TurboTax Free vs Plus

[JM Aggie08]

Mods, please lock if this belongs in the tax thread -- I suspect not since that is generally reserved for tax-based questions, rather than services

Has anyone had any experience with TurboTax+? For the last several years, I've filed using the free edition, but noticed that there are some (seemingly) useful benefits with the plus edition, most notably the ability to consult their CPAs/Agents. For the uninitiated, TurboTax+ provides you with:

*Be 50% done with last year's info
*Know more "whys" behind your refund with ExplainWhy™
*Get 24/7 access to all of your completed TurboTax returns
*Access and securely store your tax documents
*Speak to our experts for answers and tax advice
*Understand your tax history and maximize next year's refund

It's 29.99 for use (can be deducted from your potential return). I tend to think that access to a CPA would be nice, as well as the added clarity on certain items in the return.

 

[Ns1]

Do you take the itemized deduction, have a business, etc, or do you simply file a w2 and call it a day?

 

[FleshLight]

Do you make more than the 60k limit for free?

 

[JM Aggie08]

Do you take the itemized deduction, have a business, etc, or do you simply file a w2 and call it a day?

Dat.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Do you make more than the 60k limit for free?

I've made more than 60K for the last few years and have not come across any issues with free.

 

[Ns1]

Dat.

not worth it IMO unless you just want to have half your fields pre-filled.

I mean it's just a basic w2, there's not a lot of games you can play.

 

[JM Aggie08]

not worth it IMO unless you just want to have half your fields pre-filled.

How much rocket science involved in filing jointly with the wife for the first time -- she works as well?

 

[Ns1]

How much rocket science involved in filing jointly with the wife for the first time -- she works as well?

as long as you're just doing w2 it's like another 10 fields

"do you have any change in status"
->>>"Yes I got married"

and then you fill out a w2 for her.


IMO the higher tier tax softwares make no sense unless you have stuff going on where you can actually play games (business, itemized deductions, stock gains/losses, etc)


<---has bounced back and forth between the deluxe/free tiers based on need

 

[brianmanahan]

dunno, i've always bought the H&B version

 

[JM Aggie08]

as long as you're just doing w2 it's like another 10 fields

"do you have any change in status"
->>>"Yes I got married"

and then you fill out a w2 for her.


IMO the higher tier tax softwares make no sense unless you have stuff going on where you can actually play games (business, itemized deductions, stock gains/losses, etc)


<---has bounced back and forth between the deluxe/free tiers based on need

You the real MVP.

Close it down, folks.

 

[JM Aggie08]

So, this seems kind of shitty...

Itemizing this year would afford us an additional $140 in return....but, TurboTax will not allow me to itemize unless I upgrade to pro? Anyone else seeing this?

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, that change happened a year or two ago
I switched to Tax Cut because of it. BS.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I've been REALLY getting sick and tired of Turbo Tax. They keep trying to penny pinch everywhere. Bought the software this year, and yet they wanted me to pay $30 or some shit to e-file a state return... what the fuck? As if $50 for the software wasn't enough, they honestly wanted to try and make another quick $30 out of me for an e-file? Fuck you, I can toss some fucking papers in an envelope and mail them with a stamp.

Next year, I'm finding an alternative... Be it H&R Block instead, or TaxACT (Which I hear lots of good things about).... Either way it wont be Turbo Turd next year.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

So, this seems kind of shitty...

Itemizing this year would afford us an additional $140 in return....but, TurboTax will not allow me to itemize unless I upgrade to pro? Anyone else seeing this?

So are you saying you have more than $12,500 in deductions (under the presumption you are married from the "we" reference)?

 

[JM Aggie08]

So are you saying you have more than $12,500 in deductions (under the presumption you are married from the "we" reference)?

Yep.

 

[JM Aggie08]

I just filled everything in at HR Block. Never again, TurboTax.

 

[freeskier93]

I've been REALLY getting sick and tired of Turbo Tax. They keep trying to penny pinch everywhere. Bought the software this year, and yet they wanted me to pay $30 or some shit to e-file a state return... what the fuck? As if $50 for the software wasn't enough, they honestly wanted to try and make another quick $30 out of me for an e-file? Fuck you, I can toss some fucking papers in an envelope and mail them with a stamp.

Next year, I'm finding an alternative... Be it H&R Block instead, or TaxACT (Which I hear lots of good things about).... Either way it wont be Turbo Turd next year.

Not sure what you're talking about, it's free to e-file state through TurboTax this year. I did it with the free version.

EDIT: You're right, state is only free when filing a 1040EZ/1040A (aka free edition).

 

[NutBucket]

That's why. You used the free version. The adults here have capital gains and itemized deductions

 

[freeskier93]

That's why. You used the free version. The adults here have capital gains and itemized deductions

Capital gains are covered in the free version (1040A). Really the main things that disqualify you from the free version are if you make over $100k or you want to itemize.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

That's why. You used the free version. The adults here have capital gains and itemized deductions

I'm well over the income amounts, yet I don't have capital gains or itemized deductions.

Capital gains is from taxable investments, unless you are maxing out your retirement benefits on both yours and your spouse's, you shouldn't be touching this area.

Itemized deductions is mostly from spending shitloads of money on things such as high dollar homes with large amounts of taxes and mortgage interest. None of those are exactly "smart".

Point simply being, I live in a modest house with decent mid six figure income and I don't itemize because it would get me back less.

 

[Humpy]

I used the free version again this year. It takes longer to avoid the BS sales traps than actually entering financial info but still easy and 'free'.

I did have a giggle at it making a big show of deleting my name and address when I clicked 'no' on the $30 upgrade request.

It's all such a joke these days with the pathetic nickle dicking by the preparation companies and incompetence of the IRS. The whole system is tailored to idiots and crooks.

 

[lxskllr]

I filled out papers last year, and it wasn't so bad. I'll do the same this year. I've used TaxAct in the past, and thought it was a good product, but my taxes are simple, and I need to use my pens somewhere.

 

[KentState]

I'm well over the income amounts, yet I don't have capital gains or itemized deductions.

Capital gains is from taxable investments, unless you are maxing out your retirement benefits on both yours and your spouse's, you shouldn't be touching this area.

Itemized deductions is mostly from spending shitloads of money on things such as high dollar homes with large amounts of taxes and mortgage interest. None of those are exactly "smart".

Point simply being, I live in a modest house with decent mid six figure income and I don't itemize because it would get me back less.

If you donate to charities, then itemizing is beneficial on top of home interest if you have a loan. Even the modest home we purchased is enough to push us toward itemizing. Plus we are putting ~$30k into 401ks and Roth limits.

 

[brianmanahan]

If you donate to charities, then itemizing is beneficial on top of home interest if you have a loan. Even the modest home we purchased is enough to push us toward itemizing. Plus we are putting ~$30k into 401ks and Roth limits.

exactly, charities + state and local taxes is enough to put me over the standard deduction. but that's as a single person, so it's not hard to exceed.

 

[boomhower]

Somewhat of a necro but was deciding what to use. We don't have a ton of deductions as my wife didn't work but a few months last year because of health issues. Used H&R Block. Federal plus state for $10, pretty hard to beat if you tax needs are simple.