TurboTax Deal!

DaddyMac

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
14,070
453
83
You're not the first person I've heard this from. The nice thing is, my father-in-law doubles as an accountant and is well-versed in tax law, he's been doing his own taxes for years and actually does his homework each year.

But if I did not have a connection to H&R Block - I doubt we'd be going there.

A friend of my wife does part time work there during tax season. Her regular job is an engineer for the city.


You make the connection..... :skeptical:
 

gocy1

Member
Jun 30, 2006
68
3
8
Brianhos, could you reduce that percentage a little? Some politician is probably monitoring this site and will run with it :sad:.
 

bos

Legend
Staff member
Apr 10, 2006
30,629
6,415
113
Not familiar with that one. I gave AVG a shot and I didn't like how it slowed down my machine - I felt it was as bad or worse than Norton. Nod32 has been very nice so far.


Symantec Antivirus Corp edition. Benefit of getting free stuff from work. =) 11.0 sucks, but 10.0 was not a hog and did a great job. AVG was good but I think you are right a little about it being slower. I used Avast as well.

As for the free turbotax (to stay on topic) I think its a great deal. There is not really any reason not to do your own taxes unless you are screwing yourself by not knowing what you can do for deductions. But the software is getting better where it walks you along more and finds these things.
 

ISUFan22

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
33,922
904
113
Denver, CO
A friend of my wife does part time work there during tax season. Her regular job is an engineer for the city.


You make the connection..... :skeptical:

But does she actually work the tax returns or is a secretary? Big difference.

My mother-in-law does seasonal work there also but doesn't do a thing with the taxes.

I think the worst one I heard was an electrician that actually did taxes there. Not that electricians are not capable, it's just completely outside their normal field of work.
 

DaddyMac

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
14,070
453
83
But does she actually work the tax returns or is a secretary? Big difference.

My mother-in-law does seasonal work there also but doesn't do a thing with the taxes.

I think the worst one I heard was an electrician that actually did taxes there. Not that electricians are not capable, it's just completely outside their normal field of work.

I think she helps prepare, but can't say for sure or in what capacity. At the very least, I'd expect somebody to sign off on whatever she does.

I'm fairly certain she had to do some classes or a lengthy orientation.
 

isufbcurt

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2006
27,527
44,485
113
46
Newton
H&R Block sucks in the last 3 years I have gotten 12 new clients who went to H&R before they came to me. While looking over their prior year returns I found that on 7 of those people H&R screwed up. On one of them the new client let me call H&R and ask the preparer why they did what they did, their answer was the "computer program did it", I then proceeded to read them a section of the tax code that said clearly you cannot do wha they did.

Moral of the story do not trust H&R!!!!!!!
 

cygrads

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2007
4,969
2,728
113
Altoona, IA
That is a great deal, can't argue that.

I am a File Taxes Online - Do Taxes FREE - File Taxes With TaxACT fan. Local (Cedar Rapids) company. The programmers used to make the Parsons Tax Edge before Intuit (TurboTax) bought Parsons. Their federal is free in online form.

Turbo tax may be free may be free to SF customers, but the devteam for TaxAct are class acts.


-keep.

So keep you have used this TaxAct web site and the only thing you have to pay for is the state return? How do they make any money on this site??
 

DaddyMac

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
14,070
453
83
So keep you have used this TaxAct web site and the only thing you have to pay for is the state return? How do they make any money on this site??

Can you submit a tax return online directly to the IRS? Not using a 3rd party? I'm not sure but haven't seen anything...

I wonder the same thing cygrads. I've purchased the Fed & State the past few years for about $21 (1 free filing for fed, state 7.95).

That doesn't leave alot of room for normal business costs or profits.

I wonder if they get some sort of fee FROM the IRS. Have to believe the gov't LOVES these programs - saves them all kinds of time and money.
 

keepngoal

OKA: keepingoal
Staff member
Bookie
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 20, 2006
39,426
24,746
113
I have used TaxAct.com since it opened (~1998 i think) after TurboTax canned the programmers and their non-compete clause expired.

basically the the free fed return is a loss lead. they are hoping you buy the State ~$10 since it is easy to do with the info you entered into the fed return.

I always buy the deluxe version, there are a few nice extras, mainly because I used to work with all these guys/gals.

Oh they make money.... lots of it. I forget the number I was told on % of free vs paid federal returns.

I don't know about the direct submit to the IRS without a third party, but I can only assume it is required.
 

CyCloned

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
13,602
6,968
113
Robins, Iowa
I have used TaxAct.com since it opened (~1998 i think) after TurboTax canned the programmers and their non-compete clause expired.

basically the the free fed return is a loss lead. they are hoping you buy the State ~$10 since it is easy to do with the info you entered into the fed return.

I always buy the deluxe version, there are a few nice extras, mainly because I used to work with all these guys/gals.

Oh they make money.... lots of it. I forget the number I was told on % of free vs paid federal returns.

I don't know about the direct submit to the IRS without a third party, but I can only assume it is required.

I am currently working for TaxACT, and have also used it since 1998also. My wife worked with Jerry M.'s wife for several years.

They do a great job of supporting their product and if you compare their deluxe version with the state added, it is way cheaper than the Turbotax bundle. Plus you can support an Iowa company.
 

redrocker

Well-Known Member
Sep 5, 2006
2,245
56
48
Ames - West-CY'd
Reasons like this make me glad a Married an accountant that does this stuff for a living. No headaches here. Just sit and wait for my return (which I have already spent)
 

cyfanatic

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
7,092
3,127
113
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
OK...has anyone delved deeply into this? Is it completely free? And you can use the Basic OR the Deluxe version? That is how I am reading it...
 

cmoneyr

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2006
8,422
343
83
40
Ames, Born and Raised
It looks like the Federal return is free for the Basic and Deluxe packages, $20 and $45 for the Premier and the Home & Business. At the bottom it says that State filings are free for all 4 packages.
 

cyfanatic

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
7,092
3,127
113
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
It looks like the Federal return is free for the Basic and Deluxe packages, $20 and $45 for the Premier and the Home & Business. At the bottom it says that State filings are free for all 4 packages.

Cool...thanks. Doesn't it just seem like there is going to be a catch at the end?
 

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