Customer Reviews Collected from turbotax.intuit.com
TurboTax Home & Business Federal & State Returns + Federal E-File 2013 - Mac/Windows
Average Customer Rating:
4.5
Rating breakdown13,019 reviews
5 Stars
8,663
4 Stars
3,101
3 Stars
723
2 Stars
316
1 Star
216
Customer Reviews for TurboTax Home & Business Federal & State Returns + Federal E-File 2013 - Mac/Windows
Customer Rating
4
my oops!
on April 13, 2014
Posted by: berylfeldman
Turbo Tax was great. If any mistakes were made it was because this was my first time filing taxes on my own in over 30 years. I really appreciate Turbo Tax. I hope I did everything right.
Everything went smooth except, we had federal tax withheld by a credit card processor on a 1099-K and it was very hard to enter. I finally entered it in a miscellaneous category and it seemed to print correctly on the tax form.
I have used Turbo Tax for over 5 years straight now and I will continue to use it as it is easy and I like the way it walks me through all the sections one at a time. My husband and I both work regular jobs and I have always had a small business on the side, so I use the Home & Business version of Turbo Tax and it has always been an awesome experience.
What's great about it: Simple, easy & walks you through everything. Love the review portion!
What's not so great: Having to pay extra for the State filing!
I used to file on paper, and know that if you claim straight mileage, you don't need to know all those other things - how many personal miles you drove, etc. The tax program makes us answer many irrelevant questions about mileage - not necessary to the tax form - for each vehicle for each and every rental unit, for the farm, and for the sawmill. I didn't even bother with the home health mileage this year, but will have to answer the same redundant questions about that next year. I would like to see one question: Are you sure you are going to claim the straight mileage deduction, and be done with all that. Since the same vehicles are used for the farm, the rentals, and the sawmill, it is totally frustrating to do this repeatedly.
What's great about it: It allows me to choose which topics I want to work on. The refund amount/amount due changes appropriately with entries.
Our contracting business of 40 years was a nightmare at tax time -- reading through all the IRS changes informational documents and trying to make sense of it all. Turbo tax took that headache away. All I had to do was keep my records and walk through the Q & A. I love the error checking and suggestions for ways we may able to maximize deductions.
What's great about it: Confidence with all the supporting forms
What's not so great: Live chat would be helpful to answer quick questions
Pros: My job status changed this year (switched jobs, lost a job, got a raise or promotion)
In the past TT was easy to use and provided get explanation of taxes. Now it seems more like a guided input form generator. Explanations are poor. When a mistake is found it drops after a review it drops you in the form as opposed to the step by step section. The current software created a Schedule F (Farm) which I didn't realize until the State farm was asking about my "Farm". It took forever to delete the form as the "step by step" would not remove the form no matter how I answered. It didn't know in the schedule C what my car was from last year and could not advise me on how to handle the deduction. For two years TT has import K1s that I haven't had since 2011 but it didn't know about my daughter when I was asked about her 529 plan. It told me I could take out $6500 for an IRA but two years ago the IRS went after me for back taxes for the same recommendation for $5000 and I made less money. Even though I had to do two states this year TT wasn't very helpful when guiding me though the taxes of both states (PA & NY). For example it didn't tell me that I needed to fill out NY first before PA. Also it hides how to delete the state form in the forms section (no help online only referred to their online product). Last year I gave up on using home office because of the poor guidance that TT provided. With Obamacare and more tax laws I think Intuit has lost their advantage and I will go to an accountant.
What's great about it: EFile and Audit Defense
What's not so great: Lacks proper explanation and poor importing ability
I found it incredible that TurboTax retains electronic copies of tax submissions for people that file on TurboTax ONLINE but do not do this for people that puchase the software and submit. I think it would be a HUGE benefit to work out the security so that people that purchase the software and submit could also save an electronic copy on secure TurboTax servers. My computer crashed and I (of course) did not have a readily available backup. Had TurboTax offered a secure backup version of my prior year submission, I would have had much less of a headache to deal with. I understand the confidentiality issues here, but I also understand that you do backups for people that use the TurboTax online product. You should offer the same to people who purchase the downloads or actual discs. Sincerely, S. Straussner
What's not so great: Not available to customers who purchase the software?
I have used Turbo Tax Home & Business every year since 2000 and have never been disappointed. Each year it has gotten easier and the software keeps up with the Federal Tax changes. The confusion comes to play because of business expenses, not because of Turbo Tax.
What's great about it: Great software -
What's not so great: Sometimes confusing
Pros: My job status changed this year (switched jobs, lost a job, got a raise or promotion)