H&R Block At Home 2009 Premium & Business Federal + State + eFile Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The section that follows is my first impression of the Business program, generated on January 15. At the end of that, I include my second impression on February 15 of the business program (1120S). I'll include a review of the 1040 portion of this software after I do those taxes. OK, that review is in at the very bottom. I'd rate the 1040 as 4-stars.
Ok, I knew H&R was a little more primitive than TurboTax (which I used for 10 years or so), based on my experience with their personal tax package for 2008 taxes, but it was adequate. So this year I tried the Business software (S corp), the only part of this combo-burrito I've tried so far. It is REALLY primitive:
1. First, don't necessarily expect to be able to make sense of the display! The program may show up on your monitor with the check boxes bearing NO spacial relationship to the actual choices. So you call the help desk, and someone tells you to reset your monitor properties to display 1024x768. Oh and make sure that under "Advanced" the dpi resolution is set to 96. The is the only software I've ever used that couldn't recognize my monitor and display correctly. Massive lameness -- and it took 2 long tech support calls to fix it.
1.5. For a while, tech support thought the software was corrupt. I had registered it but BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE SOFTWARE FROM AMAZON, H&R BLOCK HAD NO RECORD OF MY REGISTRATION. So if the software had actually been bad, they could not have downloaded a clean version -- I would have had to return the box to Amazon for a refund and reorder it!! And the tech support person noted that Amazon would probably not take it back because it had been opened! Be warned -- if you really want this stuff, pay the man and download it from H&R Block.
2. Recognize that tech support people have just been hired and will not really know anything, tho they will be friendly and eager to help. Plan to spend an hour or two with vague directions trying to get where you're trying to go. Cultivate a Zen state of mind...
3. Expect the "interview" questions to be something like: "Did you have any 53(c) sect 89 reclaimable charge-backs loss amortizations for deductible klefnabulator expenses?" When you look for more information, there isn't any. When you check out the IRS instructions, they say (surprise!) exactly what the "interview" question said. TurboTax asks you in English, tells you what the amount applies to, and even tells you how commonly this item is entered.
4. Don't expect the program to be smart about anything. TurboTax figures out that if you don't have deduction A, you can't possibly have B or C, but H&R Block asks you every question.
5. Don't expect to be able to import from QuickBooks or last year's taxes produced by TurboTax. Generate those reports and type in your numbers.
6. Don't expect all the forms to be there -- and don't expect the software to let you know. I tried and tried to get to Form 4562, Amortization and Depreciation, and ended up at several different dead-ends. I again called tech support and talked at length with a guy who took me through more dead-ends before finally discovering that the form "hadn't been released by the IRS yet." You might think the software itself would let you know, but you'd be wrong.
7. To switch between your 1120S and filling out a 1099-misc for a contractor is not intuitive. Another call to tech support. For 20 minutes or so, the guy didn't seem to understand what a 1099 was, or even understand that I was working on an S-Corp return and not a 1040(!). More dead ends. Finally, he got help and told me to close the program and reopen it to get where I wanted to go.
8. I then gave up. I should say that I did all this stuff on Jan 15, which I admit is early in the year. So if things improve markedly, I'll update this review.
9. Meanwhile, based on this experience, I would say that the fact this combination package is about half the price of the separate TurboTax business and personal packages, does NOT make it a good deal! It is easy for me to loath Intuit, but next year I'll most likely be doing business with them again. Sigh.
Here's an business tax update on February 15. The updated software still doesn't recognize my monitor, but at least I knew what to do this time and finished filling out taxes fairly quickly. I have done my own taxes for years and had QuickBooks reports and prior year forms. Dollar-wise, the program is off from what I calculated from QuickBooks by about $104, but at this point I'm not quibbling. Nothing has changed from what I said in January, although it seems that all the forms are now available. The interview still seems quite stupid -- and it makes mistakes: I filled out the tax form for an S corporation, which NEVER pays taxes, and the program asked me how much estimated tax I'd paid and tried to get me to pay a penalty for not paying -- AND the business lost money last year! (How often do YOU pay taxes on money you've lost?] Plus, when I opened the file I'd saved from January, the program did not remember where I was but started over at the beginning. Very lame. Yes, TT costs twice as much, but it terms of ease of use and lower stress factor, it is probably worth it. Sigh. I really expected more.
Feb 26, 2009. I've just finished my personal 1040 taxes, and my what a difference! This part of the software is professional, smooth, and easy to use. It recognizes my monitor (ta da!) so I don't have to reconfigure my system to run it. However, I changed the location of my tax file, and it did not remember that. It's a little different than TurboTax, but seems to work fine. Only disadvantage I can see compared to TT is that there is no way to see a WYSIWYG version of your forms (what they show you has the information but does not look much like the paper in your hand) and their reporting and comparison functions at the end are not as complete or complex as TT. But it does the job, and the interview is friendly and intelligent.
Now the question is: Knowing that the business software is lousy and the personal stuff is good, what you gonna do?

Click Here to see more reviews about: H&R Block At Home 2009 Premium & Business Federal + State + eFile

H&R Block At Home Premium & Business is two complete, easy-to-use programs in one and includes everything you need to complete your personal and business federal and state taxes, plus five free personal federal e-files.


A simple question-and-answer process helps your customers find hundreds of deductions to get the biggest refund. Ideal for corporations, S corporations, partnerships, LLCs, non-profits, and estates and trusts, the program includes built-in H&R Block expertise, business tax planning, payroll and employer forms, live personal tax advice, and personal audit support. H&R Block At Home Premium & Business also includes unlimited business state returns at no additional cost.

Premium & Business Small business owners Two complete programs in one for customers to manage their personal and business taxes. Includes five free personal federal e-files and built-in expertise available only from H&R Block.

Includes these features:
Customized interview process to help customers easily complete their personal and business federal and state taxes.
Unlimited business state programs and one personal state program included.
Five free federal e-files for personal returns.
Personalized tax guidance for popular occupations and specific deductions, plus answers to FAQs.
Live personal tax advice from an H&R Block tax professional.
Audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to provide representation in the event of an audit. Included for personal taxes when filing a federal or state return.
Guidance for reporting investments, dividends, home sales, and retirement income.
Money-saving tools for selfemployed Schedule C filers.
Advice, tips, and planning tools for the upcoming year.
Easily import W-2, 1099, and data from last year's return.
Quickly import data from TaxCut, TurboTax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and H&R Block DeductionPro software.
H&R Block DeductionPro software for a personal return to maximize tax savings from donations.


