TurboTax Deluxe 2010 Review (& Giveaway Ends 2/1)

ABOUT:

Whether you are 16-yr. old filing taxes for the first time, an individual, a family, a business owner or someone with both a home and business, Turbo Tax has you covered.  There are five different versions available both online and via software you can buy:  Free Edition, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business, and Business.  Each version walks you through from start to finish on completing and filing your taxes, both Federal and State.

Top 6 Reasons to Choose Turbo Tax Software:

• It’s Easy – TurboTax asks you questions in plain English and fills out the right tax forms for you. It asks if you own a home, got married, had a baby, changed jobs and other life changing questions.  You can also download your W-2 information directly from over 100,000 companies and investment information from several well know financial institutions.  FAQ’s are also available to guide you.
• You’re Never Alone – You can get product support when you need it through chat, online community and by phone (some fees apply to talk to a live tax expert.)
• Biggest Refund – TurboTax guarantees to guide you step by step to get the biggest refund or your money back!  They help find over 350 possible tax deductions, have special free software built in to get the full value for your charitable donations, and helps you with medical deductions.  There is also a display on every screen showing you your refund as you go.
• Reduce Risk – TurboTax calculations are accurate guaranteed.  They also double-check your tax return for accuracy and then help with errors and omissions.  An audit risk meter assesses you as well as helps you if you do get audited for free!
• #1 rated Best Selling Tax Software, Year and Year – More people trust TurboTax than any other tax preparation method.
• Safe and Secure – TurboTax makes protecting your personal and financial information a top priority. Whether you choose a TurboTax CD, a TurboTax download, TurboTax Online, or free tax filing with TurboTax Online Free Edition, they’ve got you covered.

MY THOUGHTS:

I love and swear by TurboTax software.  I have used it for I think ten years now and I cannot believe how easy it is.  Even though you can use TurboTax online, I have always used the actual CD version for my computer, but they are essentially the same.  I used to have a tax professional complete my taxes for me and it was like $100 each year, and I didn’t even get much back!  Then my mom started doing them, but it was when she had time for it.  When I started college and was desperate for money, I couldn’t load up TurboTax fast enough!  I would say also for the average joe like me (home, family, little investments, school) Turbo Tax Deluxe is perfect.

Using TurboTax really is simple and idiot-proof.  Once you open the program, you many have some updates to download since forms change since the software release, but then you are ready to go.  Your first time using TurboTax you will have to enter in all your basic information and if you are lucky you can even import in your W-2’s from your employer (love that since there is no chance I can mix up a number!)  Then it starts guiding you step by step by asking you questions about your life.  If you answer yes about having a baby, then it will take you to those available deductions and such, if you answer yes about school, those deductions come up and so forth.  It is really hard to miss something, I never have.

What is awesome about TurboTax is that when you answer a question, it automatically fills in the appropriate form and box for you.  Then as you complete the program (and have no more tax documents in front of you that need to be inputted) it checks your audit risk, checks for errors, and shows you your complete Federal tax return.  It looks exactly like if you were going to go to a tax professional or do it yourself with a pencil and paper – everything neatly filled in for you.  Next, it asks you about your State return that already has most of the information filled in from your Federal return and is ready to be filed in a few minutes!

You have two ways to file then – E-file or print out and mail.  I have always E-filed which usually has an additional cost for State (Federal usually included) but you get your return in a week or so automatically to your bank account or a pre-paid credit card!  If you mail it you have to wait for it to be physically processed.  You also don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to, just use TurboTax to see what your return would be and then save it – maybe you want to do it yourself or have it professionally done but want Turbo Tax as a backup.  You can also check your status online if you E-file to see when your refund is coming!  After I file both my Federal and State I save and print a copy for my records.  Then next year since usually people have the same address and jobs, it pre-fills a lot of that information in for you, but of course it is easy to correct it if you do need to make a change.

Overall, I recommend TurboTax to anyone.  I was a scared college student when I started using it and I am clueless when it comes to taxes and math – TurboTax really does all the work and asks all the right questions.  I have even recommended TurboTax to friends and family as a way to check to see if they or their tax professional did their taxes right – and so far TurboTax generated a bigger return!  It is easy to miss questions or maybe you don’t know there is a deduction for something so you miss it.  It is really something nice to do especially every year since it loads your previous return for you and can pre-fill information for you.  I actually look forward to tax time just because I love using TurboTax and seeing my return amount go up!

BUY IT: Check out TurboTax online or find it at your local mass retailer!  The boxes explain too which is the right version for you.  You can also check out TurboTax on Amazon

WIN IT: (1) US winner will receive a code redeemable for TurboTax.com which is good for one free Federal and State preparation and e-file with Turbo Tax Deluxe 2010.  This code can only be redeemed once and is only valid through the 2010 tax season.

TO ENTER: Comment on your favorite feature of Turbo Tax!

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Please leave me a comment for EACH entry. This contest ends February 1, 2011. Thanks everyone and good luck! Also, if you just put a generic comment like “I want to Win” then I will have to disqualify you. Once per household please.

Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure: I was sent this software to review in exchange for my honest opinion. Please see my Disclosure Policy.