Review by Jerry Saperstein

Intuit is killing the TurboTax product. On one hand, they appear to be trying to make it entirely idiot proof, which means that non-idiots have to wade through endless screens of non-relevant questions, with an array of often misleading options. On the other hand, Intuit seems to be trying to chip away at the included feature set while attempting to monetize the very features they are removing. This is akin to manufacturers who reduce the size of their candy bar to disguise what is actually a price hike: you pay more for less.

The product differentiation with a seemingly increasing number of more expensive variations is also irritating.

I’ve been using the product so long, as well as Quicken, that I doubt that I will change. It still gets the job done. But Intuit, as a company, is leaving me with the feeling that its only interest is in turning me upside down and shaking me until all the loose change falls out of my pocket. I doubt that Intuit will committ corporate suicide with its attitude, but I really wonder if more people won’t look at alternatives.

Jerry