Tax Software

bennor

A continuation of the discussion on tax software from the other place. H&R Block software currently (as of this post) on sale.
https://slickdeals.net/f/18110626-h-r-block-tax-software-deluxe-state-2024-pc-mac-download-22-49-after-promo-code-hrpepaz24

H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe 2024 PC/Mac [Download] + $5 off w/ promo code HRPEPAZ23, limited offer. ($25.99 - $5 = $20.99)
H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2024 PC/Mac [Download] + $7.50 off w/ promo code HRPEPAZ24, limited offer. ($29.99 - $7.50 = $22.49)
H&R Block Tax Software Premium 2024 PC/Mac [Download] + $5 off w/ promo code HRPEPAZ25, limited offer. ($42.49 - $5 = $37.49)
H&R Block Tax Software Premium & Business 2024 PC Only [Download] + $5 off w/ promo code HRPEPAZ26, limited offer. ($49.99 - $5 = $44.99)

takeahike

bennor
If you recall back last month I got the H&R Deluxe and State plus Bitdefender for $22.99 (came out $17 for H&R and $5.99 for Bitdefender on the credit card billing), so 50 cents more but two apps. Again, if you recall, I really wanted Malwarebytes, but saw that too late, not to mention the headaches I had with Bitdefender. In the end it worked out so-so, with the only real problem being that Bitdefender never was able to remove my credit card information as I wanted that they for some ridiculous reason needed a second time to get the download–that’s right, even after I gave it initially to NewEgg! I must have gone back and forth with them a half dozen times trying to convince them that their steps to do it were useless–they finally gave up on even trying to tell me what to do to accomplish that. They really haven’t got even a clue how their own system and processing works but I think that they think they know what they are doing. In any event, they did cancel the automatic renewal, and this was despite their representation that that also would not go into effect with the second credit card info, but which is apparently the real reason why they ask for the credit card that second time. I’m not sure but I probably would have been better off with just the H&R like your current offer posted here, even though I do at least have Bitdefender for a year on a laptop that had only Windows Defender before for the 50 cent investment. So despite all the hassle, maybe a benefit.

Anyway, when I went to download H&R there was a glitch that prevented it, so when I called them they emailed me a new link with yet another activation code, so I now have two codes that each work and can therefore activate 10 systems instead of the 5 paid for.

AMDUSER

bennor

That pricing is cheaper than what I paid for Turbotax.

bennor

AMDUSER Yes it is. It is one of the reasons I stopped using TurboTax many years ago. Used to buy TT when it was on sale at Costco for something like $39.99. Switched to H&R Block when I could get it for $20 to $24 dollars instead. No problem importing a saved TT return H&R Block software.

takeahike

AMDUSER

Intuit is in a competition with Adobe, Microsoft and Meta for the title of being the most arrogant of software developers. I cannot fathom why I ever used TurboTax for so many years but started with H&R in 2022--I never looked back, and never will again. You should see my old thread on DSLR that was labelled TurboTax/IRS nightmare.

lesmikesell

AMDUSER That pricing is cheaper than what I paid for Turbotax.

Does H&R pick up 1099-INT and 1099-DIV data directly from financial institutions like TT does? That is, you give it an account and document number and it gathers all your interest, dividend and capital gains data and puts it in the right places?

takeahike

bennor
Intuit is in a competition with Adobe, Microsoft and Meta for being the title of being the most arrogant of software developers. I cannot fathom why I ever used TurboTax for so many years but started with H&R in 2022, never looked back, and never will again. You should see my old thread on DSLR that was labelled TurboTax/IRS nightmare.

AMDUSER

takeahike

I'll have to check on the DSLR post.. in the 5 minute window. A relative of mine paid $40 for both Turbotax state and fed... They started with the free version, and kept denying upgrade to deluxe / cpa etc.. until there was a form they need to file. [Forced upgrade.]

Somewhat-Reticent

One year it was possible to eFile directly from several common IRS PDF forms.

Endeavors

Somewhat-Reticent

Somewhat-Reticent One year it was possible to eFile directly from several common IRS PDF forms.

This is still true, I have not paid to file tax returns in 5+ years

Rich221976

AMDUSER

I been using them for forever. I am paying now for TurboTax but it's because of the self employment income.

It's just different this year, since I am waiting on a few forms to finalized. Driving me nuts. But Its not really hurting my refund time, since I normally am able to file right when the tax season opens up but then I have to wait til the end of February beginning of march before I get actually get my refund due to the EIC.

takeahike

AMDUSER

They started with the free version, and kept denying upgrade to deluxe / cpa etc.. until there was a form they need to file. [Forced upgrade.]

Yeah, I did one of those "free" TT versions once for my GF and by the time I got through it wound up costing me $110! Like I said the outfit is beyond disgusting in my view. You could almost certainly do your return even with the self-employment income with the proper H&R version. Regrettably, I used TT from 2007-2021 (and even some earlier years back in the '90s) when I switched to H&R, mainly because of the recommendations from all users here and on DSLR (too bad that the past cannot be changed). If you manage to get to read my old thread just the OP will tell you pretty much everything I experienced with them (much of it also is about all the shenanigans I also went through with the IRS over the mechanics of their site, not any direct confrontation about taxes due or anything like that). BTW, here is a direct link to the thread--actually I was able to read it, so I copied the OP that you can see just below.

