Really Important - TurboTax for Mac (Any good?)

I always just use the web-based version, which has traditionally worked great on Macs.

There's little value to installing an app that you will use once, then remove.

I have used TurboTax for Mac for my taxes last year. It had a major bug that the customer service rep had no idea how to fix even though he tried as best as he could. I don't think he had access to a Mac. Anyways, apparently the bug affected only a small number of install CD packages and I was one of the unlucky customers. Once I got everything sorted out, the program ran well, so I would not worry about the quality of TurboTax. I'd probably use it again.

PS: I managed to fix things by using some not-so-well-known UNIX commands, but I don't think that would be easy for most customers. The bug prevented not only the program from working properly, but also prevented me from uninstalling it. It was quite a headache for a few hours. It seems it was a one time problem for them, so I am cutting them some slack. However, it is clear they did not have as much experience programming for UNIX variants such as OSX.

I have been using TurboTax for years on Mac's. Never had any problems, perhaps I have been lucky. The only glitch I have run into is that I have never been able to get the data transfers for W-2's or Quicken to work. But my tax situation is a fairly basic affair. I do itemize and use the regular long form, and I have used the State program as well with no problems. I have also used the electronic filing the last three years. I can't help you with a comparison to the Widows version as we have always been a Mac family.
If you are one to do your own taxes, I recommend it. I have been doing my own taxes for many years and intend to keep on doing it myself and using TurboTax as long as a Mac version is available.

I used the PC version for Tax years 1999 through 2003, and the Mac version for 2004 through 2006. I'll be using the Mac version again for 2007. I haven't had any problems installing or using any of them, including electronic filing. From memory, the look and feel is virtually identical on both platforms.

Also my first Mac version in 2004 imported my 2003 PC file with no issues, and transferred all of my data seamlessly.

TurboTax for Windows and Mac are identical in features, etc. There is no "slacking-off" in terms of the Mac version. It's a great tax program, and the support team is able to help in most instances, theBB's problem did not affect everyone, and its not like that happens every year, and besides its either that, the online version, or H&R's crap software...I love TurboTax for my taxes..you won't be disappointed by purchasing it.

I've used it.

It worked OK. But I decided that it was actually easier to spend some extra Money and go to a Tax Place to get it done... The Low Tech method I found is much easier because you give them all your paperwork and they type the data in much more easier then you will... They also know the laws better so where you may have tried to itemize your Mac as an expence they may go to you and and ask you carefully what you use it for In my case I couldn't because although I use it for Work and School, I don't need to use it because Work would provide me with the computer if I needed it.

Yea software that's made for both Mac and Windows usually gets the shaft on OS X.

I have used the Mac version the last few years and the Windows version prior to that. No differences or problems for TurboTax.

lugesm said:

I have always been a little uncertain about an online app for taxes, because all of one's financial information could be compromised. I'm sure they claim to have adequate safeguards, but we are constantly made aware of the fact that someone has stolen thousands of computer records; I think the last major theft was from the SSA.

Am I just paranoid ?

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I don't think you're being paranoid at all. Every company who has ever had data stolen did so while claiming to their customers that their system was safe.

winterdude010 said:

besides its either that, the online version, or H&R's crap software...I love TurboTax for my taxes..

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Well, there is the calculator and pen method as well.

I've used TurboTax for 15 years on the Mac - back when it was Macintax.

I have no complaints. I have been manually entering in my data, not using their web-based or Internet partners to get "my" data. I do use the import from last year function. That saves a lot of time re-entering demographic information.

My taxes have gotten increasingly "complicated" (read - I bought a house, got married, had kids, own some stock, etc.) over the years. I can still hit within $100 on the back of an envelope, but Turbotax does everything for you. When you want to see how a change will affect your taxes, it is easy to add it in and take it out. I have had no problems with its accuracy.

I find the Turbotax recommendations and insights relatively useless, although reinforcing the obvious is probably never bad.

The best part about Turbotax is the free state download they give you. Basically, you do your federal taxes and then it moves everything into your state taxes. It asks a few more questions and you are done with both. This is great.

If you continue to use Turbotax, it has a 5-year tax average for you. That is a nice feature as well.

I'm waiting to see if I get hit by AMT this year. Of course, Congress is going to "fix" that "soon" (because it was the dirty little secret of the Bush Tax Cuts). With online updates in Turbotax, all the new forms will just flow straight into my computer and solve the calculation problems for me right away. Lots better than doing it by hand.

Since I got my first Mac (almost 6 years ago), I have used TurboTax and have been happy (have used both the online version and the installed version) - go for it!

Turbotax Needs Os X 10.4

I've used Turbotax for 15 years, 6 on my Mac until now. They never advertised you need 10.4 until you go on their site (turbotax.com) and dig around. I was holding off upgrading OS due to financial things on my computer, but now I have to risk it. Ugggh.

Turbotax 2008 for MAC Not What It Claims To Be

Intuit has been shortchanging MAC users for years. I dumped Quicken for the MAC as it went without meaningful support for stability problems and progressively lost features made available in the Windows version (I use MoneyDance and have never looked back). But after being dissatisfied with TaxCut last year (It will not import Fidelity data, while TurboTax does), I decided to give Intuit's Turbotax another try. After confirming on the Turbotax website that Turbotax could transfer in my data from TaxCut2007, I purchased TurboTax 2008. Immediately after purchase I ran into trouble trying to do the transfer (TaxCut file grayed out and not accessible). I reached out to Turbotax support and was provided as a "resolution" direction to this hidden gem on their support site: "You can't transfer from TaxCut or TaxACT to TurboTax for the Mac. If you want to transfer from these products, try one of our TurboTax Windows desktop products." Intuit seems intent on maximizing sales and screwing MAC users. If they are not going to support the platform, and continue to mislead consumers that their products function fully on the MAC, then I say we boycott the company's entire product line.

I've used TurboTax for 3 or 4 years on my PC previously and then switched to a Mac and used that version last year and had no problems.

I will be purchasing it and using it this year on my Mac again.

I just switched to mac this year. If I download TurboTax for Mac, will it automatically detect my TT files from last year (pc format)? Or do I need to convert last year's files to a mac format first?

I'm about to try this myself. I think that all you need to do is copy the PC file with extension .tax2008 to the Mac. Probably best to do before you install Turbotax 2009 on the Mac. The intuit website provides quite a bit of such PC=>Mac help.

Greg