Turbo Tax Program Issues, Editions no longer support their historical forms (Less $$)

For those whom use Turbo Tax, beware of these issues, as reported by the NYT's (and many other sources)

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Taxes | Your Money Adviser Users Say TurboTax Deluxe Is Less Deluxe Than It Used to Be

By ANN CARRNSJAN. 9, 2015

TAXPAYERS buying commercial software to prepare and electronically file their 2014 income tax returns should double-check that the version they are purchasing fits their needs.

TurboTax, the tax software from Intuit, drew ire from consumers when they learned that its ?deluxe? desktop offering, available by download or on CD, had curtailed functions for some tax schedules that previously had been included. To get the program?s full question-and-answer help to complete the schedules, users must upgrade within the program to a version with an extra cost of $30 to $40.

Edgar Dworsky, publisher of the Consumer World website, said this year?s deluxe desktop version doesn?t offer step-by-step interview help for filling out Schedule C (for self-employment and small business income), D (investments) and E (rental and partnership income). Deluxe desktop users may not realize until they are part way through their taxes that they must pay an extra fee to upgrade and finish, he said.

?I think people are going to be surprised,? Mr. Dworsky said, ?because the change was not communicated well.?

Consumers have been complaining and posting negative reviews on Amazon.com and in other online forums.

Colleen Gatlin, an Intuit spokeswoman, said TurboTax customers who used the deluxe desktop version to report investment or rental property income generally must use either the ?premier? or ?home & business? versions, while those who are self-employed must use ?home & business.? (However, some simple investment and business situations, like dividends from investments in mutual funds, are still supported in deluxe, she said.)

TurboTax, which has 29 million customers, made the changes last year to its online service, which allowed users to prepare and file returns without downloading programs onto their computer, she said. Customers are migrating away from the desktop offerings, she said, and 80 percent of them now use the online product.

?Bottom line,? she said, ?only a small percentage of desktop customers, who make up about 20 percent of all TurboTax customers, will be impacted by these changes.?

Nevertheless, H&R Block jumped at the chance to lure some users away from its larger rival. Block is offering anyone who bought TurboTax?s basic or deluxe software a free download of its own deluxe software. (Block says it has 7.1 million do-it-yourself customers; more than five million use the online product and two million use its desktop software.)

Here are some questions about tax software for filing 2014 taxes

? How do I take advantage of the no-cost upgrade offer?

To get the free H&R Block deluxe program, you must provide proof, such as an invoice, that you bought a TurboTax basic or deluxe program and email it to snipped-for-privacy@hrblock.com. The company will then send a link for a free download. (Block?s deluxe software sells for $44.95 as a download on its website).

TurboTax is working with unhappy customers ?case by case,? said Ms. Gatlin. Mr. Dworsky of Consumer World said he called Intuit to complain and was offered a free upgrade. He advised others who were unhappy to do the same thing.

? What if I don?t need any of those complex tax schedules?

If you have a simple tax return, you may be eligible for free electronic preparation and filing of your federal taxes from some of the major software providers. TurboTax, for instance, offers free online software and electronic filing for taxpayers using Form 1040 A or 1040 EZ and is also including free state software and filing. TaxAct, another provider, offers a free federal preparation and filing option for simple and complex returns.

Free filing options are also available from the public/private Free File Alliance if you make $60,000 or less.

? What is this year?s federal tax filing deadline?

Wednesday, April 15. The opening of tax filing season is on Jan. 20

Email: snipped-for-privacy@nytimes.com

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A version of this article appears in print on January 10, 2015, on page B5 of the New York edition with the headline: Users Say TurboTax Deluxe Is Less Deluxe Than It Used to Be. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe Most Emailed

Reply to
Dave C
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It sounds like they just don't offer all the "interview" features for these forms, but you can still fill out the forms using the manual method.

I just discovered something worse, though. I'm still running Mac OS

10.6.8 (Snow Leopard). I just tried starting up the TurboTax Deluxe 2014 that I purchased, and it said it requires 10.7.

I wonder if I can convert to the online version, and get a rebate for the difference. I had an automatic upgrade subscription, so I never saw minimum system requirements before purchasing this year's version.

Reply to
Barry Margolin

Barry Margolin commented

"It sounds like they just don't offer all the "interview" features for these forms, but you can still fill out the forms using the manual method. "

Yes, information about capital gains and losses from sales of stock AND mutual fund shares can be entered manually into Schedule D and associated forms in TurboTax Deluxe for 2014 returns **but** the final result cannot be sent to the IRS via TurboTax's electronic filing system. Capital gains from **mutual fund distributions** are handled just fine, and electronic filing will work, but not **mutual fund redemptions**

Dilip Sarwate

Reply to
dvsarwate

dvsarwate wrote: : Barry Margolin commented

: "It sounds like they just don't offer all the "interview" features for : these forms, but you can still fill out the forms using the manual : method. "

: Yes, information about capital gains and losses from : sales of stock AND mutual fund shares can be entered : manually into Schedule D and associated forms in TurboTax : Deluxe for 2014 returns **but** the final result cannot be : sent to the IRS via TurboTax's electronic filing system. : Capital gains from **mutual fund distributions** are handled : just fine, and electronic filing will work, but not **mutual : fund redemptions**

: Dilip Sarwate What about downloads form brokerage houses that get transferred directly? I have dividends and sales of individual stocks as well as sale of a mutual fund this year.

