Comments on: Amazon reviewers slam TurboTax fee changes

Revised fees from Intuit lead many reviewers to give the top-selling tax preparation program an overwhelmingly negative rating.

[devilinthedetails]

TaxACT has been providing a high-quality, affordable alternative to both major tax software providers for over a decade now, and our prices (yes, I work for 2nd Story Software, the company that makes TaxACT) have not gone up this year. TaxACT Standard is completely free and supports 1040 long form, 1040a and 1040ez along with nearly every schedule, it is all most taxpayers need to file. Our Deluxe edition has several additional features and is $9.95 for our online service and $12.95 for a desktop version (which allows you to prepare and print as many files as you want).

[HRBlockPaula]

This is Paula from H&R Block. I just wanted to let everyone know that with TaxCut you no longer need to decide between filing your federal return electronically or printing it. TaxCut allows you to print multiple returns at no additional cost and now allows you to e-file 5 federal returns for free. (5 e-files is the IRS maximum to prevent fraud). If you have already purchased TaxCut software, you will automatically receive the 5 free federal e-files as well.

We understand that in this tough economy, every penny counts. We didn't want to make preparing your own taxes any more stressful. Follow this link to see a comparison on the true cost of software. http://digits.hrblock.com/topicsofinterest/efile/truecost.php

I hope this helps with your tax software decision.

Paula from H&R Block

[HRBlockPaula]

This is Paula from H&R Block. I just wanted to let everyone know that with TaxCut you no longer need to decide between filing your federal return electronically or printing it. TaxCut allows you to print multiple returns at no additional cost and now allows you to e-file 5 federal returns for free. (5 e-files is the IRS maximum to prevent fraud). If you have already purchased TaxCut software, you will automatically receive the 5 free federal e-files as well.

We understand that in this tough economy, every penny counts. We didn't want to make preparing your own taxes any more stressful. Follow this link to see a comparison on the true cost of software. http://digits.hrblock.com/topicsofinterest/efile/truecost.php

I hope this helps with your tax software decision.

Paula from H&R Block

[chuck_whealton]

Why are people still using this product?

After just the fiasco with their copy protection, I'd have dropped them for good.

[MisterLeek]

Cya Turbo Tax! Hello Tax Cut.

Intuit, great way to screw your faithful customers, especially during this economic times.

I have used TurboTax for the last 10 years to prepare one return each year and e-file most of the time the option has existed. Intuit's new pricing is ridiculous as well as intentionally deceptive (e-file is free, yeah, riiiight). I noticed TaxCut has raised their price as well. I will be using another method to prepare my 2008 taxes.

John

[sb1917]

I think the point that most are overlooking is that TurboTax and all e-fillers aggregate our data and sell it to other companies. They should be paying us to e-file. It's our data and the pseudo choice we have of opting out is BS. The only way to opt out is to not use the product. Using these programs is just giving up more of our privacy without any real option to keep our information private.

I've used TT for years and because I have to file my parents return in another state it's going to be a rip off anyway as the amount they charge for a second state is ridiculous, it shouldn't be over $10. 95% doesn't change from year to year.

[hatailor]

This is what happens when a business becomes a monopoly. A monopoly has no obligation to tell you that they changed the rules. But there are ways to get back at them and make sure they don't earn more.
You can get turbotax free if you are a customer of State Farm banking. A $500 CD for 90 days (2.3% interest) will do it, and then you cash out the CD. (I just did that.) If you have to pay more to print, then it evens out. But I bet that by April some wise computer guy will figure out a way to trick the program into printing. For example the cutepdf program may do it. Presumably you can print but with a watermark that is not acceptable by IRS. OK, can you try various shades of the photocopiers? maybe some successive printings will minimize the watermark. Of course the control print screen should do it, if there is a way to get decent reproductions afterwards. Turning the screen into the oblong position (for those who have this capability) will give you one page at a time.
I have used turbotax since 1986, and I do rather complex returns for aging parents and in-laws. (I tried taxcut a few years ago, but back then you could only open one form at a time.Maybe things have improved). I am going through all this because I am pissed at the monopoly attitude. Little people have ways to do things.

I want to thank you for your candid comments here about TurboTax. I realize that some of you are long-time customers and TurboTax fell short of your expectations. For all TurboTax customers, we regret we caused you such angst.

A number of factors, including your feedback, have prompted us to now enable TurboTax customers to prepare and print multiple returns at no additional cost. Plus, as we?ve previously communicated, free e-filing is included with every federal return. These changes will be reflected in a TurboTax One-click Update scheduled for release around December 20. As you may know, the IRS limits the number of e-filed returns to five.

We believe these changes make TurboTax the best value for consumers. Including free e-filing with every federal return means a savings of nearly $75 for some of our customers versus last year and a savings of up to $40 compared to our original pricing this year. I believe this now truly reflects our commitment to helping our customers keep more money in their pockets.

We have over 17 million loyal, passionate customers who genuinely care about what we do and who take the time to tell us. Our decision recognizes that your opinions really do count.

Let the tax season begin.

Bob Meighan
VP, TurboTax

[degrees_of_truth]

You are to be congratulated for making that decision. I'm sure your customers will appreciate it. Unfortunately, I'm no longer a customer, as I bought TaxCut yesterday.

