[Public service announcement] Beware of TurboTax

[Skanky Burns]

Yeah, the emphasis is on "buy".

The ATO puts up software for free on their website come tax-time in Australia.

[Swissy]

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Why do you need to buy software to do your tax?

Because liberals want everyone but the poor to jump through hoops to get a tax refund. Things would be much simpler if they eliminated all the myriads of deductions and went with a lower single tax rate. But then that would mean lowering taxes, something a liberal would rather die than allow to happen.

[Swissy]

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Yeah, the emphasis is on "buy".

The ATO puts up software for free on their website come tax-time in Australia.

We do have the tax programs available for free. But you have to either use the 1040EZ form (mostly students and the poor) or qualify for an Earned Income Credit (where you get all you taxes refunded plus extra money, again the poor only). There are a couple of companies that give out their software for free, and the give you a deal on e-file.

[Hueij]

Wow, am I happy to be a Eurocom living in a Eurocommie country. Over here you can download tax software for free from the...



...Ministry of Finances own tax website

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Well, I just finished. IMO, TaxCut's less annoying than TurboTax. I'm a little annoyed, cuz I know that I lost out on some of my 179 deduction because of my lost data. Grrrrr. One of these days I'm gonna back my data up.

TaxCut also isn't quite complete, and there are still some forms I have to download when they are ready. At least I'm getting a hefty return, even though I elected not to have any taxes withheld from my unemployment. Hotdoggie! I'll be able to knock my credit card down below the limit at long last and pay off my long distance bill.

Years ago those @#$&^%*(% at Intuit bought out the company making the tax software that I had faithfully used for years, forcing me to use Turbo Tax because nothing else would import past years data.

[chequita guevara]

Well, Doc, now you have a choice. I'm quite happy with TaxCut. It was even easier than TurboTax.

Happily I found last year's returns and was able to recoup my 179 Deduction (I get an additional $22 back, weee!).

Now I just have to send off a form from last year, 8453-OL. I can't believe I missed it and didn't send it at the time.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Hueij
Wow, am I happy to be a Eurocom living in a Eurocommie country. Over here you can download tax software for free from the...



...Ministry of Finances own tax website

Good God, son. You actually trust that program? I mean, would you trust a nutrition scheduler program that you downloaded from Mcdonalds.com?

Nice thing about US tax software is that it is designed to minimize our tax burden, a nicety likely not well-developed by your governments software.

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Well, Doc, now you have a choice. I'm quite happy with TaxCut. It was even easier than TurboTax.

Happily I found last year's returns and was able to recoup my 179 Deduction (I get an additional $22 back, weee!).

Now I just have to send off a form from last year, 8453-OL. I can't believe I missed it and didn't send it at the time.

I need the more complete program as my taxes are fairly complicated. For instance, in the past I've hads to declare some of my investments on my children's behalf, so I have needed a program with ALL the freakin' forms.

Of course, the way things went last year maybe they should pay me for throwing away the money.