TurboTax vs. TaxCut vs. old O.S.

[bhelms]

Well I finally completed Fed and State taxes using TaxCut. I filed the Federal form electronically ($15.95) to expedite the refund. Since I owned the state $15 I chose (again) to just file that one on paper; given that I had to mail something to them anyway the only added cost was a few extra sheets of paper and ink, and I saved the additional electronic fee. TC imported all the stored personal and financial information left over from our '05 returns - we had a total of 3 to process - without any problems. Wham, bam, thank-you ma'am!

In all I found TaxCut to be very intuitive, perhaps moreso than TurboTax that I have been using for at least 10 years, and a little more "glitch free", tho' many of my past problems have been more likely due to my snail's pace dial-up connection. The total cost was $18.95 plus tax for the SW from Wal-Mart, and that $15.95 filing fee, overall cheaper than what I used to spend with TurboTax as well, but I may not be comparing apples-to-apples.

I was going to try to use the state's (PA) direct website, but my understanding is that I still need to (re)enter all the personal information, and that it isn't stored for next year. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of that.) That seemed like a waste so I just D/L'd the state product from TC and went that route.

Tks all for your suggestions. Now, where to spend all that refund ?!? Meet me in the Pub this coming Fri...!

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Coming to this one late, but have used TT for the past ten years or so. This year's TT worked well; I use the Home and Business version. I'd say that the program has its frustrations - like everytime you go back to visit something the home office deduction in the interview you have to go through the entire stinking thing.

 

[AllieVi]

... In all I found TaxCut to be very intuitive, perhaps moreso than TurboTax that I have been using ...

Same here. I tried it and will use it next year.

I offered a comment after completing the process. In line with your thought, I told them "It seems more intuitive than Turbo Tax..."

 

[bhelms]

...I offered a comment after completing the process. In line with your thought, I told them "It seems more intuitive than Turbo Tax..."

Yeah, I saw that play on words brewing! Perhaps we need to send the same thoughts to Intuit...!

 

[bonscott87]

I used to use Turbo Tax for years until they went all bloatware and filled it with adware/spyware about 4 years ago. That when I went to TaxCut and never looked back. TT may have eliminated their spyware by now (I hope so) but I think it was the 02 or 03 version that had that in it and I passed. In any case I like Tax Cut better and it's cheaper.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Here is a question for those who have switched to Tax Cut:

Will it import data from a Turbo Tax file? I have years of depreciation info from a home remodel in Turbo Tax, and while I would be willing to consider a different program, the deal breaker would be whether or not it could import all of the data. As it is, I don't have to deal with any of it; the Home Office Deduction interview already has all of the relevant info.

 

[AllieVi]

Here is a question for those who have switched to Tax Cut:

Will it import data from a Turbo Tax file? ...

That was a concern for me, too. The box said it would, so I decided to give it a try. It imported all my TT info from last year with no problems. I'm glad I tried it and will use it next year.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

That was a concern for me, too. The box said it would, so I decided to give it a try. It imported all my TT info from last year with no problems. I'm glad I tried it and will use it next year.

Thanks, I might try it next year. But right now, I want to put taxes out of my mind for awhile...

 

[Bogy]

I mailed my taxes in WAAAAYYY early this year, about 7:30 this morning. I had to be out of town for a meeting, and wasn't sure when I would be back, and currently I don't live in a town where they were going to keep light on for late filers. Of course, it was two days later than the normal April 15, but I have mailed my taxes more than once after 11 PM on the 15th. I DID my taxes in February. But I'm not getting anything back, and its a matter of principle to me NOT to send off my check a day earlier than I have to.

 

[AllieVi]

When I lived in Northern VA, taking the return to the main DC area post office in Merrifield just before midnight was an annual ritual. Traffic directors and special drive-by drop-off boxes were there for the many procrastinators. It was a fun way to do an un-fun thing.

 

[bhelms]

...I DID my taxes in February. But I'm not getting anything back, and its a matter of principle to me NOT to send off my check a day earlier than I have to.

Bogy - I certainly agree with that principle, so I mail my state and local taxes very close to the deadline each year. The fact that I usually have a federal refund should prompt me to earlier action, but that hasn't worked in recent years, so that return is always "late" as well! Nothing like consistency! And the fact that I usually have a federal refund is a problem unto itself that I need to address. Well, at least I can consider all the interest I lose on MY money over the year a contribution to helping with the national debt...!

 

[bhelms]

When I lived in Northern VA, taking the return to the main DC area post office in Merrifield just before midnight was an annual ritual. Traffic directors and special drive-by drop-off boxes were there for the many procrastinators. It was a fun way to do an un-fun thing.

That was once a big event locally as well. They once had entertainment and refreshments in the PO lobby for those waiting in line, even a "babe" or two to help point the way!

Did anyone else hear about the last minute problems at Intuit? I didn't get the full scoop, but apparently their servers overloaded or shut down at a most inopportune time as the last minute filers were scrambling to meet the deadline. Intuit's message to their ill-fated customers - "File earlier" !! I wonder if those folks will now be subject to IRS penalties and fees for late filing !?! Can you say "class action law suit" ??

Glad I went with TaxCut this year. Assuming the H&R Block product will continue to support Win98, I'll stick with them next year as well.

Now back to my regularly-scheduled life for another 11+ months...!

 

[Bogy]

I saw a headline someplace this afternoon that the IRS would not penalize those inconvenienced by the "glitch." Actually, they get so many at this time of the year that I am not all that convinced that they really pay that much attention to the postmarks, as long as its not getting there a week from now.