Turbo Tax

Turbo Tax, a subsidiary of Intuit, is one of the leading software package programs available to consumers for tax preparation.  There are different versions offered by Turbo Tax (deluxe, premier, etc.).  The software offers both Federal and State income tax return.  Turbo Tax is designed to be user friendly, making it easy to navigate and understand the different options in tax breaks for the average person.  The software takes care of the nitty gritty for the consumer instead of having to meet with a person one on one.

Largest Possible Refund Guarantee

Turbo Tax guarantees upfront that they will provide the consumer with the largest possible refund.  If a customer finds another tax service offering a larger return, Turbo Tax will provide a full refund.  Turbo Tax prides itself on being the easiest-to-use software for taxes in the industry.

Finds Deductions Easily

Turbo Tax ensures the customer detailed review of all possible deductions.  There are over 350 possible deductions offered and many people overlook or don’t have the appropriate knowledge to claim the suitable deductions.  This software will assist the customer in identifying every deduction.  It even offers a review at the end of the filing to double check for missed deductions.

Turbo Tax has a built in system to assess retail values for commonly donated items.  Many individuals have a difficult time knowing how much to claim for an item they donated months ago.  Turbo Tax makes it easy to assess accurately the first time, without question.  The software also will automatically let you know if you qualify for certain deductions on your medical expenses.

Import Data From Last Year’s Taxes

Turbo Tax allows users to import data from previous year’s tax in order to cut down on the time it would take to manually enter the information.  The software will automatically check for the previous year’s tax data file and will give the user the option of importing the information.  You can also import data from Quicken, Microsoft Money, ItsDeductible, TaxCut, TaxAct, Turbo Tax Estimated Taxes, W-2, 1098 and 1099 from most banks and any software that can export in .txf files.

Turbo Tax Pricing

Turbo Tax is free to use and will only require payment when you print or e-file your return.  The basic package is $19.95, which is recommended if you are filing with a 1040EZ or if you rent your house.  Other options are the deluxe which is recommended if you own your home, have donated to charities or have expenses for education.  The premier package is recommended for anyone who has sold investments or using real estate as a source of income (renting out a house). The highest level a consumer can purchase is the Home & Business version which is recommended for people who own a small business and file personal and business taxes jointly.

Turbo Tax offers free online support where a user can ask a question and get an email response within an hour.  Another option available for $29.95 is to ask a question via the internet and receive a live phone call with a highly trained tax professional.  This option is good for those with more complex filing.

Turbo Tax is a good product for individuals, small business owners and those with multiple exemptions.  More information can be found at www.turbotax.com.