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Rating: 
Summary: Serious bug found!
Review: Apparently this software was tested by monkeys, and not even smart monkeys like capuchins. It was probably cheaper spider monkeys.I spent several hours fighting with this software and *4* tickets were logged with tech support before I discovered a bug they didn't know about. The software lets you open an IRA automatically ("Express IRA" option) if it benefits you. If the amount of your refund exceeds the amount for the IRA, the software will send your refund to Taxcut's affiliated bank. That bank will open your IRA and send you the balance of your refund.
DO NOT CHOOSE THIS OPTION!!!!!!
The routing number it puts in is WRONG and will cause your electronic filing to be REJECTED by the IRS. It also corrupts the saved file for your return so you can't even open it to find out WHY your return was rejected. This option was obviously added after lunch on banana day in the taxcut cafeteria, when the testing monkeys are usually drowsy.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Federal, Poor State
Review: I know that this review should be for this product only, but I think it's fair to include these comments for the State review here because you're likely to buy this product and your particular state together. I will say that my Federal return appears to have been done correctly. I used TaxCut for 2002 and 2003 because of Intuit's spyware debacle. I was very happy with the 2002 version and everything went very well - just as well as TurboTax in previous years. However, this year TaxCut state for CA did several things that make me feel uncertain about the accuracy of my return: 1) It filled out a 540X for me, indicating an amended return. I gave it no information that would indicate an amended return. I had to delete the form to get it to file correctly. 2) It filled out several other forms, such as "Teacher Credit", "Child and Dependent Credit", despite me answering "NO" to questions regarding these credits. I had to delete these forms as well. 3) It demanded that I fill out my child's name on Form 3803, even though I don't have a child and didn't say that I did. 4) It wanted me to fill out form 3801, Passive Activity Loss, but gave me no information on how to do so. It filled out the Federal Return just fine, but didn't carry information over correctly. 5) Here's a sample of the help I got from Customer Support: "deleting the first copy of the Schedule C will cause this form to be deleted although a new "third" copy of Schedule C will immediately be re-created because of the 1099-MISC directed to the Schedule C. In that case, the 1099-MISC must be deleted or redirected to another form." That's the extent of it - I have no idea how to "redirect" a 1099-MISC. I didn't even have any 1099-MISC's anyways. 5) Apparently, there are known issues at this review's writing time, 2/19/2004: "First, your concern over form 3803. You can delete this form. You just need to open that form up and press the "delete form" button. This is a known issue our programmers are working on. However, the answer to the issue is clear. Deleting that form should take care of any issue arising from it." No update is planned according to the Update feature on TaxCut. So you have to run into the problem, try and figure out what to do, and go from there. And yes, I updated religiously. I even re-ran through my return 3 times to try to get everything right.
Rating:
Summary: TaxCut is not flawless, rebates center loses documentation
Review: I will avoid TaxCut in the future.
I have always done my taxes by hand, however this year I wanted to take advantage of electronic filing, so I researched programs that would allow me to efile. I chose TaxCut premium in 2003 for the following reasons:
1) Rebate was available on the for state efile fees.
2) Rebate was available to get State program free.
3) Premium was advertised to include a "Stock Option Advisor".
4) I use Microsoft Money to manage finances and TaxCut seemed to have a good relationship with Microsoft, so thought it would simply importing my tax information. Without these four reasons, I would not have bought TaxCut.... and all four reasons proved to be invalid. 1) The rebate for state efile fee required me to fill out forms and mail in via snail mail. It was slow and did not cover 100% of filing fees as advertised. 2) The rebate for State version of TaxCut, I mailed in my original box cover with UPC code, filled in the rebate form and provided copy of my purchase receipt as instructed, but they lost the box top.. returned the rebate form to me demanding that I mail in the original box cover with UPC code (which I no longer had, because they lost it). Then when I email them with my complaint, they reply by asking me to send in the original box cover with UPC code... obviously they don't read their mail. 3) The "Stock Option Advisor" consisted of two paragraphs of common sense followed by a referal to read IRS Pub 525 for more information. Completely worthless, and false advertising if you ask me. 4) Finally, TaxCut imported my IRA information incorrectly from Money (treated as Traditional IRA instead of Roth IRA)... It was trying to tell me I owed a penalty for putting too much into IRA's... the program thought I had put $6000 into an IRA rather than just $3000... I knew it was wrong, but it took me at least an hour to find the error and correct it. So much for simplifying my taxes. That said, these were all the problems I experienced. Everything else worked fine, but considering every reason for buying it in the first place was eliminated, I would never recommend TaxCut to anyone... In fact, I recommeded avoiding it.
Rating:
Summary: Missing Forms
Review: I've bought Turbo tax in 2001 & 2002. I didn't like the policy of Turbo Tax 2002 with a registration to a single computer. So this year I decided to buy TaxCut Premium and TaxCut State (CA). My experience was positive until I had to enter ESPP stock sales (the process is much more manual then TurboTax). The real problem however was that not only was TaxCut State (CA) not going to help fill out form 3510 (amt related form) but the program didn't even have the form. I contacted customer services and got the following reply: "When you purchase TaxCut there is a listing of forms available on the box or before the download to inform you whether or not this piece of software is appropriate for you. In this instance, the form that you need is in the business software."
The Premium package states "NEW! Alternative Minimum Tax Estimate and reduce your alternative minimum tax exposure." But they clearly don't have a clue.
So unless your tax is very simple don't take a chance. Buy TurboTax, they have all the forms and will help you fill them out
Rating:
Summary: Missing Forms
Review: I've bought Turbo tax in 2001 & 2002. I didn't like the policy of Turbo Tax 2002 with a registration to a single computer. So this year I decided to buy TaxCut Premium and TaxCut State (CA). My experience was positive until I had to enter ESPP stock sales (the process is much more manual then TurboTax). The real problem however was that not only was TaxCut State (CA) not going to help fill out form 3510 (amt related form) but the program didn't even have the form. I contacted customer services and got the following reply: "When you purchase TaxCut there is a listing of forms available on the box or before the download to inform you whether or not this piece of software is appropriate for you. In this instance, the form that you need is in the business software."
The Premium package states "NEW! Alternative Minimum Tax Estimate and reduce your alternative minimum tax exposure." But they clearly don't have a clue.
So unless your tax is very simple don't take a chance. Buy TurboTax, they have all the forms and will help you fill them out
Rating: 
Summary: Not recommended if you are AMT eligible
Review: If you are at risk for the alternative minimum tax, DO NOT BUY THIS TAX PACKAGE. When you get to the AMT section, there's no more friendly "interview". TC Premium abruptly tells us to fill out the form!! There are 48 line items on that single IRS form. No friendly interview, no carry-over, just fill out the form. It's even worse with the AMT credit on the MN return. TC didn't even include the form! It simply provided the URL for the IRS web site. I was also disappointed in the handling of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Basically the software provides a text box describing how to do the calculations, then sends you over to the regular capital gains area. This simply isn't sufficient. Not recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT PRODUCT! (1st time user!)
Review: In prior years I used Telefile to file my taxes however this year I got married and was unable to use Telefile. I also bought a house and have 3 dependents. TaxCut took into consideration the money I paid in mortgage interest, child care, and a few other expenses and let me know what was the best way for me to file. The program is VERY straight forward and the interface is easy to use. Honestly I think those that find it hard to use are computer illiterate. I can not stress how straight forward and simple this program was. The other major Tax program is alledgely filed with spyware and requires you to register. That is the main reason I went with this one. I highly recommend it.
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