eShop USA > Software > TurboTax Basic 2005 Win/Mac [Old Version]
TurboTax Basic 2005 Win/Mac [Old Version]
Rating:  -
how can doing taxes get any easier? this is my fifth year using turbo tax and I think each year gets easier and faster. I love the way my information from the previous year is brought forward and the ability to e-file is just a click away.
I can't imagine using any other program.
Rating:  -
I have used TurboTax for several years. It is generally easy to use and certainly simplifies preparing a tax return. However, I have noticed several problems with this year's version which cause me to recommend against using it except to simplify data entry and to double-check your own tax return preparation using the IRS's own instructions:
(1) It is not always accurate. E.g., when it printed my return it generated forms for payment of estimated tax, with an indication that these payments were required. However, the IRS publication on estimated tax sets out a simple, 3-part test to determine whether one needs to make these estimated payments, with questions TurboTax didn't know to ask me. As a second example, the program was helpful in reminding me that I was eligible for a foreign tax credit carryover, but then miscalculated it. As a third example, the program lists different documentation requirements for charitable donations than the IRS instructions do.
(2) The update feature doesn't keep track of whether you've already downloaded updates, and therefore downloads all updates later than the date of your CD itself, instead of only downloading updates new since the last time you updated.
(3) The program insistently prompts you to upgrade to more expensive versions of the product, including updates it should be able to realize you can't possibly need (e.g., state tax programs even if you live in a state with no income tax).
(4) The help instructions for complicated situations are essentially useless -- you will need to hunt down the IRS instructions on your own.
Some features that would be easy to include, aren't. E.g., there aren't links to the underlying IRS instructions documents. There are no explanations of what's going on to help understand the tax implications of your finances -- e.g., you will be told whether or not you are subject to AMT, but not why. You aren't told the tax rates on your different categories of income. If a deduction or credit is limited, you aren't told why.
Rating:  -
The program does a great job in figuring my taxes. But now Intuit is charging for filing and the state program. Also I was unable to download the updates over my dial-up connection. I called to have a CD version mailed to me but so far I haven't received it. I'm trying Tax Act this year. It is a free program and has free filing. IF I can complete the TurboTax version I will see if I can duplicate my return using Tax Act. If so then good bye TurboTax.
Rating:  -
I have used Turbo Tax for about 20 years and have loved it. In the past it was user-friendly, efficient and complete - it even printed out all the forms I needed - ready to send to the IRS.
As usual, I purchased it this year.
The format changed and isn't nearly as user friendly as in years past. You have to manually select the walk-through feature, section by section and it's very easy to miss sections.
When I got to the end, it wouldn't let me do a review for errors until I updated the version. But, I don't have internet at home and couldn't update. It crashed my computer 3 times before I skipped the review totally. (God only knows what else I skipped in the process.)
When I went to print the forms - again it nagged me that the software was inferior and needed to be updated. Again, I skipped it but the pages printed out with a nasty watermark saying the forms weren't updated and couldn't be used. I can't use these. I can't send them to the IRS. So, I have to find IRS forms and manually insert the information myself. So, why did I spend money for the software??
Why would they sell a product that you can't actually use? Yes, it'll "prepare" my forms. But, what good is that if I can't print them out?
Why would they sell a product that was already so obsolete that you can't use it without contacting the company for another version?
ABSOLUTELY - RUN - DON'T WALK - RUN RUN RUN AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT. DON'T BUY IT because it simply doesn't work.
I won't use Turbo Tax again. They have lost a faithful and long time customer.
Rating:  -
Yes, well, it does a great job, I've been using it for years and it helped me out a great deal in doing the taxes for everyone in my household. This year, though, I discovered that you can do them (both Federal and State) for FREE, online, at Intuit's web site, if you have car insurance from State Farm. And I discovered this after I bought and installed Turbotax.
Anyway, if you didn't know it yet, go ahead and do your taxes online, because you even have E-filing for free for both federal and state. You can even download your tax file to use in Turbotax after you are finished. And yes, you can save everything as PDF files.
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