# What Federal Income tax software to use? TurboTax? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454 "2012-01-24T01:31:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/1 "2012-01-24T01:31:38Z")
Any recommendations for tax software? I’m pretty standard , married, couple of kids, mortgage payment, some short and long term gains, and that’s about it. Washington State resident so no need for State taxes, and I’m a cubicle slave rather than a small business job creater. CostCo has a deal on TurboTax for about $30, so that would be my default choice unless there is something significantly better out there. I don’t use Quicken, so everything is pulled manually from various sources. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/2 "2012-01-24T01:42:39Z")
Turbo Tax is the only one I’ve used, but I have no complaints. I do it online; nothing to buy or install. You don’t pay until you’ve finished entering everything and are happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/3 "2012-01-24T01:48:20Z")
Turbotax is fine. It’s what we’ve used for the last 10 years or so. No problems. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/4 "2012-01-24T01:51:57Z")
I’ve been using Turbo Tax for years without a problem. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/5 "2012-01-24T02:17:59Z")
I have had a few years recently where I anticipated a relatively complicated return (getting married, selling houses, moving jobs, renting a room etc) and so I went to a CPA. I also entered in my information without filing into the TurboTax website (which allows you to enter your data for free and pay when you file). In every case the rebate I got through my CPA was higher than the one calculated by TurboTax and it was enough to cover the cost of the CPA. And even in the years when I had uncomplicated returns the CPA has more than covered his cost compared to TurboTax. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/6 "2012-01-24T02:49:00Z")
Mentioned on another thread that we use Taxslayer dot com - have used them for the past 8 years or so (maybe longer). Never had a problem, you don’t pay until you are finished (and satisfied with results) and it only costs $9.95 for your needs. My taxes are about the same difficulty as what you describe. It is free for those who just have the EZ forms. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/7 "2012-01-24T02:53:46Z")
It’s too bad you didn’t post a few days ago. Last Thursday and Friday Turbotax was giving away an absolutely free download of its software (the version without state software) on its web site. But that’s water under the bridge. Turbotax and H&R Block At Home are basically the same thing. The interfaces are different. Some people like one more than the other and it becomes sort of a religious issue. It’s all the same in the end. Do you have Dollar Tree stores where you are? In some parts of the country, Dollar Tree stores are selling H&R Block at Home Basic for … wait for it … a dollar. This version reportedly does not include free e-filing, but you can print out your return and mail it in for the price of postage or pay $9.95 to e-file (which still is cheaper than the $30 at Costco). If you don’t have Dollar Tree stores, see if any other “dollar” types of stores have the same. [Buy.com](http://Buy.com) is selling H&R Block Deluxe plus State [for $24.99](http://www.buy.com/prod/228249568.html?listingid=199999122&&) (free shipping). If you have a bank account (not an insurance account) at State Farm Bank, they give away free and deeply discounted Turbotax through their web site. This week, Best Buy is selling H&R Block Deluxe plus State [for $34.99](http://deals.bestbuy.com/computer+accessories3/product/3668345/hr+block+at+home+deluxe+federal+++state+++federal+efile+2011++macwindows), but they are giving you a $15 gift card on the spot (nothing to mail in) plus, if you look around at the web deal sites, you’ll find a coupon for a $10 mail in rebate. Almost every year, you find someone giving away the software for free. You have to keep an eye out. The people who are impatient and want to file early generally pay the most. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/8 "2012-01-24T04:09:36Z")
TurboTax - although I’m not sure why you’d want to buy the software, just do it online! I’ve used it for years, no problems. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/9 "2012-01-24T04:14:20Z")
I use Free File Fillable Forms, linked from [irs.gov](http://irs.gov) . I live in California, and it’s free to file online there, too. They don’t do much work for you, but my finances are simple right now, and I’m pretty good with the taxes anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/10 "2012-01-24T04:57:16Z")
I’ve used HR Block for years, basically because it’s cheaper than TurboTax. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/11 "2012-01-24T05:03:03Z")
try the on line version. D’oh! thanks all. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/12 "2012-01-24T07:47:37Z")
I love Turbotax. This is my second year using it, and it retrieved all of my personal information from my last year’s return–including stuff like my employer’s tax ID number. Since I still work for the same company, I just had to update my address and change my income/tax paid amounts (and entered my student loan interest payments). It took less than 2 hours. Love it! ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/13 "2012-01-24T15:23:21Z")
Before my husband started his business and now consults with a CPA, we used TurboTax with good results. That said, I second \*\*USCDiver \*\*- our CPA is worth every penny. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/14 "2012-01-24T15:28:36Z")
[Taxact](http://www.taxact.com/). Quick, accurate, easy, and free. I’ve been using it for years. You can do it online, or download the software for free. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/15 "2012-01-24T16:06:46Z")
There’s free tax software options through the IRS website. ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/16 "2012-01-24T17:28:58Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Taxact](http://www.taxact.com/). Quick, accurate, easy, and free. I’ve been using it for years. You can do it online, or download the software for free. Seconding this. Works great for me. Also - just FYI, something I learned the hard way a few years ago… When using the online version of any tax thing, if you wait until the last minute (say April 7th - 15thish), the servers are really bogged down and slow with late filers/users. I had a lot of trouble trying to fill out my returns and file online one year when I waited. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/17 "2012-01-24T19:24:13Z")
I would use anything but TurboTax, personally, as they are owned by the Great Satan Intuit. They are seriously scummy people. I am sure H&R Block’s is ok. I don’t know how the software is, but TaxAct online Free File had a terrible interface when I last used it (Tax Year 2009?) For free file, is your AGI less than $57,000 (that’s income minus deductions, bottom of 1040 pg1/top of pg2)? If so, you can do it for free (I think most if not all do charge for state, though). [IRS link](http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html). ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/18 "2012-01-24T20:49:21Z")
TurboTax Online, used it for years now. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/19 "2012-01-24T21:15:30Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I would use anything but TurboTax, personally, as they are owned by the Great Satan Intuit. They are seriously scummy people… Who better to help you do battle against the IRS? ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454/20 "2012-01-24T21:22:28Z")
I’ve used [freetaxusa.com](http://freetaxusa.com) for years with no problems. YMMV. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-federal-income-tax-software-to-use-turbotax/610454.md?page=2)