TurboTax Basic 2005 Win/Mac [Old Version] :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Great Tax program

2006-03-23
Don't know how I ever got along doing my taxes before TurboTax came along. I've been using it for years now and will continue as long as they have the program and I have to file taxes.

once again Turbo Tax delivers

2006-03-17
how can doing taxes get any easier? this is my fifth year using turbo tax and I think each year gets easier and faster. I love the way my information from the previous year is brought forward and the ability to e-file is just a click away.

I can't imagine using any other program.

Caveat emptor

2006-03-15
I have used TurboTax for several years. It is generally easy to use and certainly simplifies preparing a tax return. However, I have noticed several problems with this year's version which cause me to recommend against using it except to simplify data entry and to double-check your own tax return preparation using the IRS's own instructions:

(1) It is not always accurate. E.g., when it printed my return it generated forms for payment of estimated tax, with an indication that these payments were required. However, the IRS publication on estimated tax sets out a simple, 3-part test to determine whether one needs to make these estimated payments, with questions TurboTax didn't know to ask me. As a second example, the program was helpful in reminding me that I was eligible for a foreign tax credit carryover, but then miscalculated it. As a third example, the program lists different documentation requirements for charitable donations than the IRS instructions do.

(2) The update feature doesn't keep track of whether you've already downloaded updates, and therefore downloads all updates later than the date of your CD itself, instead of only downloading updates new since the last time you updated.

(3) The program insistently prompts you to upgrade to more expensive versions of the product, including updates it should be able to realize you can't possibly need (e.g., state tax programs even if you live in a state with no income tax).

(4) The help instructions for complicated situations are essentially useless -- you will need to hunt down the IRS instructions on your own.

Some features that would be easy to include, aren't. E.g., there aren't links to the underlying IRS instructions documents. There are no explanations of what's going on to help understand the tax implications of your finances -- e.g., you will be told whether or not you are subject to AMT, but not why. You aren't told the tax rates on your different categories of income. If a deduction or credit is limited, you aren't told why.

TurboTax lost another faithful customer

2006-03-13
The program does a great job in figuring my taxes. But now Intuit is charging for filing and the state program. Also I was unable to download the updates over my dial-up connection. I called to have a CD version mailed to me but so far I haven't received it. I'm trying Tax Act this year. It is a free program and has free filing. IF I can complete the TurboTax version I will see if I can duplicate my return using Tax Act. If so then good bye TurboTax.

DO NOT BUY - YOU CAN'T REALLY USE IT

2006-03-11
I have used Turbo Tax for about 20 years and have loved it. In the past it was user-friendly, efficient and complete - it even printed out all the forms I needed - ready to send to the IRS.

As usual, I purchased it this year.
The format changed and isn't nearly as user friendly as in years past. You have to manually select the walk-through feature, section by section and it's very easy to miss sections.

When I got to the end, it wouldn't let me do a review for errors until I updated the version. But, I don't have internet at home and couldn't update. It crashed my computer 3 times before I skipped the review totally. (God only knows what else I skipped in the process.)

When I went to print the forms - again it nagged me that the software was inferior and needed to be updated. Again, I skipped it but the pages printed out with a nasty watermark saying the forms weren't updated and couldn't be used. I can't use these. I can't send them to the IRS. So, I have to find IRS forms and manually insert the information myself. So, why did I spend money for the software??

Why would they sell a product that you can't actually use? Yes, it'll "prepare" my forms. But, what good is that if I can't print them out?

Why would they sell a product that was already so obsolete that you can't use it without contacting the company for another version?

ABSOLUTELY - RUN - DON'T WALK - RUN RUN RUN AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT. DON'T BUY IT because it simply doesn't work.

I won't use Turbo Tax again. They have lost a faithful and long time customer.

Great way to prepare taxes.

2007-02-10
Been using these programs for years. They make the whole process pretty easy. I like owning the program so that I can easily open my electronic tax files in the future and not rely on obtaining access to previous year programs thru web servers.

In Response to Basic Macintosh Version - Round Off Flaw Found... NOT TRUE

2006-04-27
TurboTax properly rounds off based on IRS rules. Amounts less than 50 cents are rounded down to the nearest dollar while amounts more than 49 cents are rounded up to the next dollar. This is in accordance with IRS rules and TurboTax is in compliance with this.

I'm confident that when you follow these rules, you'll find TurboTax correctly computes all amounts.

(By the way, I'm assigning a 3-star rating so as to not bias the results since this is the midpoint.)

Bob Meighan
VP, TurboTax

Basic Macintosh Version - Round Off Flaw Found

2006-04-20
This review is for Turbo Tax Basic for Mac/PC 2005
The software is easy enough to use but either out of curiosity or self abuse, I checked the results manually and found a round off flaw contained in the program. If you are self employed and use Form SE (Self Employment Tax Form) the program fails to round "up" correctly. The mistake favors the individual and not the Feds. This is a math error and the IRS can red flag it.

I remember several years ago I purchased the Deluxe or Premire verson and the program recommended that I might consider putting $300 into my IRA in order to lower my tax bracket, it was great! However subsquent versions did not do this, after which I only purchase the Basic version.

Useless

2006-04-13
As another reviewer says:

"But the final tax forms I needed to file with were not included on the CD-ROM package. TurboTax instructed me to get them by using "one-click update." Well after I update and attempt to restart the software, TurboTax refuses to come up at all."

Exactly. I've re-installed it over and over and the same thing happens. I've used Turbotax in previous years and never had a problem like this. After spending hours entering in my data, there is apparently no way to get to the final filing stage. With four days before the due date, this is disasterous. Their support site offers no hint of a fix. Mac users, stay away!

Mac Version... 2 Thumbs down!!!

2006-03-27
This was my first time to ever attempt using a software program to file my taxes. TurboTax sounded easy enough. And it was pretty easy at first. The software interviewed me in an efficent manner and saved all of my information. But the final tax forms I needed to file with were not included on the CD-ROM package. TurboTax instructed me to get them by using "one-click update." Well after I update and attempt to restart the software, TurboTax refuses to come up at all. I can't speak for this software on Windows machines. But if you are using Mac OS X, I suggest you explore other options first.