Tax software users, are you satisfied?

[steveinaz]

I've done my own taxes since I began working at 16, but lately I've been considering one of these software packages. We do itemize deductions, but nothing too intense; ie, no business losses, rental properties, that kind of stuff. What about Turbo-tax Deluxe? Is this program any good?

[bobman1235]

I have very simple taxes (a few stock options, some student loan interest, but that's about it) and love TaxAct.com. Very cheap, very fast (took me about an hour, I filed on the 17th and got my money direct deposited on the 30th). Used them for several years in a row without a complaint.

[TNRabbit]

I've used TurboTax Premiere for two years now; very painless & it knows ALL the tax changes.

[markmarc]

been using Turbo Tax for several years now, absolutely no complaints. Their interface seems to improve every year overall (with one or two minor quirks).

[jamesguthrie]

I've used Turbo Tax Deluxe each year for the last 8 or 9 years and like it. I've never used any of the other programs available, so I can't tell you if it's better or worse than other products, but in my experience it's pretty easy to use and glitch-free.

[shack]

I uise Turbo Tax basic. No problems here.

[tcrossma]

I've used TurboTax for the last 9-10 years and have always been very satisfied with it. It's very easy to use, and quite extensive in its abilities.

[timlitton]

I had the opportunity to compare TaxCut and TurboTax two years ago. I got both in the mail. Hands down, TurboTax was far easier and helpful.

Since then, it's been TurboTax all the way.

BTW, this year TurboTax basic is free online with a free e-file. You'll have to pay for state, but it's integration with your federal return makes it a snap.

[jdwmap]

I used this online last year (Turbo Tax) and it makes it way too convenient for me to do it again this year. I have a couple young kids and house/investments but it makes everything very simple.

This year, it populated everything from last year and I could put all the information in as I received it in the mail. I need one statement from Preschool/Daycare and I am done. Very good in my opinion. Also a lot cheaper than paying an Acct 150+ bucks for the same service.

They even mailed me my userID just in case I had forgotten on about the fifteenth of the month.

[steveinaz]

Thanks all for the input!

[Fireman32]

I used Turbotax this year and it was quick and easy.

[billbillw]

I've been using TurboTax Deluxe online for the last several years to itemize, and e-file my federal and state returns. Its nice because you get your refund back in less than 2 weeks and there are several levels of error checking. Also, it remembers you year after year and pulls most of the personal info from your previous return. That's nice if you don't change jobs, move, or have any significat changes. It saves about 30 minutes of entering data. I think last year, the whole process took less than 30 minutes to complete.

One of the main reasons I used TurboTax was because it was free as a State Farm policy holder. However, that little perk dried up this year, so I am probably going to try TaxACT, which is about the cheapest out there for one that does itemized return+state and federal e-filing. I think its only $12. I honestly don't think there is a huge difference between the various software or online sites other than cost.

Either way, I'd do it online versus installing on your system. The online sites are as safe and secure as anything and you don't have to load any extra software on your system.

[nebborjk]

Another vote TurboTax Deluxe. This is something like the 5-6 year in a row I 've used it. No compliants.

[ohskigod]

I use taxcut. for me its a snap. never used turbo tax though, I know people love it.

I keep using taxcut because a) I like it and b) it prefills your name, address and w2 info (if I switched to turbotax I'd have to enter it all in again)

either way, software to me is the ONLY way to fly doing your own taxes.

(I have also done my own since my mid teens)

[Jstas]

I used TurboTax for a while but in the past couple years, I've had large financial changes that made me very nervous on if I was entering info correctly. So about 3 years ago now, i asked a friend who worked for H&R Block some questions and she said "Just bring your stuff in and I'll run it through the system and comp you cost." So I did. Been going to H&R Block since because of the audit risk I pose. Next year should be different though so I will likely go back to TurboTax next year to save some money and time.

[polktiger]

TurboTax and TaxCut are pretty comperable, and should fit your needs.

For those using the "free" version of TurboTax online or other similar free versions, be careful. Intuit may have stopped now that there is a brand new law prohibiting the practice without taxpayer consent, but Intuit uses that information you enter on your tax return to develop customer profiles and screen for cross selling you crap like quicken loans, etc.

Also, regardless of what you do PRINT A COPY OF YOUR RETURN and KEEP IT, ideally forever. Do not trust that you can go back in a couple years and print a copy.

[shack]

Also, regardless of what you do PRINT A COPY OF YOUR RETURN and KEEP IT, ideally forever. Do not trust that you can go back in a couple years and print a copy.

Absolutely. HARD COPIES of the actual signed retrun for me. Even though I use Turbo Tax, I still print and snail mail my return. I always owe something so I am in no hurry for it to get to them.

[hockeyboy]

I used to use Kiplinger Taxcut and bought Turbo Tax once by accident. Turbo Tax Premier is far superior to Taxcut. I usually end up getting Quicken as well each year, because you can very easily import your stock trade information into Quicken- from there it is a super easy export to Turbo Tax. That saves me a ton of time and gets the tax basis correct every time.

[steveinaz]

Ok, in reference to Turbotax, come 2010 I can just download an update to my 2009 version, correct?

[Polkitup2]

Maybe, but you still get to pay full price every year. And it's not an update, it's a new version usually. I just buy a fresh copy from the store each year. They used to send me a new copy in the mail each year and I could activate it on-line but they haven't done that recently.

[avelanchefan]

I have very simple taxes (a few stock options, some student loan interest, but that's about it) and love TaxAct.com. Very cheap, very fast (took me about an hour, I filed on the 17th and got my money direct deposited on the 30th). Used them for several years in a row without a complaint.

I with Bobman on this one. I have used Taxact for years and it has been great.

In fact this year it saved my ass. It did not come out and directly tell me I was doing something wrong, but it threw me into a whole new tax field that I had never seen before.

BUT after going through my taxes with a fine tooth comb I found my error.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77992

[billbillw]

Well, I went ahead and filed tonight using TaxACT tonight. Not the most pleasant experience. There were a few glitches in the website and the guidance was not as good as I had hoped. It did everything and gave me a very nice return, but I must say that TurboTax is a much better program.

I work from home about 1 day per week as part of a teleworking initiative by the Clean Air Campaign in Atlanta. TurboTax always asked me if I had a home office and went through and gave me extra deductions for that. Small stuff really, but TaxACT didn't even ask me if I worked from home...
You get what you pay for I guess. Oh well, it was only $11.95 for federal deluxe and state e-filing both of them and I'm pretty that confident the results were about the same as TurboTax.

[steveinaz]

Thanks all for the input and experiences.