Product Description

QuickBooks Basic 2004 is fast and easy to set up, learn and use - and starts saving you time right away! Enjoy the convenience of having all your financial information organized in one place. With just one click of a mouse, create reports to see how your business is performing. ... Read more

Features

• Financial management system for businesses
• Import data from popular office software
• Tools for invoicing, paying bills and tracking expenses
• Easily create forms and reports
• Simple guides for most common business procedures

Reviews (11)

Interface is NOT intuitive
Although there is no way i would ever try to do my small business accounting with pencil and paper, I wish this software was more intuitive!!I am 20 years old and am very knowledgeable about workign with different types of software.I also have a strong accounting knowledge.All of the microsoft software I use is very intuitive and user-friendly--the entire office suite, internet explorer, windows XP, etc. All of the small things that matter to people who want to get things done fast- are absent in quickbooks.Very very frustrating.Examples-- when generating a quick report to see customer history, the software defaults to last fiscal month to date EVERY TIME. I look through the help menu for 10 minutes and it will not show me how to reset the default.Customer names are not arrangeable by last name first that i can see!! This has happened a dozen times since i bought it.I already paid a quickbooks pro advisor $150 to set me up and answer a few questions!! I will not pay $15 more for each small stupid question that should be intuitive for the user anyway!!!!!!!

I would read the reviews for microsoft money-- it has GOT to be more intutive than this software-- VERY FRUSTRATED but i'm stuck with it now.

Accountant who uses Quickbooks daily
I am amazed at the comments I have read about the popup advertisements and the payroll application in Quickbooks. You unhappy Quickbooks users...find a Quickbooks Pro Advisor on the Quickbooks website!!! Those of you who dislike the popups...turn them off!!! Click the box to not show you this reminder or message again!And those users who do not think they can write a payroll check in Quickbooks without buying the payroll tax service...for heavens sake, YOU CAN WRITE A CHECK AND ENTER THE AMOUNTS AND PAYROLL TAXES MANUALLY.You simply select to prepare your payroll manually instead of buying the payroll tax service.Please, find a Pro Advisor in your area!!!

Customer Service or Used Car Salesman?
The CD that I got from Amazon did not work - would not install despite trying everything - caused some endless loop. I called Intuit and ultimately got connected to someone in India. After spelling my shipping address at least 8 times, received a new disk 2 days later (despite address being mangled).
Installed software and called the 800 number to get a "registration number." This is a ruse by some so-called "customer support" person who obviously has past experience selling used cars, since it was just a charade to try to strong-arm me to sign up for payroll and support services. Entire conversation was offensive, and he ultimately said to me, snidely, "Well, I certainly HOPE you don't get AUDITED." Lucky for him we were separated by a phone line....
Havent' used the software enough to tell if I like it, but it was recommended by our accountant in order to save money on tax prep, so I'm sure it will do what it needs to do.
Was entirely offended by Intuit and would avoid their products in the future.

Endless marketing
I used to like Quickbooks, but all it seems to be now is a cash cow for Intuit.My Quickbooks 2002 works just fine, but it will stop working next year so that I have to buy a new version with absolutely no new features we need.You can't use the payroll function without paying a fortune for periodic updates of the tax tables (even if your state doesn't have an income tax, or if yours doesn't change.

It's a good example of a company rapidly killing the goose which lays the golden egg.If there's a viable alternative out there, I'll buy it in a minute.

The last time I experiences bad software like this was in 93
The last time I experiences bad software like this was in 1993. Second, the nag ware is equal in annoyance as getting locked into a web site that keeps spawning new pages when you attempt to close one. It makes this program a painful and frustrating experience.

(...)

My opinion, why even bother to expose yourself to this potential mess. If you have read this "opinion" and still decide to buy this software, only blame yourself when you want to fling your PC across the room.

Look at all the prior write ups and ask yourself "why am I going to be any different?" ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Money 2005 Premium is the automated personal finance solution, providing consumers with a quick and easy way to view, improve and optimize their finances. Completely rebuilt for simplicity, Money makes handling finances easy with speedy setup, automated tools that reduce the need for manual entry, and adaptable Essential and Advanced features that enable a more personal experience. Following is an overview of the software's new and enhanced features. Money has been redesigned to bring more people into the personal finance category. Everyone’s financial wants are different. For the user who doesn’t want to spend time on their finances but just focus on the essentials, they can easily access their account balances online, have their transactions automatically categorized and instantly see where their money is going. They have ALL their financial information in one place, with minimal to no typing. For those people who like to pore over the details, Money gives you more with its advanced views. Money 2005 –one product, different user perspectives. ... Read more

Features

• Tax software guides users through state tax returns
• Interview-based wizard system
• Up-to-date with latest state tax law
• Checks math and audit flags
• Contains all the forms users will need

Reviews (14)

Piece of cake!
Flawless and no problems. I have switched to Intuit because prior programs (Tax Cut and Tax Act) would not allow me to e-file my state return (Arizona), because they did not contain a form I needed for a state credit. Turbo Tax solved that issue last year and this year as well. State program installs with a blink of the eye, and complements Turbo Tax Deluxe beautifully. This was only my second year with Intuit, but plan to 3-peat next year.

correcting information in state tax form not possible
I did my federal tax with turbotax delux and my state tax also with turbotax.
I made some errors entering information. The federal form allowed me to make corrections after I was done.
However, the state interview denies me access. Maybe I need to start all over or do it by hand.
The State program is grap. I send an email to the company but did not get any reply.

New York Commuter / New Jersey Resident Still Wrong
ATTENTION INTUIT: A BAD free state download is worse than no state download.

Unfortunately, this year's version still does not know how to back out taxes paid to NY State (where I work) and apply them to New Jersey (where I live).

Will you guys just fix this already?!?!?!!!!!

