Turbo Tax 2009 deals

[Good Ol Gal]

It's that time of the year again! I got my first W2 in the mail today so it's time to start comparison shopping for me.

As of Jan 2nd here are the prices I see:

TurboTax Deluxe Federal + State 2009 + efile

Amazon: $53.99

Office Max: $59.99

Best Buy: $59.99

Walmart: $54.00

Sams Club: $49.78

Turbo Tax Federal only: $29.95

Turbo Tax State only: $36.95

I don't have a Sams club membership so I will probably go with Amazon. (no tax & free shipping)

 

[kydisneyfans]

Way too early to make a decision. Considering I have umpteen rewards from the battery deal at Staples, free Turbotax is likely in the works for me.

 

[digitaldevice]

I get it free every year. Just have to know where to look.

 

[SandrA9810]

1040 is free filing with H & R Block...

If it ever got more complicated than that, I just go to my aunt.

Is your return that complicated that you need the deluxe edition?

Although I can justify spending 50$ for a tax program, I've never understood people who go to the check cashing store to file with a fee of like 200$ just to get the money instantly. You've waited all year for it, what's a few more weeks?? The earlier you file it, the quicker you get it back.

 

[digitaldevice]

My sister in law does that. She does the tax loan thing. Drives me nuts. I can not see why she need her cash that day. She does go out and spend it all in one day. Then wonders why she is always broke.

 

[candy0730]

Can someone please explain the advantage of buying the software vs. just using the online site? I can never figure this out but there must be a good reason since so many people do it.

 

[Chaoster]

Not sure of price, but Costco has a coupon in the next coupon book starting January 7.

 

[msmayor]

Can someone please explain the advantage of buying the software vs. just using the online site? I can never figure this out but there must be a good reason since so many people do it.

I won't allow all of my personal information to be saved on someone else's servers. Its worth the peace of mind to know that when I'm entering my tax information its being saved on my external hard drive...which is removed any time its not in use...to avoid any hacking into my data.

In addition, I don't want to worry about problems with the site and not being able to access my return and work on it because the system is "down".

 

[candy0730]

I won't allow all of my personal information to be saved on someone else's servers. Its worth the peace of mind to know that when I'm entering my tax information its being saved on my external hard drive...which is removed any time its not in use...to avoid any hacking into my data.

Totally makes sense. I knew there was a good reason. Thank you for explaining that to me!

 

[digitaldevice]

Can someone please explain the advantage of buying the software vs. just using the online site? I can never figure this out but there must be a good reason since so many people do it.

If you do it online your information is sitting on there server. Never know who might have access to it.

 

[kellia]

Sub! We had to get the one for self-employed incomes the past couple of years, I am happy we'll be able to use the cheaper, regular one this year. I've gotten them cheap off of Ebay if you look early.

My mom used the free one a couple times and had problems with it not saving or not being able to get in because it was busy/slow. I just would prefer to keep it on my pc only!

OT- didn't they outlaw the "tax loan" thing? I think that is crazy that people do that! It usually only takes a week or two to get your money now, anyway. So sad that there are some people stupid enough to fall for that. Talk about an almost no-risk loan.

 

[CRdisMom]

got my Costco coupon for $10 off. I think it is listed at $47 or something like that. Also Office Max is having a bag sale. All you can fit int the bag for 15% off. Not sure what the list price on theirs is.

 

[kwhite1022]

Well IMO, if you still efile, your information is still "just sitting there" on someone elses server reguardless if you did it with the software from a box. Now, if your a die hard "print and mail person", your chances are probably better, but doesnt that even get scanned by the govt into a database? Honestly, if someone wants your information there are a million ways to get it.

 

[msmayor]

Well IMO, if you still efile, your information is still "just sitting there" on someone elses server reguardless if you did it with the software from a box. Now, if your a die hard "print and mail person", your chances are probably better, but doesnt that even get scanned by the govt into a database? Honestly, if someone wants your information there are a million ways to get it.

The government has ALWAYS had my SS#.

E-filing is merely a transmission of information from my computer to the government, in an encrypted form. Its not being "stored" on anyone's server except the IRS, which is where it has always been for years and years whether you file electronically or by mail.

 

[LauralF22]

OT- didn't they outlaw the "tax loan" thing? I think that is crazy that people do that! It usually only takes a week or two to get your money now, anyway. So sad that there are some people stupid enough to fall for that. Talk about an almost no-risk loan.

I agree... I used to work for HR Block (a very long time ago ) and I refused to offer this to people unless they asked me for it specifically. The interest rate ends up being like 200+% if you annualize it. Ridiculous. If you e-file by Feb 15th, you'll have your money within 1-2 weeks (with direct deposit).

I usually buy my Turbo Tax at BJ's, but someone here mentioned the Staples rewards, so maybe I'll do that. I forgot about the Battery thing - I did that too.

 

[Mom2JPL]

I was at Target today and the deluxe version w/state is on sale until 2/20 for $49.95 (or $49.99, something like that!).

I was going to look for a coupon and see if I could get it even cheaper (you never know!).

 

[Ava]

Can more than one person/computer share a TurboTax program? I want to use it this year because my return is going to be a bit more complicated, but my dad always buys one - can I just share his, or is it set up to only install on one computer?

 

[karliebug]

aren't there any free programs online that we can use?

 

[msmayor]

Can more than one person/computer share a TurboTax program? I want to use it this year because my return is going to be a bit more complicated, but my dad always buys one - can I just share his, or is it set up to only install on one computer?

For years you could share a copy, but if I recall correctly they have indeed beefed up the security so that you cannot copy the disk and pass it on, or allow it to be installed on more than one computer.

 

[CRdisMom]

you can do more than one return with the software but it can't be installed on more than one machine. So if you want to use your dad's copy it will have to be on his machine