<p>I’ve used TT the last few years but can get HRB quite a bit cheaper so I’m debating trying it. Any experiences with it?</p>
<p>I have used TaxCut every year for a long time until this year. TaxCut was H&R Block’s DIY program. This year I tried TurboTax. I have to say I liked TaxCut much more, found it easier to use, provided better explanations, better “interview question” – but that’s just my experience.</p>
<p>Why did you change this year?</p>
<p>Well… it seems like everybody uses TurboTax and I thought, “I wonder if it’s different or better or something.” So I tried it. Dumb reason, huh?</p>
<p>No worse than my “ooh it’s way cheaper” reason!</p>
<p>Way cheaper is why I started with TaxCut in the first place. :)</p>
<p>TaxAct = Free.</p>
<p>I’ve used TaxCut or whatever H&R is calling it now for at least 10 years if not more. At the time I started, Consumer Reports and Money mag had rated it the best. I thought briefly about using Turbo Tax since our bank and brokerage have downloads to Turbo Tax and not to H&R Block’s product but old habits die hard and at the last minute I went with the old reliable. On top of that it is and always has been cheaper.</p>
<p>I, too, started with TaxCut going back probably to 1997 or so. I considered changing to Turbo Tax but they mail me the dvd now so, it was just easier.
'rentof2 - thanks for posting, you made me glad I didn’t bother to switch.</p>
<p>Well you’ve all convinced me. Ordering it from Amazon as we speak ($10+ cheaper than Staples even with shipping).</p>
<p>H & R Tax Cut. Cheaper, nicer visuals and the version I needed was Mac compatible.</p>
<p>I have used Turbo Tax in the past. I prefer Tax Cut.</p>
<p>I think they all are about the same if your taxes are not complicated! I usually get TurboTax from Costco and with a rebate I do not end up paying much. We are lucky we do not have to file state taxes, but this year DD made some money in MA, so I will have to get a state program… Grrrrr…</p>
<p>BC- does TaxAct handle AMT and stock options tansactions well?</p>
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<p>I’ve never run into the AMD. I do have stock options transactions though I haven’t exercised in a few years so I don’t remember how I did them. It’s free, so you could just download it and try it out.</p>
<p>BC - thanks! I will try to play with it. I’m curious, since there is no such thing as a free lunch, what is the catch?
Rant on! Unfortunately, per IRS rules, every time one exercises ISOs without selling the shares in the same year, s/he has to run the AMT paperwork - pain in the rear!!! The stock becomes a dual basis stock, so the AMT triggered by the purchase of ISOs may be recovered in the year of the stock sale. It is a major pain to remember what your AMT basis was, especially if one hangs on to the shares for many years until he sells them! OK, rant off!</p>
<p>TaxACt - free for federal but the state costs $14.95. By the time I get done buying all those State programs to efile together it costs more than HR Block - <em>I think</em>.</p>
<p>BCEagle91 lives in a state with no state income tax.</p>
<p>NH does have an income tax but it is only for interest and dividends above $4,800. You would think that doing this form would be easy but it’s actually fairly complicated. The complexity is in the quarterly estimated payments.</p>
<p>I have been doing TurboTax for years. Tried Taxact last year because it figures out your FAFSA info, but I find it less user friendly. Prbably why it is cheaper. I have never used H & R software.</p>
<p>Taxhawk is free for both federal and state (most states) for low income. I do both of sons returns on Taxhawk, easy to use for an uncomplicated return, it e-files both fed and state and they have their money direct deposited in about a week. (The state actually recommends this website along with a couple others for low income filers with a fairly simple return.)</p>
<p>I do Taxact for our return which is a little more complicated, free for the Federal, $13.95 for State filing, but since I am only filing one state its a good deal.</p>
<p>I trained for the H&R Block office – the software they use in office is almost identical to their on line self service and pretty much the same as either Taxact or Taxhawk.</p>
<p>I bought Turbo Tax this year by downloading it from Amazon.com. It cost about $20. I did my taxes and my DD’s taxes and was able to e-file both returns for free.</p>
<p>I don’t have experience with HR Block or Tax Cut, but I really value the feature in Turbo Tax that carries forward my prior year’s data and retreives my W2 and my brokerage statement online. I was finished the same afternoon.</p>
<p>BTW - Hooray for the American Opportunity Tax Credit. First refund since I don’t know when!</p>