TURBO TAX STATE FOR VIRGINIA ROCKS!
You're a fool if you don't use Turbo Tax State in Virginia.This is my second year using TT and it was even easier the second time around.The new addition imports everything you punched in the year before and therefore takes less time to complete.Since you can't do state without having loaded TT Deluxe, the video on the CD walks you through the process and sends you to the answer if you type in a search.I had absolutely no trouble using TTS in Virginia and had my state and federal refunds within a week of e-filing.Yeah, within a week. (...)

Additionally, by going through the step by step questionnaire TTS reminded me to include charity work and charitable contributions, which increased my refunds.You don't even need to buy the physical product.Once you've loaded TTD or the federal variation, you can download states off the internet.

This product is better than last year.I highly recommend it.You won't be sorry.

My only criticism of TT products is you can only e-file one time per purchase. (...)The secret to fast returns is e-filing.

Not Multistate!
I was also very disappointed to find (only after I had purchased and installed TurboTax state) that it is only valid for one state!The only reason I purchased this product was to be able to file in the three states we lived in this past year.Better labeling would have led to less frustration ... Read more

Features

• Financial management system for accountants
• Includes all forms and report options from Quickbooks Basic, Pro, and Premier
• Includes Fixed Asset Manager and loan amortization tool
• Remote access allows smoother communication with clients
• Save reports and forms as PDFs

Product Description

Microsoft Money 2004 Standard (Packaged in DVD small Case) .Microsoft Money 2004 Standard provides a quick and easy way to organize and manage your personal finances. Balance your checkbook, create a budget, and reduce debt, simply and easily. Personal finances made easy ... Read more

Reviews (20)

AWFUL PRODUCT!
If I could give this "application" no stars I would.

"Features" within the application are nothing more than a direct link to several of Microsoft's websites.When I inquired about deactivating these "features", Microsoft's reply was essentially "sorry, this is part of the software."

As an avid and loyal user of Money since 2001, I will be switching to another package or trying to find my MS Money 2001 disks.

I already owned Money 2001 Standard Edition and expected similar feature sets in Money 2005 Standard....oops.If you want "retirement accounts", you need to purchase the 2005 Deluxe.If want the monthly Cash Flow forecast (like in Money 2001), that feature is GONE!

This is nothing more than brochure-ware for Microsoft's web sites, YOU have to pay for it, AND M$ has the audacity to actually have pop-up messages built into the product ASKING YOU TO UPGRADE.

[...]

Fair Financial Software
I purchased Microsoft Money to keep track of my monthly budget and a couple of small investments that I had.While there is some good stuff there, Money has quite a few shortcomings which make it much less than what I expected.

The Good
- Connects directly with financial websites such as Ameritrade to download stock portfolio information and banks to get check information which is then seemlessly integrated into your budget/analysis/etc. Very useful.

The Bad
- Confusing interface which was hard to transfer from one view to another
- No financial tools to analyze your holdings.No ROI, no NPV, no aggregate betas, nothing beyond stocks current price.
- No way to aggregate accounts of stocks and bonds or to analyze your holdings across accounts.
- The budgeting software was not very effective.It was hard to categorize checks.You had to do it one-by-one in a process that takes a pretty long time.
- If there was an automatic bill-pay mechanism, I didn't figure it out.

Overall
For my needs, I would not buy this product again.I thought about upgrading to the professional version, but did not see that it addressed the problems of the standard version.

There is really nothing in Money that you can't do just as easily in an Excel worksheet and a Yahoo! Finance portfolio.In many ways, Yahoo's free web service is superior to Microsoft's software.

What a deal!
2004 Standard Moneys for under 20 bucks!booya!

-Gnome

The worst software I ever saw...
Microsoft Money has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience...

Please tell Microsoft about this problem...

I just received the product this afternoon. I install it and even restart my PC many times.It still cannot ever start... Really disappointed. DO NO BUY THIS PRODUCT!

M$ Sucks
I just bought this product. After installation, I can not even start it. It really sucks. ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft® Money 2005 Deluxe Microsoft Money 2005 Deluxe includes everything in Money Standard; plus, it gives you all the help you need to improve credit and reduce debt, organize taxes, and automatically consolidate all of your transactions in one intuitive place. With online connections to more than 5,000 financial institutions, Money 2005 Deluxe makes balancing personal finances effortless. And with Money’s customizable Home Page, you can easily see the finances that matter most to you—from current account balances to where you're spending your money to your cash-flow forecast. Money has been redesigned to bring more people into the personal finance category. Everyone’s financial wants are different. For the user who doesn’t want to spend time on their finances but just focus on the essentials, they can easily access their account balances online, have their transactions automatically categorized and instantly see where their money is going. They have ALL their financial information in one place, with minimal to no typing. For those people who like to pore over the details, Money gives you more with its advanced views. Money 2005 –one product, different user perspectives. ... Read more

Features

• Set up a full budget, or compare actual spending to financial plan
• Personal finance solution with award-winning Portfolio Manager
• Automatically consolidates online bank and credit card information
• Essential tools for improving credit and organizing taxes
• Provides current account balances and transactions in one place

Product Description

Kiplinger TaxCut State 2004.TaxCut State 2004 programs are faster, easier and friendlier than ever with new enhancements to the Interview process. Instantly transfer all of your personal federal tax information into your TaxCut State program and just answer a few questions. ... Read more

Features

• Option of filing electronically or printing ready-to-file state forms
• Step-by-step guidance for filing State tax returns
• Automatically transfers info from 2004 TaxCut federal return
• Access state instructions directly; entry manager for staying organized
• Refund/owe meter monitors amount-due changes

Reviews (5)

It STINKS
The problems with this program as well as all the others by H&R Block are too numerous to mention here, but take it from someone who learned the hard way, don't waste your money on this product.

I reported bugs in both the federal and state editions 3 years ago and they STILL haven't been corrected. One of which is the employer ID number allows for 14 characters but some employers have 15 or more. Another, if you go back and make a correction and forget to TELL the program to recalculate, everything that follows, including your taxs due or your refund amount will be incorrect. Isn't this what you pay for? A program that ELIMINATESerrors instead of creating them? If you buy this product, DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR RETURN.

