Turbo Tax vs. HR Block Software

veritas_libertas

Well April 15th will be here before long and I am looking at my options for this year. I am strongly considering using some tax software for the first time. What do you guys suggest for maximum return? I used HR Block (in person) to do my taxes last year, and was pleased by their services.

I heard that the Hope Credit for college students might be extended, and this has caught my attention since I just graduated last year. I also moved for work this year, and I see you can now deduct this.

brad-

I honestly think the "our product guarantees the biggest returns" game is just marketing. They all have to play by the same rules.

Last year was my first time filing myself using TT. It was much easier than I thought. Worth the $$.

networker050184

I've used the free on line filing from taxact.com for the past three years. I've gotten a larger return using it than I did when paying someone to supposedly get me the largest return possible. They also have some paid options, but I've never used them.

billscott92787

Dude use turbo tax, it blows H&R block's software out of the water. H&R block sucks

ColbyG

I have a tax guy, he's much cheaper than HR Block, and he's far better.

veritas_libertas

Has anyone deducted their certification exams, and study material before? If so where should that be done?

Zartanasaurus

Me and the Mrs. have been using taxact.com for the last three years. Highly recommended.

Plantwiz

ColbyNA wrote: »

I have a tax guy, he's much cheaper than HR Block, and he's far better.

I agree!

It really depends on how complicated your taxes are, but if you have more then a few forms, then get a CPU or at least a tax person who is more current on all the changes and you can speak with them about your situation...it's worth the money when you have a good one.

TurboTax is ok if you don't have too complicated of a form or too many 'special' situations...at that point, (IMO) it's worth paying someone else to do it and just provide them ALL the facts.

bellhead

Use turbo tax, I have filed my own for the last 4 years using TT. I run rental properties on the side and it makes running your own business easy.

billscott92787

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Has anyone deducted their certification exams, and study material before? If so where should that be done?

I've never deducted cert exams, idk if you can.

arwes

Zartanasaurus wrote: »

Me and the Mrs. have been using taxact.com for the last three years. Highly recommended.

+1. I do my federal through them, and then I do my state online on the state website.

Forsaken_GA

I use TurboTax in years when I don't have anything complicated for my taxes. I'm usually able to file 1040EZ, and TurboTax handles it quickly and efficiently and very cheaply.

For years where my taxes are a little more complicated, I take my box full of paperwork to a CPA.

JockVSJock

I did tax support for TurboTax in 2007.

At this time, TurboTax did a pretty good job of tech/tax support. We had a pretty good team of techies and CPAs helping end users (Jeff if you are reading this, you rock).

Jeff also was comparing H&R Block's Tax Cut Vs Intuit's TurboTax at the time, as part of his job. He was showing me that H&R software will let you overrides whatever values that you put into the GUI. TurboTax wouldn't let an end user do that, unless the go into the tax forum view and modify it directly (seems like alot of users get into trouble with this).

So its been a couple years since I've did support, however I'm still using TurboTax to do my taxes. The software seems pretty reliable, along with support. And alot cheaper then going to Sears/H&R Bloc. I just set aside a whole day on the weekend and get it knocked out.

Don't know if I trust the online version, like to maintain control over my data.

HeroPsycho

billscott92787 wrote: »

I've never deducted cert exams, idk if you can.

Of course you can. It's a job related educational expense. THat goes for any training/prep materials you've purchased.

Publication 970 (200, Tax Benefits for Education

Psoasman

TT is the best. I have been using it for about 6 years now. Definitely keep track of your education expenses, I got a nice credit for education this return. If you use TT, use the "Guide Me" through the deductions/ credits to have the program cover all the possible deductions for you. There is a place after putting your 1098-T, to add additional education deductions. TT also has a nice audit check feature, which can save you a hassle later on.

Forsaken_GA

JockVSJock wrote: »

Don't know if I trust the online version, like to maintain control over my data.

While I agree with you on the issue of maintaining control of the data, that data is going to the most evil agency on the face of the earth, so I don't really such much need to protect. As I do not run Windows anymore (and haven't for years), the online TurboTax is incredibly useful, it automatically has my previous years tax returns information, so I don't have to remember to backup up the TurboTax files (because when I was running Windows, it was reinstalled about every 6 months, so no version of TurboTax survived on my systems from year to year), and when I need to take my previous years info to a CPA, I just download the pdf and print it out.

JockVSJock

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

While I agree with you on the issue of maintaining control of the data, that data is going to the most evil agency on the face of the earth, so I don't really such much need to protect.

Agreed totally with this statement...However think of the risk by not complying. Guess I'll keep filing.

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

As I do not run Windows anymore (and haven't for years)

Their software runs on Mac too...I have a Mac now as well, so I'll try doing it that way this year.

Forsaken_GA

JockVSJock wrote: »

Agreed totally with this statement...However think of the risk by not complying. Guess I'll keep filing.

Amen. The IRS is the one government agency I do not want paying *any* kind of attention to me. They can really screw up your life. Ability to seize assets without court order + penalties and fees that would make a loanshark's nose bleed = I'll pay my $#!@ing taxes

Their software runs on Mac too...I have a Mac now as well, so I'll try doing it that way this year.

Yeah, but I don't trust Intuit when it comes to Mac software. Their initial offering for Quicken was absolutely atrocious, and their new spiffy mac version has been delayed several times. The web version has never given me any problems

blargoe

I guess I'm the only one here using online Tax Cut from H&R Block. I've been very pleased with it. From most accounts from people that have used both, they are pretty similar. If I didn't have it set up where all my info gets automatically populated when I file my returns in subsequent years I might would try TT out. It's worked out well for me.

billscott92787

blargoe wrote: »

I guess I'm the only one here using online Tax Cut from H&R Block. I've been very pleased with it. From most accounts from people that have used both, they are pretty similar. If I didn't have it set up where all my info gets automatically populated when I file my returns in subsequent years I might would try TT out. It's worked out well for me.

I guarantee you you get more out of your return if you use Turbo Tax versus HR Block. Two years ago my mother-in-law had $1,500 stolen from her from H&R Block. They said the IRS hadn't sent $1,500 to HR Block yet. She called the IRS they said they sent it. Guess what, she never got it.

ULWiz

And she just let it go. Kind of odd there.

blargoe

Mmmmmmk.

The only money H&R block gets is the fee for using their software to file your taxes. The IRS and state DOR cut a check to me for the actual refund. It's not possible for them to "steal" like that.

Forsaken_GA

blargoe wrote: »

Mmmmmmk.

The only money H&R block gets is the fee for using their software to file your taxes. The IRS and state DOR cut a check to me for the actual refund. It's not possible for them to "steal" like that.

Well that depends. In TurboTaxes case, if you chose to have your fees deducted from your return instead of paying up front, your return goes through a third party. I'm not sure if H&R Block has a similar option, but it wouldn't surprise me if so.

Obdurate

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

Amen. The IRS is the one government agency I do not want paying *any* kind of attention to me. They can really screw up your life. Ability to seize assets without court order + penalties and fees that would make a loanshark's nose bleed = I'll pay my $#!@ing taxes

Just on a side note: a few years ago my wife and I owed a lot of money to the IRS (cashed a 401K to pay medical bills) and we thought the IRS would be like some sort of Ogre with the bill payments. The IRS was amazingly polite across the board and were willing to work with me on how much I could afford to pay each month.

As long as I kept them in the loop and made my monthly payments on time they would bend over backwards to help.

Oh and TT is the way to go -- easy, affordable and the same software the "tax specialists" use.

Regards,

~Obdurate~