Anyone ever use Turbo-Tax?

[zulaya]

Can anyone share how much the electronic filing fee was last year?

Thanks.

 

[Tina]

I think it was around $12 or $15.

 

[Ted and Holly]

We have used it for a number of years and it makes doing taxes a lot easier.

We had a problem this past year. Ted works in a different state and had to pay state taxes. He filled out the form last April on Turbotax for the state. After not receiving his rebate, Ted called the IRS this fall and was told that they do not accept returns from TurboTax and that he has to send a PRINTED copy to them to receive a refund. He doesn't have to pay any penalties luckily, but TurboTax did not indicate that his return was not accepted by MASS!!!!!! He paid the $10.95 for nothing!!!!!

Holly

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by Lynn CC
I always pay around $300 for our accountant to do our taxes. Personal and Business. Is Turbo Tax for dummies, I have no clue where to begin doing my own taxes. I always add up everything and give her the figures, but she does all the multiplying etc.
I would like to do it on my own, but I'm not sure if I can.

Turbo Tax offers an interview mode. It will ask you straight forward questions and you just type in the answers. It does all the math, determines which forms are needed and fills them out for you. Its all very simple.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by peg2001
Thanks for the warning! We have always shared it, which I thought was allowed with software since we weren't COPYING it. Guess we'll just have to arrange to use one computer for everyone's taxes.

Peggy

I'd be willing to bet that if you read the copyright that you agree to by opening the software, that even 'sharing' on one computer is still considered software piracy.

From their web site:

<b>
Intuit requires activation of the TurboTax federal product to ensure that use of the product is in accordance with the License Agreement. Product activation ties printing or filing via a single copy of the TurboTax federal product to a single computer, preventing unlicensed use of the product. Product activation is completely anonymous - no personal information is collected or transmitted to Intuit.</b>

It does say that if you share your copy of the software, the people that you have shared with will have the opportunity to purchase a liscense online with a credit card. What convienence!

 

[Tina]

Holly,

Your post may sound a bit confusing to some. Regardless of what state you live in, the IRS has nothing to do with your state return. The IRS handles FEDERAL returns only. Electronically filing your Federal return will not file you state return. If your state does not accept Turbo Tax, than I find it strange that Turbo Tax would allow you to transmit your state return via their program. Generally, you can file your federal or your state or both through the software. There are separate charges for filing each return. If the you were charged for electronically filing your state, but it ws not transmitted, then Turbo Tax owes you a refund of the charges.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Lynn CC
I always pay around $300 for our accountant to do our taxes. Personal and Business. Is Turbo Tax for dummies, I have no clue where to begin doing my own taxes. I always add up everything and give her the figures, but she does all the multiplying etc.
I would like to do it on my own, but I'm not sure if I can.

Lynn, if you or your husband run their own business or are sole proprietors of some type, tax preparation fees are considered deductible on your next years taxes (at least in WI). If you paid $300 last year to have your accountant do your taxes, that should be deductible on this years taxes, thereby making the tax preparation pretty much free. Check with your accountant!

 

[Lynn CC]

Wow,

Maybe I'll get it and see if I can do it myself. She has all these special forms that she uses for DH's business, but it's worth a try.

Thanks

 

[Jeafl]

My husband is a CPA and he uses it every year He buys a new one every year though because tax laws change from year to year.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by jfulcer
I'd be willing to bet that if you read the copyright that you agree to by opening the software, that even 'sharing' on one computer is still considered software piracy.

From their web site:


It does say that if you share your copy of the software, the people that you have shared with will have the opportunity to purchase a liscense online with a credit card. What convienence!

Really?!? Wow. Learn something new every day! I certainly wasn't trying to encourage anyone to break the law. I'll have to look into this more closely. I just thought it was like buying any computer software, similar to buying "Death to Demons" and playing it and then passing it along to a friend. As long as it is not copied and is not available AT THE SAME TIME on more than one computer, perfectly legal.