Can't do part-time DC resident...disappointing.
I am a part-time DC resident and bought TaxCut State DC only to discover that it cannot do part-time DC resident filing... so I had to do it by hand... most annoying and not advertised anywhere on their site... I am requesting a refund.

TaxCut 2004 State is terrible!
I've been using TaxCut Deluxe and TaxCut State since the 2002 tax year but 2004 will be my last TaxCut year. Next year, I'm switching back to TurboTax.

The 2004 version has lots of bugs and the software has several mistakes that will mess up your tax refund.
When printing my state return (MN) the program sends an erroneous command to the printer that caused it to lock up after the first page. I had to get the Adobe version on the MN forms and fill them in by hand so they could be printed. Also, the software keeps asking you to update when you've already updated and there's no new update available. You have to select "Update Later" to get around this bug. Very annoying!

[...]
If you're thinking about buying TaxCut 2004 Deluxe or TaxCut 2004 State, don't do it. Get TurboTax instead. TaxCut is not worth the money or the grief.

DO NOT BUY THIS SOFTWARE!
This is probably the worst tax software I have every purchased. I've been using TurboTax and TaxCut for years and this year I have had nothing but problems from the state program and the Federal.

For one, there are "fixes" that won't download. Everytime I do, the program crashes during installation.

I am hoping that I get a refund from Amazon for the $89 I spent on the TaxCut Complete for Home & Business (same problem by the way) and the 24.50 I spent on the state program.

I'm always going to purchase TurboTax from now on because the technical support at for this product blows. All they did was tell me the same stupid thing over and over again (in other words, they had no idea what to do!) ($9.95 for calls to get tech support, isn't that nice?)

Beware - this CD only allows you access to their website!
Your state tax information is NOT on this CD.You might as well just go to the TaxCut website and download your state's software because that's all this CD does - that is, if the website even works for you.All I get is multiple system crashes and a malfunctioning shopping cart program.Very disappointing. ... Read more

Product Description

Kiplinger TaxCut Premium 2004.TaxCut Premium provides extra tools and advice to help you save money on your federal taxes. You'll get valuable tools for managing home ownership, investments, and retirement planning. FEATURES Includes everything from TaxCut Deluxe plus: ⢠HR Block Premium Tax Tips and Advice Save money with more than 25 new topics like Dividends, Capital Gains, and more.⢠Home Ownership Tools and Advice Extra guidance for homeowners with tools for Home Basis, Mortgage Refinancing, and more.⢠Investment Tools and Advice Tax-saving tips and tools for managing your investments, stock gains/losses, deductions, and more.⢠Premium Retirement Tools and Advice Make the most of your retirement savings with our collection of retirement resources and tools ... Read more

Features

• Kiplinger tax and financial planning library
• Fast, easy-to-use federal-tax filing software with money-saving tips
• Helpful investment, retirement, and home ownership tools and advice
• 25+ new topics like dividends, capital gains, and more
• Live professional tax advice online or by phone from a trained professional

Reviews (11)

Fed Ok, States Not
The Federal program worked ok for me, though the interface is a bit clunky.However, the MD state program has some minor glitches, and the WV state program doesn't handle part-year residents, which of course I didn't know until I fired it up at the last minute...

cut out this software -- find something else!
I wrote a nice long review but as it happens my computer shut down before the review was submitted. However, I'm going to do it again here because I don't want you to waste your time like I wasted mine on this software this year, my first year doing my own taxes.

My main beefs --

- Rebate process was probably more annoying than if I had read the IRS detailed tax instructions.
- DeductionPro is useless; didn't even install it since I just took the standard deduction they give you instead of itemizing.
- Videos are annoying; you can't fast forward or rewind. I also felt like I was being talked down to or needlessly being sold on the software I had already purchased ("alternative minimum tax is way complicated, but don't worry, we'll help you out!")
- Useless questions that could be automated away. For example, why do I need to tell the software what 1040 form I want to use? Isn't that the point of the software?
- Lack of question explanation in the text. For example, how am I supposed to figure out if I have Hope or lifetime learning or deduction credit? If I wanted to look at detailed documentation or find an online reference, I wouldn't have bought the software.
- Ads of the H&R Block tax advisor service and all the other extra junk they try to sell you. Ask yourself, what's their incentive for making the questions and question flow clear if their intention is to sell you on the extras if you're confused.

And the straw that broke the camel's back and led me to anotheronline service (free and better!) --

- Huge bug where it deducted my Roth IRA contribution. I didn't know much about the tax system but one of the things I did know is that Roth IRA contributions are not tax deductible. I considered filing an official complaint against the software, but am sick of dealing with it so this review will have to do.

About the only thing that didn't make the software completely worthless was that I did my state tax return with it. The online service I used for federal didn't have the part-year resident form I needed for my state. Even then I made sure to double check the numbers it spewed out since I had lost trust in the software's accuracy.

I had thought that the H&R Block name would've been an advantage in accuracy, etc. But really, I feel like the software's existence is to make people migrate toward their brick-and-mortar professionals. Also, it's no wonder the software has bugs if the IRS forms themselves were not yet finalized when the software was released (an online update of the software is required). Although, to be fair, the accuracy problems I entered both upped my refund; at the risk of getting audited!

Bottom Line:

If you're really lazy -- pay a tax professional or bribe a knowledgeable friend.

If you're medium lazy -- go with an online service or the other popular software package

If you're willing to spend time learning about taxes (for future benefit e.g. to optimize refunds, catch software mistakes) -- go directly to the IRS instructions and consider doing double checking and e-filing with an online service.

Tax Cut Premium
I have used this product frequently. This is the first time (and the last time because we will not order it again) WE HAVE USED PREMIUM.

