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TurboTax 2001 Multi State

TurboTax 2001 Multi State

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Be very careful -- program is glitchy!
Review: CALL YOUR LOCAL TAX DEPARTMENT IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ERROR MESSAGES, INSTEAD OF CALLING INTUIT TECH SUPPORT!

I live in New Jersey and worked in New York. Like many people here, I was forced to collect unemployment after 9/11.

TurboTax State took my NY total income and tried to use it in my NJ return which created errors. Then the real nightmare began:

Intuit has an online chat tech support. After 45 minutes of very slow communication, they referred me to phone support. To do this, you need to register with Intuit on-line and they give you a pin number and a phone number to call. The phone number is in Arizona! Over an hour after I called, tech support said they couldn't fix it either and told me to call my local tax office.

NJ tax office gave me a fix for the program immediately: New York State taxes unemployment benefits -- New Jersey doesn't and TurboTax State doesn't take that into account.

Including the phone calls, I paid more for Turbo Tax than I would have paid to my accountant. The TurboTax customer service rep said I would be reimbursed for part of my phone bill -- we'll see.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The worst software ever user
Review: I bought this thinking it will help me do taxes for Multiple states. I have to shell out [money] for the second state and even after that my software is showing only one state. I have spent half a day asking for help. The help person is asking me to do the download again by paying [more money]and has no idea about the 800 number from where you have to buy the code to enable another disk.

I could have done the taxes manually much sooner.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Free with turbo tax-and worth it
Review: I have used both this product and TaxCut by HRBlock/Kiplinger. They are essentially the same, but I give the edge to Quicken and Turbo Tax.
In my mind the best way to think of tax software is that it is just a program that will ask you some questions (ex. about your w-2 or mortgage interest) and then fill out your tax return and do the math. If you then choose you can use the program to e-file your return (great feature). The software works, is very much bug free and can make some complicated things easier to handle.
I have used the program to prepare three returns this year.
1) with a straight w2, the only deduction was student loan interest. This was very simple and was done within a half an hour. I printed out a few copies (no need for a copier) and that was it.
2) A W-2 with many deductions-medical, mortgage, real estate taxes, Brokerage statements from three firms. Estimated tax payments. AND an IRA conversion to a ROTH.
I was very happy to be able to download the statements directly from Vanguard and CSFB Direct. It saved me a lot of data entry (your still need to enter your basis), and it helped me handle the Roth conversion easily.
3) A w-2 with a schedule C for a sole propritorship. I imported directly from Quickbooks. I encountered only a few problems which were caused by misclassifications in Quickbooks-they were not the fault of Turbo Tax.
In all I am very satisfied. I know I saved hundreds of dollars by not using an accountant. I am pretty sophisticated about finincial matters but I was still suprised by how easily the program handled my "complex" situations--they turned out not to be.

Just a warning-don't forget to save the Proof of purchase from you your box. Last year I forgot and I couldn't get my rebate. Also don't forget to get the State edition too. And send in your refund form for e-filing right away-they only give you 30 days

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Beware - It's not Multi-State but Choose Your State
Review: I have used various state tax programs over the years and this one works best for users of TurboTax Federal. However, for those of us having to file multiple state returns, you only get access to ONE state with this program. Thus the TurboTax Multi-State is misleading as I found out last year when I bought the program and ended up having to buy two more to do my taxes! I agree with other users, there aren't many real "help features" with this program and if you have a simple Federal return, your state probably has an online source that would serve you well. With more complicated returns, it is a decent program. If anyone else out there has the same complaint as me, let the company know! I think additional state return access should be free or at a much reduced price since it isn't costing the company any more to let you have access to various states.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A Waste of Paper, Postage, and a CD
Review: I love Turbo Tax. I use it every year. I get a certain perversive pleasure from doing my taxes.

It is not extremely clear here.. but all this item does is let you load ONE state's tax forms on to your computer. You can just as easily--- no wait... MUCH more easily--- just download the program for the same (or a lower, if you look around) price and without the postage or the wait. I have to file in more than one state, so I took a chance on this product letting you utilize forms from multiple states, as its title and description seem to imply. But I was wrong.

ADDENDUM: Fortunately, Amazon.com has clarified this situation with the "Notes" above.....

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Mass taxes
Review: I've used this program for the past two (2) years and have found it to be a great help in figuring out my taxes...I still had to do the math on paper to break down the information as the program doesn't do this for you. I think it works well as a COMPANION to state tax forms and as a filing system (once you get the info inputed correctly, you can file electronically or print out a clean copy of your tax form). As a stand alone state tax preparing program, I don't trust it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: You Can Not Electroncially File More Than One State Return
Review: If you think you can file more than one state return electronically think again. Intuit only allows one federal and one state return per social security number. Any extra returns must be MAILED in.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: "multi-state" is misleading
Review: It's not clear from the Amazon "ad" that the multi-state version can only be used for a SINGLE state unless you call and pay an additional $19.95 to get an authorization code for each additional state that you need. I paid more for this package than for the federal version because I thought I would have access to all the states that I needed. Very misleading!! I haven't actually used the software yet, so I can't comment on its features.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: My stste?
Review: Product ad does not say which states. Why buy??

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Why use it?
Review: Some may find spending extra for a feature that is amply provided in the Turbo Tax programs to be worthwhile. I have used the Tax program since it started (before state tax packages), and was pleased when they added the state. Turbo Tax did have an error in the Ohio "transfer" last year, but I notified them of it and they issued a revised copy. I just don't know what this program does that makes it worth while--as good as it may be standing alone.


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