Peggy

 

[Dan Murfman]

Me being the romantic guy that I am buy Turbo Tax each year for my CPA DW for a Christmas present. She goes up every Christmas Night and installs and starts working on our taxes. Thats is after she installs the Quicken Deluxe I also get her.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by peg2001
Really?!? Wow. Learn something new every day! I certainly wasn't trying to encourage anyone to break the law. I'll have to look into this more closely. I just thought it was like buying any computer software, similar to buying "Death to Demons" and playing it and then passing it along to a friend. As long as it is not copied and is not available AT THE SAME TIME on more than one computer, perfectly legal.

Peggy

A lot of software is going to a 'seated' version of the license, which means each computer (or seat) that it is used on has to have a license for it regardless of whether it's used or not. That is what Intuit has appears to have done, although for the most part, I think they may one of very few that check it online. Most other places it's left up to the user, and the penalties are huge for not doing the 'right' thing.

I think that if this Intuit registration process doesn't get a lot of press, other companies will adopt this method of licensing.

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by peg2001
Really?!? Wow. Learn something new every day! I certainly wasn't trying to encourage anyone to break the law. I'll have to look into this more closely. I just thought it was like buying any computer software, similar to buying "Death to Demons" and playing it and then passing it along to a friend. As long as it is not copied and is not available AT THE SAME TIME on more than one computer, perfectly legal.

Peggy

I understand your confusion. The are 3 common types of software licences. The first says that only the person buying the software can use the software (which is why many packages try to limit installation to just one computer). The second is the "Like a book" licences that say no more than one person can posses the software at the same time (just like only one person can possess and read a book at one time) which means you must uninstall the software before giving it to someone else). The third is freely distrubutable and/or shareware software. Turbo Tax uses the first type of licence. "Death to demons" would be an example of the second.

Turbo Tax really offers a service (helping you with your taxes). It just happens to do this using software. Therefore, Intuit (the publishers of TT) want to be sure that everone who uses Turbo Tax to attain that service pays for it.

A licensing technique that is becoming more common is selling a non transferable right to use the software. In short, the software is free, but the licence to use it costs $$$$. Under this license, if you give the software to someone else, they are in volition of the license since they don't own the right to use it. Microsoft loves this one and yes, they are begining to check your license online for their more expensive products.

Sorry to be so long winded, but as a software developer, this is a subject near and dear to my heart (and my wallet).

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by WDWHound


Sorry to be so long winded, but as a software developer, this is a subject near and dear to my heart (and my wallet).

Please do not apologize. I appreciate the clarification! I learn something new every day and am not afraid to admit when I'm wrong.

Everyone, buy your own copy of TurboTax.

--Reformed Peggy

 

[Dan Murphy]

Included with cost of federal software is free download of state software, plus, any TT product, other than the basic package, includes rebate for the $14.95 e-filing fee.

 

[janette]

I use Turbo-Tax and have for several years. It imports my Quicken data so works best for me. I think Tax-Cut is probably as good a program but whatever you start with is the easiest to continue using. I have this years and some of the data in it. Just waiting on all those tax forms to arrive so I can file and get my refund I will have to check to see how to get it to estimate what I should have withholding. Right now it's too much and I want to get that fixed.

 

[elgerber]

Actually even the TT basic does include the electronic filing rebate coupon. The Deluxe, however, is required for the free state download. I love Turbo Tax, I have used it every year since I have owned a computer. I used to do daycare, so my taxes were not so fun, but TT helped a ton. This year I have a w2 and my taxes will be done so much faster!!!

Erika

 

[Fire14]

I have used it for 6 or so years Things go much easier around our house.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Tina, I gues I was confusing. He spoke to the MASS IRS. He did his FEDERAL taxes last Feb. and his MASS taxes on Turbotax in APril, just before the deadline. Turbotax offers both, but beware, even if it offers to prepare and submit state income tax, the state may not always accept it and you'll be in the mess we were in.

The regular FEDERAL taxes were one fee and the MASS taxes via Turbo Tax online was a separate 10.95 or 11.95. They took our money, even though MASS doesn't accept Turbotax for their STATE income tax.

I hope this is more clear!!!!

Holly

 

[EROS]

Mass taxes can be EASILY filed via the Mass. DOR website; I only use TAX CUT for federal..........