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H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + eFile Review

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(More customer reviews)The H&R At Home Deluxe Federal + E-file CD received from Amazon installs quickly enough. On attempting to start the installed program I immediately receive a message saying that At Home is not running on the computer it was originally installed on. That's silly because this is the only computer I have. But I follow the suggestion to un-install, then re-install the software. I get the same result, At Home won't start.
My on-line chat with H&R Support eventually leads to their request to check into Microsoft Update and install any missing "Critical" updates. There are none. But there are some "Important" ones. However, they're for programs I don't have (e.g., Office 2003, Server 2005, etc.) or don't want (e.g., Internet Explorer 8). H&R Support can't be any more specific about which updates might be necessary and I can't tell from the explanations of the updates which one(s) might affect At Home's inability to know where it's running.
I'm stuck.
I'm not going to install 8 updates willy-nilly, hoping one (or more) of them will solve the problem. At Home is obviously checking some internal value somewhere that tells it where it thinks it was installed against some value stored in the bowels of 64-bit Windows Vista, but H&R Support can't tell me what At Home is looking for.
So I still have no clue why At Home won't even start up. Has anyone else stumbled across this problem in 64-bit Vista (w/Service pack 1) and solved it? If not, I'm going to have to return H&R Block At Home (2009) and see if I have any better luck with Turbo-Tax for 2009.
I'm frustrated because last year I switched from Turbo Tax to H&R Block Tax Cut and found it easy and simple to use. Oh, well, back to Turbo Tax.*** Update, Jan 12th, 2010 ***
An H&R At Home representative contacted me at home (no pun intended!) after reading the above review. He apologized for the failure and said that I had encountered a known problem that wasn't related to "critical" Vista-64 updates. The problem affects some but not all Vista-64 users. Anyway, nothing I might have done during or as a result of the on-line chat would have solved my problem. He said they have a fix in hand for the problem and that they expect to have it available for download on Jan 15th. All in all, well handled by H&R and a good public relations endeavor. My opinion of them has risen substantially as a result of our conversation.


Click Here to see more reviews about: H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + eFile

H&R Block At Home Deluxe includes everything you need to easily complete your federal taxes, plus five free federal e-files. With a new, easy-to-use interface, H&R Block At Home Deluxe searches for hundreds of deductions to get customers the biggest refund.
Ideal for homeowners and investors, the program includes personalized tax guidance and features available only from H&R Block, such as built-in expertise and audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent customers in the event of an audit.


At Home Deluxe (No State) Investors / Homeowners The right choice for customers with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal returns. Includes five free federal e-files and built-in expertise available only from H&R Block!

Includes these features:
Customized interview process to help customers easily complete their federal taxes.
Five free federal e-files.
Personalized tax guidance for popular occupations and specific deductions, plus answers to FAQs.
Audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent you in the event of an audit. Included when you file a federal return.
Guidance for reporting investments, dividends, home sales, and retirement income.
Advice, tips, and planning tools for the upcoming year.
Easily import W-2, 1099, and data from last year's return.
Quickly import data from TaxCut, TurboTax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and H&R Block DeductionPro software.
H&R Block DeductionPro software to maximize tax savings from donations.


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H&R Block DeductionPro for Tax Year 2003 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought DeductionPro because I'd donated a lot of old clothing, furniture and books to charity last year, and I wanted some assistance organizing and valuing those contributions for my tax preparation. DeductionPro allowed me to enter all of this information, provided a table for estimating their value, and prepared the required IRS form for claiming those deductions since they were valued at over $500.
Beyond that, there's not much to this software. Its user interface is not very slick. There fields have limited space to enter information, the error messages are not helpful, there are no good instructions, and it's overall look and feel is pretty amateurish. I wasn't very impressed. However, since it comes free with TaxCut, it was clearly worth the money I (didn't) pay.
There's nothing here that you can't get by simply using tax preparation software. The only real value add is the valuation tables, and they are pretty limited. You can also use it to record cash donations, out of pocket expenses and other kinds of deductions. However, unlike TaxCut, there's limited advise available for doing so, and no obvious benefit to using this software for those things.
On the whole, using DeductionPro benefited me, but it's nothing to write home about. If you don't need the merchandise valuation tables for non-cash donations, I wouldn't spend the time or money to use this software. Your tax prep software will do it all just as well. If you do need help valuing your donations, then this might make your life a little easier, but not much.

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TaxCut 2005 Deluxe + State Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been using the Taxcut Deluxe version for the past seven years and have extremely happy with it. When I started using it seven years ago I doubted I could prepare my own tax return without making any mistakes, so for the first two years I had my sister, a licensed CPA and CFO, review my returns after I prepared them with Taxcut. She not only verified that everything was correct, but she noticed that Taxcut calculated items that she would have overlooked, since she was managing a corporate accounting department and was not preparing personal returns anymore. After those first two years, I have not had her review my returns and she started using Taxcut to prepare her own. My father, also a licensed CPA and retired CFO, was using Turbotax to prepare his personal returns and was becoming frustrated with it. He switched to Taxcut a few years ago when he heard about Turbotax installing [...]and he decided he didn't want to hassle with it anymore. In addition, he was filing state returns in two states and Taxcut state allowed him to do that at no additional charge. Between the three of us, Taxcut has worked without any errors and we have had no problems using or installing it. [...]
This year, I have already imported my files from last year and have begun to plan my tax return. It only took a few minutes to install both the federal and state programs and import my files from last year, which I had backed up on CD. I am currently using it to plan my tax liability for this year and will be prepared to file as soon as my wife and I receive our W2's and year-end statements from our investments. I haven't used Deduction Pro in the past, but I did install it this year since it was in the box and I figured I would see how it worked. My wife and I make donations every year and never thought they were worth much. Not thinking there was much value to any of the items we donated, I itemize just a few, so far, and it looks like they were worth more than I thought. I will definitely be itemizing all of our donations this year.
I give Taxcut five stars because it's easy to install, easy to use, and simple to back up and uninstall when you are finished using it. Most importantly, it accurately calculates your taxes.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TaxCut 2005 Deluxe + State

The more complex your returns, the more you need H&R Block TaxCut Deluxe+State. TaxCut Deluxe+State offers you additional guidance to help you maximize the latest tax breaks. Built-in access to current IRS publications to help even first-time users quickly work through more involved returns. Getting the biggest tax refund means getting the most from itemized deductions. H&R Block DeductionPro (now included) makes it easy to track both cash contributions and commonly donated household goods, maximizing your tax savings!