[c|net Reader]

Gee, could one of those factors be that TaxCut doesn't charge for up to five e-filings or for printed returns?

[hattie23]

You say that you've changed TurboTax to enable customers to prepare and print multiple returns at no additional cost. I purchased the Deluxe version online today because your website states unlimited federal returns are included plus 5 free efiles. Why is it, then, the license agreement in the download states that I purchased one federal return and one efile and all others come with an additional charge?

[clevelandbrownsdawgs]

I can't believe the guy quoted here in the story: "You don't think you ripped off Intuit for years, doing your son's, your daughters, your neighbor's, and their grandmother's returns for FREE? Geeze."

By this logic, I'm doing something wrong if I create a word document for my grandmother who doesn't own a computer. Huh? That logic is way off. You buy software, and you do with it as you please. It's yours. You bought it.

I find that if you buy the software early enough and do your taxes asap, you can resell it on ebay for 90% of your purchase price.

With this irritating price increase, I'm going to look at other options this year.

[c|net Reader]

You why Intuit tried DRM and wanted to charge for extra returns now! You think ripping them off for their efforts to assist your tax filing is justifiable? Amazing. If we all did what you advocate, Intuit would only sell one copy of TurboTax. That isn't going to encourage them to update the program for the next year now is it?

[silvapc]

As a long time user of TurboTax, I just purchased the new copy only to find out (during installation) of the new rules and price schemes. This new change may be the exact kick that I needed to finally switch over to another product. Intuit may just have created their "BOSTON TEA PARTY" and end up with a revolt from most of its users.

I have been putting up with a multitude of idiotic requirements and procedures but kept hoping that things would change. This new idea has to be the most pathetic of them all.

According to Intuit's thinking, if anyone buys a book, a magazine or even a newspaper, they should pay additional fees if anyone else in the household should attempt to read the same media! I wonder if their own people working at Intuit ever share a book or magazine and send an extra payment to the publisher for such privilege!!!

They got me this year but I will be experimenting with competing products since next year I will definitely be using something else. So Intuit... you are now $59.99 richer but you will loose a hell of a lot more over the next many years to come. And, since I am a PC Consultant, I will be warning all of my clients about your appalling techniques.

[c|net Reader]

Your analogy is poor. TT packages expertise, not just information. Imagine buying a desktop publishing program that asks you about the document you wish to create and produces a standardized document, meeting your criteria, that meets some Government or Industry imposed content and layout standard. The program would ask you about the permissible color scheme(s), preferred typefaces (fonts), and on and on. After answering hundreds of questions, the program would produce your document for you. Now consider that the content and format changes periodically and the program must be updated to match those changes each time. Creating such a product would be daunting, so the publisher would be reasonable to want a as much money back as possible to get a return on their investment. The publisher would try to limit the number of users or documents per purchase, especially as the product has a short shelf life. That's what Intuit does with TT.

I'm not justifying their price increases. I'm not justifying their assumption that everyone will e-file. I'm just saying you can't compare TT to a book.

[CentralMo]

I have used Turbo Tax for about the past 10 years, but will be switching back to Tax Cut for two reasons. 1) the $15 price increase (Free E-file right) and 2) the $10 charge to print a second return. I would like to address the comment about ripping them off for years doing my son?s , daughter?s and others returns. First I paid for the software, second I am using my hardware and my time to do each return. Now, if Turbo Tax wants to supply the software free and charge me $10 for every return I do, I could go along with that.

[hattie23]

It's even worse than increasing their fees. Their website states, "Cost of TurboTax CD/Download includes tax preparation and printing of unlimited federal tax returns and free federal efile of up to 5 federal tax returns". However, if you purchase the download, the license agreeement states, "You may prepare, print and e-file your first federal return at no extra charge. Additional federal returns are an additional per-return charge." I currently have an email in to them questioning these additional fees and don't have a response yet.

[llswain]

I am a long time user of turbo tax. This years software is the pits. I'm not at all pleased. The instructions are written like a bad Saturday Night Live Skit. They go on and on and make no since at all. Am I the only one having trouble?

[woodsey2]

I have used Turbo Tax exclusively which began the next tax year after they bought out and eliminated the Tax Programs/Software produced at Parsons Technology. Parsons provided the absolute best.
Turbo Tax has never been able to provide comparable software equal to that which had been provided. This year is absolutely my last year with Turbo Tax. I have spent an exorbitant amount of time on the phone and on the internet identifying mistakes and trying to get them resolved. I have continued to find more errors in their programs but finally just gave up. Sorry, I know I could have helped many others with errors but I just could not continue to give up that much time doing what their company should have completed, like at least running it through a test or two. Don't you think????? The new charges and increases were probably earmarked for increased salaries for management and not into improving the product, which it desperately needs. The few changes they have made are merely cosmetic and mostly not necessary. They continue to change things which would have better left alone. What are you guys thinking??? Oh! You aren't!!! That is not surprising. Needless to say anymore since it should not take any stretch of the imagination to figure out that I am unhappy with Turbo Tax to say the least.

[lt2211]

What's with the $59.95? Looks like a steal now that the 2009 editions are out for $67. Whats with the constant price increases and imaginitive ways to over charge the customer? Im annoyed and looking for another way to file taxes. The in store price always seems to be considerably less. Especially if you wait till late Feb to March. Can't figure why they would want to screw their loyal returning customers.