computer-savvy users should go with TurboTax, because navigation and entries that are off the interview path are quite tough to figure out. Despite my overall preference for Intuit's product, how can you resist the difference in price including the e-file rebate and now the $10 special rebate for TaxCut?!

I have used Tax Cut for several years. Have had no complaints. It is easy to use and is very complete. Plan to use it again next year.