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H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)(Note: This review also shows up in the reviews for the download version. Don't ask me why Amazon doesn't show the reviews in both places for what's really the same product, with just different delivery mechanisms. I bought the box version, if you want to know.)
This part written Dec 9, 2009 (see updated comments below)
This is of course a preliminary review (written Dec 9 based on use in the last few days). At this time one can't do more than a rough cut estimate of the tax return -- the IRS forms aren't finalized, the state forms aren't available, and of course the various income reports (W2, 1099, etc.) aren't out yet.
I don't have a super complicated tax situation this year: it just requires some things that a good tax program should handle easily. So far this program seems to do just fine. I found it easy to use, and found that imports from Quicken and from TXF files worked without any problems. Schedules A, B, and D worked just fine, and the related screens were easy to use and understand. Excess FICA was calculated correctly, as was the child tax credit. The AMT calculation does of course remain weirdly complicated (once a year I mutter to myself about all politicians in DC), but the program does take care of it with no apparent problems.
I used TaxCut last year -- chose it over TurboTax just because of cost, and was quite satisfied. I'm not convinced this year either that you get value for the extra you pay for TT. (Incidentally, note that if you have investment income you probably need to get TT Premium, so the price would be nearly double that of HRB Deluxe.)
A warning I wrote in my review last year seems worth repeating: Don't expect a tax program to apply tax laws correctly in all circumstances; for anything at all out of the ordinary, make sure you double-check against an IRS guide or another guide like JK Lasser's. The folks who design and write and test the programs make mistakes, too. And for the same reason, give the calculations a sanity check, don't just use the program blindly, or you could get tripped up by a software bug that wasn't caught.
I will update this review in Jan/Feb when I've had a chance to do more with it.
Update Jan 29, 2010:
I have now done a first complete pass on my taxes, based on W2s, 1099s, and some projected 1099s. I also have had an opportunity to use TurboTax Deluxe (I got a free copy, legally), so have been able to compare the two products.
I continue to like HRB Deluxe. It's easy to use, and has been trouble-free. There are a couple of things I particularly like, that might be worth mentioning. (1) They show you when the next update is expected, so you don't waste your time running the update check until there is something. (2) Entering info from interest paying mutual funds that might have muni income (tax-free for Fed) is simple: HRB gives you a simple way to enter the amount that's tax-free in your state, and takes care of it without hassle. TT can also deal with this, but I don't like their way as much (they create a separate 1099 to split the income into two parts).
Interestingly, TTD is also noticeably slower starting up than HRBD. Don't know why.
The one advantage TT does have over HRB is on coverage of automated downloads: TT can download your 1099 info from a larger set of institutions than can HRB. W2 downloads look the same between the two. This does save some time, and could be sufficient to be a decider for some. Not for me.

Click Here to see more reviews about: H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile

H&R Block At Home Deluxe includes everything you need to easily complete your federal and state taxes, plus five free federal e-files. With a new, easy-to-use interface, H&R Block At Home Deluxe searches for hundreds of deductions to get customers the biggest refund.
Ideal for homeowners and investors, the program includes personalized tax guidance and features available only from H&R Block, such as built-in expertise and audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent customers in the event of an audit.


At Home Deluxe Investors / Homeowners The right choice for customers with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns. Includes five free federal e-files and built-in expertise available only from H&R Block!

Includes these features:
Customized interview process to help customers easily complete their federal and state taxes.
Five free federal e-files.
Personalized tax guidance for popular occupations and specific deductions, plus answers to FAQs.
Audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent you in the event of an audit. Included when you file a federal return.
Guidance for reporting investments, dividends, home sales, and retirement income.
Advice, tips, and planning tools for the upcoming year.
Easily import W-2, 1099, and data from last year's return.
Quickly import data from TaxCut, TurboTax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and H&R Block DeductionPro software.
H&R Block DeductionPro software to maximize tax savings from donations.

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TaxCut 2008 Federal+efile (Old Version) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought this 02-07-09, downloaded in about 5-10 minutes. Required a software update, which is true whether you download or buy in a store. Worked perfectly on Vista 64 bit. I've used TaxCut for 4 years now, never had any problems.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TaxCut 2008 Federal+efile (Old Version)

Prepare your own federal return quickly and easily. Easy, low-cost tax preparation program with built-in help to save you more money. Worry-free Audit Support included when you pay to e-file.

Easy, low-cost tax preparation with built-in help to save you more money. With TaxCut Premium Federal, you can:
Maximize Deductions: Get extra assistance and money-saving advice to maximize deductions. Plus, turn your donations into big tax savings with the included DeductionPro (a $19.95 value).
Get Comprehensive Assistance: Receive additional guidance for complex tax situations to give you the confidence and assurance that your return is accurate.
Auto Import: Save time and reduce the chance for error by quickly and easily importing last year's tax and financial data from TaxCut, TurboTax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and H&R Block DeductionPro software, as applicable.
Get Real Audit Support from a Real Person--Really: Get Worry-free Audit Support included when you e-file. In the event of an audit, receive personal assistance from an IRS-licensed Enrolled Agent with audit representation expertise--not a self-serve Web site or FAQ page.

Product Info
Easy Interview A simple interview quickly walks you through the return process to automate your return.
Seamless Imports Quickly and easily import last year's tax and financial data from TaxCut, TurboTax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and H&R Block DeductionPro software, as applicable.
Error Check Our program automatically double-checks your return for errors.
Get Your Refund Fast E-file your return, and get your refund in as little to 8-15 days (additional fees apply).
Customized Tax Advice Receive tax guidance on changing tax situations, including getting married, having a baby and buying a home.
Charitable Donation Help DeductionPro is included at no additional charge to help you get the most out of your charitable donations.
Maximize Itemized Deductions Get the tax savings you're entitled to, including deductions related to home ownership and education.
Schedule C Support Extra deduction help for the self-employed, including home office, rental property and depreciation assistance.
Business Expense Assistant The program provides extra guidance to make sure you're claiming all deductible business expense, including advertising costs, meals and travel expenses, and office supplies.
Investor Guidance Additional help figuring cost basis for investment income.
IRS Publications Quick access to IRS Publications for further explanation of specific tax situations.
Tax Tip Video Real H&R Block pros explain how changing tax laws affect you.
Guarantees
Worry-free Audit Support You can rest easy knowing H&R Block is there to help in the rare event of an audit. Included when you e-file your federal return with us.
Accurate Calculations Guaranteed If TaxCut makes a calculation mistake, we'll pay resulting IRS penalties plus interest. See the license agreement for details.
100% Satisfaction Money-Back Guarantee. If you are dissatisfied with the software for any reason, H&R Block will refund the full license fee you paid H&R Block or its authorized reseller for the software, exclusive of shipping and handling charges, taxes, and less any rebate you receive on the software.

