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TaxCut from H&R Block 2001 Deluxe Filing Edition

TaxCut from H&R Block 2001 Deluxe Filing Edition

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Inferior to competitor, omits critical information
Review: After several years of using a competitive product that gave me problems in 2002, I decided to try TaxCut.

I found that TaxCut was much less informative during the interview process. I sometimes needed explanation that was not immediately at hand. I had expected that TaxCut would auto-import data from my brokerage as the competitive product does, but TC didn't provide for that in any way that I noted.

The worst aspect I encountered was when I Efiled. I did so less than 48 hours before the filing deadline. TC provided no warning that there was an IRS acceptance delay. It does not tell whether the filing is delinquent if the Efiling is rejected and a paper copy mailed after the deadline. It does not tell whether the Efiling is delinquent when the required paper signature form is mailed after the filing deadline. H&R Block's lack of information on these critical filing matters is appalling. The online support for this product is profoundly deficient.

I also found the subtle interaction with the software to be inferior to the competition. It is really a poorly designed, dismally supported application.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Tax Cut
Review: After years of doing my returns by hand I decided to break down this year and buy a tax package. I'd really love to give this product 5 stars, but I couldn't print my return (HP printer) and emails to customer service were unanswered. I e-filed which made printing less of a concern, but obviously I'd like to have a copy for my files.

Downloading updates, the state return and e-filing went without a hitch.

I notice from other reviews that there might be a patch available for the printing problem. We'll see.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Easy interface but poor downloads for updates
Review: I bought this product based on Macworld's review, having previously used Intuit's MacinTax. The interface _is_ much better, particularly moving between forms. However, the download for the update took awfully long and the State download never happened for me, despite the fact that their customer service said I had downloaded it three times successfully (I received two 24 KB files and a 125 KB file for a 1.9 MB download and never reached download speeds of over 1200 bytes). Oh, did I mention the downloads only work under IE? NOTE: their customer service personnel are very patient and professional and deserve 5 stars.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Can't get it to work. Can't get satisfactory cust. service.
Review: I bought this product last year and found it superior to TurboTax/MacInTax. This year, despite two phone calls and one email to the manufacturer, I cannot even get the program to work. If there were a zero-star rating, I would give it to this product. It is utterly and totally unsatisfactory to this purchaser.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Easy-to-use Tax Software
Review: I have used the Kiplinger/H&R Block TAX CUT software for 4 years for my family's tax returns. I am an average taxpayer -- no exceptional computer or accounting skills. I have prepared the tax returns for my husband and myself and our "student" children. The software asks all the questions that allow you to complete the tax forms correctly without having to search through the tax instructions and figure out what applies to your individual tax return. Each year, I have had no trouble submitting my forms and I have never had an audit. In the tax year 2000, I also completed our state tax forms using this software - again with no problems. The basic information entered the first time the software is used is saved and can be used each tax year without re-entering. I plan to continue using this software and recommend that you try it, too!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Bug won't let me e-file, customer service no help
Review: I have used Turbo Tax (a competitor to TaxCut) for several years with great success. This year I tried TaxCut because of the lower price, and was seriously disappointed. The program will not let me e-file, because it misinterprets some of my data (details below if you are interested). An email to customer service was never answered. An hour-long call (at my expense) produced no help. A promised return call never came. The final answer from customer service is that I simply cannot efile with TaxCut. The program also crashes occasionally. I have to paper file this year and will never use TaxCut again.

Problem details: My wife and I both work for the same employer and both have dependent care benefits listed on our W2's. TaxCut will not e-file because we have "two employer dependent care providers," even though they are obviously the same care provider with the same name, address, and federal ID number. Overriding these fields also prevents an e-file, so there is no workaround. The information comes straight from the W2's so there is simply no way to avoid the problem if the W2's are properly entered.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: worked flawlessly for me
Review: Just finished doing my taxes with it. It imported my last year's data with no problems, and continued to work without a hitch. (MacOS 9.2.2, lots of memory). (haven't tried the state version, or printing to an HP printer.) If I had a nit to pick, it would be that the point in Taxcut's interview where you enter your state tax refund begins by saying "Did you or your spousereceive a form 1099-G for2001?" It eventually goes on to mention that this is the place to enter your state tax refund even if you didn't get a 1099-G, but I missed that the first time through.

On my wishlist for Taxcut would be the ability to "print" a PDF of the finished tax return. This is not so pressing, however, as there are various commercial/shareware/freeware ways of getting this functionality, and MacOS X has it built in.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Kiplinger Tax Cut Macintosh BIG disappointment
Review: Kiplinger put its 2001 version of TaxCut deluxe on the market for Mac users before the software was suitable to prepare taxes. This version will not print properly without an update from the manufacturer's Web site, which is not available and will not be posted (according to TaxCut's customer service department) until the end of February 2002. I have since purchased Quicken's TurboTax for Mac and found it far superior and user friendly. All of the forms and the electronic filing procedure in te Quicken product work perfectly.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: be careful
Review: Last year, I bought TaxCut (Deluxe) and fired a refund application for the State Tax software. I have never seen the refund back. I have never received anything from them. So try to get the refund first.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Current ver 1.1 will not print (as of 16-Feb-02)
Review: The program is certainly priced better than TurboTax and the rebates offered to PC users are also offered to Mac users. It seems easy to use and was problem free up until it was time to print. The current version 1.1 will not even print the blank 1040 test page much less a completed return! I have combed the online help pages and have not found anything useful. Considering that the blank test page won't print, I can only assume that H&R Block did not perform sufficent testing before release. I have sent an e-form question to Tech Support describing the problem and my system in detail. I hope to hear back within 48 hours. My system is an iMac DV 400/320MB OS 9.2.1 with an HP 960c printer.


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