Turbotax Deluxe Changes

[Scout333]

For those who use Turbotax you may be interested in this article. Appears those of us who have used Turbotax Deluxe may not be able to use that version if you have Sch. D or Sch. C's. Intuit has moved those features to its 2014 Premier service which costs twice as much as the 2014 Deluxe version. Check this Forbes article out.

Irate TurboTax Users Can Get Free Upgrades -- Or Jump Ship (http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/irate-turbotax-users-can-get-free-upgrades-or-jump-ship/ar-AA7Y2U9)

[Scout333]

For those who use Turbotax you may be interested in this article. Appears those of us who have used Turbotax Deluxe may not be able to use that version if you have Sch. D or Sch. C's. Intuit has moved those features to its 2014 Premier service which costs twice as much as the 2014 Deluxe version. Check this Forbes article out.

Irate TurboTax Users Can Get Free Upgrades -- Or Jump Ship (http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/irate-turbotax-users-can-get-free-upgrades-or-jump-ship/ar-AA7Y2U9)

I called the phone number in the article above and was told that once I had purchased the Deluxe version and reached the upgrade section that I should call the number again and I would be given a free upgrade to the Premier version. Has anyone else received the free upgrade?

[nasa1974]

Thanks Scout. I have used TurboTax for years and I have always pre-ordered. I don't need schedule C,D,E or F at least not yet. But it appears because I pre-ordered I will get that upgrade free. However, if you don't pre-order and wait until now when the software becomes available in stores the Deluxe version is cheaper. I think I will cancel my pre-order and just what and buy it on Amazon or Best Buy next year.

[PessOptimist]

I received the e-mail telling me about my free upgrade today. I haven't downloaded it yet.

I need schedule E but only for the first page or so. I also need two states which gets expensive.

I have been thinking for the last few years about just finding a fillable PDF of the forms I need and stop paying Turbo Tax a bunch of money, Yeah it is convenient but also buggy every year. Now I may look for an alternative. For 2014, I will post something about how the free download goes.

PO

[Scout333]

Thanks NASA1974 and PO!

[Scout333]

Latest update. Called to get my update from Deluxe to Premier ( 800-445-1875) and was advised that after 2-7-2015 the update would be automatic with the purchase of the Deluxe version? Will see.

[hotwings]

I called the phone number in the article above and was told that once I had purchased the Deluxe version and reached the upgrade section that I should call the number again and I would be given a free upgrade to the Premier version. Has anyone else received the free upgrade?


I have used turbo tax for many years so I called turbo tax to complain about having to buy the Premier vice the Deluxe in order have the option of using fillable Schedule Ds. When I threatened to start using H&R Block's tax software, they sold me the "downloadable" Premier for just $45. See below...



1

TURBOTAX FOR WIN PREMIER TY2014 DOWNLOAD

$45.00






Subtotal:
Sales Tax:
Total for this Order:



$45.00
$0.00
$45.00

[Hawgjo]

I thought I heard last week that the Intuit CEO caved to all the complaints and announced that Intuit was going to refund the money that people had paid to "upgrade" when they found out they weren't going to have the same "tools" they had in the past with TT and those who hadn't they would include the same "tools" i.e... Schedules etc. in the Deluxe version that everyone was accustomed to in the past...?

[nnuut]

Just finished using TaxAct online for the 4th year in a row, I used TurboTax for years but this is just as good and cheaper!

[Scout333]

Does that include the state filing? Also, Best Buy will match/beat any advertised price. I got the Deluxe w/ Efile and State filing for 35.99. With the upgrade to Premier that seems like a fair price. Any better prices out there?

[Gamer]

I created this for myself. Hope it helps some folks here with decision making.

32307

[nnuut]

TaxAct cost me $17 for Federal and State Deluxe free EFile!32308

[Maricar19]

TaxAct cost me $17 for Federal and State Deluxe free EFile!32308

Hi nnuut, how many can use it? HRBlock allows more than one user.

