- quote -

They dropped the rebates a couple of years ago. Now you pay
for every e-file.

- quote -

Many states REQUIRE a different format for computer-printed
returns, typically so that they can be electronically
scanned.

Bob Sandler

In article
<3a0a6092-ff9e-47de-825a-b0c832c95c82[at]j20g2000hsi.googlegroups.com> ,
JGE <jge[at]cs.unc.edu> wrote:

- quote -

Yes, but the CD contains two versions.

- quote -

I think I see the problem. AFAIK (I used the download from Intuit and
not the CD), the files on the CD are NOT drag and drop, but are packaged
which means that you have to double click on the package (or installer)
and let the installer unpack the files and create the application folder
and application on your hard drive.

--
-Ernie-

In article
<0fd5539b-b2a1-4b24-a0fe-36220c81fb57[at]p69g2000hsa.googlegroups.com> ,
Me-manny <shiflettcc[at]gmail.com> wrote:

- quote -

I think Deluxe usually includes a rebate form for the federal electronic
filing fee.

- quote -

That's true for MA, too. My understanding is that some states accept
simpler formatting, so in these cases TT doesn't go to the trouble of
duplicating the printed forms exactly.

- quote -

My experience is that TT's state interviews are not as thorough as the
federal, they're really just a simple front-end to the forms. They've
clearly put most of their development resources into the federal section
of the program.

--
Barry Margolin, barmar[at]alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***

- quote -

I've managed to install (more below) but this isn't QUITE what I have,
but close. And it works.

- quote -

There is no "Mac version", one installation CD fits all.
What I meant was, when I open the CD, I have a bunch of files and
folders,
but not the elusive icon that allows me to drag TurboTax 2007 to
Applications.
Oh well, managed to get hold of a login to TurboTax website and just
downloaded the silly thing. The download appeared as nothing but the
aforementioned icon, and the dragging procedure installed it just
fine;
of course, the download WAS Mac-specific.

Thanks anyhow, John

In article
<0fd5539b-b2a1-4b24-a0fe-36220c81fb57[at]p69g2000hsa.googlegroups.com> ,
Me-manny <shiflettcc[at]gmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

I feel for you with a dial-up connection because the TurboTax CD
available in stores is NEVER the final version. TurboTax usually goes
on sale at retailers in early December which means the CD's have to be
pressed and shipped long before that. Tax software, unlike other
software, must be rewritten every year to keep abreast of changes in the
tax laws. Even at this late date (December 17) some of the laws are
still unsettled in congress. All the software vendor (TT) can do is
release downloadable updates as changes in the law becomes known.
Sometimes the updates are huge and take forever on a dial-up, but you
should never file without the latest update.

--
-Ernie-

On Dec 17, 2:03 am, Ernie Klein <eckl...[at]pacbell.net> wrote:
- quote -

I add my expience with Turbotax, altho it is on a little different
tangent.
I have used Turbotax for 4 years. Usually I use the Basic since it
fits my needs, but last year my son gave me Deluxe for Christmas. I
had thought that Deluxe would allow me to file electronically without
an additional fee but that was wrong. Deluxe has the state (PA)
software on it, but I was disappointed with the state software.
First, the Federal tax form that is outputted looks exactly like the
printed Federal form (picked up at my local library). But the state
form which Turbtax printed out looked nothing like the paper form.
However the most serious objection was that the interview process for
the state form was flawed. After I filed one of my friends told me
that we are eligible for tax forgiveness, but the interview did not
pick that up. When I called Turbotax they told me that when the
interview asks if I am eligible for a tax credit I should have said
"Yes"; how am I supposed to know that? The interview process should
go through the "tax credit" process for me to determine if I am
eligible.

Incidentially, most of my local electronic stores (i.e. Best Buy) do
not sell the Basic.

Also I have been disappointed with the lack of software on the
Turbotax disc, basically it gives me the right to download the
software. That was an aggrivation since I was on dial-up last year.

In article
<294467ae-71fd-4bbb-ae20-f9f1eff4bfe3[at]c4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com> ,
JGE <jge[at]cs.unc.edu> wrote:

- quote -

TurboTax 2007 is installed and is running just fine on my Mac running
Leopard (OS 10.5).

The only folders and files that you should have after the install are
the main folder:

TurboTax Deluxe 2007 -> Extras -> tax.scd
-> TurboTax 2007 (Which is the application)

You should not have a "bunch" of files and folders. Are you sure you
have the Mac version?

If it won't install and/or run on Tiger, I would suggest that you
contact support at turbotax.com because it should.

--
-Ernie-

On Dec 5, 5:19 am, Ernie Klein <eckl...[at]pacbell.net> wrote:
- quote -

Thanks, Ernie. Well, I'm back. Two weeks later. Bought a new old
Mac
with Tiger. Turns out I STILL can't install TurboTax. I just get a
bunch
of files and folders, but no sign of the icon they describe at the
support
section of the Turbotax website.

I'm starting to get pissed. Any advice much appreciated, especially
from anyone who has successfully installed THIS YEAR's Turbotax
on a Mac.

