Customer Reviews

TurboTax Deluxe 2005 with State Win/Mac [Old Version]

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(25)
1 star:		(38)

 

 

Beware of the E-filing costs. Previous years were more
up front costs ($ plus $ rebate). Good deal for e-filing
right. That was for Federal only.

This year I get $ flash on the screen just for Federal.
OK, it went up. But after I e-file I see more charges from
a Bank in Santa Barbara. Almost $ total withdrawn from my refund (more than the software cost) for e-filing just the Federal. I'm glad I didn't e-file the state too. I really have to check now the total as just the $ flashed on the screen.

My 39 cent stamp cost is a bargain now. From now on the paper
use is back unless this changes.

I like the software but Intuit must think they have customers with no minds. Saving money is a concern for customers.

This is my eigth year using Quicken TurboTax and it will be my sixth year using the state tax version. I can't imagine going back to pen and paper to do taxes.

There is a new format this year and I'm not quite sure I like it. It could be that I'm use to the old format. However, the program still takes you step-by-step through the tax process by asking you questions about the various sections of the forms. It also prompts you to make you remember about things that may have slipped you mind, like other deductions. And, it makes suggestions for deductions that you may not have thought about. At the end of the process you can print out the forms for mailing in the traditional format or in a format that's easy for the IRS computers to read. In addition, you can opt to file electronicly. The help section IS very helpful. It actually makes sense of the rules and instructions for filing your taxes and explains the relevant sections of the tax code in easy to understand language. My one suggestion is that you have all your papers with you before you start the process. You can, of course, save your work and come back to finish or edit it, but it is a pain to be half way through and remember that your mortgage statement is two floors away.

I tried Taxcut in the past because of the product activation on TurboTax. I had problems with it right off. It stated on the box that you could import TurboTax files but when I tried it wouldn't let me. The Taxcut web site suggested that this was a common problem and that you had to edit your TurboTax file (with TurboTax) to bring it down to a certain size. Still, it didn't tell you what that size was ok or really give you any idea on what to cut out. (I thought all of the our tax info was important).

I have to agree that the advertising included in the product (for more Intuit products) now borders on the ridiculous and the program (like all programs) needs more space and more resources each year but I still think that is better that the competition.

My advice: TurboTax is still the best tax prep software. Don't do your taxes without it.

FINALLY Turbo tax has combined all three products-Fed/State and ItsDeductible. Thank you, Intuit, for getting rid of the rebates and selling this at a lower price!

I have used both TaxCut (2004) and Turbo Tax (2003 Premier and 2005 Deluxe)--Turbo Tax is the clear winner for me. Turbo Tax has better help in guiding you thru your return. I used TaxCut last year and it calculated different taxes every time (hundreds of dollars) depending on how I answered a series of questions, despite answering them all truthfully. TaxCut is essentially an electronic form with little help or advice.

The down side--pray you don't need phone help, unless you want to try conveying your problem to someone in India.

[...]

I've used Turbo Tax for the past several years, with the exception of one year in which I used TaxCut. Between the two, Turbo Tax is the far superior program. Believe me, I should know-I've been a CPA for years. The key to using this program properly is to 1) update frequently and 2) READ THE QUESTIONS!!! There's a good deal of help in Turbo Tax if you take the time to go through the entire "interview" process and don't try to take shortcuts. Since I'm near the IL/IN border, I end up doing some returns that have income from both states (what can I say? My family likes those IN riverboat casinos!). The program has handled the procedure accurately in all cases.

As with any tax preparation, you need to review your work. If you want to pay an accountant or tax preparer, they do the review process for you, and that's why you pay them the big bucks. My recommendation is that if you're using a boxed program like this, don't be in a big rush to get it out the door by January 31. Prepare your return in mid February (by that time, the IRS has pretty much finalized the bulk of the new tax information) and walk away from the return for a week. Come back the next week, update your software, print, and do a manual review of the entries on your tax return. No software program can eliminate human error-not even the $ Lacerte professional software!

I have been a loyal Turbo Tax user for years and I loved the rebates. But because they stopped the rebates I switched to H & R Block's Tax Cut. The software costs $ less and Block rebates the Federal E-File fee. I loaded Tax Cut in with no problem and it imported all my information from Turbo Tax. I found Tax Cut easier to work with and will probably use it again next year. I filed a Federal 1040 Itemized and New York State Itemized. I would recommend Tax Cut over Turbo Tax if your filing status is similar.

I have been using TurboTax for over ten years, and lately it has been going down hill.

The user interface for the 2005 version has gotten much more confusing and I find myself wandering amongst all the screens in an attempt to find where information is supposed to be entered.

Rebate incentives are getting fewer, with on-line filing rebate being eliminated this year. I guess I'll be filing by paper this year.

Features that used to be in the Deluxe version are now only in the Premier version, forcing an upgrade for another $ to complete my tax return.

Import from Quicken has always been poor, I have never been able to import anything other than some basic information.

Just make sure you consider all this when making a purchase. It may cost more than you think.

For years I have always bought the Deluxe version which gave the free federal efile (after rebate) and free state. Found out this year there is no free federal e-file. (...). Could of bought TaxCut for $15 less and also received rebate for free federal filing. Next year will use TaxCut.

I'm very upset that Intuit didn't disclose the additional charge it imposes if you want to e-file. it's ridiculous that after paying $ for the software, intuit wants to charge you an additional fee (at least $) to have your taxes filed electronically. If I had known of this crazy charge, I would not have purchased the product. I will not use turbo tax again until Intuit removes the outrageous charge or at least better informs the users in obvious/bold print.

Well Intuit has finally driven the last nail in their coffin for me. I was able to weather the changes in the package that supposedly make it easier to use. I accepted their apology for the the spyware controversy they created in a previous edition.

But the new policy they have implemented this year has effectively doubled the cost of their product making the competitor's offerings that much more appealing. $30 to file electronically? When the IRS offers options to file electronically for free? Intuit in year's past used an acceptable model. The first federal and state filing were free after rebate - but no longer.

Sorry Intuit, I can no longer justify paying for your product. I thank you for being a leader in developing the market for tax prep software. I just wish you would want to continue being the innovative leader that you used to be.

Saying there's a great way to do your taxes is like saying there's a great way to pull a jagged-edge javelin out of your spleen. With that caveat, I do recommend TurboTax Deluxe. It worked nicely for me, it's easier to use than TaxCut and other tax software, and it's SO much better than going to H&R Block or other over-the-counter tax services.

I particularly like TurboTax because it takes me through every step -- just like the part-timer at H&R Block does -- but shows me options and allows me to take the time to weigh whether it will be better for me to itemize or take the standard deduction, see dime for dime whether to bother adding up medical expenses, decide whether to take something as a 179 or depreciate it, and so on. H&R Block won't give me that much time or make that much effort. At least they haven't in the past.

Also, being the picky jerk that I am, TurboTax let's me go through the return fifteen times to make sure everything's correct before I send it in. The last time my wife and I took ours to Block, we took their incorrect advice - thinking their expertise was part of what we were paying for - and a year later we suddenly had to pay a few extra thousand dollars in taxes that we were led to believe were not owed.

As for the cost...well, any amount you spend to do your taxes is, yes, tax-deductible. So while this is never going to be the cheapest way to prepare your taxes, only you can decide if it's worth fronting a few bucks now that you will get back later anyway. Welcome to the world. For me, it was.

I say go for the TurboTax Deluxe. It won't be painless, but it will give you the control a reasonable person should have when being required to stuff your money into the government's cleavage. Best of luck.