Wendy

Reply to
W. Baker

For those whom bought the TTax, and found it did not meet your needs, HR Bloch has a FREE upgrade offer. This NYT article discusses that issue.

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Of note, from that article

?Bottom line,? she said, ?only a small percentage of desktop customers, who make up about 20 percent of all TurboTax customers, will be impacted by these changes.?

Nevertheless, H&R Block jumped at the chance to lure some users away from its larger rival. Block is offering anyone who bought TurboTax?s basic or deluxe software a free download of its own deluxe software. (Block says it has 7.1 million do-it-yourself customers; more than five million use the online product and two million use its desktop software.)

Here are some questions about tax software for filing 2014 taxes

¦ How do I take advantage of the no-cost upgrade offer?

To get the free H&R Block deluxe program, you must provide proof, such as an invoice, that you bought a TurboTax basic or deluxe program and email it to snipped-for-privacy@hrblock.com. The company will then send a link for a free download. (Block?s deluxe software sells for $44.95 as a download on its website).

TurboTax is working with unhappy customers ?case by case,? said Ms. Gatlin. Mr. Dworsky of Consumer World said he called Intuit to complain and was offered a free upgrade. He advised others who were unhappy to do the same thing.

Reply to
Dave C

As I understand it, TurboTax Deluxe will not allow for electronic filing of the tax return if there are entries on Form 8949 Sales and Other Disposition of Capital Assets, regardless of how those entries were filled out. The calculations done by TurboTax Deluxe will include any such entries and the tax due/refund due etc will all be correct, but electronic filing cannot be done. Whether TurboTax Deluxe supports electronic download of data from Form 1099-B issued by a brokerage or mutual fund house into Form 8949 is something I do not know.

Dilip Sarwate

Reply to
dvsarwate

: > What about downloads form brokerage houses that get transferred directly? : > I have dividends and sales of individual stocks as well as sale of a : > mutual fund this year.

: As I understand it, TurboTax Deluxe will not allow for : electronic filing of the tax return if there are entries : on Form 8949 Sales and Other Disposition of Capital Assets, : regardless of how those entries were filled out. The calculations : done by TurboTax Deluxe will include any such entries and the : tax due/refund due etc will all be correct, but electronic filing : cannot be done. Whether TurboTax Deluxe supports electronic : download of data from Form 1099-B issued by a brokerage or : mutual fund house into Form 8949 is something I do not know.

: Dilip Sarwate

I have been doing this kid of electronic downloading as my vision is poor so hand copying all the little numbers is kid of risky for me. I have used the turbotax delux, but might switch to the Premium if it is likely to work better for me, eventhough its special features don't affect me.

I will, I guess, also have to get the new upgrade for my Mac.

I don'tknwo enough about the Block tax programs to know if I can handle them and get what I want.

f I don't get a program I canuse I willhave to pay someone to do my taxes because of this vision problem.

Wendy

Reply to
W. Baker

Same issue for me, Barry. I have a lot of paid software (such as Microsoft office) that won't run higher than 10.6.8 without buying a new version, and was hoping to get another year or two out of Snow Leopard. After reading the TurboTax box when I got home, I wound up running Yosemite on a second drive. Over time, I'll start to use that drive for

10.7+ software and the first drive for 10.6.8. Eventually, I'll bite the bullet and drop Snow Leo altogether. Open Office is starting to look pretty good right now. (sorry, Barry, I think I sent this directly to you, by accident)
Reply to
JoeTaxpayer

Wow. This is news to me. I am using TT Deluxe and I will have plenty of these type of investments. Can I just print it out and mail it in (ie: not file electronically?)

Mel

Reply to
MZB

Thanks for this information. I found it quite shocking as I was blindly using TT Deluxe as I have for many years. I researched it further and it is clear to me that this version will not work for me. It appears that even if I get my 1099-B information in (which is problematical), it will not let me file electronically. So, I am going to upgrade to Premier for $30. It appears I can then apply for a rebate after I file my taxes. But, good grief, HOW UNETHICAL! I hate to change software as I am very comfortable using TT. But I just might do that next year.

Mel

Reply to
MZB

MZB wrote in news:ma4llu$qr4$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

Yes. But you will have to use "forms mode" to enter data. If you are familiar with TT from the past, and the "smart worksheets" you could probably do OK in forms mode, but "interview mode" might find some gotcha that you might otherwise miss. I'm not sure if you can import from Quicken though.

scott s. ..

