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Turbo Tax Deluxe 2014 bait and switch

Rich Z

Rich Z

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For those of you who do their own taxes using TurboTax Deluxe version, beware that Intuit dropped some of the capability of the program in order to force you to upgrade to higher priced versions. I don't know the exact details, but evidently forms C, D, E, and F have been impacted by this change.

So if you have used this in the past, don't just grab a package off the shelf thinking you will get the same thing you got when you did your 2014 taxes.
 
I always use Turbo Tax on-line. I caught that it wanted to charge me $35 to deduct the fee from my refund, rather than pay it at the time I filed!
 
I used it for the first time last year, and got an email notification a couple months ago to get the 2014 version at a discount. I put in my credit card info, and they mailed the disc to me.

I'm wondering if there is a difference in the store version as opposed to the one they send through their email marketing program. The one I received is packaged differently than the one I got at the store last year.

I just got my new laptop last week, and haven't installed the program yet. I guess I'll find out soon enough. Thanks for the heads-up, Rich.

Kathy
 
FYI, I contacted H&R Block and the told me that their tax program can directly import from TurboTax files, so that is likely going to be the route that I take this year.

My guess is that someone new took over TurboTax and doesn't understand the marketing concept of being penny wise and dollar foolish. Apparently there is a LOT of flak about this online from people who found out the change the hard way.

I know I would have certainly been surprised as I would have just grabbed up a copy the next time I went to Sam's Club or Best Buy thinking I was getting the same program I've been using for years now.

Be interesting to see how TurboTax handles the fallout. Wouldn't be the first time a company made a boneheaded tactical error that turned out to be fatal when the competition took full advantage of the situation. Heck, H&R Block has just gained me as a customer at a loss to TurboTax. How many other people are likely doing the same thing right now?
 
All I know about Turbo Tax is- I file the short form because I don't have enough expenses that I can do better than the standard deduction. So I log in, it has all my info from last year, I fill out the W2 (some employers allow TT to access it directly), it runs me through several categories of questions just to double check, and 15 minutes later, I've e-signed it and filed electronically and paid my $35 and most of my coworkers haven't even looked at their W2s yet. They handed them out yesterday- woo. I got mine on line the 19th.

And thanks, employer, for making sure I made $5k less than last year, by cutting OT. I hope that makes a big difference to you, 'cause it sure does for me.

But I _will_ be saving, since, after I finally decided to spring for short term disability, I got denied because I have osteoarthritis. So at least I have that going for me.
 
Well, I need to have schedule C available as I still have to claim the income from my online endeavors. TurboTax dropping that from the deluxe version just puts them out of the running for me. There is another product called "TaxAct" that I've been looking at that is a possibility.

I've read that the deluxe version does include the raw forms (C,D,E, and F) that you can fill out manually, but that then you can't use the error checking function, nor can you transmit the return electronically. :rolleyes:

Quite frankly had I already purchased TT Deluxe and THEN found out about the change, and could not return the product, I would be REALLY pissed about it. I think that there is a presumption that if you buy the same product you've bought for many years, year after year, that you are going to be getting the same product and capabilities you got year after year. I wonder how high up the ladder this change was approved at Intuit? Someone's head needs to be lopped off for this boneheaded stunt.

I read somewhere that if you buy Deluxe and then call Intuit and complain loud enough, they will give you a free upgrade. But what about next year? Sorry, but no, I'm just not willing to pay $100 for tax preparation software. It was bad enough that the price was getting to around the $50 price point.
 
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Well, I just got my mortgage interest statement in the mail today, so I will be doing taxes this weekend. I hope this TT version has all the forms I need. It sure was sweet and simple last year - no problems at all. If they've changed this deluxe version, forcing me to buy an upgraded version, I will be contacting them for sure. Jackals.

Kathy
 
I used the Turbo Tax Home and Business just like I did last year.I used to pay a CPA but didn't feel I needed to pay out $400 for something I could do myself. I got it from Amazon for I think $79 and it did everything I needed. It federal filed for free and included one state return but I had to pay $19 to efile the state. It all seemed to work fine. (Cross my fingers)
John
 
Follow up....

So, I got the following email from TurboTax back on 02-05-2015 in reference to the above mention bait & switch they pulled:

Dear Rich,

We recently tried to explain the changes made to our TurboTax desktop software and apologized for the impact it had on you. Many responded and let us know our apology and rationale were not acceptable.

You want the TurboTax desktop product (CD or download) you've used in the past to do what it has always done—handle your tax situation. We heard you. It's time we make it right.

Beginning February 7, 2015, you can buy the same product you'd normally buy, and if you need to upgrade for your tax situation, we'll help you do that at no additional cost. This means you'll get all the forms you need, including Schedules C, D E, and F, without paying anything extra. Learn more.


If you're a returning TurboTax Deluxe CD or download customer and you've already filed using TurboTax Premier or TurboTax Home & Business, we're offering you $25 cash back. Simply visit TurboTax.com/25back to claim your money.

Next, we are committed to bringing back the product you know and love. By the time you are ready to prepare and file your taxes next year, the TurboTax desktop product you trusted in the past will include the forms you've counted on for years.

I understand our actions have caused anger and frustration, and our response has been far too slow. TurboTax is committed to regaining your trust and providing you with the level of excellence you have come to expect.

Thank you for your feedback and continued loyalty,

Sasan Goodarzi and the TurboTax Team
General Manager, Intuit TurboTax
Click to expand...

So I took this to mean that if I buy the 2014 Deluxe version this year, that it will have the same forms (particularly Schedule C) that were in the product when I bought it to file my 2013 taxes. I figured it might take some time for the dust to settle and products on the shelves to be swapped out for the all inclusive version that I would expect to get, so I just waited till now.

So the first thing I did was to go to their own website to take a look at their product comparison page. Well, isn't this just ducky?

turbotax_sched_c_02.jpg


I sure as heck don't see the 2014 Deluxe version including the Schedule C as Mr. Goodarzi appears to have stated would be there. Neither are Schedules D & E. There is no mention of Schedule F, but is there much doubt about that not being in the deluxe version neither? And notice that you can't even just take the smaller jump to the next version to get that Schedule C you may need and USED to be in the Deluxe version. You've got to go all the way up to their Home & Business version which is more than double the price of the Deluxe version.

Oh, and if you go to TurboTax's website, you'll see "reviews" for each of the products on that comparison page. I'm sorry, but it seems darn unbelievable to me that ALL of the reviews are just bubbling with accolades and congratulations. Yet if you go to other sites that have had discussions about this sleight of hand they pulled, you will find a LOT of disgruntled customers complaining about what they pulled. Highly suspicious, in my opinion. Does anyone doubt at all that Inuit is busy filtering out any negative reviews they get as fast as they show up? :nope:

Oh well. Glad I checked on this before maybe grabbing a copy of TurboTax Deluxe this week assuming all was well. I'm going to be picking up a copy of H&R Block's tax software instead. I had hoped that TurboTax had seen the light that they admitted to back on 02-05, but apparently are STILL trying to snag customers unaware after foisting that lie they emailed out to people.

It will be interesting to see how well TurboTax does next year when the people who got flimflammed this year jump ship to something else.
 
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