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H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Home & Business + e-file Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)H&R Block's "TaxCut Home and Business" has been a great choice for me for several years, and each year they improve the product. I ordered the 2008 version today.
This package is remarkable. It includes software for your Form 1040 individual or joint tax return, plus programs to prepare your Corporation or S-Corp (Form 1120), Partnership (Form 1065), or Estate or Trust (Form 1041). State returns for all these is included. Employment tax return preparation (W-4, 1099 and so on) is also included.
For the personal return, electronic filing for federal is included (5 returns), but you will have to either mail your state return or pay a fee (reasonable by my lights) to file electronically. I don't think electronic filing is available for the business returns.
Anyway all this is in the package. Don't overbuy. If you don't have one of the businesses mentioned, just get the appropriate software for 1040 returns. But if you need to file for a business (Corp/Partn/EstTr) plus your individual return, this deal is hard to beat.
Let me end with a few cautions:
If you are buying "TaxCut Home and Business + E-file," you don't need to buy "TaxCut Premium + State + E-file." IT'S INCLUDED. I mention this specifically because they seem to be marketed together on this site.
The forms to be used for this year's income tax haven't been completed by IRS. They will be updating items during the first couple of months of 2009, and there's no way the software I'm buying today can include all of them. So I'll need to go to the HRBlock update site a few times (the software connects and links up) to get updates from both Fed and state.
With all tax software there is a learning curve, so "read the lines," think about what you're doing, allow adequate prep time, and review the results before you file. I think you'll be pleased.
PS - I used to work for H&R Block but have not for several years. I use the software because I think it's the best for the price.

Click Here to see more reviews about: H&R Block TaxCut 2008 Home & Business + e-file

Guidance for corporate, partnership, and payroll business returns. The Complete personal and business tax return solution from America's #1 tax preparer. Step-by-step interviews guide you through your personal and business tax situation.

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H&R Block At Home 2009 Basic Federal + eFile Review

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(More customer reviews)There are two bugs that affect H&R Block At Home 2009 for some Apple Mac users. Since both problems prevent customers from updating the program from the H&R Block web servers, customers must correct both problems manually before any updates from H&R Block are possible. I already discussed this in the Comments section on John Young's review, however I realize that not everyone follows the Comments link, plus this new description is more concise. So you get it again.
Who it affects: Mac customers who both: 1) have multiple login accounts on the Mac and 2) attempt to run H&R Block At Home 2009 from a non-admin account.
Problem #1: During the installation process the initial update fails due to file permissions. Error message is: "1008:5,-5000 Access denied error. You do not have enough access privileges for this installation"
Resolution: 1) Stop the program installation and log in under the admin account, 2) open a Finder window, 3) open the Applications folder, 4) uninstall the H&R Block 2009 program by dragging the icon to the Trash, 5) in the Finder window open the Utilities folder, 6) run the Disk Utility program, 7) select your hard drive as the disk upon which to operate, 8) click on the "Repair Disk Permissions" button and wait for that process to complete, 9) reinstall the H&R Block 2009 program under the admin account.
Problem #2: When running H&R Block 2009 using a non-admin login account, the program crashes immediately upon launch due to file permissions. Error message is: "Initialization Failed. Exception thrown during initialization: File open failed. File = /Users/Shared/H&R Block/2009/update.tim in open:MacFileWriterImpl"
Resolution: 1) Exit the program and log in under the admin account, 2) open a Finder window, 3) open the Macintosh HD icon, 4) open the Users folder, then the Shared folder, then the H&R Block folder, 5) right-click on the 2009 folder, 6) select "Get Info" on the menu, 7) on the pop-up window in the "Sharing & Permissions" section set ALL permissions that say "Read Only" to instead say "Read & Write", 8) return to the Finder window and open the 2009 folder, 9) right-click on the update.tim file, 10) select "Get Info" on the menu, 11) on the pop-up window in the "Sharing & Permissions" section set ALL permissions that say "Read Only" to instead say "Read & Write".
Upon successful resolution of both of these problems the customer will be able to run H&R Block 2009 from a non-admin account to do their taxes. As of the date of this note however (1/22/2010) all program updates must still be made using the admin account.
I discovered and diagnosed this on my own machine. Fortunately I'm a geek and so was able to figure out the problem & share it with others. Obviously H&R Block did not test this scenario before they shipped the program. Dunno if a similar problems exists on Windows machines. Also dunno if there will be further problems when I download & install the State program. I haven't gotten that far yet.
UPDATE Problem #3: I installed the Maryland state program tonight (1/27) when it became available for download. Given the problems above I used the admin account to do the install and then switched back to my normal account. Ran the program: no Maryland state tax program installed! And you're only allowed to download it one time without paying again! Turns out the state program downloads into the directory ~/Library/Application Support/H&RBlock/2009/ (for non-techies ~ means starting at your home directory) and a non-shared plugin is created. This thwarts other accounts from using the state program.
Resolution: Using a Finder window in the admin account copy the file ~/Library/Application Support/H&RBlock/2009/Completed Updates/md.dmg (for other states replace md.dmg with your state's abbreviation e.g. va.dmg for Virginia.) Paste this into a shared directory such as Macintosh HD/Users/Shared. Go back into your normal account and copy that same file from the Shared directory into your own ~/Library/Application Support/H&RBlock/2009/Completed Updates/ directory. Double click on that file (md.dmg in my case.) A new window will pop up and you'll see a new file which starts with your state's two-letter abbreviation. In my case it was called MD.TCstate09. Double click on that file. Another window will pop up which says it is installing the state plug-in. After that, you'll be able to use the state program under your normal user account as you intended.
Don't ask me how to update all of this mess at this point when H&R Block is ready to push out new program updates. Do you use the admin account? The user account? Who knows? It might even depend upon whether you are updating the Federal or the State return. What a mess!
H&R Block really blew it this year on multi-user account support, at least on the Macs. I tried relaying this to their Customer Service (3 phone calls and 2 online Chat sessions) but they had no one who understood the Macs and no way for me to email to them my diagnosis and solutions. They were nice and tried to be helpful but I'm not sure they got exactly what I was saying. I hope so though.
I have liked H&R Block in the past and they are cheaper than TurboTax. This year, however, makes it difficult to remain a loyal customer. We'll see what I do in tax year 2010.
Anyway, I hope my pain is able to help other Mac users get up and running.

Click Here to see more reviews about: H&R Block At Home 2009 Basic Federal + eFile

H&R Block At Home Basic includes everything you need to easily complete your federal taxes, plus five free federal e-files. Ideal for simple tax situations and easy for first-time users, H&R Block At Home Basic guides customers through their return with a step-by-step Q&A in a new, easy-to-use interface.