For a simple return it is great!This product is TAX CUT PREMIUM!
It has all the bells and whistles according to the desriptions- Right ! If you have a more complicated return.....:

1. The software may not directly support input with their tax information. The info is canned and pasteurised for Mr. Joe or Jolene average. But you have assistance !
2. The $9.95 help claims that anything not on their interveiw is "TAX ADVICE"!.. KACHING... GO TO TAX ADVISOR FOR TWENTY FIVE BUCKS.!!YOU HAVE A COUPON TO BOOT.
3. Tax Advisor?? Spend half a day awaiting a callback on three occasions and receive the same answer three times ; "unable to contact client. Try again.

OK H&R block is in the tax prep business...now do you get the picture?

Good job on IRA,s and Stocks
I found this program to be easy to use. Their interview style walks you right through, you don't even know you are preparing a tax return. I especially like the way it will take you right to the actual Form and show you the worksheets on how they arrive at decisions. Tax Cut showed me that we could make an $1850 traditional IRA contribution for my wife that we thought was disallowed. I also liked the way it held my hand through the capital gains, 1099, and stock buy/sell recording. It lets you skip around, go back and forth. Viewing the actual worksheets that TaxCut uses to compute the values that get entered on the 1040 was a little difficult. I had to contact their tech support to find the long term tax computations. I initially contacted them through thier on-line chat, but my browser crashed, not their fault. I then emailed my question and they responded the next day. The info was there, I hadn't scrolled down enough. All-in-all, the tax prep portion was excellent, checking the calculations took a little getting used to the software. I will be buying this next year.

Mediocre Software!
This software disappointed on several straightforward tasks:

1. The Employee Stock Option interview is terrible: it performs NO actual calculations. It gives some vague advise about how to handle Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan situations rather than directly calculating the tax impact. I had to refer to the guides given to me by the broker, AND the TURBOX TAX website to figure out how to calculate the cost basis for these situations. The software, especially software labeled PREMIUM, should have this functionality built in and I should not require a trip to a competitor's website and the use of a hand calculator! That's why I buy tax software. TurboTax actually performs calculations when you input data.

2. The download "feature" for W-2, 1099, and 1098 forms is humerous. I have used this feature in TurboxTax for my W-2 form from a major Fortune 500 company and the 1099-DIV form from the Vanguard Group. Apparently, Taxcut has no agreement with these major corporations--the list of supported employers, brokers, and mortgage companies is tiny.

3. Printing-there seems to be some formatting issues with the worksheets when printed out. It seems to print outside the printable area of a standard printer.

On the plus side, the software is relatively cheap and is probably OK for simple tax situations. Its laid out logically and imported my 2003 tax data from TurboTax competently. But I would purchase TurboTax if you have a more "complex" tax situation (although I hardly classify Employee Stock Options and Purchase Plans as complex in 2004).

I tried it because it is cheaper than TurboTax and I was curious to compare the two, but I'll be using TurboTax again next year! ... Read more

Features

• Save calculations for later review; print calculations for your own or your client's files.
• Carry a single computer for all your needs without losing your calculator's functionality.
• Calculate the way you prefer: RPN, order and chain input modes; quick access to routine functions.
• Templates appear like mini-spreadsheets, making it easy to verify your information, show clients, and work with colleagues.
• Add on or create your own templates to match the way you work.

Product Description

TurboTax Deluxe software includes all the features of TurboTax Basic, plus even more help to maximize your most important deductions, including mortgages and charitable contributions. Plus, it delivers the help you need - when you need it - from official IRS publications and expert video advice. ... Read more

Product Description

Intuit Inc (292592) ITSDEDUCTIBLE V2004 ... Read more

Features

• Easily access IRS publications; prints reports and receipts
• Accurately value donations in compliance with IRS guidelines
• Values based on extensive research of resale outlets and market data
• Powerful search tool provides value based on condition and style
• Instantly transfer into TurboTax; auto-fills donation tax form

Reviews (5)

IT'S DEDUCTABLE
NOTHING TO INDICATE DEDUCTIONS THAT YOU MAY BE OVERLOOKING. NOTHING INDICATING THAT THE PROGRAM CAN ONLY BE USED TO TRACK DEDUCTIONS DURING 2004, AND CANNOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING IN ANY OTHER YEAR. REALLY NOT WORTH THE MONEY.

It's worse now than ever!
Last year (2004), I used ItsDeductible for an entire year, keeping track of my donations of clothes, money, and other items.I was also able to use the software to keep track of my job-related expenses that are deductible (ie research expenses of a professor, job related journals, etc.)There was also a space to keep track of medical expenses.I loved it, and it saved me some money. I just received my new, *not* improved 2005 version, and suddenly, everything has changed.Basically, they made the software LESS useful.They have eliminated the medical expense and the professional expense sections, and now there is only the bare-bones charity donation record keeping.And even this has been drastically cut - many specific categories of clothing, for example, have been cut.Last year, I could be as specific as denim jeans or silk blouses - this year they are listed as "women's pants" and "women's shirts" with no variance in the price that they are "worth."Because of this, I am pretty skeptical that this would pass an audit, so I am now keeping extra records of these donations DESPITE buying the software.I suspect that the company could care less - what are the chances of an audit, anyway?It is probably cheaper for them to avoid refunds when consumers don't achieve the promised 500.00 savings than it is to fear the IRS audits, which are few and far between.Final word - rather than improved, this new version is worse.I could do just as well with a notebook and a quick check on ebay for values.

Too many items missing
I just spent 1.5 hrs entering 80 items.Only half of my donated items were included in the ItsDeductible database.I had to manually enter the other half and estimate the value on my own.

Even with items such as clothes, I had to just pick an item from the database.It was rare that my donated item actually matched something in the database.

This software is not the cure-all that Intuit says it is.I should've saved my money and entered all of my donations in a spreadsheet like I did in previous years.

