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TurboTax Basic 2003

TurboTax Basic 2003

List Price: $19.95
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Frustrating download errors!
Review: After 20 or 30 attempts to run the V-box installer program after dowloading it from the Amazon digital library, I was just about to request a refund when my boyfriend starting doing some troubleshooting research for me. Here's what he figured out:
Once you download the installer and try to run it, if you keep getting the error: "3001 Encountered unexpected error when trying to locate product...etc.", there is a browser setting you need to change. (This applies to IE 6.0+, Windows 2000 and XP at a minimum, since I attempted the install on 2 different machines).
Go to Tools-->Internet Options in your browser menu, then to the Connections tab and the LAN Settings button. Uncheck the "Automatically Detect Settings" box if it is checked and try running the installer again. Worked for me. Just be sure to recheck the box and close your browser afterwards.
Seeing as how frustrating just OBTAINING the software was, I'm really skeptical about using it, especially after reading all the other reviews...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Amazon's Download Software Stinks, or Has Insuff. Bandwidth
Review: After 20 tries, I am giving up on downloading this software. I keep getting a message that the program is not available. I was trying to simplify the process, not create new headaches (including my now having to send some silly "Letter of Destruction" to Amazon before I can get my money back). Go directly to TurboTax.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Error on my IRA deduction
Review: After download update, I began to use the Turbotax. Then, I
found my wife's contribution of $3000 to traditional IRA can't
be deductible. I read all help instructions and it should be
deductible. As far as incoming less than $150,000 (our is
not close to it) and without retire plan, she should get the
$3000 deducted. But the software said no. I don't understand
it. I feel the software is not as good as before, even worse
than last year. I will switch to TaxCut. If that were not
good, then I would do it manually.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Updates a pain, but TurboTax did its job
Review: I didn't have a problem using TurboTax last year (even with the software activation) so I used it again this year. The software with its interview format worked for me, was able to save my return as pdf and e-file without a hassle. The only real pain was getting the updates. I had to go to Intuit's website to look for info and play around with my broadband connection to get the updates to download.

My return has gotten easier over the past few years but with the update annoyance, I may just buy TaxCut next year. I don't import last year's stuff so Intuit - give me a reason to get TurboTax 2004.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Updates a pain, but TurboTax did its job
Review: I didn't have a problem using TurboTax last year (even with the software activation) so I used it again this year. The software with its interview format worked for me, was able to save my return as pdf and e-file without a hassle. The only real pain was getting the updates. I had to go to Intuit's website to look for info and play around with my broadband connection to get the updates to download.

My return has gotten easier over the past few years but with the update annoyance, I may just buy TaxCut next year. I don't import last year's stuff so Intuit - give me a reason to get TurboTax 2004.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Turbo Tax better than Tax Cut
Review: I don't understand why reviewers of tax software even compare TurboTax to TaxCut. TaxCut just doesn't have have the power of TurboTax Basic! It wouldn't print on my old Panasonic MFC printer...I had to buy a new printer just to print out forms...did not have this problem with TurboTax. There are many more specific comparisons where TaxCut comes up short. Save yourself trouble and angst...use TurboTax. I have used it since it came out and made a mistake trying to use TaxCut one year.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: not nearly as good a program as it was in the past
Review: I have used TurboTax for years (except for last year, when I used TaxCut due to rumors that Intuit's installer program ended up leaving spyware on your computer). I am self-employed and use a home office, and TurboTax was always easy to use even with those added details in my tax return. HOWEVER, this year, the Basic version was NOT nearly as simple, straightforward or user-friendly as in the past. For the life of me, I couldn't get the "EasyStep" interview to take me directly to the section on entering home business expenses. I had to go at it backwards, which made the entire process more confusing. I spent hours longer doing my taxes than I ever did in the past. A friend of mine also had the same problem, so it wasn't just me. I have no idea what they did: I am wondering if they've cut down the features on the BASIC program so that those like me are forced to use the more expensive versions (which was never the case in the past -- the BASIC was just fine before). In any event, I most definitely will be less inclined to use TurboTax next year and will try and pore over reviews of other tax preparation products to get something more simple to use.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Good Software, but Poor Service
Review: I share the feelings of other reviewers regarding Turbo Tax's poor customer service. I had a particularly bad experience. When I filed electronically, their central computer facility doubled the amount of my income that was forwarded to the IRS. I learned of this when I received a notice from the IRS informing me of the additional tax that I owed. Their customer service person, who was very difficult to reach, was of no help, and refused to even acknowledge any responsibility on their part for the mess up. To correct the problem, I had to file an amended return, which cannot be done electronically. It was finally sorted out, but I didn't receive my refund until months after I would have had I not used Turbo Tax.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Turbo Tax Basic for the Web
Review: I was directed to this program thru the IRS in order to file my taxes online. The Data entry was pretty straightforward but when I got to the end of the program I was unable to print a copy of my return to check it for errors prior to filing the return electronically. Once I did this I was able to print a copy of my return. I found out that there was a $5,010 amount for W-2 forms. Both my wife and I are retired and don't receive any W-2's. I attempted to do a 1040x form to correct the income entry. I went into the W-2 section questions and didn't find any entry for this. However, it kept appearing on the final 1040x. Very frustrating. I have used various tax programs for around 10 years and feel quite comfortable using these programs. However, This program has major faults. I also had a problem editing the state form because it brought income information from the Federal 1040 into the state form. Some of my dividend income is not reported to the state and the w-2 income is not right. I was unable to adjust the state form.

The IRS has a couple of options for using tax prep. software online for electronic filing. I would advise another option than this program.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Turbo Tax Basic for the Web
Review: I was directed to this program thru the IRS in order to file my taxes online. The Data entry was pretty straightforward but when I got to the end of the program I was unable to print a copy of my return to check it for errors prior to filing the return electronically. Once I did this I was able to print a copy of my return. I found out that there was a $5,010 amount for W-2 forms. Both my wife and I are retired and don't receive any W-2's. I attempted to do a 1040x form to correct the income entry. I went into the W-2 section questions and didn't find any entry for this. However, it kept appearing on the final 1040x. Very frustrating. I have used various tax programs for around 10 years and feel quite comfortable using these programs. However, This program has major faults. I also had a problem editing the state form because it brought income information from the Federal 1040 into the state form. Some of my dividend income is not reported to the state and the w-2 income is not right. I was unable to adjust the state form.

The IRS has a couple of options for using tax prep. software online for electronic filing. I would advise another option than this program.


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