For those of you contemplating a TurboTax purchase.....
Date: January 29, 2015 10:36AM
Many TurboTax purchasers were surprised this year to discover that Intuit has decided to deliberately disable critical features in TurboTax Deluxe. No Schedules C, D, or E. In the past, the product was functional, even though the "Premier" version provided more help and guidance. That was extra functionality and if you needed it you could buy it. But in Deluxe you got the forms, the basic help info, the IRS docs, the final review checking, printing, and e-filing. But not anymore. If you need Schedules C, D. or E, you'll need to upgrade to the $80 Premier Edition. Even in the high-priced Premier version, Schedule C is crippled -- limited to $100 of deductions in a couple of expense categories. I.e. only good for a tiny hobby business, and maybe not even that.
Many of you might be aware of the fact that Intuit (and only Intuit) complained to the Commonwealth of Virginia that their free VA State Tax preparation website was "unfair competition the private industry". That website through the Department of Taxation was shuttered about two years ago thanks to Intuit. It cost VA taxpayers all of $80K out of the state budget to keep it active. Now, VA residents that want to prepare their tax returns electronically had to upgrade to Deluxe versions of the tax prep software, and Intuit laughed all the way to the bank, while all of us footed the bill by sending our money into their corporate coffers.
So what to do? H&R Block software imports your TurboTax return of last year into its program. And if you already bought TurboTax Deluxe and realized you needed the extra functionality but didn't get it, H&R is offering their software for free, provided you still have your TT Proof of Purchase. Something to consider.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2015 10:37AM by Hondo.