Customer Reviews

TurboTax Home & Business Federal + State + eFile 2008 (Old Version) [DOWNLOAD]

5 star:		(170)
4 star:		(75)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(111)

 

 

I was shopping for TurboTax Premier 2008 and noticed a lot of negative reviews for a usually outstanding product. Based on negative reviews I read, people are upset with the price increase and license limits for 2008, not the quality of the software. I've been using tax preparation software for about 10 years and I've used both TurboTax and TaxCut. Although more expensive, I believe TurboTax is a better product than TaxCut and probably worth paying a little more (just a little). Not discouraged by the reviews, I shopped around Amazon.com and within minutes I found TurboTax Premier + State 2008 for less than $40 ($79.99 retail). The comparable product from TaxCut is $49.99 and I would recommend that to people preparing multiple returns. As much as I would like to send the message to Intuit by NOT buying their software this year, I don't feel like I'm being ripped off at all. In fact, I've been buying TurboTax products from online re-sellers for years at less than half the retail price. There are bargains out there if you're willing to spend a little time researching and comparing.

I'll keep using TurboTax as long as I can buy it from online re-sellers at reasonable prices. I'll switch to something else if my tax situation changes and I need to file multiple returns.

By the way... If you're looking for TurboTax Premier 2008 + State + E-File, I found it for $39.99 plus $3.99 s/h on Amazon.com from seller: "Arcadevideo".

UPDATE: Intuit has tried to correct for this year's price-grab (as detailed below in my original post) by reversing themselves and including 5 free e-files and removing restrictions on the number of returns that can be created and printed with a single copy of TurboTax. For that, I am raising my rating to two stars. However, as smart consumers, we should note when they did this and infer what motivated them. During the period while the controversy of their restrictions and extra charges was raging, Intuit and its representatives did nothing but try to justify their position, but this did nothing but inflame their (former) customers more.

However, the controversy did catch the attention of Intuit TurboTax's primary competitor, the Tax Cut product from H&R Block, who then moved to take advantage by first pointing out that they did not raise their price this year (even when including e-file as TurboTax did) and were not restricting the number of returns that could be done with a single copy of TaxCut. Then, more importantly, decided to offer 5 free e-files with the TaxCut product.

Only then did Intuit realize that they were not going to sneak this price-grab by consumers, because if the two products were side by side and only one of them (TaxCut) was advertising 5 free e-files and no limits on printing, they were going to lose sales big time. They then reversed their decision and have now matched TaxCut's offer.

So what does that mean for us consumers? In one sense, it is a victory, because we are getting what we wanted in the first place: to pay a reasonable price for a product that we can use to meet our family's needs. However, while I applaud Intuit's decision to reverse a bad decision, I can also see that it wasn't because they were listening and responding to their customers, but only countering their competition (who was listening to consumers and responded to take advantage).

More importantly, H&R Block's actions with TaxCut demonstrated a certain corporate character: first, they did not try to price-gouge customers this year by raising prices when they included "free" e-file. Free equals free. Second, they did not try to get extra money for printed returns (software as service) when the customer has already paid for the product. Third, they could have just trumpeted the fact that they do not charge for extra printed returns, but they raised the bar by including more free e-files. This is compared to Intuit's corporate character of greed and selfishness, which has been demonstrated this year by price increases, user restrictions, and extra charges. A few years ago, they also showed their true colors by including damaging Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) in TurboTax to prevent it from being installed on more than one computer, preventing legitimate customers from working on their return on a work computer and finishing it on their home computer, and then preventing them from uninstalling it. Then, as with this year, they only listened and gave in when it was already clear they are going to lose. Intuit needs to learn how to balance their profit expectations with respect for their customers and it will take time before they earn our respect back.

So for me, I will give credit where it is due and purchase TaxCut instead of TurboTax this year.

ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW:

Intuit is trying to pull a fast one on consumers this year by including e-filing "at no extra charge."

Intuit is promoting that they are including one free e-file with its software for tax year 2008, but has also increased the price of its products by about $15. In previous years, they would charge $15 extra to e-file, but you could send in a rebate to get that $15 back, which made it effectively free. This year, they charge you $15 upfront, whether you use the e-file or not, which means EVERYBODY PAYS MORE.

