Turbotax 2009?

snipped-for-privacy@email.com wrote in news:lq3gh5pjocsgm3kp21curldbd3ciqd50td@

4ax.com:

I doubt you will find Turbotax 2009 until after the end of December 2009. More likely January or February 2010.

I saw it yesterday at Staples. I didn't give it a second look as I used, for the last two years, the on-line version.

-Bob

Downloaded the so-called Basic version yesterday for $24.95 (online version is 10 bucks cheaper). AFAICS, it has everthing most people need without some of the semi-useless eye candy, which I've never really used in the past. Compare here:

It includes 5 federal efiles and preparation of unlimited federal returns. Additional fees apply for preparation and efiling state returns ($19.95)

Hi, Charlie.

Don't know if you'd classify it as a "deal", but Best Buy advertised TTax Deluxe + State at $59.99. Office Depot shows it at $49.99, but may be Federal only since it does not specifically mention "State" - but it does say "Includes Federal E-File". I'm only looking at the ads; haven't been to the stores.

Texas has no state income tax. ; Anyone find any "deals" on Turbotax 2009 (Fed+eFile+State) yet? Trying

Hi, CSM1.

TurboTax is usually available before the end of the year so that we can start planning. Some of us need to know whether to make year-end transactions, such as charitable contributions, stock sales, or other such actions.

Of course, this is only the preliminary version of TurboTax, subject to change after year-end. Who knows what Congress or the IRS might do in the last few days of the year! Also, some forms may not have been issued by the IRS yet. These late changes - both expected and unexpected - will be offered for download as updates to TurboTax between January 1 and April 15.

Many of us like to poke in our year-to-date numbers, plus an estimate for the remainder of the year, and see - before year-end - just what the picture looks like. We can do some of this by using last year's TurboTax program with this year's numbers, but it's more comforting to have current rules and rates in place. We don't expect to file this preliminary version, of course, but to use it for planning.

RC

Thanks, RC

Charlie

Check out TaxAct - much less expensive and does the job just fine.

snipped-for-privacy@email.com wrote:

I like TaxAct a lot. I've been using it for several years and find that it's powerful, easy to use and inexpensive. Every year when I finish my taxes, I buy their ~$17 package which includes Federal, State, and a Federal eFile. (IIRC, the state costs ~$6.) 2nd Story Software doesn't bill your credit card for the $17 till it releases the final version each January, *but* they email me with a link to download the preliminary version usually in early October. This is really great for pretty accurate tax estimations.

They do have an online version too, but I prefer the download.

Regards,

Margaret

Check out Amazon. I bought TurboTax Dlx Fed+State for $54 yesterday from Amazon. Free shipping and NO Calif state taxes.

And, the earlier you buy it, the more you pay. At least that is my experience.

Will do!

It was released on November 23, and is available now. For example, Amazon.com has it.

But you do have Rick Perry. Personally, I'll take the tax, thank you. (sorry, just couldn't resist. On the other hand, apparently you might not have him for long, thanks to Kay.)

UPDATE:

I bought TurboTax 2009 BASIC at Office Depot yesterday for $24.99. ;

"R. C. White" wrote in news:IcSdncPDZOwv1bzWnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@posted.grandecom:

I get deluxe free from T Rowe Price because I have some accounts there.

scott s. .

RC, can you elaborate on the difference in handling deductions between the two versions? Like you, I'm in Texas and don't need the state feature.

Thanks B

Deluxe comes with access to the web based "It's Deductible". ID is essentially a database of fair market prices for typical donations to Goodwill and the like. It allows you to enter all your donations on a web page and download the details directly in TTax.

Useful if you have more than a few donations, but I prefered it when it was a standalone program.

Hi, B.

NO difference in "handling" the deductions. Can you imagine the uproar if TTax handled deductions "wrongly" in Basic!?!

I don't have Deluxe to look at, but the differences are shown pretty clearly in a chart on the back of each retail box. (Except that Intuit doesn't like to advertise the availability of Basic and its column might not be shown on the more expensive boxes.) Deluxe has 5 more checkmarks under the heading, "Maximize your deductions". Briefly, they are Deduction Maximizer (helps you remember deductions and credits you might have forgotten or not know about); 1 State product download; their Audit Risk Meter; ItsDeductible (for donated merchandise valuation); and Expert advice.

When I told the Basic interview that I might sell some stocks, it tried to up-sell me to Premier, but all that offers is more "guidance", not more input options or different calculations. Home & Business would add some features that would be VERY useful to some taxpayers - including myself "in a prior life", but not in my current situation.

But none of these actually change the actual return contents or calculations. All the basic functionality is in Basic. It HAS to be!

RC

"R. C. White" wrote in news:ReydndSw6_tg-L_WnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@posted.grandecom:

I do skeds B, C, D, and E with deluxe with no problem, including form 1116 which I don't think any more expensive version could help with, also a couple years ago was hit by AMT which really was a bitch to figure.

In my first look at deluxe it tried to get me to "sign" an agreement giving Intuit right to use certain of my data in return for giving me "options" for dealing with my "refund". At first I thought it was something like apply to 2010 estimates or refund, but when I couldn't proceed without "signing" or telling the software not to give me any options I'm thinking this is something like a refund anticipation loan. No thanks.

scott s. .