Comments on: TurboTax Deluxe Federal + eFile + State 2009 http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/ Stock Market Trading tips & Information Hub. Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:57:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: NotMyRealName http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-141 NotMyRealName Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:16:03 +0000 http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/#comment-141 We purchased TurboTax 2009 for just two purposes - to compare the software's results with our "pencil and paper" results, and then to e-file both State and Federal. We purchased the download version of TurboTax Deluxe Federal + State 2009 + efile [DOWNLOAD] . <br /> <br />The install went very smoothly on our Windows XP SP3 computer. I had feared some problems based on other reviews, but experienced none. Immediately after install and the initial run, the program presented us with a decision regarding refund and payment options. We could either choose to see all our options, OR some options (then must check boxes for different ways to receive refund or pay TurboTax fees), OR no options. It is necessary to certify consent to the first choice. I suspected something fishy, so I selected the second choice and proceeded. <br /> <br />All data entry for Federal went well, so we smoothly downloaded our included State forms. The program populated the State form with data from our Federal form, and then asked a few more questions to tailor it to the specifics. <br /> <br />We thought the process was pretty nice, although I wished the program would have explained certain topics a little better. For example, it was hard for us to figure out exactly how to characterize and where to enter some "other income," although we finally figured that out. There is a "live community" option on the right side of the screen where you can view other people's questions and answers, but you must create an account and sign in to take advantage of this. <br /> <br />The only real problem came at the end. The program was unable to connect to the TurboTax server to let us pay for State e-file. I did some troubleshooting with TurboTax support to verify Internet connectivity, firewall settings, etc. The support technician was unable to solve the problem, and suggested that the problem might lie with my ISP. I was not buying the likelihood of that, as the ISP we use is (I believe) one of the larger ones on the East Coast, and we have not had recognizable problems with their service and pay many bills (and make many transactions) seamlessly online. <br /> <br />I was able to effortlessly go back and e-file our Federal taxes. We are going to have to mail in our State forms. <br /> <br />In reality, we DID get everything we payed for (along with some wasted time and aggravation regarding the above problem). It just would have been nice to have been able to e-file our State taxes. Rating: 3 / 5 We purchased TurboTax 2009 for just two purposes – to compare the software’s results with our “pencil and paper” results, and then to e-file both State and Federal. We purchased the download version of TurboTax Deluxe Federal + State 2009 + efile [DOWNLOAD] .

The install went very smoothly on our Windows XP SP3 computer. I had feared some problems based on other reviews, but experienced none. Immediately after install and the initial run, the program presented us with a decision regarding refund and payment options. We could either choose to see all our options, OR some options (then must check boxes for different ways to receive refund or pay TurboTax fees), OR no options. It is necessary to certify consent to the first choice. I suspected something fishy, so I selected the second choice and proceeded.

All data entry for Federal went well, so we smoothly downloaded our included State forms. The program populated the State form with data from our Federal form, and then asked a few more questions to tailor it to the specifics.

We thought the process was pretty nice, although I wished the program would have explained certain topics a little better. For example, it was hard for us to figure out exactly how to characterize and where to enter some “other income,” although we finally figured that out. There is a “live community” option on the right side of the screen where you can view other people’s questions and answers, but you must create an account and sign in to take advantage of this.

The only real problem came at the end. The program was unable to connect to the TurboTax server to let us pay for State e-file. I did some troubleshooting with TurboTax support to verify Internet connectivity, firewall settings, etc. The support technician was unable to solve the problem, and suggested that the problem might lie with my ISP. I was not buying the likelihood of that, as the ISP we use is (I believe) one of the larger ones on the East Coast, and we have not had recognizable problems with their service and pay many bills (and make many transactions) seamlessly online.

I was able to effortlessly go back and e-file our Federal taxes. We are going to have to mail in our State forms.

In reality, we DID get everything we payed for (along with some wasted time and aggravation regarding the above problem). It just would have been nice to have been able to e-file our State taxes.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: Michael Jackovich http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Michael Jackovich Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:53:07 +0000 http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/#comment-140 TurboTax Deluxe 2009 will not install on either of my Windows XP Pro (SP3) PCs (one notebook and the other is a desk top). When I attempted to find a solution on the Ttax website I received a message "We know about the problem, we don't have a solution, leave us your email and we will contact you when we find a solution". [...] <br /> <br />So users using Win XP Pro as their OS should not expect TTax Deluxe to work right out of the box. And yes, both of my PCs are up to date with all of the Microsoft updates. <br /> <br />I have been using TTax since it was developed by "ChipSoft" and sold on 5.25" floppies. Over the last few years I have been getting more and more irritated with Intuit's attempt to exert more control over the product (the registration snafu of about 4 years ago, last year's attempt to cut the number of returns to just a couple are just a few examples that come to mind). <br /> <br />I just want to do my and my family's taxes electronically on my own PC, not on the Web! Intuit - are you listening? <br /> <br />December 30, 2009 Update: I was able to install TurboTax Deluxe 2009 on my XP notebook using Intuit's ".Net Utility Tool" which was posted on their website on December 28. Read more about this fix in the comment section below. Rating: 3 / 5 TurboTax Deluxe 2009 will not install on either of my Windows XP Pro (SP3) PCs (one notebook and the other is a desk top). When I attempted to find a solution on the Ttax website I received a message “We know about the problem, we don’t have a solution, leave us your email and we will contact you when we find a solution”. [...]