[Khotso]

Watch Out!!

Minnesota Stops Accepting TurboTax Filings Due to Possible Fraud

... some Minnesota taxpayers recently logged in to file their tax return only to find that their return had already been filed.
… 18 other states have identified similar problems.
… The state of Utah has also decided to not accept tax returns submitted using TurboTax for now. Utah officials say 28 fraudulent filings were identified and a total of 8,000 have been flagged for investigation.
Minnesota Stops Accepting TurboTax Filings Due to Possible Fraud | KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul (http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3699235.shtml)

[k0nkuzh0n]

freetaxusa.com for the win!

[nnuut]

Hi nnuut, how many can use it? HRBlock allows more than one user.
Only 1! But if you sign up in Oct. you get it at $5 off the price.

[nasa1974]

Watch Out!!

Minnesota Stops Accepting TurboTax Filings Due to Possible Fraud

... some Minnesota taxpayers recently logged in to file their tax return only to find that their return had already been filed.
… 18 other states have identified similar problems.
… The state of Utah has also decided to not accept tax returns submitted using TurboTax for now. Utah officials say 28 fraudulent filings were identified and a total of 8,000 have been flagged for investigation.
Minnesota Stops Accepting TurboTax Filings Due to Possible Fraud | KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul (http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3699235.shtml)

TurboTax just stopped all electronic filing for states. You can still use the forms but as of right now you would have to mail your forms in. The article I read said that electronic filings for your federal forms is OK.

[Stoplight]

TaxAct cost me $17 for Federal and State Deluxe free EFile!32308

+1 !!!

I tried TurboTax 1 year, because I use Quicken. However, I had to tweak almost ALL my numbers imported in ! UGH !!!

I've used TaxAct since my 2010 return, and I love it ! I don't have a State return, and the Fed filing went up $2 this year ($9.95, as a returning user), but it works just fine for me...the process is pretty painless...it imports much of the data details from last year's 1099's, and there is phone support if you get stuck (although I've never used it).


Stoplight...

[konakathy]

I bought my TurboTax Deluxe software last month from Costco. I plan on returning it tomorrow...unopened. What a mess this TurboTax controversy is turning into.

[konakathy]

TaxAct cost me $17 for Federal and State Deluxe free EFile!32308


Is this something you download from the Internet? What happened to the good ol' days when you could pick up forms from your local post office or library?! :notrust:

[nnuut]

Is this something you download from the Internet? What happened to the good ol' days when you could pick up forms from your local post office or library?! :notrust: You actually do it on the internet!

[burrocrat]

You actually do it on the internet!

nnuut is right, everybody seems to be doing it on the internet nowadays. my 12 year old can't even look up a game cheat code for his xbox without getting popup ad videos for people doing things that i didn't even know existed until i was like 19 or 20. it's a brave new world.

[James48843]

Hey- just send ME your tax W-2's, all your 1098's and 1099's, and your social security numbers, and I will be happy to take care of everything for you!L

Lol!

[konakathy]

You actually do it on the internet!

You ..... Nevermind .... :laugh: :ban: I get it. Thanks for the info.

[nnuut]

You ..... Nevermind .... :laugh: :ban: I get it. Thanks for the info.32381

[PessOptimist]

I finally completed my 2014 taxes this morning. No hurry, I owe everyone this year.

My Turbo Tax experience was about normal.
I downloaded the free upgrade to Premier and later downloaded my second state.
I remembered to do the non-resident state first as recommended many years ago by Turbotax. I was asked for information I know was available in the 2013 return I imported but this is a normal aggravating ongoing bug.
I completed the second state (full year resident) and went through all reviews. Turbotax said everything was fine but I knew the number for the resident state tax for was wrong and printed some of the forms to do an idiot check.
I use the questions method and it never asked any questions about taxes paid to another state on income received from another state. I fixed that by creating the proper form for the resident state.
During the idiot check I found some idiot had entered on the fed form the resident state taxes paid amount as a refund. When I corrected this I had to force the change to flow to the state tax returns.
After one of the updates I was led to the file your taxes screen even though I wasn’t any way near done.
I have found in the past that if you have everything ready and sit down for a few hours and do all returns at once it works a little better. You should still NEVER accept the bottom line if it doesn’t look right.
The software asked me a few times about health care insurance and suggested I go to the healthcare.gov to see if I could get a better deal.
Turbotax offered to let me buy an Amazon gift certificate with my refund even though I had no refund due.

