Price:
 Versions of TurboTax & low Street Prices: Basic $20, Deluxe with State and It’s Deductible (reviewed here) $30, Premier includes Investment and Rental Property $50, Home & Business includes Business $40. All plus shipping.

System requirements
for Windows & Mac: 
Windows: IBM or compatible 200 MHz Pentium processor.
Mac: G3
Windows 2000, Vista (32 bit), XP.
Mac: OS X (10.2.8) and higher.
RAM: 195MB, or 210MB with State TurboTax.

Intuit, Inc.,
6229 Greenwich Drive,
San Diego , CA 92122
800-440-3279
 www.intuit.com

Support:
Free: Using TurboTax, select Help, Service & Support or www.intuit.com. Web help, Email help, online chat, free phone to get up and running, and “Have Us Call You”. Fee: phone $9.95 per incident. Live Tax Advice $29.95. 

TurboTax Deluxe for 2007 Taxes

By Bart Koslow  

Tax time has always been a painful period for me. Since I began to use TurboTax over twenty years ago the pain has been somewhat mitigated. One of the premier uses for a computer is preparing your tax return. Using TurboTax not only makes it simpler, easier, and better, but also saves a great deal of time. I still remember the times when my accountant prepared my return and made errors that would have incurred additional taxes. I was able to detect the errors since I was much more familiar with my income and expenses than he was. This is the advantage of doing your own return. Except for the most complex tax returns, completing your own tax return on your computer is preferential to using an outside preparer.  

What’s new? After installing the program and updating online, the first screen that appeared asked me to register the software. When I declined I was asked “Are You Sure?”  Once is acceptable, but each time you start the software TurboTax nags you to register, and there is no way I see to omit this step. This is not a good way to start the program!  

I did see a new, much improved interface when I finally arrived at my tax return. Instead of immediately showing all the Easy Steps for preparation, you see one screen at a time, which makes it simpler for many people. After importing data from last year’s return you are given the opportunity to edit any changes. Next, a Your Income screen appears that provides you a choice of Select Specific Topics or Guide Me Through Income. The second choice is similar to the prior years’ Easy Step procedure. Once income is completed a Deductions and Credits screen gives you a similar choice of Find Deductions Myself or Maximize My Deductions (another step by step procedure). One of the choices under Find Deductions Myself is Donations Powered by It’s Deductible. This is a big improvement over last year when It”s Deductible was fairly well hidden. Finishing Deductions and Credits takes you to Other items where again you may select from Specific Topics or Guide Me Through. I applaud Intuit for this much improved interface.  

Now that your return is done, TurboTax performs a tax review for errors, omissions and compares your return with standard guidelines. You are also offered a professional review at additional cost? State taxes are next, with your Federal information transferred to your state return. The steps are similar to the Federal return.

Finished!  Well almost. You can either E-file or print and file your return. You may also prepare your taxes online at the TurboTax website. This is a short synopsis of the program. Other items are tax manuals, calculator, a history report and comparison, preparation of estimated taxes for the year 2008, etc. I almost forgot to mention that TurboTax guarantees you against errors that cost you extra taxes. “If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we'll pay you the penalty and interest.”

I hate tax preparation, but I love TurboTax. It almost makes tax preparation fun. I highly recommend it for all users from beginners to the most advanced users and tax preparers.