Tax Time! rant
 

I've been using TurboTax since the 90's
This year I didn't buy the disk or download since it won't run on Win10 anyway.
Strike1

So I decide to use it online.... acts similarly but you can't view the different forms in progress. Also I usually get the Deluxe version , around $65 on sale IIRC, so I start using the same version online. When I start entering stock information, it says I need the premium version for $139. The deluxe that I was using was $79.
Strike 2

So now I do the state version; It won't let you print anything until you pay, and filing the state return electronically costs "only" $69 more.... it used to be $25.
Strike3

You can't print until you pay; if you don't want to pay for the state, they will delete the state return so you can't print it.

I'll do the state separately, it's pretty simple; all the data is in the federal.

I understand why they do it this way I just object to the way....first by not running on win10 and then forcing you into the high priced version when I never had to before, it surprises you once you are in it that deep. Maybe I should upgrade to Win xx if my hardware will support it, which is another question. I could have bought a cheap computer for almost what it cost me this year.

George

Same problem here. I know my computer won't upgrade to Win 11, but at least I don't have state taxes to deal with. I've been a TurboTax user since 2004.

Its a cash grab for sure.

Have you tried HR Block?

You can still upgrade to 11 if it is unsupported however your hardware is getting pretty old and insecure to use on the internet these days so not really recommended imo.

Good luck!

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/yes-you...s-incompatible

I use a tax service and have been using them for many years, I only file the short form since I don't have enough deductions to warrant the long form, I get both state and federal done for $70.00. I do not use one of the big tax services, rather a lady and her husband do all the work.Normally takes about a week to get my forms finished and filed.

Thanx for the info kingbuzzo... did the check and no TPM and no valid processor.........

not going to buy a new machine until I really need one and don't see that happening.

George

I do mine online with TurboTax. I have no issue with the up charges. You gotta do what you gotta do. Still cheaper than a moonlighting CPA and the fact that it searches and uploads your tax documents makes it a breeze.

I use TurboTax. Have for about 18 years. It's very smooth and easy. Takes less than 2 hours. Links to all my external accounts and transfers the data effortlessly. This year I had a 40% higher return than last year.

This is troubling. I was a solid TT user til about 3 years ago. My tax situation got complicated one year, so I enlisted a well-recommended CPA. Dont like the cost, but the lack of consternation of doing it myself is a great benefit. The next year, It was even more complicated. I thought "this is it, I should be good".... only for it to peak with the 2025 tax year, the death of a parent, all sorts of unpleasantness. CPA found the investment firm made a mistake that if unchecked would have cost me an additional $15,000 in federal taxes. At that point, she went to bat for me with the investment firm, got it all squared away, and i ended up with a four digit refund instead. At that point, every dollar I paid her this year and years past was an absolute bargain. I wouldnt have caught the mistake myself, and that would have been realllllly bad. I left her a google review that said she put the "YAY!" in CPA.

I am hoping to be back to doing it myself next year using TT, but the cost diff between its BS and the CPA might make it not worth the effort.

I bought the deluxe version from Costco, and then used the code in the online version since my computer is running Windows 10 still.

Doing it this way worked the way that you were wanting…..no extra fees to file both Federal and State, it was all included .

Windows 11 sucks, so I dont blame you for running 10. I'll never adopt 11, and I've already begun switching over to Linux.

I do my own on paper, as a self proprietor that means schedule C & all the other related forms like SE & sch1 & 2 for other forms of income like interest or rental income. Dont need to be a CPA or pay an online service, its pretty simple really... although my Father did get me started the first time with a great schedule C worksheet he made up that has you put in all the info first then just transfer the numbers to the forms. The hardest part is keeping or going back through the year to get all the info, but after a couple times thats pretty simple.

When I was younger in my 20s & 30s with 1 job, doing the 1040 form was super simple with no help, did my first 1040 when I was 16, I watch all my friends struggle and just pay a tax service to do theirs.

Id67goat...I didn't know you could do that!
Good info.
Certainly not getting roped into doing it the same way next year, even if I need to change vendors.

George

From day 1 I liked the way it worked, put in your info. It fills out the right forms, etc.

Most recently I feel being taken advantage of.

George

I have always done my own taxes. Seems like the number of forms and worksheets keep increasing every couple years. A couple -hour process has grown to over a day now. With all the stories of major data bases being hacked and exposed, I suppose I don't trust personal financial information being available in preparer software data bases.

Np George...if you are sticking with w10 ensure you have enrolled in the extended security updates (if you haven't already) which will buy you some time:

https://pureinfotech.com/enroll-exte...su-windows-10/

Stay safe...


lol switch to Linus...rots of ruck

Windows 11 is great, better for gaming than 10. if you use the correct method of installing it using Rufas-4. It's crazy to be still using 10 without getting backdoor scripts and other malware.
That's what screws up all other people on the internet, people running out an out dated system that become zombies.
https://gizmodo.com/download/rufus

https://www.guidingtech.com/how-to-i...out-bloatware/

I run Mint version of Linuz on an older laptop that can't run 11, its a very nice OS.
https://www.linuxmint.com/

Since my CPA retired two years ago, I have been using the free AARP tax prep service hosted at our local library.

https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp-taxaide/

The service is suppose to be for seniors (which I am!) but I've seen younger folks using the service. You do not have to have a membership to use this service!

I have been using H&R Block online for the past two years, it has been okay. I usually just print the many forms out and mail them a check with what I owe. I will normally send a check with forms and call it a day. Well this year I decide to just pay online and get it over and done with. H&R Block sends me to pay104.com to send payment electronically. Well nowhere does H&R state that paying the balance due means the taxes are filed. Then after I complete payment to pay104.com they charge a service fee of 100. Well back on H&R I was going to e-file this year but it says I have to have a government PIN to do that. I already have ID.me set up because of the VA. Well I try doing this and after I login to ID.me the website says I need to take a selfie to start the process of even more verification. I should have stuck to tried and true and just print forms mail a check and call it a day.