It's that time of year again! I've used Turbo Tax for years and been pleased with how easy it is to use, but I'm looking at ads and seeing other options that are less expensive. Do you have opinions/experience with different tax prep programs? If so, I'd appreciate any info you can share!
Thanks!
Melinda
The two main ones are TurboTax and Taxcut. Both are generally well-reviewed and there really isn't a huge difference between the two. Generally, I think the conventional wisdom is that if you have been using one of them for any length of time, there really isn't much of a compelling reason to switch to the other.
If you really do want to consider another alternative, you could also look into one of the online tax prep services now available. I've actually used H&R Block's web-based service the last couple years and it generally worked well for me. The cost is fairly comparable to TurboTax and Taxcut (which is actually made by H&R Block as well), but I kind of like not having to buy and install software that I'm really only using once.
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That's what we used last year and it worked out fine. I'll be doing the same this year.Originally Posted by JeffG
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I've been using TurboTax online for the last few years. No complaints.
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I always recommend CompleteTax from CCH. I worked for them for a number of years, and came to know their system intimately. Their system is the consumer verision of ProSystem fx, the #1 tool used by tax preparers, accountants, and tax lawyers throughout the country. They are consistently ranked as the most accurate service available. If you aren't married to one of the other packages, it is definately one to check out.
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Thanks all! It sounds like any of the choices are good.
Tony, thanks for the link. I have never heard of CompleteTax, their marketing department needs to get moving!
I tried TurboTax one year. It didn't impress me. I now use M200, by Pelikan. Along with a hand calculator and (for making sense of my annual stack of 1099s) a spreadsheet.
James H. H. Lampert
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I use turbo tax. Its easy to use, I like that it transfers my info from one year to the next, and I get a discount for banking at bank of america.
Linda
I know I am different but I have been using TaxCut for years. It is cheaper than Turbo Tax, and works just as well, IMO.
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I was looking at the software today...
For California residents, you want to get the "Deluxe" version, which does come with the software to get the state return done.
TaxCut is running about $29, and TurboTax is $39. TaxCut comes with a free electronic filing (with rebate), I don't think TurboTax does (the charge is about $10).
So between the lower price and electronic filing, TaxCut (made by H&R Block) is half the price. If you used the other version's software, both programs will read and transfer the prior year info to the current return.
One thing I saw both programs had was a GREAT program that is now included at no extra cost!!!! It is for those folks who itemize and donate goods to charity. What it does is give a third-party value to all the clothing, furniture and other things given to Goodwill, Salvation Army, your church, etc. Most folks underestimate the value of the items given. The prices are recognized by the IRS as valid, and will help increase the declared value of the goods donated.
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This week I received a letter from Quicken saying that they were no longer going to support my old version and I'd need to upgrade if I wanted to continue downloading info from my bank. So, that decided me on TurboTax because it's made by the same company and you can get rebates by purchasing them together.
Then the Office Max ad came out with multiple rebates. Check this out!! With the purchase of TurboTax Deluxe I got the following:
Quicken Basic (free after rebate)
Norton Internet Security ($20 upgrade rebate + tax prep rebate makes it free)
Norton System Works (same rebates as NIS but I can't use the upgrade so it'll cost me $20)
and a 256 MB jump drive (free after rebate)
!!!
The total out of pocket was $228, but it will be only $60 after rebates. AND, I'm a teacher so with MaxPerks I get $10 for every $75 spent -- I'll get a $30 gift certificate in the mail!!!!
How great is that!!??!!!
You ask which is cheaper in the OP, and then post this, I have the Office Max ad from Sunday's Paper...This week I received a letter from Quicken saying that they were no longer going to support my old version and I'd need to upgrade if I wanted to continue downloading info from my bank. So, that decided me on TurboTax because it's made by the same company and you can get rebates by purchasing them together.
Then the Office Max ad came out with multiple rebates. Check this out!! With the purchase of TurboTax Deluxe I got the following:
Quicken Basic (free after rebate)
Norton Internet Security ($20 upgrade rebate + tax prep rebate makes it free)
Norton System Works (same rebates as NIS but I can't use the upgrade so it'll cost me $20)
and a 256 MB jump drive (free after rebate)
!!!
The total out of pocket was $228, but it will be only $60 after rebates. AND, I'm a teacher so with MaxPerks I get $10 for every $75 spent -- I'll get a $30 gift certificate in the mail!!!!
How great is that!!??!!!
Tax Cut is $15 Cheaper, and you get Microsoft Money 2006 Standard for free (TurboTax gets you Quicken Basic 2006 for free). (Both after rebate)
If you want the deluxe version, you get Microsoft Money for $19.99 after rebate with Tax Cut, TurboTax gets you Quicken Deluxe for $30.
And BOTH TaxCut and TurboTax gets you the Free (after rebate), Norton SystemWorks 2006, Norton Internet Security 2006, Network Magic and the Lexar 256MB JumpDrive after rebate.
SO you pay $15 less for TaxCut, the FREE E-File (worth about $10), and if you want the Money/Quicken Deluxe software, Tax Cut gets it for $10 less!
That is a savings of $35 over TurboTax, and both TaxCut/TurboTax and Microsoft Money/Quicken will work with the other products prior files.....
Sounds like TaxCut is the BETTER deal.
If you go to STAPLES, TaxCut Deluxe or Premium are $10 cheaper than TurboTax, and you get a $15 rebate with TaxCut only, that is $25 less!!!!
Plus lots of free software titles after rebate.
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It sounds like she is already a Quicken user and doesn't want to switch. In that case, it would make sense to get an upgrade to a package already in use rather than having to learn a whole new package. (And then having to convert all of that existing data, as well!) The extenuating circumstances (Quicken version in use no longer being supported) would seem to override the original question of price.
Thanks DB, the ad that I saw didn't have the same options with TaxCut. I actually didn't ask which was cheaper in the OP, I asked about experiences with other versions to help me decide. Since they sounded similar, and since I wanted to stay with Quicken, this made sense for me. Great deals though, huh?!!
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