Reply to
scott s.

I did upgrade to TT Premier, for $30 (very quick, easy upgrade). It's not worth my time to fart around with a cumbersome TT version and I do want to file electronically

Mel

Reply to
MZB

I've used TT deluxe for years including last year. I'm also registered with Intuit. A few days ago I got a long email from Intuit that included a $25 rebate offer if you used TTdeluxe in 2013 and cannot use it for 2014 due to loss of included forms It also had a long rambling apology! Seems like Intuit does things and then is surprised when people get mad! Remember the printing of a limited number of returns? Just wanted people to know there's a rebate offer out there.

Reply to
ann2bird

Lots of companies do that. If there's something that less than 5% of customers use, it may be cheaper in the long run to drop the feature and give a one-time rebate to those customers. They'll piss and moan when it happens, but the company can live with that.

Reply to
Barry Margolin

A couple of clarifications that I don't think were addressed in other messages in this thread:

1) Yes, you can enter the information into the forms by hand. And yes, that means you won't be able to efile. But it will cause another problem as well: TurboTax won't do the math on these forms or check your math for correctness when it audits your return.

2) Intuit has apologized for removing functionality from Basic and Deluxe, offered to make it right for everyone who had to pay to upgrade to get the same functionality they had last year, and has promised to put the functionality back next year. In other words, they've admitted that they screwed up, apologized for it, and doing their best to reverse it, not just for this year, but for future years as well.

I've been a TurboTax user for many, many years, and I've been less then impressed by a number of their shenanigans over the years, but this really was the worst. When I heard about it, I decided to switch to H&R Block, and I went ahead and bought the H&R Block software, because I needed to do at least a preliminary version of my 2014 taxes to be able to apply for school financial aid by their deadline.

After Intuit apologized, I tweeted to them and told them that after this and other questionable things they'd done over the years, I wasn't even sure I wanted to switch back to TurboTax, but in any case I wasn't even going to consider it unless they gave me Premium this year for free, since I'd already paid for H&R Block and Block certainly wasn't going to give me a refund. And they did! So now I have both H&R Block's software and TurboTax's. I still haven't decided whether I'm going to switch back to TurboTax; one of my friends has joked that I should enter my data into both and compare the results.

Now that I've used H&R Block, I'm frankly not impressed. Intuit may engage in some shady, consumer-hostile practices, but in my opinion they've got a much better product.

Reply to
Jonathan Kamens

Given the pedigree of the products, I'm not surprised. Intuit acquired the original TurboTax from Chipsoft a long time ago. I think H&R acquired Kiplinger TaxCut much later. One year last decade when I was working in an H&R office, I recall they even sent all employees a free copy of TaxCut (now called "H&R Block At Home") to encourage us to promote it, but I still was doing my own return back then in TurboTax.

I think clearly both companies are trying to steer consumers away from the desktop products to online, and in the case of H&R, they are really trying to steer you to their offices. So, for H&R to enhance their desktop product is almost counter-productive; having it at all is just a defensive move against Intuit, I think.

Reply to
Mark Bole

Jon:

I'm in a similar situation. H&R Block offered their Deluxe version for free to TT Deluxe users. I got it for free. I like the H&R program, but TT is better. I am still ticked with TT. I had to PAY $30. to upgrade. Yes, I know I can get $25. back by filling out some form after I've filed. What a bunch of CRAP. I should have been able to upgrade for free. How did you get them to do that? Did you email someone?

Mel

Reply to
MZB

On Tue, 10 Feb 2015 18:39:21 EST, Mark Bole wrote in

Over the years I've used TT, TaxCut/H&R and now TaxAct. I've been using TaxAct for the past 10 or 12 years now.

Reply to
VinnyB

I received the same email. But I've been the victim of so many Intuit "Gotchas" over the years, I feel like Charlie Brown with Intuit holding the football. However, I clicked the link in the email, which took me to a page that lists 3 conditions that must be met. I can meet them all, no problem. Then it sent me to another page that asks for SS#, zip code, and email address. Below that information section there's a button that says "See if I qualify". I didn't click the button yet but I have a feeling that's where the "Gotcha" is hiding.

Has anyone here actually gone through this process and received their $25 rebate? If it's for real, I might try TT one last time although I swore last year (and year before that) that's I'd never use Intuit again. Sam's has the Premier version for $70 though so with a $25 rebate, I'm tempted to take another running kick at it.

Sooooo... does anybody know what's hiding behind that "See if I qualify" button? And how long do you expect to wait for a check?

Reply to
PortStG

You can just call me "Charlie Brown" from now on. And as I've said in several years past, I won't be using Turbo Tax again. And btw, I'm not sure how long the "offer" lasted, but it's no longer available.

Reply to
PortStG

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