29 January 2015

And Speaking of Taxes

Not that we were, and I rarely mention brand-names, but ...

There are a few choices of software with which regular folks can do their taxes each year. I'm sure you know: H&R Block, Quicken, TurboTax, and a few others.

I'd been hearing some bookkeepers mumbling about how Quicken's entry-level version had been stripped of features, requiring an expensive upgrade to get those back.

The parent company, Intuit, has done the same thing to its 2014 TurboTax. The basic package, which costs only $13 here, essentially provides only a 1040A or 1040EZ. If you need anything else - for example, a 1099 to report other income - you have to buy the $49 "deluxe" version.

$36 more ... for one piece of paper.

I have absolutely no issue with any company earning a fair profit on its products. That's the marketplace, and it's how company stay in business. But to charge nearly 4 times as much because the "deluxe" version includes more federal tax forms?

TurboTax just lost a customer. They won't notice or care.

But I do, and what I can do about is to tell you ... and so you've been told.

8 comments:

Rob said...

i just filed my oldest son's taxes at no cost with Turbo Tax Online, both Fed and State. My youngest son will be filed next week, (no bank account yet) again at no cost for both. Since we pay no taxes anymore we stopped filing (wife & I) no refund, no taxes paid in. I'm on disability, tax free.

Rev. Paul said...

Rob, I'm glad it worked for you. I just wasn't happy about the pop-up window in the middle of filing which instructed me to pay $40 on-line, NOW, to continue.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

I don't need any of them for Federal taxes. The State of Colorado is a different story. Complex and easy to make mistakes. Seems every year the costs keep going up. Turbo lost me as a customer last year.

Rev. Paul said...

WSF - our tax return was more complicated in years past than it is these days; we probably don't need it either.

Steve said...

Intuit has changed their upgrade policy on that feature everyone is talking about. Now if the software prompt you for those particular forms, TurboTax will update at no cost to the user. Feedback must have been a bitch, eh?

Rev. Paul said...

Steve - sure sounds like it. So you're saying that change took place since the past weekend?

Guffaw in AZ said...

I switched a couple of years ago from TT to TaxACT.

So far, so good!

gfa

Rev. Paul said...

I've not heard of that one, Guffaw. Thanks!