TurboTax Deluxe 2002 :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review
For most users, TurboTax Deluxe 2002 will make April 15 just another day. This incarnation of the most popular tax-preparation title is as streamlined and simple as before, and its integration with Quicken is better than ever. Intuit has striven to make the software easy to use even for those with an aversion to both tax forms and computers. The wizard-based system guides users through each step with plenty of context-sensitive advice.

Installation of TurboTax is just as easy as it's always been. The activation procedure requires an Internet connection, but overall the brief procedure is transparent and painless. Quicken users can swiftly import their financial data, as can those who've used previous versions of TurboTax. Each copy offers free (after rebate) electronic filing and TurboTax State, which can be ordered from within the program. The preparation itself is almost as simple and reliable as going to an accountant; each step and each piece of information required is fully explained. If some financial data is temporarily unavailable, it's a snap to skip ahead and complete the rest while waiting on that information. Once the numbers are all in, TurboTax does the math and instantly releases the news, good or bad. Printing is simple, as is e-filing, and all data can be saved for future reference.

The Tax Library feature is comprehensive and well worth exploring, as it contains all the information users need to save countless dollars and hassles. From IRS documents to professionally produced videos explaining key concepts, the materials are sharply focused and helpful to the broadest range of taxpayers.

For 2002, Intuit has instituted a licensing system that, while mostly harmless, has caused enough problems to become controversial. Each package requires an activation that links the full product irrevocably to one machine and installs background software to monitor licensing compliance. People who want to use more than one computer may do so, but they will have to settle for one fully functional product and one in trial version mode (only printing and e-filing are disabled in trial version). To enable trial version users just need Internet access. This functionality makes it easy to prepare in multiple locations-for example on a laptop and a home PC. When users are ready to file they just need to return their data file to the computer with printing and e-filing capability. This multiple-PC issue shouldn't affect most buyers, and should not alter the opinion that TurboTax is still the best tax preparation package available. --Rob Lightner
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Customer Reviews

Tax software sinks to a new low

2004-01-07
Intuit has failed to make the necessary repairs in its Turbo Tax software for the 2003 tax year. This years version will not load into many computers due to major glitches. Tech support is even worse than previous years. There is no way to access tech support by phone and the online vesion is only available 9-5 on weekdays. They obviously don't want to deal with their software problems. Turbo Tax had a good reputation which has been ruined by Intuit and their lack of support. Sorry all you loyal users but it is time to drop out of this failing products support base. Intuit refuses to deal with its continuing string of problems and is only milking the product until it will collapse.

Terrible Support and Spyware

2003-12-31
I used to be a diehard TT user never again even if it's free. First the spyware, I did my taxes and reformatted my computer. Second their site is the most user unfriendly site ever. Just make them so mad they won't come back. A negative 5 stars from me.

Disaster!

2003-11-30
Unfortunately, there is not a rating choice of ZERO (or even negative) stars, so take my 1-Star rating with a ton of salt.

Like so many others, I had a terrible time getting my licensed copy of TT2002 Deluxe activated. I finally succeded, no help from Intuit. Now, nearly a year later, I tried to go back into TT to review my tax situation and do some what-iffing. Turns out I can no longer get to TT2002. It seems something called C-Dilla got messed up and I am expected to divine the entrails and repair what came to me as an already defective product. C-Dilla, it turns out, is Spyware and was quarantined by my anti-spyware product. How was I to know that this piece of spyware was planted in my machine by Intuit. That's the sort of thing you expect of hackers and spammers, not of your financial software company!

I was a TT adherent for many years. I even recommended TT to others. I would not now recommend this product to my worst enemy.

When you try and get support, their support page is incomprehensible - they rather expect you to be technically expert, a programmer! I am neither. And, I do not relish the challenge of staying at home (where it is installed) so I can talk on the phone with their support? group at $20.00 a pop, just to fix the DEFECTS IN THEIR PRODUCT!

