TaxCut 2004 Deluxe [Old Version]

List Price: $24.95 Discount Price: $24.99

Features:

• Step-by-step guidance for filing Federal tax returns
• Take advantage of the newest tax breaks and save money
• Kiplinger's tax and financial planning library; up-to-date IRS publications
• Retirement savings enhancer; helpful tax-law assistants
• Error Check automatically reviews for common errors

Customer Reviews:

I will never use Tax Cut again [Posted on 2005-04-22]
A new addition to this year's version (when filing electronically), allows H&R Block's bank (HSBC Bank) to check your social security number with other select banks to see if you have defaulted on any loans. If you are due for a refund, they will use the refund to pay off the debt and give you the balance. I didn't see any problem with this since I have not defaulted on anything in my life. However, Bank One advised HSBC that there was an overdue loan (from 1992!) with my social security number. Since the loan did not have my name or address, Bank One's response was that it must be identity theft (I believe Bank One made a data entry error - God knows they probably can't locate the paperwork for a loan that's 13 years old). In order to prove the loan is not mine, I had to send Bank One my social security card, birth certificate, marriage certificate, tax return, and a letter from the Social Security Administration. I had to put out a fraud alert with the Social Security Administration and the 3 credit bureaus. In addition, I had to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and the police. I am still waiting for Bank One to correct their records so I can get my refund back! Next step - lawyer!
If you must use Tax Cut - DO NOT FILE ELECTRONICALLY! Print your return and mail it in!

Problems with TaxCut [Posted on 2005-04-24]
I have been using taxcut for 6 years. This year it dropped one of my deductions. The child was listed in the interview and appeared to be included, but was not submitted in the e-filing. This is pathetic. NEVER USE THIS PRODUCT.

I'll never use TaxCut again! [Posted on 2005-08-05]
What terrible customer service! Here's a brief description of what happened to me.

TaxCut said the State of Maryland would deduct my taxes owed from my SAVINGS account - then, around the middle of MAY - I get a letter from the state saying they only deduct from CHECKING accounts - along with a fine and penalty. So, I look and that fact is on their web site! Silly me - I trusted TaxCut. When I present this in a claim to the company they reply that it's not a processing error or an arithmetic error, so my claim is denied. How odd. Even a simple man like me can see that, in fact that's not even the issue! It's a FACTUAL error, an INFORMATIONAL error. DID ANYONE THERE BOTHER TO READ MY CLAIM? Any company that treats its customers that way will certainly not get any more of my business.

I was very disappointed [Posted on 2005-08-15]
My mother worked for H&R Block for many years, so I have no personal problem with them.

I have not used the 2004, but I just quit working on the 2002 edition. I got halfway through my return (20 hours work) and I finally quit. The numbers were incorrect, but I did not notice until the last few entries.

I have rental properties and, even though I entered the information where it belonged, it somehow got transferred elsewhere. All of my real estate taxes got moved from where they belonged to form A. Entering the information directly onto the tax forms required me to override every single step (3 mouse clicks, I think?). Also, I was not able to go to help and figure out what my standard mileage cost was, so it took me considerable time to go through their mileage dialogue boxes when all I wanted was standard mileage.

I had used Turbo Tax in previous years and was not unhappy with them; however, I had heard that Turbo Tax put spyware on the computer, and that it was difficult to install on more than one computer, so I decided to opt for a change. TaxCut was cheaper, and I figured there would really be no difference (I used Parson's tax software years ago and liked them until they stopped making that program). Anyway, at least for year 2002, TaxCut is much worse than Turbo Tax and Parson's old tax program. The big problem is, it puts information in the wrong place; and I have been doing my own taxes for 20 years, so it is not a mistake which I am making.

I downloaded TaxAct just a moment ago; it is cheaper than either turbo tax or taxcut, and so far, it behaves just like it is supposed to. I have been entering some info by their prompts and other info directingly onto the tax forms, and, except for the fact that the auto-save requires me to hit the hardreturn every time, other than that, I really like TaxAct. It is functioning exactly how it is supposed to. Furthermore, I have entered in a couple of properties and printed it out, and everything is going where it belongs.

Gets the job done in straight-forward situations [Posted on 2005-12-07]
As with all software, the user interface and its workflow has its quirks. Some of it you may find counter-intuitive and not very helpful.

But if you have a fairly straight-forward tax situation and you already know what you are supposed to do tax-wise, then this is a convinient alternative to pen/paper and a lot cheaper than going to a specialist when you send in all the rebates.

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