The program automatically double-checks for errors and includes features available only from H&R Block, such as built-in expertise and audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent customers in the event of an audit.


At Home Basic Simple Tax Situations The right choice for customers with simple tax situations to easily complete their federal returns. Includes five free federal e-files and built-in expertise available only from H&R Block!

Includes These Features:
Customized interview process to help customers easily complete their federal taxes.
Automatically double-checks returns for errors.
Five FREE federal e-files included-get your refund in as few as eight days
Prepare and print unlimited federal returns for FREE
Audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent you in the event of an audit. Included when you file a federal return.
Easily import W-2, 1099, and data from last year's return.
Quickly import data from TaxCut, TurboTax, Quicken, and Microsoft Money software.


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H&R Block Taxcut 2006 Premium Federal Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking for TaxCut 2006 Basic? It seems this year it is available as a free download. Fire up your favorite search engine and type in "taxcut basic 2006" and you should find it for download.

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New! H&R Block TaxCut Premium Federal has everything you need in one comprehensive program for any tax situation, from 1040EZ to Schedule C. Step-by-step interviews provide guidance customized to your unique needs.

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TurboTax Premier Federal + State + eFile 2008 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATE: Intuit has tried to correct for this year's price-grab (as detailed below in my original post) by reversing themselves and including 5 free e-files and removing restrictions on the number of returns that can be created and printed with a single copy of TurboTax. For that, I am raising my rating to two stars. However, as smart consumers, we should note when they did this and infer what motivated them. During the period while the controversy of their restrictions and extra charges was raging, Intuit and its representatives did nothing but try to justify their position, but this did nothing but inflame their (former) customers more.
However, the controversy did catch the attention of Intuit TurboTax's primary competitor, the Tax Cut product from H&R Block, who then moved to take advantage by first pointing out that they did not raise their price this year (even when including e-file as TurboTax did) and were not restricting the number of returns that could be done with a single copy of TaxCut. Then, more importantly, decided to offer 5 free e-files with the TaxCut product.
Only then did Intuit realize that they were not going to sneak this price-grab by consumers, because if the two products were side by side and only one of them (TaxCut) was advertising 5 free e-files and no limits on printing, they were going to lose sales big time. They then reversed their decision and have now matched TaxCut's offer.
So what does that mean for us consumers? In one sense, it is a victory, because we are getting what we wanted in the first place: to pay a reasonable price for a product that we can use to meet our family's needs. However, while I applaud Intuit's decision to reverse a bad decision, I can also see that it wasn't because they were listening and responding to their customers, but only countering their competition (who was listening to consumers and responded to take advantage).
More importantly, H&R Block's actions with TaxCut demonstrated a certain corporate character: first, they did not try to price-gouge customers this year by raising prices when they included "free" e-file. Free equals free. Second, they did not try to get extra money for printed returns (software as service) when the customer has already paid for the product. Third, they could have just trumpeted the fact that they do not charge for extra printed returns, but they raised the bar by including more free e-files. This is compared to Intuit's corporate character of greed and selfishness, which has been demonstrated this year by price increases, user restrictions, and extra charges. A few years ago, they also showed their true colors by including damaging Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) in TurboTax to prevent it from being installed on more than one computer, preventing legitimate customers from working on their return on a work computer and finishing it on their home computer, and then preventing them from uninstalling it. Then, as with this year, they only listened and gave in when it was already clear they are going to lose. Intuit needs to learn how to balance their profit expectations with respect for their customers and it will take time before they earn our respect back.
So for me, I will give credit where it is due and purchase TaxCut instead of TurboTax this year.
ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW:
Intuit is trying to pull a fast one on consumers this year by including e-filing "at no extra charge."
Intuit is promoting that they are including one free e-file with its software for tax year 2008, but has also increased the price of its products by about $15. In previous years, they would charge $15 extra to e-file, but you could send in a rebate to get that $15 back, which made it effectively free. This year, they charge you $15 upfront, whether you use the e-file or not, which means EVERYBODY PAYS MORE.
In addition, they have changed their product's license from allowing a purchaser of TurboTax to prepare up to five tax returns within the household in the 2007 version to allowing only one tax return (with included e-file) and then charging $9.95 for each additional return prepared, WHETHER THOSE ADDITIONAL RETURNS ARE PRINTED OR E-FILED in the 2008 version. The additional charges for additional e-file submissions would be fair, but not for additional preparations and printed returns. So what this means is that, under the guise of providing free e-file, Intuit will charge up to $54.80 ($15 + 4 * 9.95) MORE to consumers to receive the equivalent of what was provided with the 2007 version. Keep in mind, they are charging even if you prepare and print more than one return without e-filing, which means there is NO COST TO THEM, but they want to charge you for it anyway.
This doesn't sound free to me.
This will affect many users who prepare one main return, and then a few more simple ones for children or parents, etc. Even if you only do one return, you should avoid this year's TurboTax on principle. The core issue is that Intuit is trying to change TurboTax from a tool-based product model to a service-based model. However, they have not changed the pricing to reflect this change. The problem is, they want to continue pricing the product like they did before, when it was a tool that could be used multiple times, yet restrict it like a service where you pay for every use.
If you object to the one return policy, Intuit will just say, "Use TurboTax Online, it's free for simple returns!", but this suggestion is just a distraction in this discussion. What they are saying is like this: Suppose I bought a nice brand-name toolset for full price and used it on one project. I've now setup all the tools in the box just like I like it and become totally familiar with the tools and how they can be used, so much that I can just reach in the box without looking and find the tool I need and once I get it out I know just how hard to hit with that hammer. I finish the project and close up my toolbox for the day. The next day, my mom wants me to fix something so I get the toolbox but I now find that it is locked and has a security sticker on it saying that I'll have to pay $10 extra to open the toolbox for each additional project. Or, I can pack up my mom's item and drive it to the hardware store where they will let me borrow some simple tools to try and fix the item but if it gets too complicated over there, they'll start charging me to rent additional tools. Not to mention that I have to throw away all the learning that I've already developed with the great toolset that I already bought and learn another whole set of rental tools at the hardware store. If I wanted to rent tools, then I wouldn't have bought the toolbox in the first place (which was probably what the hardware store really wanted when they came up with this scheme).
Here is the problem people have with this scenario:
Last year, the toolbox included 5 uses. This year the toolbox costs $15 more but only allows a single use. Ok, it adds a "free" service that used to cost $15 but we may or may not want to use that service and if we did, we could send in a rebate for to get the $15 back, making it effectively free. But "Free service" aside, what happened to the value of those unlimited uses? The price of the toolbox stayed the same, but the functionality went down because we can only use it once. Maybe it would be more ok if there was a big sign at the store that said: "SAVE ON THIS TOOLBOX! YOU CAN ONLY USE IT ONCE BUT IT'S CHEAPER!" Or at have the decency to post a very big warning: "THIS TOOLBOX COSTS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, BUT YOU CAN ONLY USE IT ONCE!"
Don't let them get away this price increase that has no basis in common sense. Avoid TurboTax this year until they change this ridiculous policy, even if you only prepare a single return with it. If you buy it, they'll use your sales data to justify this unreasonable change, then who knows what else they will try to charge us for next for doing nothing on their part.
Looking at the big picture, what Intuit probably wants in the long term is to move people away from the boxed product and over onto the online product and then kill off the boxed product. This would eliminate the costs of physical production and distribution and the bandwidth costs of distributing software updates. It would also eliminate the slice of the profits given to retailers that sell their boxed product and kill off any promotional pricing or freebies. With no retailer competition, Intuit could charge whatever they want for their online service. It would also increase customer lock-in since their data would be purely stored on their own company servers.