Peace of Mind
While the software could use a big user interface enhancement, it does the job and pays for itself many times over.If you give a lot of old belongings to charity it is invaluable and the dollar amounts are always more than I used to claim.I'm starting to feel like Clinton with his $10 underwear.

The peace of mind alone is worth $20.It also saves time if you use it year-after-year and give to the same charities.If you do there is no need to research and update their contact and tax info as it is automatically retained from prior years (and of course feeds TurboTax.

Intuit purchased ItsDeductible a couple of years ago.At the time it was already integrated (somewhat) with TurboTax.I'll be interested to see how this year's version is progressing.

Very useful for some donations, but slow and unwieldy ...
THE GOOD: If you donate clothing or other physical items to charity, you will find this program indispensable when it comes to calculating IRS-friendly dollar values.Over the summer my wife gave eight bags of clothing to our local Goodwill.Using ItsDeductible 2004 and her detailed receipt, it took me a mere 20 minutes to come up with a value for the hundred plus items in her donation.Additionally ItsDeductible also prompts you for lesser known deductions, like the number of miles you had to drive to drop off your charitable goods (the IRS gives you $.14 per mile).

THE BAD: ItsDeductible's user interface is clunky and unwieldy for cash donations (in the future I will stick to just entering those into a spreadsheet).Also the application takes its dear sweet time to launch and seams to run slowly; more than once I was typing faster than the words were appearing in the application.

THE UGLY: In my experience, tech support on this product is a joke.When I installed the program on my computer, it would not launch and instead gave a ten-digit error code.Looking that code up on the ItsDeductible website gave several possible solutions ... none of which worked.Eventually I called tech support, which was not easy as their hours are 6am to 3pm PST.After putting me on hold for twenty minutes, the tech finally told me that ItsDeductible would not launch if your computer's date format is set to anything other than M/D/YYYY.Arg!The application should have said that rather than give an unintelligible error code!

Overall I would recommend ItsDeductible to anyone who has given clothes, books, or other non-cash items to charity.If your charitable donations are primarily cash, I would recommend using an old-fashioned spreadsheet rather than ItsDeductible due to its inherent flaws. ... Read more

Product Description

Kiplinger TaxCut Deluxe 2004.TaxCut Deluxe puts you in control of your federal taxes like never before. Deluxe is packed with resources to help you take advantage of the newest tax breaks and save money on your taxes.FEATURES Includes everything from TaxCut Standard plus: ⢠Free State After Rebate Complete your state tax return quickly and easily.*⢠Free E-file After Rebate E-file your federal return to get a fast refund.*⢠Kiplinger's Tax and Financial Planning Library Get the information you need to help you make the most of your money.⢠IRS Publications Get built-in access to the most up-to-date IRS publications. ... Read more

Features

• Error Check automatically reviews for common errors
• Step-by-step guidance for filing Federal tax returns
• Take advantage of the newest tax breaks and save money
• Kiplinger's tax and financial planning library; up-to-date IRS publications
• Retirement savings enhancer; helpful tax-law assistants

Reviews (65)

Problems with TaxCut
I have been using taxcut for 6 years.This year it dropped one of my deductions.The child was listed in the interview and appeared to be included, but was not submitted in the e-filing.This is pathetic.NEVER USE THIS PRODUCT.

I will never use Tax Cut again
A new addition to this year's version (when filing electronically), allows H&R Block's bank (HSBC Bank) to check your social security number with other select banks to see if you have defaulted on any loans. If you are due for a refund, they will use the refund to pay off the debt and give you the balance. I didn't see any problem with this since I have not defaulted on anything in my life. However, Bank One advised HSBC that there was an overdue loan (from 1992!) with my social security number. Since the loan did not have my name or address, Bank One's response was that it must be identity theft (I believe Bank One made a data entry error - God knows they probably can't locate the paperwork for a loan that's 13 years old). In order to prove the loan is not mine, I had to send Bank One my social security card, birth certificate, marriage certificate, tax return, and a letter from the Social Security Administration. I had to put out a fraud alert with the Social Security Administration and the 3 credit bureaus. In addition, I had to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and the police. I am still waiting for Bank One to correct their records so I can get my refund back! Next step - lawyer!
If you must use Tax Cut - DO NOT FILE ELECTRONICALLY! Print your return and mail it in!

software Just okay, beware of rebate
The software is only okay.I've been doing my own tax simply following the instructions on the tax booklet.It doesn't give you anything new if you read your tax booklet.Reading a lot of reviewers' complaint about the software not being up to date with the latest tax law, I waited until this year to buy this package hoping that I won't have to connect to the internet to update the software.Well, the software is STILL not up-to-date.I have to connect to the internet, which I really hate to do since I have slow connection; and I wouldn't want to do my tax while my PC is online.Okay, that's that.

Rebate experience has been unpleasant.After eight weeks following my rebate submission, I finally gets a shipment notification for the state rebate.Two weeks later I still have not received the check.The deluxe rebate is stuck in process status forever.I called H&R rebate department about both rebates.The rep assumed it was my fault saying I didn't mail both of them on time or together.Well, I have copies of everything.I explained to the guy that wasn't the case.I mailed both together one week after the purchase date in February.The guy didn't let me finish with my complain or explanation.He just said he'll take care of it and that I should wait about another month, then he abruptly hung up.It's this kind of attitude of an employee that makes one avoid future business with the company.

This year's TaxCut has major flaw in AMT (alternative minima
This years taxcut has major flaw in for 6251 (AMT) line 7.It doubles the state tax refund deduction, and will cause you big trouble with IRS if you are subject to AMT.
There are other issues with TaxCut too.My e-file was repeated rejected due to TaxCut mistakes (asking me to delete a form that was empty etc).Customer service people are nice but clueless.Had to paper file.
Also there is a 30 day limit on rebate for state.I preordered in Dec and opened in Feb after my w-2 arrived, and I could not qualify.The money back garantee is a joke.