So users using Win XP Pro as their OS should not expect TTax Deluxe to work right out of the box. And yes, both of my PCs are up to date with all of the Microsoft updates.

I have been using TTax since it was developed by “ChipSoft” and sold on 5.25″ floppies. Over the last few years I have been getting more and more irritated with Intuit’s attempt to exert more control over the product (the registration snafu of about 4 years ago, last year’s attempt to cut the number of returns to just a couple are just a few examples that come to mind).

I just want to do my and my family’s taxes electronically on my own PC, not on the Web! Intuit – are you listening?

December 30, 2009 Update: I was able to install TurboTax Deluxe 2009 on my XP notebook using Intuit’s “.Net Utility Tool” which was posted on their website on December 28. Read more about this fix in the comment section below.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: G. Madeja http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-139 G. Madeja Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:32:21 +0000 http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/#comment-139 I have used TT for years and have no real complaints about the program itself, despite some minor flaws. However, last year I switched to the other brand as the marketing mavens at Intuit decided to try to milk the cow further by charging for printing additional returns (a move they quickly reversed after they were publicly flogged for it). Back to TT this year - our family has a sole proprietor business and each time I visit Schedule C, I have to answer "No, I do not want to upgrade to TurboTax Home & Business for $40" since I can do everything I need to with TT Home Deluxe. (And "No, I do not want to upgrade to Premier" every time I get to the Investments section either.) However, with a death in our family, I now need to also file a return for a decedent's estate, which is form 1041. Guess what? That is not included in any TurboTax Home product, including Home & Business. That form, which has line items virtually identical to the standard 1040, is only found in TurboTax Business, a different product that costs $110 with no upgrade path from any Home version. I guess there are only 3 things that are inevitable - death, taxes, and Intuit's inability to grow revenues other than to unbundle features so they can charge separately for them (see also Quicken Home Inventory Management which had been part of regular Quicken) or to bundle features customers don't want and have them pay for them (see others' comments on TT e-file inclusion, etc.). Rating: 3 / 5 I have used TT for years and have no real complaints about the program itself, despite some minor flaws. However, last year I switched to the other brand as the marketing mavens at Intuit decided to try to milk the cow further by charging for printing additional returns (a move they quickly reversed after they were publicly flogged for it). Back to TT this year – our family has a sole proprietor business and each time I visit Schedule C, I have to answer “No, I do not want to upgrade to TurboTax Home & Business for $40″ since I can do everything I need to with TT Home Deluxe. (And “No, I do not want to upgrade to Premier” every time I get to the Investments section either.) However, with a death in our family, I now need to also file a return for a decedent’s estate, which is form 1041. Guess what? That is not included in any TurboTax Home product, including Home & Business. That form, which has line items virtually identical to the standard 1040, is only found in TurboTax Business, a different product that costs $110 with no upgrade path from any Home version. I guess there are only 3 things that are inevitable – death, taxes, and Intuit’s inability to grow revenues other than to unbundle features so they can charge separately for them (see also Quicken Home Inventory Management which had been part of regular Quicken) or to bundle features customers don’t want and have them pay for them (see others’ comments on TT e-file inclusion, etc.).
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: Tony Smith http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Tony Smith Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:47:45 +0000 http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/#comment-138 Given all the negative reviews of Turbo Tax last year, I bought Tax Cut. This was after years of using Turbo Tax. I agreed with those that pointed out how Intuit was trying to make more money off their product by the way they packaged their product. Unfortunately, one of my most tedious tasks in tax preparation is reporting stock transactions. Tax cut provided absolutely no way to download my transactions from Fidelity. Turbo Tax has agreements with most major brokerage houses for automatic down loads of your brokerage records. <br /> <br />So, I also bought Turbo Tax and finished my return. Until other products offer this feature, it's not worth it for me to switch. <br /> <br /> Rating: 4 / 5 Given all the negative reviews of Turbo Tax last year, I bought Tax Cut. This was after years of using Turbo Tax. I agreed with those that pointed out how Intuit was trying to make more money off their product by the way they packaged their product. Unfortunately, one of my most tedious tasks in tax preparation is reporting stock transactions. Tax cut provided absolutely no way to download my transactions from Fidelity. Turbo Tax has agreements with most major brokerage houses for automatic down loads of your brokerage records.

So, I also bought Turbo Tax and finished my return. Until other products offer this feature, it’s not worth it for me to switch.

Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: AnthonyCA http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-137 AnthonyCA Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:10:45 +0000 http://beststocktradingtips.com/softwares/turbotax-deluxe-federal-efile-state-2009/#comment-137 I have always used turbotax but this year but they changed their pricing. The package says one free state download. True, you can download one state of your choice. However, you only get to prepare one state only. All additional state preparations are at $39 via download of even the same state. Thus for example, you have two family members living in California. The first person downloads the free California state download. If the second family member, who also needs to file the California state return, the second family member needs to pay $39 to turbotax via the software, to prepare the second state return, again, even if it is the same state. Contacted turbotax and it took several tries until they stated that this is the case. The first few times they would not confirm it but rather dodge the question and give an ambiguous answer, not admitting to the change. <br /> <br /> <br />1/16/10 update: after installing an online software update yesterday, it seems that turbotax has now changed their policy/software back to the way it was in previous years (probably due to the numerous complaints that they have received). Now, as with last year's edition, you can do more than one state preparation for the same state, for the one free state that you have download. I have now given it 4 stars instead of the previous 1 star, with 4 stars becuase turbotax, as stated above, tried to previously limit the one free download to also mean one state prep (which is not the case now). Other than the previous frustration regarding the state download problem, turbotax has always given me great results. Great advice/info when you tag the help function. The help function will guide you for whatever is currently on the screen, thus you do not have to hunt for the information. <br /> <br /> <br />2/17/10 update <br />I have still been hearing that some people cannot do more than one state prep for the free included one state download. I have downgraded the star ratings from a 4 previously to a 2 now because the state download/prep problem still exists for some people. If the problem is fixed, I will upgrade the star rating then. <br /> <br />Don't know if it is real but "Bob Meighan, VP of turbotax" wrote to one of my comments on the deluxe version stating that: <br /> <br />**************************** <br />Bob Meighan says: <br />Anthony... TurboTax does not charge extra for preparing multiple state returns for the same state. There was no change in our pricing policy this year. I believe if you received a different story from one of our agents, I suspect it was because they probably thought you were referring to TurboTax Online, where you are charged for each return. <br /> <br />Bob Meighan <br />VP, TurboTax <br />**************************** <br /> <br />Again I don't know if Bob is for real. If so, I would kindly ask Bob if he could change the turbotax website to state officially, for once and for all, that a buyer of the desktop version shall have unlimited state preps for the same free included state download. <br /> <br />I have also heard from another buyer that turbotax said this was due to a software flaw and should be fixed by Feb 25. We shall see. In the meantime, even though I can do multiple returns on the same state, many others cannot, thus buyer beware. <br /> <br /> <br />2/28/10 update: <br />The problem seems to be fixed. I am upgrading the ratings from 2 stars to 4 now, after it seems to be finally working now. I have received a comment stating that now it is possible to prepare more than one same state return from the free one included state download. Please let us know if it IS or IS NOT working for you. Rating: 4 / 5 I have always used turbotax but this year but they changed their pricing. The package says one free state download. True, you can download one state of your choice. However, you only get to prepare one state only. All additional state preparations are at $39 via download of even the same state. Thus for example, you have two family members living in California. The first person downloads the free California state download. If the second family member, who also needs to file the California state return, the second family member needs to pay $39 to turbotax via the software, to prepare the second state return, again, even if it is the same state. Contacted turbotax and it took several tries until they stated that this is the case. The first few times they would not confirm it but rather dodge the question and give an ambiguous answer, not admitting to the change.

1/16/10 update: after installing an online software update yesterday, it seems that turbotax has now changed their policy/software back to the way it was in previous years (probably due to the numerous complaints that they have received). Now, as with last year’s edition, you can do more than one state preparation for the same state, for the one free state that you have download. I have now given it 4 stars instead of the previous 1 star, with 4 stars becuase turbotax, as stated above, tried to previously limit the one free download to also mean one state prep (which is not the case now). Other than the previous frustration regarding the state download problem, turbotax has always given me great results. Great advice/info when you tag the help function. The help function will guide you for whatever is currently on the screen, thus you do not have to hunt for the information.

2/17/10 update

I have still been hearing that some people cannot do more than one state prep for the free included one state download. I have downgraded the star ratings from a 4 previously to a 2 now because the state download/prep problem still exists for some people. If the problem is fixed, I will upgrade the star rating then.

Don’t know if it is real but “Bob Meighan, VP of turbotax” wrote to one of my comments on the deluxe version stating that:

****************************

Bob Meighan says:

Anthony… TurboTax does not charge extra for preparing multiple state returns for the same state. There was no change in our pricing policy this year. I believe if you received a different story from one of our agents, I suspect it was because they probably thought you were referring to TurboTax Online, where you are charged for each return.

Bob Meighan

VP, TurboTax

****************************

Again I don’t know if Bob is for real. If so, I would kindly ask Bob if he could change the turbotax website to state officially, for once and for all, that a buyer of the desktop version shall have unlimited state preps for the same free included state download.

I have also heard from another buyer that turbotax said this was due to a software flaw and should be fixed by Feb 25. We shall see. In the meantime, even though I can do multiple returns on the same state, many others cannot, thus buyer beware.

2/28/10 update:

The problem seems to be fixed. I am upgrading the ratings from 2 stars to 4 now, after it seems to be finally working now. I have received a comment stating that now it is possible to prepare more than one same state return from the free one included state download. Please let us know if it IS or IS NOT working for you.
Rating: 4 / 5

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