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H&R Block TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal + State Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)TaxCut is well worth the price if you don't have a "simple return" (i.e. just income from one job, maybe a couple of bank accounts, no stock trading, capital gains, etc.) If you have a simple return, just download the fill-in PDF forms from the IRS and get after it. But if you have itemizing, income from more than just employment and a bank account or two, then this is worth the time you'll save. You can find everything you need to know in the IRS instructions and forms, but the $30-$40 will save you hours of time in looking it up, thru TaxCut's interview process.
A couple of notes, however:
a) I think that the state tax forms sort of stink -at least for Louisiana. Instead of outputting the same form that you get from the state (as TaxCut does for the Fed form), it prints out a summarized one, with all the data in one big block, no x-refs, etc. So you find manually checking it almost impossible.
b) The web-based tools that supposedly are one of the features of TaxCut have never worked for me when I needed them. Maybe if you wait until March or April to use them, but for those of us that file early, the stuff just hasn't worked. I rate the web-based and planning tools at a near zero
c) e-mail support hasn't impressed me. But then, for the filing of your taxes, you really shouldn't need it. The interview process and built-in help files are generally sufficient. Still, when I tried to use the web-based features, and they failed to work, I got some "canned" responses from the support group that obviously indicated that they 1- did not know what I was talking about, 2-they were using a standard set of FAQs that really didn't answer my questions/concerns, and 3-they really didn't care. However, as noted, if it works to start with, that's better than problems requiring support, regardless of how good/bad the support is.
d) MOST IMPORTANT- You MUST keep your software from year to year. DON'T discard the CD or dnload prior to 5 yr after filing. Reason- except for transferring your personal data as a prelude to entering current year data, you cannot open past year TaxCut tax return files (or at least thru 2006 tax yr) with the current software. So if you need to make an amended return, or if you're audited for say, a 3 yr old return, you'd better have a printed or PDF copy if you don't still have the sftware. I think that's pretty poor (not being able to open previous yr's tax return files), but maybe if enough of us complain, a change will occur. You can, however, output to a PDF and save that file for future ref. (You won't be able to amend with the PDF however.)
But, for under $40, the time saved for anything but a simple return, it's well worth it. (not to mention the saved time in doing "what-ifs" for various filing options.)


Click Here to see more reviews about: H&R Block TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal + State

With TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal + State, you've got the tools you need to breeze through both your federal and your state taxes, as well as the DeductionPro program. The simple interview quickly walks you through the return process to automate your return.and you can quickly and easily import last year's tax and financial data from TaxCut, Turbo Tax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and H&R Block DeductionPro, as applicable. This program automatically double-checks your return for errors. helps you maximize your deductionsand offers multimedia video advice from seasoned H&R tax professionals.Maximize Itemized Deductions Schedule C Support - Extra deduction help for the self-employed Business Expense Assistant helps you make sure you're claiming all deductible business expenses Investor Guidance Quick access to IRS Publications for further explanation of specific tax situations Multimedia Video Advice - Our tax professionals explain how changing tax laws affect you

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H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)(Note: This review also shows up in the reviews for the download version. Don't ask me why Amazon doesn't show the reviews in both places for what's really the same product, with just different delivery mechanisms. I bought the box version, if you want to know.)
This part written Dec 9, 2009 (see updated comments below)
This is of course a preliminary review (written Dec 9 based on use in the last few days). At this time one can't do more than a rough cut estimate of the tax return -- the IRS forms aren't finalized, the state forms aren't available, and of course the various income reports (W2, 1099, etc.) aren't out yet.
I don't have a super complicated tax situation this year: it just requires some things that a good tax program should handle easily. So far this program seems to do just fine. I found it easy to use, and found that imports from Quicken and from TXF files worked without any problems. Schedules A, B, and D worked just fine, and the related screens were easy to use and understand. Excess FICA was calculated correctly, as was the child tax credit. The AMT calculation does of course remain weirdly complicated (once a year I mutter to myself about all politicians in DC), but the program does take care of it with no apparent problems.
I used TaxCut last year -- chose it over TurboTax just because of cost, and was quite satisfied. I'm not convinced this year either that you get value for the extra you pay for TT. (Incidentally, note that if you have investment income you probably need to get TT Premium, so the price would be nearly double that of HRB Deluxe.)
A warning I wrote in my review last year seems worth repeating: Don't expect a tax program to apply tax laws correctly in all circumstances; for anything at all out of the ordinary, make sure you double-check against an IRS guide or another guide like JK Lasser's. The folks who design and write and test the programs make mistakes, too. And for the same reason, give the calculations a sanity check, don't just use the program blindly, or you could get tripped up by a software bug that wasn't caught.
I will update this review in Jan/Feb when I've had a chance to do more with it.
Update Jan 29, 2010:
I have now done a first complete pass on my taxes, based on W2s, 1099s, and some projected 1099s. I also have had an opportunity to use TurboTax Deluxe (I got a free copy, legally), so have been able to compare the two products.
I continue to like HRB Deluxe. It's easy to use, and has been trouble-free. There are a couple of things I particularly like, that might be worth mentioning. (1) They show you when the next update is expected, so you don't waste your time running the update check until there is something. (2) Entering info from interest paying mutual funds that might have muni income (tax-free for Fed) is simple: HRB gives you a simple way to enter the amount that's tax-free in your state, and takes care of it without hassle. TT can also deal with this, but I don't like their way as much (they create a separate 1099 to split the income into two parts).
Interestingly, TTD is also noticeably slower starting up than HRBD. Don't know why.
The one advantage TT does have over HRB is on coverage of automated downloads: TT can download your 1099 info from a larger set of institutions than can HRB. W2 downloads look the same between the two. This does save some time, and could be sufficient to be a decider for some. Not for me.