Thanks, John

In article
<1ed79ee8-2754-4157-9ac8-d01c2dd685bc[at]d61g2000hsa.googlegroups.com> ,
JGE <jge[at]cs.unc.edu> wrote:

- quote -

If you upgrade to Leopard, remember that it no longer supports OS9 at
all, so if you still have any "Classic" applications that you need, you
are caught between a rock and a hard place - you can't run new
applications (like TurboTax) unless you update, and you can't run
Classic applications if you do. (You can upgrade to 10.4 - Tiger, if you
can still find it - but that's only putting it off).
- quote -

Maybe they own Apple stock? <g> , but you are correct it will not run in
less than 10.4 - it looks like they made many changes to the user
interface which probably only will work with 10.4 or higher. I always
use "forms" and I think the new interface for forms is huge step
backwards and hard to work with.

--
-Ernie-

Got a rude surprise today upon receiving my copy of TurboTax (I opted
for Home+Business, from an Amazon re-seller) ... turns out the Mac
version
only works with OSX 10.4 or higher. Guess I need finally spring for
the
upgrade.

I wonder what compelling reason there was for TurboTax not being able
to
run on 10.3 ??

- quote -

I'm tempted, but I assume the competing products have slightly
different ways of
doing things, and I don't want to have to re-learn.

And don't get me wrong, I think TurboTax is a DAMN fine piece of
software,
I just think the company behaves a little sleazily at times ! Like
many US
high-tech companies (certainly the one I work for), it probably has a
bunch
of brilliant engineers, and a bunch of lying theiving douche-bags
"running" the
company ...

John

On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:54:32 EST, JGE <jge[at]cs.unc.edu> wrote Re Re:
which version of TurboxTax ?:

- quote -

That's when I got disgusted with them and switched to TaxAct.
http://www.taxact.com/

I've never regretted the change.

--
To email me directly, remove CLUTTER.

On Nov 27, 8:57 pm, Mark Bole <ma...[at]pacbell.net> wrote:
- quote -

Ok, I'll try to give an opinion next spring.

Your tone suggests you take issue with my mistrust of Intuit. I
believe
their past behavior - mainly the shenanigans a few years ago - makes
this
justifiable. I also take issue with their gradual erosion of
features that
used to exist in the lower-end versions, which now one must buy the
higher-end versions to see (stock options support, for one).
Finally,
it's galling that they charge a higher price for auto-renew customers
(I call it the "loyal-customer surcharge"), or ones who visit their
website,
than I can get by going to Staples or by shopping the Amazon
marketplace (as I did a few days ago).

John

JGE wrote:
- quote -

Apparently you did not deal directly with "those Intuit mofos",
therefore I believe your speculation is unfounded, and in fact untrue
according to my limited experience.

Regarding your original post, it would be helpful to know if you found
it to be "worth it to spring for Premier or Home&Business" -- gratuitous
vendor rants notwithstanding.

-Mark Bole

On that last message, I meant to say "thanks guys". I went ahead
and sprung for the high-end "Home and Business" version, from some
"amazon seller" who had 'em pretty cheap. No box he said, but he
(mrjjwiley) claims it's all above board .

Now, I'll probably find out that those Intuit mofos have it set up
that
I HAVE to buy Home&Business from now on out, in order to be able
to import previous years' data !

John

On Nov 26, 3:10 am, Bob Sandler <bob_use...[at]yahoo.com> wrote:
- quote -

JGE <jge[at]cs.unc.edu> wrote:
- quote -

TurboTax Premier has a more detailed interview for sales of
investments, and it allows you to import your investment
transactions directly from a large number of participating
financial institutions. It also includes BasisPro to help
you determine the basis of securities that you sold.

Home & Business includes all of the features of Premier, and
in addition has a more detailed interview for a sole
proprietorship. The other added features of Home & Business
are probably not important to you, based on what you have
said.

Whether the additional features are "worth it" is a
subjective evaluation that you will have to make yourself.

The best place to get answers to questions about TurboTax is
the TurboTax User Forums at http://forums.turbotax.com.

Bob Sandler

JGE wrote:
- quote -

In the oligopoly of tax prep software makers, three seem to come up most
often in my experience: TaxAct, TaxCut, and TurboTax (in alphabetical
order).

They each fill a market niche, and have product placement to match. A
marketing student's dream case study! ;-) The answer to your question,
"is it worth it?", really depends on your own preferences: tolerance
for risk, interacting with a human vs. a computer, other uses of your
spare time, and so on. How much data you can enter by importing on-line
vs. keying in by hand is also a consideration.

The good news is, you can almost always start with the low-end offering
and upgrade later in the tax season for an incremental fee, as long as
you stay with the same vendor.

In the higher-end versions of each vendor's product line, I would
normally expect more on-line or human help, more tax documentation, more
import options, more planning tools, more guidance for the less-common
tax forms, and so on.

-Mark Bole

Sorry if this has been covered, but a quick search says not (other
than
"check Intuit's website", which of course isn't very informative and
urges
you to buy the most expensive product).

I've also used Deluxe and been pretty happy. But I do own (and buy
and
sell) various investments, and have some very simple 1099 income (a
sole proprietorship, with minimal and uncomplicated expenses).

Is it acutally worth it to spring for Premier or Home&Business ?
What specifically do they provide that Deluxe doesn't ?

Thanks, John