Review by Russell Streshly

Im sure if TurboTax runs properly, its an enjoyable experience. But if it doesnt, theres no recourse but to live with the softwares inadequacies. TurboTax offers no absolutely helpnone that I was able to access. So a frustrated user gets to the point of just paying extra taxes rather than doing maddeningly hopeless battle with TurboTax for more hours. Im sure I overpaid at least $200 in federal tax this year, and overpaid a smaller amount in state taxtaxes that I didn’t owe, and I might have avoided had TurboTax software run error-freeor if any help whatsoever were available.

I had two problems this yearother problems previous years, none ever resolved. First, TurboTax would not let me enter the costs of vehicle registration. Each time I tried, the program crashed. I tried several times; I shut down and restarted, but each time I tried to enter vehicle registration costs, the program crashed. I gave up. The amounts were relatively small.

More significant were carry-over losses from stock-sales. TurboTax would not enter this information because the program claimed my password was incorrect. I was almost certain it wasn’t incorrect; Id made careful notes from the previous year. Nonetheless, I went through TurboTaxs change of password procedures. When I got to the appropriate screen I entered a new password, and reentered it for verification, and I got a cheery little response: Your password has been successfully changed. But it hadnt been. TurboTax refused to accept the new password. I tried the procedure again and again. Again and again I was told my password had been reset. But it never had been; TurboTax steadfastly refused the password, and refused to enter carry-over losses.

What I felt was interesting is that the problem I was having is evidently a common one, or so it would seem because TurboTax has a response button for exactly this problem. That is, there is a pop-up button that suggests: If you have changed your password, but TurboTax still refuses to recognize your password, click here. I did. It took me to some advertisements for Intuit products. The friendly TurboTax programmers must be roaring with laughter over that one. But if a problem is common enough to merit a specific button, why not just fix the bug? The answer to that question hints at TurboTaxs attitude toward its customers, I suspect.

If there is any way to get help from the folks at TurboTax, I sure haven’t found it. I think Id have more luck to have a prayer for a mega-lottery win answered. When I finished my excess tax statement this year, TurboTax asked if Id like a copy save. I responded, yes. I was asked for my password, and then was told again that it was still wrong. TurboTax should have a button at this point: Dare you still want to try to change you password, Sucker? Abandon all hope yea who enter here.

I won’t be using TurboTax next year if I can find any remotely suitable option. Its far less frustrating to fill out the forms on paper.