Click Here to see more reviews about: H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile

H&R Block At Home Deluxe includes everything you need to easily complete your federal and state taxes, plus five free federal e-files. With a new, easy-to-use interface, H&R Block At Home Deluxe searches for hundreds of deductions to get customers the biggest refund.
Ideal for homeowners and investors, the program includes personalized tax guidance and features available only from H&R Block, such as built-in expertise and audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent customers in the event of an audit.


At Home Deluxe Investors / Homeowners The right choice for customers with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns. Includes five free federal e-files and built-in expertise available only from H&R Block!

Includes these features:
Customized interview process to help customers easily complete their federal and state taxes.
Five free federal e-files.
Personalized tax guidance for popular occupations and specific deductions, plus answers to FAQs.
Audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent you in the event of an audit. Included when you file a federal return.
Guidance for reporting investments, dividends, home sales, and retirement income.
Advice, tips, and planning tools for the upcoming year.
Easily import W-2, 1099, and data from last year's return.
Quickly import data from TaxCut, TurboTax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and H&R Block DeductionPro software.
H&R Block DeductionPro software to maximize tax savings from donations.


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H&R Block At Home 2010 Basic Federal + eFile Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This product does not install on Windows 7 x64 on my HP Pavilion dv8 laptop. It appeared to install and run OK on the virtual XP session that runs on Win 7 x64. Be advised you will need to perform extra downloading and configuration above and beyond Win 7 x64 install. Virtual PC *is* a free download from MS. Go to Microsoft and search for terms "windows 7 virtual pc xp mode". How can you tell if you are running 32 bit or 64 bit Windows 7? Go to Control Panel find system and read what it says for system type. Likely, if you have 32 bit Windows 7 you won't have any issues with this product.

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H&R Block At Home Basic
The right choice for customers with simple tax situations to easily complete their federal returns. Includes the H&R Block tax expertise your customers trust--plus our Maximum Refund Guarantee.

H&R Block At Home Basic includes everything your customers need to easily complete their federal taxes--with tax expertise they trust. Ideal for simple tax situations and easy for first-time users, H&R Block At Home Basic guides customers through their return with a step-by-step Q&A in an easy-to-use interface. The program automatically double-checks for errors and includes features available only from H&R Block, such as built-in expertise and audit support, expert advice from our community of tax specialists, an H&R Block agent to represent customers in the event of an audit, and, best of all, our Maximum Refund Guarantee.

Features:
Customized interview process to help customers easily complete their federal taxes.
Automatically double-checks returns for errors.
Five free federal e-files.
Audit support with guidance, plus an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent customers in the event of an audit. Included when they file a federal or state return.
Easily import data from W-2, 1099, and last year's return.
Quickly import data from H&R Block At Home, TurboTax, and Quicken software.
Maximum Refund Guarantee.

Why It's Best For You
Step-by-step guidance
Import your W-2, 1099, and last year's tax return
Free expert advice from our community of tax specialists
Imports data from H&R Block At Home, TurboTax, and Quicken
Five FREE federal e-files included. State is an additional fee.

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H&R Block TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal + State + e-file Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I used this product last year and it worked fine except for one minor glitch. That problem had to do with inputting my initial contact information (name, address, etc.) The program would not allow you to use the delete button. You could get past this, and everything else worked fine. No problem with State or electronic filing.
I think the 2007 software is better (the problem described above is fixed). I used to use Turbo Tax, but they got too pricey. HR Block is about where Turbo Tax was in looks three years ago, so they are catching up fast. I was impressed with Turbo back then, so I'm fine with HR Block being a bit less behind with bells and whistles but costing less and throwing in free e-filing. It also includes their program Deduction Finder, something that can save you $$$ if you use deductions, and also you get some free time with HR Block tax specialists if necessary.
I am not gifted in math or tax law, and I find this program very easy to use. The questions are to the point, and the help feature actually answers most of my questions. I showed this to my Dad, who likes to do his taxes by hand himself, and he is actually considering purchasing it. Even if he doesn't, just considering it is a strong endorsement as far as I'm concerned.
For those concerned about the price, check each day. I've seen the discounted price go as low as 49.99, but it changes on a daily basis. Some of the amazon sellers have gone as low as 32.00, too. The comparable TurboTax Premier Federal + State 2007 costs $67.99 and does not include e-filing or the separate program, Deduction Finder.
Bottom line is that it gets the job done, is backed by HR Block (they also throw in some audit protection for free), and it costs less than Turbo Tax. So if using a product just a little behind in terms of fancy stuff is not a big deal, then I think this product will fit the bill.

Click Here to see more reviews about: H&R Block TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal + State + e-file

With TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal + State, you've got the tools you need to breeze through both your federal and your state taxes. With this package, you get the Federal and State tax programs, one free federal and state e-file, as well as a free tax advisor session and the DeductionPro program. The simple interview quickly walks you through the return process to automate your return.and you can quickly and easily import last year's tax and financial data from TaxCut, Turbo Tax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and H&R Block DeductionPro, as applicable. This program automatically double-checks your return for errors. helps you maximize your deductionsand offers multimedia video advice from seasoned H&R tax professionals.Maximize Itemized Deductions Schedule C Support - Extra deduction help for the self-employed Business Expense Assistant helps you make sure you're claiming all deductible business expenses Investor Guidance Quick access to IRS Publications for further explanation of specific tax situations Multimedia Video Advice - Our tax professionals explain how changing tax laws affect you