TurboTax/IRS nightmare
I called this excuse for an organization because my 2020 version of TurboTax keeps asking for activation out of absolutely nowhere, and after I re-entered it more than five times it said that it's been used too many times and is therefore no longer valid. Now when I use it half the time it goes into the program no problem and the other half it still asks for activation. Is this software designed to work flawlessly or what? So anyway, I explained all this and they told me that before they could give me a new license they had to know "why" I needed to use the program. I couldn't believe such a demand. I paid for the program, which gives me the right to use it for any reason, even if it's for a reason as nonsensical as wanting to look at the pictures. It's absolutely none of their business what I need the program for and to have to have such a reason before giving me a new license is beyond absurd. Just to get past this, I told the rep that she should say I need to amend my return for that year. So then I was put on hold and she came back and said that because I had gotten the program from a "friend" (my live in girlfriend, like in marriage) they couldn't give me a new license but could give it only to her. Are they serious: getting it from a friend is not valid? First of all, my girlfriend is as close to my wife as can be without technically being married--this purchase is in all practical respects a family purchase. What if she had used my credit card for the purchase--would that change things? In any event, even if I got the code from a stranger on the street, it shouldn't matter because it says good for five computers (bear in mind that all I of course was trying to do here was to continue to use it on one system), and doesn't stipulate that those computers have to be ones owned or used by anyone in particular and certainly doesn't require that those additional users be relatives!

At this point I asked to speak to the supervisor, which turned out a lot better. I told her that is was way out of line to need me to give a reason to need the program and that I could use it however and for whatever reason I wanted to having paid for the license, and she agreed. She never brought up the "got it from a friend" line again, and went ahead and e-mailed me a new license code, supposedly good for another five uses as the original is (now I have to wait for the program to ask for it since as I said it does so only half the time--didn't ask for any this very last time I just ran it).

takeahike

How long do you have a record of your tax returns for? I have copies on my computer back to 2007 (including .pdfs for the uninstalled apps) and hard copies back to 1984. I have the apps installed back to 2013 and installation files that I could install back to 2002.

Rich221976

I have PDF files of my tax returns dating back to 2001. I don't have records for 2003. However, I remember that I didn't use TurboTax for that year. That year the free file wasn't working, so I went with another company.

I don't have the records anymore before 2001. Most would have been hard copies that was printed from the TurboTax software.

bennor

Have returns going back to 2006 in PDF format. TurboTax for years 2006-2016 and H&R Block for 2017-present. Have installer files for H&R Block since 2017. For TurboTax those were CD's, no idea how many of those I kept. Know I've shredded some of the old returns over the years. Typically printed out a return for my records and kept the TurboTax disc with the printed return.

Intuit did some shady / scummy stuff many years ago which was one of the reasons, other than price, I moved to using H&R Block.

JanJ

H&R Software: After a burp on import (Fixed when I pointed program at last years file) 'Automatic' was looking for 2024 extension, not 2023... this back in December 2024 - after the initial load of 2024 program...

All went fine, including fed and state EFile.... Confirmation on both with minutes after EFile, Acceptance in about 1 hour fed, and 3-4 for state, and I've already received Fed Refund!
Awaiting state refund - I'm Happy - and DONE with 2024 Taxes!!!

Have H&R data files since 2001... (!!)
When H&R first sold their program to the public... Prior to that it was called: "TAX CUT" and only sold to Accountants.... I did computer repair work for one Accounting group back then, and I had to be able to run the basics of the program in order to confirm any fix I did for them -- that this program still worked.... When they disbanded, happened to be the first year H&R sold to public... and I switched, and completed my learning experience.... One year H&R got caught early with spyware... That year I did TurboTax... They are similar in use, but I've plenty of history with H&R, so unless something bad occurs, I'm continuing with H&R..

bennor

lesmikesell Yes. H&R Block will import tax information from supported financial institutions. Been using that feature for years.

JanJ

I entered mine from the forms received (though last years account # and address was imported for each of last year's entry from last year’s data, so all I added was this years specific data) and still had taxes done & EFiled by first week in February.
If I recall, Software said Fed EFile’s were not accepted until Jan 27th H&R update…. so….

lesmikesell

bennor Thanks. I have a couple of 1099s that have many pages of transactions that would take forever to type in myself and I'm not sure if everything relevant is in the summary part or not. TT grabs it all and fills out a few worksheets and the Schedule D for capital gains. I would not want to lose that.

bennor

Another NewEgg H&R Block combo deal for $22.50.
H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2024 PC/Mac - Bundle Only [Download] Norton 360 for Gamers for up to 3 Devices (2024 Ready), 13 Month Subscription with Auto Renewal - NEWEGG EXCLUSIVE, Download