Avoid Taxcut
Taxcut Deluxe gets the award for the worst experience I have had filling out Taxes. I have used previous versions of Turbotax and Taxcut and felt that these were comparable programs -- they did not always give the same results -- but after some tweaking you could figure out waht was going on.
This year's version of Taxcut has made me swear not to use their product again. First, I had trouble getting the rebates. OK, no big deal.
Then I got a host of warnings when filling in the K-1 forms that turned out to be spurious -- they added stress.
Where I had questions, the program was largely unresponsive. Several times, asking for IRS instructions brought up absolutely nothing. Instructions for Schedule C did not bring up business codes.
I needed to file as non-resident in 1 state and resident in another. The program asks me if I would like to buy another state. The second state cost me an additional $25 -- I felt that this was high given that I had basically 1 item of income to report. Never mind, I thought, it is worth getting it for the convenience of electronic filing (another$15.95, incidentally). After I got through the entire process and got to e-filing the program would only let me e-file a single state return. After poking around I discovered from the help menu that TAXCUT can ONLY file ONE state return per federal return -- completely ridiculous -- a waste of time and money.

I found that several people offer Excel based federal and state tax forms on the web. Next year I plan to retreat to that method, since at least you are clear on the formulae and other things being used by the program and there is an ability to directly consult IRS forms. I may also give the other tax programs a look ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Money Saving Tool
Great program! Well worth the money. Compare the cost of the program to the cost of an attorney, and it's a no brainer. The program walks you, in an interview fashion, through the process by asking the necessary questions, and 15-20 minutes later you have your legal document. Satisfied Customer.

Safe, State-specific, and cheap compared to an Attorney
(...)

I use Quicken's Home & Business and it is pretty glitch-free.The reviews on Quicken's WillMaker Plus 2004 (which includes all the areas addressed in my old Living Trust, e.g., two types of Living Trusts, a new Will in concert with the Durable Power of Attorney documents) were impressive, so I bounced for the software.(...).I am NOT familiar with doing this sort of thing and legalese can be VERY intimidating but WillMaker Plus 2004 makes it so EASY, and until you indicate that you have printed and signed a document created in this program, you can return and change anything over and over again.If you need to amend any information in the future, the program will set you up to do this.Yeah, you still need forms to transfer you home, for example, from your name to your Living Trust name, to change your financial institution's beneficiaries to either the Trust name or "Pay on Death" recipients, but I found I could order these forms on the telephone and they were mailed to me.I actually did it myself in 3 days.What a feeling of accomplishment!

Lastly, if you doubt your ability to create a binding Living Trust with it's requisite components, you can run it by an attorney (1 hour's charge applies) just to make you feel better.You're still financially ahead by a country mile.The least expensive fee for drawing a living trust here in Portland was $1150.00

Beware the rebate...
Beware the company managing the rebate offer, ExpressGroup.I sent all of the information in, they somehow were able to log my information into the computer, but still note it as insufficient - and then never notified me of any issues.After faxing a copy of the documents, and a follow up call, they will be sending the rebate in 8 - 10 weeks.One would expect that a company whose sole job is to handle rebates would do this correctly.My experience is consistent with stories I have heard of companies like this that will conveniently lose information knowing the buying public will not follow up.
Beware of ExpressGroup

No substitute for a good lawyer...
This software is good software. But please remember that a computer program is no substitute for a good lawyer. At the very least get one to look over your completed document for you. You wouldn't want a computer error to end up costing your loved ones more time, money and hassle in the courts.

Very handy software.. almost a must-have
I must say that the current developments in Florida and my experience with Quicken software is what pushed me to buy this product. And I am very happy with it as it meets my requirements. Here are some of the reasons why ::-

1)Detailed explanation for each step as you create a document. What each option means ? What is the impact ( from legal point of view ) ? Where are the contradictions ?

2)Legal Manual :: Access to a fairly detailed Legal manual. You can review this while you are creating the document or review it separately.

3)Option to export your document in RTF format. This is useful if you want to print the document from a different computer.

4)Facility to provide a password for your set of documents.

5)Option to create a separate document sets ( say for spouse and self )

6)Has a top level view which provides details about the documents created.

7)Exhaustive list of legal documents.

Now for the sad part. Like all Quicken products, it has to have a bug :-(. "Web update" did not work for me. Removed my proxy setting / server. Still does not work. Comes back with a error message to try it again after 10-15 minutes. Currently left a message with Nolo's technical support.

But to finish it on a high tone. It took me 15 minutes to create my Living Will ( a.k.a Health Care ). I strongly recommend this product. ... Read more

Product Description

The interactive software for effectively managing your budget. With Home Budget for Dummies, you can organize and manage your accounts stress free! Includes a 144-page step-by-step Managing Your Money for Dummies User Guide. ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Money 2005 Small Business is the comprehensive finance solution that makes managing your business finances easy. Completely rebuilt for simplicity, Money makes handling finances easy with speedy setup, automated tools that reduce the need for manual entry, and adaptable Essential and Advanced features that enable a more personal experience. Following is an overview of the software's new and enhanced features. Money has been redesigned to bring more people into the personal finance category. Everyone’s financial wants are different. For the user who doesn’t want to spend time on their finances but just focus on the essentials, they can easily access their account balances online, have their transactions automatically categorized and instantly see where their money is going. They have ALL their financial information in one place, with minimal to no typing. For those people who like to pore over the details, Money gives you more with its advanced views. Money 2005 –one product, different user perspectives. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

MS Money 2005 Beware- Bugs, Flaws & General Issues
Money 2003 was an awesome product and I dropped Quicken after 6 years to use it. But the latest version that incorporates business forms and accounts should have remained in beta.

This is a flawed product that is a step back from previous versions. The conversion from earlier versions of Money can cause file corruption problems. The product has a feature to import contacts from Outlook but it is "buggy" and causes problems. When I called MS tech support the support rep said do not use it. They claim youcan share you information with other MS passport Users but it does not work. After two hours on the phone with MS they finally admitted it was a flaw. As the other review says, the invoice feature is a joke. You spend time customizing your invoices and then when you go to save them all images and formatting are taken out and only a text file is saved. There is no PDF capability. And you can not e-mail your newly designed invoice as it also creates a "bland" text file.