Turbo Tax - don't spy us!!! 2003-11-18
I installed Turbo Tax 2002 and only after a long time I realized
they also installed a spyware. A shame! Besides that, they created
this very weird directory in my machine c_dilla, the activation was
full of restrictions, I uninstalled it (for obvious reasons) and when I need to print my tax return again I could not, I received a message from the installer saying: "This Intuit product is no longer
available. Please call 1-800 333-2917" (a useless number).
I won't use it again!!!

They gave themselves 5 stars?? 2003-10-13
After all the problems and crap that Intuit took for the activation/spyware issue, now they place the newspaper apology on Amazon and give themselves 5 stars?? I'm completely disgusted, and will not use any Inuit product for at least several years while I observe their new track record.

I hate Turbo Tax 2006-03-15
I have used this product for several years and each year I get more and more disgusted. The problems are many.

1. If you need to update information and go back to the interview portion of the program to be "reinterviewed" the appropriate tax forms will not update. You must go to the form and update it manually.

2. If, for example, you are half-way through an interview session and click "GO TO FORMS," when you return to the interview it goes back to the beginnig of the interview and may not retain the information that you previously entered into the session.

3. When you are in FORMS and try to expand a particular secetion of Schedule A you can only see a very few lines at a time. I discovered that items that I deducted last year were still included this year, but were hidden (with no indications that they were there) until you scrolled down. I scrolled down many blank lines until I found some entries that I didn't want.

The PA State program is even worse.

This is my last year to use this horrible product!

Ron

Yet another bad review with some history 2004-03-04
I started using TT in 1998 by using a friend's disk (stole it). It worked great. Turbo Tax didn't cost too much so starting in 1999 I started buying it. They got me as a customer because they had a good product at a good price and because I was able to try it once free before I bought it. Nothing I hate worse than buying something you can't return only to find out it is junk. The 2002 printer thing made me sware to never use TT again. Thing is they fixed it for 2003 so should we reward their fix this year or punish them for what they did last year?

2003 - No Better than 2002! 2004-02-21
Turbo Tax was good last year. But now I have CG (capital gains) and find TurboTax Deluxe doesn't even collect the information. I got so angry so started clicking all over the map and got some message that if I had bought a different version of TurboTax, it would have collected CG information.

I gave up and tried to print my completed return (w/o CG)so I could transfer the information to paper forms that do ask about CG, only to find Turbo Tax won't print!!!!!! My printer and PC are new. There is nothing wrong with them.

Stay away! 2004-01-23
Turbo Tax has indeed become one of the nightmare products of the year. Their tech support is, well, it isn't. There simply isn't any. No phone number, very weak knowledge base, no email to send to - all they appear interested in is selling lots of their product. They have Chat support, which, so far has never responded to me. Here is, verbatim, the cheery messges you will see while you sit wondering what to do this tax year:
"Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.
The next available Agent will be with you in a moment.
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.
The next available Agent will be with you in a moment...
Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.
The next available Agent will be with you in a moment.
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.
The next available Agent will be with you in a moment.
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
Currently experiencing network delays, one moment please....
Your session has ended. You may now close this window."

I never have reached a support person. The above message is all I get. Don't waste your time and money!! I cannot even get a copy of last years return which is now critical as TurboTax appears never to have sent in my State return. You are far better off filing a return by hand or with using a competing product.

Intuit removes TTax spyware/junkware 2004-01-22
"In a victory for consumers everywhere, Intuit recently announced that it will drop the product activation that it initiated in its Turbo Tax product this year. The activation was much like the one used in Windows XP, which scans that user's computer for hardware components and ties the software to that computer. This prevents users from installing the software on more than one computer, and/or lending a copy to a friend or neighbor.

Intuit initiated the activation to try to squelch illegal copying and borrowing. The activation plan, however, did not go as smoothly as the Windows XP activation. Intuit used a program called SafeCast to enable the product activation. When some users saw the SafeCast program being installed without any notice from Intuit, they assumed that SafeCast was a spyware program. Consumers also had a myriad of installation problems with the activation. Many were outraged. At least one purchaser filed suit against Intuit. Customer backlash to the activation plan is said to be the main reason why Intuit will pull the plug on its product activation scheme in next year's version of TurboTax.

This is a victory for consumers everywhere proving that the voice of consumers is heard by large corporations, and that the end-users can make a difference in the way they are treated."