Do you like Turbo Tax?

[bull]

I bought Turbo Tax last year for my '06 returns and all went well. Saved some money on one end and got a return on the other.

But I was surprised to learn that you have to buy a new version of it each year. Seems like it would be easier and smarter for them to offer an update at a discounted price rather than have you reload a new version every year. At least that's what I told the Turbo Tax lady just before she gave me the '07 version for free.

Anyway, do you like doing your own taxes or would you rather pay $100+ to have someone do it for you?

[71ChallengeHer]

I do my own taxes. I'm not paying someone to do something I can do myself. I used Turbo tax a few years ago , but not since then.  I don't need it.

[ChgrSteve67]

Turbo Tax works for the people that do not have a complicated tax return.
If you have rentals, stock trades, own a business, property trades and other endless number of tax items that have to be declared in a specific way on a specific form then having a tax professional do your taxes will keep you out of trouble with the IRS.
My wife is a tax preparer so its her job to keep me out of jail and my job to keep her computers working during tax season. The program my wife uses costs around 2,500.00 a year per preparer.

[Todd Wilson]

Turbo Tax works for the people that do not have a complicated tax return.
If you have rentals, stock trades, own a business, property trades and other endless number of tax items that have to be declared in a specific way on a specific form then having a tax professional do your taxes will keep you out of trouble with the IRS.
My wife is a tax preparer so its her job to keep me out of jail and my job to keep her computers working during tax season. The program my wife uses costs around 2,500.00 a year per preparer.

You are exactly right. If you got a simple return its ok. If its that simple though one should be able to do it on paper. I had problems with my taxes since I work for the railroad and pay railroad retirement. Turbo Tax really wigged out on that one.  I found a good tax person and pay the 80$ a year and get it done that way. No more headaches and problems and I have had my tax return money now for 3 weeks! Electronic file is great!


Todd

[Forza]

I use Turbo Tax because my return is simple and the e-file and direct deposit works great. Like everyone else said if your tazes are complicated it doesn't hurt to have someone do em for you. I know my dad's been doing his taxes with Turbo Tax for a few years. It does seem odd that you have to buy a new one each year, but I guess everyone has to make money.

[Charger_Fan]

Taxes make my brain hurt. I tried Turbo Tax for the first time last year...I will just go to a tax dude this year. I can't complain it wasn't thorough enough, if anything, it was TOO thorough!  It was more complicated than I cared for & for the purchase price of the program, it would have only been a little more to just have a tax dude do it.

[71charger_fan]

I use Tax Act. Same idea. I love that all my information from the previous year gets automatically imported and I don't have to dig out last year's forms.

[Troy]

You have to purchase a new one every year because they have to build a new one every year. Tax laws change constantly and the software companies have to keep up. They *could* sell you a permanent license with yearly updates but it'd be many thousands of dollars (and you'd be locked in so if a better product comes along you'd be forced to choose). Most people would exclaim "that's too expensive!" but companies can charge $29.95 per year for life without anyone blinking an eye. It's a subscription based model and is probably a much smarter way to buy software that must evolve.

I've used TurboTax and TaxCut in the past without any problems - even with some semi-complicated returns. Most software will give you the opportunity to have your return reviewed by a tax professional before you submit it.

Troy

[Neal_J]

I've used a dozen such program, including high-end stuff and both TaxCut & TurboTax.  If you know what you're doing, the software is fine.  Indeed, using one of the software programs will eliminate mathematical errors, which are very common on paper forms. 

If you're clueless taxwise, the software may not help that much. In that's the case, consider hiring a qualified CPA.  Consider it cheap insurance.

Peace,

Neal J., CPA

[694spdRT]

I have a professional do mine...way too many things involved with our business.

I do like to use Turbo Buick's though.

[400/6/PAC]

I used Turbo Tax the last two Years.
I like it.
There are a lot of deductions that I was not aware of.
It's still up to You to scroll through and find them.
I had a tax Guy for several Years, But he went up every Year, The last time I went to Him He wanted $165.00 to do My Tax.
You can do Your own Tax, But I do like the advantage of being able to look at all the possible deductions, Even a simple return can have deductions You'r not aware of.
For me, $29.95 is worth it.

[triple_green]

Turbo tax 

[Silver R/T]

its alright, you get your refund faster so if you want that then go for it.

[69charger2002]

i have used it for 5 years now. i love it. my taxes aren't THAT complicated. 2 W2's, interest , itemized deductions, truck/food/gas allowances, donations, 2 kids, the typical i guess. but i can do it in 30 minutes. i love it
trav

[derailed]

Ive been using turbo tax since around 2000 and like it alot. My returns are pretty complex with my out of town per diems for my trips to Montreal for my job and I buy,sell and short sell alot of stocks every year but the nice thing about it is you can take your time, ask questions right on there forum and make sure its right before you file every year. If your not fudging numbers than the IRS wont come knocking.

[71charger_fan]

I've done my parents' taxes with Tax Cut and it too works fine. I feel TaxAct's interface is easier to use.

[Lord Warlock]

I'd much rather use turbo tax or tax cut then to do my own manually.  My taxes usually aren't that complicated, but they were when i ran a business, and it was much easier than trying to figure out each form, and reading everything to figure out what goes where.  For large complicated returns, i'd take it to a pro, but for normal everyday joes with a hobby business on the side and a regular job, doing it yourself with turbo tax is great.