When i called Microsoft, American Express and Wells Fargo Tech support ( all support product)all support technicians said they hear nothing but problems with this product.

Money 2003 and 2004 were great. What alet down 2005 Small Business is. Stick to Quicken and Quick books and save your self hours on toll calls to tech support that results in no known fixes and no information in the MS Knowledge base.

Stay away!!
Don't make the mistake of buying this product. Learn from my mistake, I lost my hard earned $90 on this useless buggy piece of software.

I am still no able to digest the idea that you have to keep all your banking information on their servers to be able to receive bank transactions automatically. If you are concerned about security and automatic transaction updates are important to you, do not buy this product.

Other problems:
- Does not updates bank transactions consistently
- Clicking on update creates accounts one more time instead of just downloading the transactions
- Custom invoice template is a big mess. You can create custom templates and save them. But, you cannot edit them or use them to print invoices.

I wonder what kind of dimwit product manager has managed and released this product.

I wish there was some kind of consumer protection law that would let me return this product and get my money back. ... Read more

Product Description

See your complete financial picture in minutes! Find out what you have and where it's going, pay bills, plan for your future, help save more money, and take control of your finances.

Features:

• Smarter categorization of your spending. Hide categories you don't use; rename downloaded payees; eliminate clutter by expanding, collapsing or merging categoriesand other new customization features.
• Forecast your cash flow with the Monthly View. See upcoming bills and scheduled transactions so you'll know exactly what you need to spend and how much you will have in reserve once bills are paid.
• Pay bills on time.Avoid late feeswhether you use Quicken Bill Pay, write checks, or go directly to your biller's web site.²
• More flexibility with scheduled transactions.Quicken now accommodates more scheduling options for payments and deposits, so you can manage Social Security checks, property taxes, school tuition, paychecks and more.
• Reach financial goals.Dozens of charts and graphs give instant answers to long-term financial questions. Better categorization gives you improved spending report details.
• Monitor your retirement plan.Get your complete retirement picture in minutes by downloading from top 401(K) providers.²
• Easier export into Excel.Now it's easy to move your Quicken data into Excel.
• Back up and archive your Quicken files quickly and easily.

Reviews (3)

Believe the bad reviews
Quicken is horrible. Just plain horrible. I've been fighting with this program for the last several years and have finally had enough. No more tech support calls, no more software reloads, I'm done. I just changed laptops, loaded Quicken Deluxe 2005, went to pull up my checking account file that I faithfully back up onto an external hard drive, and poof! It's gone. Oh, there's a version from February there, but that was about umpteen thousand transactions ago. User error? Maybe. But if it's that easy to lose a file, I need a new program. Goodbye, Quicken. You suck.

Stay away
Used Quicken for over 10 years.Always hope the next version will correct the bugs; never happens.If you track a lot of investments the database will get corrupt.Support is fee based even for bugs.Interface is cumbersome.

Don't believe all the bad Reviews!!!
I have used Quicken for 8 years. Have upgraded 3 times.
I read all the bad reviews, wondered if i did the right thing buying this time.
People said there were no opt. out for the online stuff, WRONG, they should read the boxes before they click, YES..
This is Fine, looks clean, works Fine. I installed it clean on another computer to make sure. It converted my old backup just fine.. Yes it uses a different backup file ext. BooHoo
As long as i can back it up, who cares.. I have never had to use the backup anyway.
I say, Install it clean, read the boxes that pop up before you click YES, and you will like this.
Yes it has extra stuff i don't use, but all the others did also.
Nuff Said ... Read more

Features

• Automated tools for staying in control of a busy schedule
• Easy to learn and use; looks and works like a manual day planner
• Schedule daily, weekly, and monthly appointments; keep track of contacts
• Auto-dial phone numbers; create to-do lists; make notes; sort information
• Log on to favorite Web sites; share calendars; set up meetings over the Internet

Product Description

Intuit Quicken 2004 Premier.Quicken 2004 Premier lets you see your financial picture in minutes. New Express Account Setup instantly connects Quicken to your bank, credit card, brokerage and 401(k) accounts to download your transactions and balances, then sets up your accounts for you with your data already up to date.* New features also let you optimize your investments and help maximize your tax savings. Find out how your average annual returns measure up to leading benchmarks like the SP 500 Index and take action if you need to! You'll learn more tax-efficient investing strategies and be able to stay on top of your deductions all year with Schedule A, B and D tax reports. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Premier not worth it; stick with Deluxe
I upgraded from Quicken Deluxe 2003 to Quicken Premier 2004. I won't address whether or not I think the 2003-2004 upgrade was worth it. What I am addressing is that I don't think the Deluxe-Premier upgrade was worth the extra cost.

Premier gets you some portfolio analysis tools and "insights", which I don't find that helpful (I am not an active or sophisticated investor).

As an aside, I -do- think the Deluxe features (over Basic) are worth the extra money. Deluxe gets you investment tracking (Basic appears to only give you basic checkbook tracking).

In 2001, I switched from Microsoft Money to Quicken. The original motivation was because I thought I might get a Mac, so I wanted my personal financial data to be prepared for the move (Quicken is also available for the Mac, but Microsoft Money is not). The feature set in 2001 was better in Quicken than in Microsoft Money (better tracking of investments like ESPP and 401k).

Recently (Quicken 2003-2004), however, I have been encountering random bugs and inconsistencies (multiple paycheck deposit accounts doesn't work consistently) that lead me to believe that Microsoft Money has probably reached parity with Quicken by now. And I still haven't switched to a Mac.

Since I now have a few years' data tied up in Quicken, I won't be frivolously switching back to Money anytime soon (unless Quicken completely screws something up), but unlike in 2001, I don't think I can unconditionally recommend Quicken over Money anymore.

