Couple questions about Turbo Tax

[tar heel]

I've decided to do our taxes this year and have a couple questions:

Is there any advantage to buying the software at Office Max (other than the freebies they are offering) vs. doing it through the website? I'll be using the Premier edition since I have Schedule C income, if that matters.

Can I use the software to also file my kids' taxes (EZ forms, all taxes paid refunded) or can it only be used once?

And, can the kids' returns be done electronically and direct deposited even though this is their first tax return ever or does the IRS have to have had a paper return some time?

Thanks.

 

[BethR]

I've decided to do our taxes this year and have a couple questions:

Is there any advantage to buying the software at Office Max (other than the freebies they are offering) vs. doing it through the website? I'll be using the Premier edition since I have Schedule C income, if that matters.

I really don't know because I have never used the on-line version. Sorry.

Can I use the software to also file my kids' taxes (EZ forms, all taxes paid refunded) or can it only be used once?

Yes, I use it every year to do my kids' taxes.

And, can the kids' returns be done electronically and direct deposited even though this is their first tax return ever or does the IRS have to have had a paper return some time?

Thanks.

Don't know the answer to that either. Sorry. We always print and file. The one thing that DH has not "allowed" me to put out over the internet is our tax information.

I am sure that others will be able to answer the questions that I could not.

Good Luck and have fun!

 

[safetymom]

Just got done doing the families returns. If you do it through the software you are charged to efile. If you do it on the web certain people qualify for free filing.

I like having the software so I can just pull up the returns without being on the internet. I also think the software is more detailed than the online version.

 

[tar heel]

Thanks. That helped a lot. Sounds like I want the software. I had the idea that you got to efile free with it. Oh well . . .

I would think my kids would qualify for the free efiling since they made very small amounts of $. How much does it cost the rest of us to efile? My accountant charges $25, I think, but he also charged us over $300 to do our taxes last year and I did 95% of the work.

 

[jkjjhuddle]

Hi I am in Concord, NC also.

I just finished doing our taxes using turbo tax on the web. We have always done it using the software.

I did not notice any difference at all. As the above poster pointed out it will depend on your comfort level with the web. I went through the State Employee Web site and paid very little. If we had chosen to print and mail instead of e file we would not have had to pay at all.

Good Luck and happy returns

 

[jkjjhuddle]

Federal is not charging to e file. State is. Through the Turbo Tax on the web the total for us was 29.00 That was for using Turbo Tax and the filing fee. There is no difference in how detailed it is. It is the same program as what you get on the software.

 

[safetymom]

It costs to efile using the software but some versions have a rebate coupon in the box for one free filing.

I found the software more helpful and detailed than the online version.

 

[poohj80]

The other concern doing it through the web site vs using the software is how comfortable one is with the web site's security.

 

[DianeV]

This is the 3rd year we have efiled electronically and had no problems with our info being sent that way.

 

[DMRick]

I file a Sch C and just use the Turbotax Deluxe version. It can now be used to do more than one return, an dcan now be loaded on more than one computer. They made the mistake once of not letting it be put on more than one computer, and it caused some real sale problems. Mine came with a coupon for one free (after rebate) efile.

 

[poohj80]

This is the 3rd year we have efiled electronically and had no problems with our info being sent that way.

Did you e-file using the software or did you use one of the web sites people have been posting to file for free? We've never had any problems e-filing through the TurboTax software but are leery of doing it all on a web site.

 

[MiaSRN62]

If you buy the software, COMP USA is having some special discounts/rebates through Feb 5 : http://www.compusa.com/adproducts/products.asp?N=500458+200163

I was in the store yesterday and got the TT Deluxe ($39.99) (offers $10 mail-in rebate) and if you also buy TT State for $29.99 you get that full price back with mail-in rebate.

 

[simonfam76]

hi I was curious if anyone that has gone through turbo tax got their refund sooner than stated? I filed last Thursday and keep crossing my fingers that I will receive it soon so I can book our room or our trip in May. It says one thing at the turbo site but says different at the irs site. The irs site states later than turbo tax. I e-filed my return. ty again for posting that you could e-file free, that was my first time ever filing myself and I saved alot of money since before that we have been going to Jackson Hewitt paying them 125-145 each year.

 

[jkjjhuddle]

In the past I have always used the soft ware. If you file early (now) you will get your return quickly. We always have our automaticly deposited. (like 7- 14 days) This year we did it on the web so we will see how quickly it works this way. I doubt there is much difference in time. We did not see any difference in the detail of the questions. If anything we felt it was more detailed. This is the first year Federal is not charging to e file. We did not file for or qualifiy for any special program. The only thing we did was go through our credit union and get a 15% discount on the cost of turbo tax. There are commercials everywhere about it. State is, at least in NC.

We just did ours this week and that was our experience.

I do agree with the above posters who said it all depends on your feelings about the security of the web. I was leary at first also. If you are uncomfortable then use the software. Either way it is a great program!

Hope this helps