Bottom line:
If I didn’t have any previous experience with my filing situation and accepted the Turbotax returns I would have sent the resident state much more than needed.

It cost a lot (IMHO), between the original software, one additional state and e-file fees about $150.
Turbotax accepted my state returns but I have no confirmation they were accepted by those state or if someone has filed for me. The fed return was accepted immediately so I guess that means no one stole my identity and filed for a refund.

In the past I have resisted the idea of doing taxes “in the cloud” but have since realized the returns are “in the cloud” somewhere anyway.
Does anyone who uses taxact know if you can file two state returns. The website is vague. Same question for freetaxusa.

Update: the non-resident state return has been accepted.

Taxes are done for this year and I am thinking about withholding amounts or in the non-resident case prepayments. I have always thought based on the unpredictability of overtime in the current job that if I get back or pay <$1000 total to the feds and resident state I did pretty good.

PO

[nnuut]

Taxact did ask me if I wanted to inter a another state, so I think they can handle it.

[Scout333]

TurboTax filings were pretty smooth with Deluxe + State 2015 and 2016 tax filings. While price checking the 2017 versions on Amazon I saw tons of negative reviews mostly around the Sch. C and D's and the original installs on windows 10 machines. Has anyone purchased the 2017 Deluxe + State w/efile and installed it this year? Would you be willing to share your experiences? Thanks, fellow TSP'rs!

[evilanne]

Last few years I have purchased Turbo Tax Premier from Costco or Sam's Club. Premier covers Investments & Real Estate and I haven't had any issues with any schedules but I don't use Schedule C. My Brokerage Statement, once available, imports easily into Premier version. If you have a lot of investment trades or capital gains in taxable account (Sch D) or Self Employment Income (Sch C), it may make sense to upgrade to Premier or Home & Business versions. If you buy deluxe version, you can easily upgrade to one of the others within program or by phone, which I have done in the past. Last few years, I have used Mac to do my taxes without any issues, so I'm not sure about Windows. Texas doesn't have State income tax but I think all Turbo versions include 1 state download.

There have been several updates since I purchased in early January. Many of the forms were not available until recently, 8606-T (Roth form) is still not available. They update tax change for medical deductions from 10% to 7.5% on Schedule A based on recent legislation. I have entered some data from my Dec 31 brokerage statement to estimate current taxes but download won't be available from brokerage until next month.

[Scout333]

Thanks EA for the info! I have had better luck waiting until later in the filing season. Usually 2-15 or later.

[nasa1974]

I use TurboTax Deluxe also. Right now I don't use Schedule C or D. Probably won't be able to use Schedule A for this year.

Just did a quick look and my Federal withholdings hasn't changed yet from what was being kept out in 2017.

Also did a quick comparison with my 2016 taxes vs. what I understand the 2018 might look like and I came up at least $400 less in deductions. Guess I will have to wait and see which tax bracket I fall into and if my payroll deductions are messed with.

[RazorCat]

Taking my taxes to my accountant/tax preparer for the 7th straight year. Price went up to $115.00 last year, but all I do is drop off my ever expanding folder full of tax documents, and wait for a call later in the day. Taxes prepared and forwarded to the Infernal Revenue Service. And I get a really nice tax binder that contains everything I need to keep on file for future reference.
Our refunds, or amount owed, is usually less than $500.00, so nothing to get excited about either way. That’s my goal every year.
Be as close to the break even point as possible.
I’ll pay the little bit extra for tax prep. More time for fishing.