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H&R Block At Home 2010 Premium & Business Federal + State + eFile Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The BUSINESS product is a disaster. I bought H&R BLOCK Premium and Business at the Office Max web site. The Premium installed fine.
Installation of BUSINESS failed with an error message referencing Wolters Kluwer, a firm I know publishes tax information. After several attempts to install the product, including making a CD image and installing from that, taking nearly an hour, I phoned H&R Block.
After about forty minutes repeating these steps with a tech support rep, he agreed that my CD was defective and said he would send me a download link. It took another ten minutes for him to determine that he couldn't send me the link, because I hadn't purchased the product direct, even though I have used the product for more than 20 years and offered to send him the proof of purchase and gave him the Key Code from the box!!!!
He told me I could return the CD to the store for a refund and buy from H&R Block or exchange it at Office Max. I asked for his supervisor. The supervisor agreed that this was ridiculous and e-mailed me a download link, warning me that I had 24 hours and that I could only download once.
The e-mail said there were 3 steps: click on the link, fill out the form, wait for another e-mail to access the download. He waited that long and we agreed to terminate the call. BIG MISTAKE.
After I filled out the form, a link appeared saying "click here to download". So I did. But all I got was a blank web page containing the words "bad URL". So I waited for the second e-mail. It never came.
I called back and got a second rep who pulled up my case notes and quickly cut to the chase. He sent me another link. Same result. He said it was only his second day on the job, so he would have to check to see what the next step is.
His answer was that the program was not finished because of the recent tax law changes and that it won't load anywhere. THIS MEANS THAT EVERY BOX IN RETAIL STORES CONTAINING THIS PRODUCT HAS DEFECTIVE SOFTWARE THAT WON'T EVEN LOAD. You cannot patch or update tax tables in software that isn't even loaded in the first place.
I asked the rep how to resolve this. He said it's my responsibility to keep calling back starting about January 15, to see if the product is available. There is no process to keep a list of those needing the update, no compensation for time wasted.
Worse yet, can you imagine what this will do to the H&R Block call queues?


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H&R Block At Home Premium and Business
Ideal for Small Business Owners Screenshot. View larger.

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H&R Block At Home 2010 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've used H&R Block's tax software every year since 2004. Always some annoyances, but most of it is excellent.
Price Dips: Below 25 buckss. Sometimes below 20. It went to 22.49 on Jan 12, 2011, for example. Amazon has always had the best price. There's an "Online Price Alert" that will email you whenever this or any amazon product dips below your target price. Google it. It's nicely done.
The Download Version is often a few dollars less.
Unlimited number of tax returns: (family members, what-if copies of your return, etc.) I think TurboTax also lets you do this now, but in the past TurboTax pulled some real nasty tricks with licensing/copy protection, and they continue to charge 18-45% more than H&R Block.
It includes unlimited paper filings for one state ($ 19.95 extra per state e-file). So, I just file state returns on paper.
"Free" tax softwares like TaxAct might be the thing if your return is very simple, but their better versions are almost as expensive as H&R Block at low tide, and not as good.
So far, the 2010 version is just like 2009. (I did a side-by-side run-through.)
Typical minor annoyances: (all carry-overs from 2009)
- Upgrade pitches: They weave it into the interview and make it sound as if "an upgrade to Premium is advised for your situation" even when it makes little or no sense for your situation. Sleazy.
- Unclear wording in a few places, although most wording is very clear and accurate.
- Privacy Policy: During install, you can hit a "View Privacy Policy" button, which as of Dec 8, 2010 does not work. Or go to a 37-character url (must hand type it...no copy-paste). You can then view their "Privacy Notice" or their equally obscure "Online Privacy Practices and Principles." Both have a reassuring tone while offering rather little privacy protection from marketing partners but your information will be used "in accordance with law."
- Copy...Paste from Interview screens. That would be handy at times. No can do. Can't print them either. Only way I found is ALT + PrintScreen, then paste the graphic into Word or a paint program.


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H&R Block At Home Deluxe
Ideal for Investors and Homeowners
The right choice for customers with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns. Includes the H&R Block tax expertise your customers trust--plus our Maximum Refund Guarantee.

H&R Block At Home Deluxe includes everything your customers need to easily complete their federal and state taxes--with the tax expertise they trust. With an easy-to-use interface, H&R Block At Home Deluxe searches for hundreds of deductions to get customers the biggest refund. Ideal for homeowners and investors, the program includes personalized tax guidance and features available only from H&R Block, such as built-in expertise and audit support, expert advice from our community of tax specialists, an H&R Block enrolled agent to represent customers in the event of an audit, and, best of all, our Maximum Refund Guarantee.

Features: Screenshot. View larger.

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TaxCut 2008 Federal+State+efile (Old Version) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The one star rating is not about the Tax Cut software, which I've used for many years, but rather Amazon's software download service. Thinking I would be environmentally friendly and skip the packing and shipping, I opted to purchase TaxCut via Amazon download rather than the boxed set. It turned into a multi-hour headache that ultimately never worked, despite the fact that I am a CompTIA A+ certified computer technician with years of experience configuring and troubleshooting systems. Buyer beware:
1) Nowhere on the product description front-page does Amazon tell you that you first need to install the "Amazon Games & Software Downloader" software onto your computer. There is no direct download link to the TaxCut software.
2) The Amazon Games & Software Downloader software has serious flaws. After installation, I repeatedly received an "update required" error message when trying to download TaxCut -- even though I had just installed the latest version. Uninstalling, rebooting, redownloading and reinstalling the software twice did not resolve the issue.
3) I sent an email to tech support, which responded simply that this error "is typically associated with a personal firewall or network blocking internet access of the Amazon Games & Software Downloader." I disabled both the built-in Windows firewall and plugged the computer directly into the cable modem to bypass the router's firewall altogether, still to no luck.
4) Fed up with the process, I requested a refund since I had never successfully downloaded the TaxCut software or obtained a licensing code. I was informed that "software downloads are not returnable once they've been purchased. Since you are having trouble downloading, we highly recommend calling for further troubleshooting steps."
5) I called the tech support number (technically they called me, since you have to enter your phone number on a web page and wait for a call-back, which admittedly happened almost immediately.) The first call dropped, a glitch the VoIP system they seem to use. They second call connected me to a very nice, but technically limited young man who kept reading to me generic "fixes" from a script. When I asked him which ports the Amazon Games & Software Downloader actually used, he had to go ask his supervisor (and never got a response.) His final "solution" was that I should find another computer on which to attempt the download, then burn the file to a CD and load it onto my main computer from the CD. At that point, I simply refused to continue with this debacle and he admitted that they have had a lot of similar issues with the software and it is currently being revised. He finally agreed to issue a credit for the purchase.
Long story short: Amazon's download process is still only half cooked. If you run into problems, you'll have to jump through hoops before they agree to refund the money. Save yourself a great deal of hassle and buy the boxed set for just a dollar more with free shipping.

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Conveniently prepare both your federal and state returns. Federal program and 1 state tax preparation program, plus up to 5 federal e-files--all in 1 place, at 1 price. Worry-free Audit Support included when you e-file.


Prepare next year's federal and state returns with 1 convenient program. Our best value! Get our Premium Federal and state tax preparation program, plus up to 5 federal e-files--all in 1 place at 1 price. One Ask a Tax Advisor session is included and get Worry-free Audit Support when you e-file.
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Easy Interview Our simple interview walks you through the process to automate your return.

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