In addition, they have changed their product's license from allowing a purchaser of TurboTax to prepare up to five tax returns within the household in the 2007 version to allowing only one tax return (with included e-file) and then charging $9.95 for each additional return prepared, WHETHER THOSE ADDITIONAL RETURNS ARE PRINTED OR E-FILED in the 2008 version. The additional charges for additional e-file submissions would be fair, but not for additional preparations and printed returns. So what this means is that, under the guise of providing free e-file, Intuit will charge up to $54.80 ($15 + 4 * 9.95) MORE to consumers to receive the equivalent of what was provided with the 2007 version. Keep in mind, they are charging even if you prepare and print more than one return without e-filing, which means there is NO COST TO THEM, but they want to charge you for it anyway.

This doesn't sound free to me.

This will affect many users who prepare one main return, and then a few more simple ones for children or parents, etc. Even if you only do one return, you should avoid this year's TurboTax on principle. The core issue is that Intuit is trying to change TurboTax from a tool-based product model to a service-based model. However, they have not changed the pricing to reflect this change. The problem is, they want to continue pricing the product like they did before, when it was a tool that could be used multiple times, yet restrict it like a service where you pay for every use.

If you object to the one return policy, Intuit will just say, "Use TurboTax Online, it's free for simple returns!", but this suggestion is just a distraction in this discussion. What they are saying is like this: Suppose I bought a nice brand-name toolset for full price and used it on one project. I've now setup all the tools in the box just like I like it and become totally familiar with the tools and how they can be used, so much that I can just reach in the box without looking and find the tool I need and once I get it out I know just how hard to hit with that hammer. I finish the project and close up my toolbox for the day. The next day, my mom wants me to fix something so I get the toolbox but I now find that it is locked and has a security sticker on it saying that I'll have to pay $10 extra to open the toolbox for each additional project. Or, I can pack up my mom's item and drive it to the hardware store where they will let me borrow some simple tools to try and fix the item but if it gets too complicated over there, they'll start charging me to rent additional tools. Not to mention that I have to throw away all the learning that I've already developed with the great toolset that I already bought and learn another whole set of rental tools at the hardware store. If I wanted to rent tools, then I wouldn't have bought the toolbox in the first place (which was probably what the hardware store really wanted when they came up with this scheme).

Here is the problem people have with this scenario:

Last year, the toolbox included 5 uses. This year the toolbox costs $15 more but only allows a single use. Ok, it adds a "free" service that used to cost $15 but we may or may not want to use that service and if we did, we could send in a rebate for to get the $15 back, making it effectively free. But "Free service" aside, what happened to the value of those unlimited uses? The price of the toolbox stayed the same, but the functionality went down because we can only use it once. Maybe it would be more ok if there was a big sign at the store that said: "SAVE ON THIS TOOLBOX! YOU CAN ONLY USE IT ONCE BUT IT'S CHEAPER!" Or at have the decency to post a very big warning: "THIS TOOLBOX COSTS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, BUT YOU CAN ONLY USE IT ONCE!"

Don't let them get away this price increase that has no basis in common sense. Avoid TurboTax this year until they change this ridiculous policy, even if you only prepare a single return with it. If you buy it, they'll use your sales data to justify this unreasonable change, then who knows what else they will try to charge us for next for doing nothing on their part.

Looking at the big picture, what Intuit probably wants in the long term is to move people away from the boxed product and over onto the online product and then kill off the boxed product. This would eliminate the costs of physical production and distribution and the bandwidth costs of distributing software updates. It would also eliminate the slice of the profits given to retailers that sell their boxed product and kill off any promotional pricing or freebies. With no retailer competition, Intuit could charge whatever they want for their online service. It would also increase customer lock-in since their data would be purely stored on their own company servers.

I just went to the TurboTax site and they advise that they have dropped the $9.95 addition charge for each additional return. They claim an update to the program will come out on Dec. 20 to remove the screen that advised of the charge.

You may not need this expensive version of TurboTax if you're buying it primarily because you also have self-employment income (1099-MISC). I realize TT has recommended this but they've recanted and told me that the 2008 Deluxe version will be every bit as capable as the 2007 Deluxe version was in guiding us through the Schedule C, SE and other self employment forms.

Here's the dialogue:

TurboTax has just apologized to me.

TurboTax support has been extremely responsive in calling me back regarding my complaint to them about how badly they're confusing people on which TT product to buy.

I'd like you to read my question to them and then their answer. The bottom line is that TTDeluxe 2008 is every bit as comprehensive (and more) as the TTDeluxe 2007 product. There are no takeaways and no real reason for a Schedule D user to have to buy the Premiere version and no significant reason why a self-employed person MUST buy the Home/Business version. He knew their company screwed up and caused a public relations nightmare. Apparently the "recommended" upgrade products have expanded guidance and help for the uninitiated TT user.

