There were some issues that arose when I filed on August 31, 2013, for 2013 after an extension had been allowed. My original files were corrupted and I had to start again from scratch. I think I did it OK but there were some issues. I have been a Turbo Tax customer for decades. Somehow, TurboTax does not recognize this. Maybe I now have two accounts with Turbo Tax. Also I do not know if I am signed up for automatic renewal for subsequent years.
What's great about it: EASY TO FOLLOW FOR STANDARD SITUATIONS
What's not so great: NOT SO SIMPLE FOR CASES FILED AFTER AN EXTENSION HAS BEEN GRANTED
Turbo Tax makes doing my family's taxes simple. I feel confident that all areas are being covered, and that I'm not missing something. I like being able to bounce back and forth between step-by-step and forms so I can look at specifics as needed. Though my audit risk is fairly low, I always select Audit Defense, for the peace of mind it brings... knowing that I'm protected if our home & business return were to be audited. Thanks, Intuit! Your Turbo Tax product will be part of my family's financial stability for years to come!
What's great about it: SO thorough, yet VERY user-friendly and easy to work with!!
What's not so great: Not sure why I have to fill out the contact form every time I open the program after filling it out once.
Pros: My job status changed this year (switched jobs, lost a job, got a raise or promotion)
The most frustrating item and one that I hope you can fix before we file 2014 taxes is to have a process available for a joint federal and two separate states tax returns for two individuals without having to reenter the data for the (federal) two separate times.
What's great about it: All forms, and rules included
What's not so great: no easy way to file a joint federal tax return and two separate single individual differnt state returns
I am a clergyman, and I receive a housing allowance from my parish, but no salary. Since there's no salary, they don't have to give me a W-2 or 1099, and they don't. The housing allowance is, however, reportable, and although there's no income tax on it, there is self-employment tax. I had a real hard time trying to figure out how to report this housing allowance in TurboTax. I finally figured it out after reading multiple reports in the "help" section, but in my opinion TurboTax could have made this a whole lot easier than it was.
What's great about it: Easy things are easy
What's not so great: Some things are hard to figure out how to do, and the help function isn't very helpful
The problem with the cars is that the Blazer was totaled and the insurance company towed it away. They did pay us but there was no trade-in. Turbo Tax kept insisting there had to be a trade in and with a value.
The other car, a Camaro, has been taken out of use because it has an electric problem. It is sitting in the garage waiting for my husband to sell it. Turbo Tax insisted we traded it in, for what I don't know. I final put an amount of $1 in the amount of trade-in box and that seemed to be okay with Turbo Tax.
What's great about it: Turbo Tax is getting easier every year, I think. I like both the Guided Easy Steps and going straight to the forms
What's not so great: I had a problem with Turbo Tax insisting I had had a trade in on 2 cars that were no longer in use.