TaxCut 2004 Premium for Macintosh

Rating:
Summary: Hopefully you don't need your refund right away!
Review: I bought TaxCut for the Mac based on reviews on this site. I am one of those people who do their taxes right away - and what did I get for my efforts? The software informs me that a necessary update won't be ready until mid-February. And it does not allow you to file until you update. I even tried to eliminate my charitable contributions (which is what the update said it was waiting for) and it STILL wouldn't let me send it.

In addition, TaxCut for State (Illinois) was suppose to be available for download 1/28. It is now the 2nd of February and I am still waiting. I tried talking to two separate people via their live Help on their website, but neither of them knew when the update or the state would be released.

I would stick to any of the free online tax sites that the IRS suggests on their web site, or head on over to TurboTax.

Very disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Switched from TurboTax and never going back.
Review: I switched from TurboTax 2 years ago. The main reason being the issues with spyware in the PC version of that program. I also didn't like all of the hoops they were trying to make their customers jump through. Or the fact that they charge a 25% higher premium price for the Mac version of their software.

Using TaxCut was a decent experience. The program itself is easy to use and negotiate. Jumping back and forth in the return was a fairly simple process. There were significant improvements over the previous year's version. Which is always a welcome thing.

I was able to quickly import my tax info from the previous year's TurboTax files without any problem. The user interface is easily understandable. Overall, TaxCut seems to be a step or two behind TurboTax. But the end results are the same, a tax refund which more than pays for the program. And those steps behind are small steps.

Keep in mind that the "free" state version (which you have to pay for and get reimbursed), and any rebates, require that you send in receipts within 30 days of the purchase. If you don't then you'll not be getting any rebates or reimbursements.

Rating:
Summary: TaxCut 2004 for Macintosh
Review: I'm another unhappy user of this program. It's Feb. 12th and I've been done my return for close to 2 weeks now. I'm still waiting for the Charitable Contributions Update. I switched from TurboTax because of Intiut's bundling of Spyware in last years edition. But at least they released a finished product. I feel like I wasted $40 on this.
Even the State was delayed. I bought the download on the TaxCut website and didn't receive confirmation that the download was available until this morning. Back to TurboTax next year...

Rating:
Summary: Switching back to TurboTax this year
Review: I've been a long time TurboTax (also Macintax) user but switched to TaxCut last year. Importing the data went well (from a PC TurboTax data file). But I ran into some very annoying problems with TaxCut. 1) I had lots of stocks to enter last year and TaxCut screwed up after entering about 10 stocks. I had to redo and reenter those that it messed up (and this was repeatable as I had two returns that I had to enter that many stocks). 2) printing was poorly supported and printed returns showed page creep (one page runs just over one page and after about 10 pages it's really off and the print only has half a page with the other half on started on the next page). I filed electronically but print a copy for my records and that copy is less than desirable. 3) TaxCut didn't support the Mac OS X *standard* "Save to PDF". 4) tech support wasn't helpful on the printing issue or the stock data entry stuff.

I'm switching back to TurboTax this year (and doubt I'd switch again in the future). I was pretty happy with TurboTax (on the PC) but thought I'd try TaxCut since it was a little cheaper and I hadn't used TurboTax on Mac OS X in the past (so either would have been the first time on the Mac).

Also, TurboTax (this year) seems to have a dual platform release with both Windows and Mac OS X on the same CDROM! (i.e. no more "tax", aka extra money charged for the Mac version as they have done in the past!!).

Rating:
Summary: Windows or Mac - Taxcut Still Great
Review: I've used Taxcut to file my taxes since 1996 but this was my first year using Taxcut for Mac. I wanted to get it over with right away so I got the download version of the program and it whizzed through my taxes in no time.

There is an update pending it states on the update screen but I didn't run into any issues and was able to e-file my return. If anything in the update affects me (and I don't believe it will because they have always disabled filing before if that was the case) I can always amend.

The forms for my records printed perfectly has usual on my laser printer and yet another year is taken care of with little headache or worry. I heartily recommend this version because if you go on over to TurboTax you'll see just about as many complaints. If you have a complex return you might run into issues but if your return is straightforward as mine was you should have no problems.

Yes, the state edition isn't ready but that is to be expected -- 50 different entities to work out all the programming with, the state program is always a challenge for BOTH companies to get out on time. I have no problems waiting a couple of weeks until it is to put the state taxes to bed given the amount of time Taxcut will save me in doing that.

My System: iMac G5, Panther 10.3.7, Lexmark Rn+ Laser Printer

Rating:
Summary: Easy to Use, But Updates Defeat Purpose
Review: This is my second year of using TaxCut for Mac, and I've found the software to be easy to use, with helpful tips and links. In fact, I would say that TaxCut makes e-filing a breeze except for one thing.

Early on, you're prompted to download updates, which the software states should take a few minutes. I suppose "a few" is subjective. I actually thought the update was stuck, but it turns out the size of the file is 13.9 MB. If you have dialup, you may as well download that while you sleep, the night before you plan to sit down to the actual task.

But that's not all: once the update has downloaded, there are some key components not yet up and running, if you itemize, primarily having to do with charitable contributions. The update says that these will roll out on January 27... And that's simply not true, as I downloaded the update on January 29. If you go to the H&R Block site and poke around, you find that the missing forms will be available "mid-February." Well, which is it?

If I had wanted to wait until mid-February to file, I wouldn't be buying TaxCut in the first place. Kind of kills the advantage of e-filing. Although once filed, my returns last year were processed in blazing speed, in under 10 days until showing up in my account. I still like the ease of use, but the updates make me wonder whether I will use TaxCut 2005...