If this 2nd review of mine is not accepted by Amazon, I will try to post it to the Premiere version and the Home/Business version and also as a comment to my 1st review here.

My question:

Considerable confusion exists as to whether a person with self employed income absolutely needs to buy the considerably more expensive Home/Business version. Your website indicates that the Deluxe version "includes" forms Sched. C, SE etc. and yet you say we should buy the more expensive program. This doesn't make sense. I'll be happy if Deluxe 2008 is as comprehensive as Deluxe 2007 was but nowhere do you compare the 2008 and 2007 versions.

You are getting very bad reviews this year on Amazon because of all this confusion. People believe you are taking away function from Deluxe and raising the price to boot.

Their response:

"These are the actions we took to assist you in resolving your issue:

I was able to express to Sam that the Deluxe program will have the same functionality as in previous years, as well as additional features as well. Sam express his confusion on the product features and that of the comparison between each of the verison of TTax. I informed Sam that he has given me a great piece of reference when relaying the changes, functions, and ease of usage within the program.
I will be able to inform my supervisors on this as well as urge the response for our return customers, as well as new.
Thank You Sam."

TurboTax Home & Business Federal + State 2007 [OLD VERSION]TurboTax Deluxe Federal + State + eFile 2008TurboTax Home & Business Federal + State + eFile 2008
I have just cancelled my automatic subscription to Turbo Tax Home and Business because of the HUGE, unreasonable and undisclosed increases to use the 2008 product. I have used TT for many, many years and in the last several, used it to do my two daughters' returns as well. In 2008, however, without ANY PRIOR DISCLOSURE to consumers, Intuit has ripped us all off by charging us $9.95 for any additional family member returns, whether we use E-file or not. This is ON TOP of the roughly 30% increase from last years product, when you could prepare and print out up to FIVE family members' returns at no additional charge. This was the last straw. I will NEVER use Turbo Tax or any Intuit product again, EVER. I highly recommend everyone to search for a tax software program that can import last years TT returns (such as Tax Cut, etc.) or look for a free on-line program. I've had it with Intuit's outrageous increases and rip-offs. They have just lost this long-time customer. Forever.
Richard Janci

It is nice to see that Intuit is listening to their customers. They have revised their pricing structure to include 5 federal returns and e-files with each TurboTax product. Turbo Tax is still the best way to go if you are filing yourself, but I wasn't going to buy it until they revised their pricing structure. Thanks for listening Intuit.

The major change in Turbo Tax this year is their HUGE increase in price. It is a hidden price increase. If you want to do your kids simple tax returns, you have to now pay for each one which is unlike ALL previous years!! When I contacted customer service to ask about the change, their answer was just a line trying to get you to believe they were saving you money. I have used Turbo Tax close to the beginning of the software development, but 2007 was my last. What a poor decision by what used to be a great company.

I had a little sticker shock at first, but waited a week and the download version dropped $20. The download (TT H&B Fed+State+eFile) version "does" include State - you just have to manually download it from within TT once it's installed. I had no problems installing on Vista or downloading the updates.

After many years of spending a lot more than the cost of TT on accountants, I broke down and decided to try my own taxes. This will be my third year of using TT and I have had no major problems with the software or figuring out my taxes. The interface is intuitive and I've only had to resort to the IRS' site a couple of times to read fine print on some special situations.

I would recommend this product to anyone that needs more than just a W2 tax season.

12-23-08 Turbotax 2008 and Intuit received so many complaints and many were switching to TaxCut 2008 that they changed their policy of only one return per CD on December 16, 2008. All you have to do is update and you are fixed for unlimited returns and 5 free e-files.

It reminds of the time in 2003 that Intuit copy protected the software so well that no one could get it to load and many had to go buy TaxCut. I prefer TurboTax and have used both. Here is the recent update information that I do not see here on Amazon reviews.

[...]

Update:
I'm getting a "Preparing Additional Returns" screen for $9.95 when I try to start over
Updated: 12/16/2008
Article ID: 6651

You might be confused - or alarmed - when you come to the screen shown below.

This screen, which reflected the original pricing structure, was removed in an update released on December 16, 2008. TurboTax customers can now e-file up to five federal tax returns, the limit set by the IRS, and prepare and print unlimited returns at no additional cost.

To remove this screen, please download the latest update.

[...]

Happy Holidays!

I will not use Turbo Tax anymore if I have to pay an additional $10 for each family member's tax return. I have used TurboTax for more than twenty years. I will also give up on using Quicken after more than twenty years using it because of these Intuit changes.