If you can figure out how much sales tax I paid, why can't you figure out not to ask me - multiple times - about filing state taxes. We don't file them.
Please either get TT to know that I don't file a state return, or ask me once and no more.
What's great about it: Walks you through tax return step by step
What's not so great: Keeps asking if I want to file state return
For the most part, all went well. Some of the shortcuts were not straightforward and were confusing. The process of trying to print a copy was really bad. I didn't need all that garbage about using some remote printing. Got so bad I just quit, went my on way about printing. Give a straightforward way first, then the garbage about using some remote method. My going through that process plus asking whether I wanted extra protection has me thinking about using a different company's software next year. Peace, Les Fraley
What's great about it: Mostly smooth & easy to use.
What's not so great: Some shortcuts in the process confusing.
Honestly, I'd still be typing in my charitable contributions if I used TurboTax's unwieldy and unnecessary question-and-answer format. If the individual charity names and amounts are not required by the IRS, then don't ask me to type them in, PLEASE. Also, to refer to donated goods as "Household Goods" confused me; If I donate sheet music and hymnals to my church, that certainly is deductible, but it is not "Household Goods." That category name should be changed.
Another gripe is about the questions I'm asked to answer. "Explain the carryover on section x, line x..." It was TurboTax that reported the carryover--I don't even fully understand what a carryover is--so how can I explain it?? TurboTax also said that I could find out what portion of my dividend payer is foreign by looking on my dividend statement, but that was a lie--there was no indicator on my dividend statement.
Also, at the end I found some blanks had been left blank, but in later lines had been referred to as though they contained an amount. There's no way I can figure out how that happened, so I just shrugged and said, well, if there's something wrong, the IRS can just come and put me in jail, because this is too complicated for me.
But yes, I understand that a lot of this is due to the complexity of the U.S. tax code itself. Really, I think TurboTax does a marvelous job of sorting most of it out. And it's such a relief not to do and redo all the calculations and to work and rework all the work sheets. Also, it's nice not to have to re-enter the same personal data year after year.
Bottom line: I'm pretty sure I'll buy TurboTax again next year (but I sure hope they fix the Contributions function).
What's great about it: Automatic calculations, self-explore layout.
What's not so great: Charity contributions function is awkward. Some questions unanswerable..
Despite troubleshooting, software failed to e-file my return. Software told me I needed to download additional updates. I followed the instructions and downloaded the updates. When I went to e-file again, software told me I needed additional updates first. This loop repeated until I gave up and filed a printed return.
What's great about it: Process was simple
What's not so great: Software failed to e-file my return.