We have used CPAs in the past and have always paid what I thought, was too much money for the service. Never again! I have used Turbo Tax now for years and am always pleased. Very helpful if you need to call and ask a question but I've only had to do that once. We have a small business and we work for a company so we use Home and Business. It's so simple! I will continue to use Turbo Tax every year!
I kept getting in an infinite do loop where it wouldn't let me correct information or bypass the steps. The Iowa tax forms is the worse experience that I have had with Turbo Tax after using the program over 15 years.
What's great about it: Like the transfer of information from investment firms
What's not so great: The Iowa stare forms did not work well and did not interface with other states or US forms
Since TURBOTAX doesn't support form 8912 I have to download the form from IRS.gov, fill it out by hand, force the entry into TURBOTAX and file by mail. E-file is not an option.
What's not so great: Missing forms
Pros: My job status changed this year (switched jobs, lost a job, got a raise or promotion), I bought or sold investments
It took me hours, hours, hours, and days....but it was like a puzzle trying to put together all the pieces correctly. I just hope I did it correctly. I have used TurboTax for 5 years. I had a friend that showed me and helped me the first few years. Last year and this year I had no help. I have a very small business that I make a few hundred dollars a wk. I have always paid taxes on my returns even when I taught school. I have never received anything back.
What's great about it: cheaper than a tax person
What's not so great: I didn't understand a lot of things and had no way to find answers....internet turbotax site didn't help
I have used TurboTax for a couple years and think it's great. However, this year the Massachusetts software, which I had to purchase as a second state, had a couple frustrating bugs in it, which required my spending time entering information directly onto the forms.
Pros: My job status changed this year (switched jobs, lost a job, got a raise or promotion), I bought or sold investments