Anyone use TurboTax?

[Donas64]

My wife and I are getting ready to file our 2nd tax return as a married couple. Last year a nice lady from our church filed our taxes for us free of charge but I really don't want to bother her again.

We are expecting deductions for the interest we payed on our home, my wifes student loans, our car taxes, my computer equipment and more stuff such as that.

I'm really nervous about doing it ourselves so we were looking to go the H&R block, Jackson Hewitt route but I'm hearing HORROR stories about those places. We are really expecting a good return and I don't want to pay for crappy service and end up owing or something.

So my question is this: How reliable and easy to use is turbo tax? Has anyone here used it? and finally are Tax places like H&R block really that bad?

I really want to e-file again this year as it was sooo fast last year. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[genericuser]

I've used turbo tax for 5 years now. Can't say anyting bad about it.

 

[meinp5]

I have used it a lot. Great program...easy to follow...good for your type of application.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

Turbo Tax FTW. Unless you have some crazy complex return then there is no need for those tax places, the program works swell for what you need it for...

 

[genericuser]

yeah,.. I'm going to a tax place this year only because I have incomes in two different states, a major real estate purchase, and I own a house with a person I'm not married to yet.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

lol yeah, i have a feeling that might make Turbo tax explode...

yeah,.. I'm going to a tax place this year only because I have incomes in two different states, a major real estate purchase, and I own a house with a person I'm not married to yet.

 

[jred321]

turbotax works well. i ran through it the other day with the tax stuff i have (i'm still waiting for 1 or 2 more things but wanted to get started) and it asked the exact questions you're looking to use as deductions. if you're nervous turbotax is only like $40 for the state + federal edition, you could do it on your own and at a tax place for this year and compare the results

 

[Donas64]

Thanks for all the replies guys. It looks like turbo tax seems to be a very viable solution. we might give it a shot.

But places like H&R block etc are they really as bad as the horror stories I'm hearing and are their charges exorbitant?

 

[meinp5]

yeah,.. I'm going to a tax place this year only because I have incomes in two different states, a major real estate purchase, and I own a house with a person I'm not married to yet.

Turbo Tax could handle that. If you want I am an accountant and I could do it for you(if you trust me enough).

 

[meinp5]

Thanks for all the replies guys. It looks like turbo tax seems to be a very viable solution. we might give it a shot.

But places like H&R block etc are they really as bad as the horror stories I'm hearing and are their charges exorbitant?

H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt are kinda a scam...they get you in a make their commissions getting you a bigger return...then they try to sell you on taking cash now rather than waiting on your return to come in the mail.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

they can be bad yes...its just one of those things, do you want to pay someone a bunch of money to do something you could easily do yourself for a fraction of the cost...plus, you pay for turbo tax 1 time and you're good to go forever

Thanks for all the replies guys. It looks like turbo tax seems to be a very viable solution. we might give it a shot.

But places like H&R block etc are they really as bad as the horror stories I'm hearing and are their charges exorbitant?

 

[meinp5]

they can be bad yes...its just one of those things, do you want to pay someone a bunch of money to do something you could easily do yourself for a fraction of the cost...plus, you pay for turbo tax 1 time and you're good to go forever

You need to get the updates every year as the tax laws change. I don't rember how much it costs though.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

Im pretty sure its free....my dad just updated the other night before I used it...

even if it isnt...its still small in comparrison to what a walk in place will charge...

You need to get the updates every year as the tax laws change. I don't rember how much it costs though.

 

[kudakev615]

so is it as simple as pluggin in your taxes numbers and basic info the program does the rest? i went to one of those places last year. not the best with numbers so im kinda worried about doing them myself.

 

[Donas64]

Well it looks like turbo tax it is! I might call a walk in place just to see what they charge but the more I hear about turbo tax the better it sounds.

BTW, I'm assuming that you can e-file with Turbo Tax? We have high speed internet at home so it should be able to send it right through correct or will we have to deal with an IRS website?

 

[jred321]

Im pretty sure its free....my dad just updated the other night before I used it...

even if it isnt...its still small in comparrison to what a walk in place will charge...

you have to buy the new software every year. any updates you're downloading for free are strictly for the program or tax laws that have changed after the fact for the 2005 tax year. they will not take into account the new 2006 tax laws, for that you need to purchase new software

 

[Donas64]

so is it as simple as pluggin in your taxes numbers and basic info the program does the rest? i went to one of those places last year. not the best with numbers so im kinda worried about doing them myself.

Did you have a bad experience at the walk in place? looks like we're in sort of the same boat.

 

[Donas64]

you have to buy the new software every year. any updates you're downloading for free are strictly for the program or tax laws that have changed after the fact for the 2005 tax year. they will not take into account the new 2006 tax laws, for that you need to purchase new software

I don't mind buying a new version every year. It still seems to be waaaay cheaper than going to a walk in place. $40 vs $150 or more

 

[jred321]

so is it as simple as pluggin in your taxes numbers and basic info the program does the rest? i went to one of those places last year. not the best with numbers so im kinda worried about doing them myself.

it's essentially "enter info from box 2 of your W2 here:", "do you have any student loan interest?", "Enter info from box 2 of your 1099 here", etc..., you don't do any math. it gets more confusing if you have more things to deduct, itemize, etc..., but for relatively simple things and every day things it's easy

 

[kudakev615]

^thats for the info. i dont have a very complex return, work, student loans, ect thats it. and i didnt have a "bad" experience but just dont want to throw away my hard earned money. and i got suckered into the get your refund tomorrow deal and i think i took like a 500$ hit. i wanted my rims really bad, man was i dumd. thanks for the good info guys. ill see if my roomies wanna split the cost for the program