Not as bad as I've read here -- buy 2004 and not 2005
I was hesitant to buy the product because of all the negative comments.I upgraded from Quicken 98 and it's been a pleasant experience.It was time for me to upgrade.I didn't like having to pay $50 for only minor new features.I bought a 2004 copy of the Premier Home and Business for only $18.Strangely, people are charging $45 for a 2004 Premier.For $27 less you get Home and Business.The upgrade is well worth it if you are still using a very old copy of Quicken.

Moo!
I'm hoping to get a better response here than from Intuit's customer service. Could one of you people who simply love this product please tell me how you produce meaningful reports given:

1. "Exclude internal transfers" includes internal accounts, anyway.
2. Phantom amounts show up on reports. (Intuit has acknowledged this problem since April.It's now July...)

Intuit made me upgrade in '99 because they forgot about Y2K.They made me upgrade again this year because they stopped online services for Quicken '99.Does anybody doubt that in a year or two, this product will no longer work?How else can they keep the cash cow alive?

pay bill nightmares
I've been using Quicken for over a decade and loved it all along the way.I'm a fully advanced user.I was very happy with 2000 but forced to upgrade to be able to continue on-line banking.I have had nothing but problems hooking up to the bank with my new 2004 (I've NEVER had one problem with this before in 5 years).I have used overseas Intuit techs for 3-4 hrs off and on (and they charge you!!!).Sometimes the bill-pay works, sometimes it doesn't.I know it's the new Quicken software as its never been an issue before.I am quiting Quicken.I've had it. There's something wrong with this program.

INVESTORS, DO NOT UPGRADE - FLAWED
I have been happy with Quicken 2003 and I recently purchased Quicken 2004 as an upgrade. Upon installation, all of my investment data was incorrectly converted or not converted at all. ALL of my investment accounts are now inaccurate. I am terribly dissatisfied with this product. Their website seems to attribute conversion problems to "bad data files." I find that extremely hard to believe unless the user was having trouble with cross-linked files prior to the conversion. In my opinion, the suggestion that this type of problem is caused by cross linked/bad data files is lazy, inaccurate and unacceptable. It's a way of saying "we really don't know what causes this bug, but here's our suggestion to throw the blame back on you, Mr. Consumer - we blame your computer system." I've suggested to Intuit that they stop putting so much time and effort into making this product look pretty with all of the bullet point box features and focus on a solid release candidate with no severe bugs. In my opinion, this product is about 3 months shy of being commercially acceptable. This bug will cost me countless hours - probably well over 100 - in sorting and reconciling all of my investments. It's ridiculous really. Based on what I've read in public forums, I would assert that this product is responsible for countless lost hours among many unsatisfied customers. Unfortunately, because of the nature of this problem and the financial dependence I have on this product, I no longer trust this product nor do I trust other products released by Intuit. I will go through the excruciating process of reconciliation simply to get everything back to current/accurate so I can convert to another program - MS Money, etc. I will not purchase another Quicken product and I recommend that others do their homework before purchasing this drink coaster (errr, product) as an upgrade. Personal money management is a serious issue - in my opinion, being accurate and clean should take priority over everything else.

I'm so burned, if I could rate this product a big fat zero or go into negative territory I would - but if you're read this far, you now know that my rating of '1' is really a z-e-r-o. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

H&R Block financial planners assist you in determining if your investments support your financial goals and if your asset allocation matches your risk tolerance. You can also create what-if scenarios for future savings. Nine-year tax preview shows you all the ways that the tax legislation of 2001 will affect you now and in the future. Home Office Assistant walks you through a series of questions to see if your home office qualifies for tax purposes. Retirement Savings Enhancer provides ways to increase your tax and retirement savings to ensure you get the most out of your 401(k).

The improved Error Check feature catches mistakes or omissions that could cost you money or flag your return for an IRS audit. Entry Manager tracks where your data originates, guides you to related forms, and itemizes your entries. It also allows you to flag entries as tentative, so you can go back and review them before you finalize your return. The H&R Block tax law assistant helps you understand the implications of changing tax laws, provides information about how the changes affect your taxes, and ensures you get the maximum tax benefit possible under the new laws. Auto entry automatically imports W-2 and 1099 information from participating employers and financial institutions. Auto entry saves you valuable time and prevents costly data entry errors, and makes it easy to deal with multiple W-2s.

Listen to H&R Block and Kiplinger experts share tips on how to get the most out of your tax return. Learn how changes in your life affect your taxes, and save money by following simple strategies. The H&R Block home mortgage advisor provides customized advice based on your current tax situation, including advice on consolidating debt under a home equity loan. If you are a renter, TaxCut tells you how much you could save in taxes by purchasing a new home. ... Read more

Features

• No more wading through paperwork for hours -- the simple Tax Assistants bring you the financial assistance you need, step-by-step
• Work out the total taxable value on your stock portfolios, options, and capital gains with no trouble
• Find out how you can increase your tax and retirement savings with sound advice from H&R Block and Kiplinger
• Once you're done, just print out your statement and mail it off, to get your refund faster than ever!

Reviews (154)

how do I download it
I just wasted 22 bucks. I have no way to download this product

The End
I went to TaxCut because of the spyware problem in TurboTax last year.The program started out fine, but would not end, and could not make electronic submissions to Fed or State.Talked to everyone in TaxCut and I felt I was debuging the program.Had to snail mail the State after finally getting the Fed return to work.Took an extra two weeks to do this.

Tax Cut has no Spyware C-Dilla, Turbo Tax Does!
H&R Blocks Tax Cut doesn't use the Spyware tool C-Dilla. Intuit introduced this Spyware, C-Dilla, tool to it's longtime customers last year. The Spyware, C-Dilla, prevents you from doing your taxes on your notebook, then transfering them to your desk-top for printing. The Spyware, C-Dilla, prevents you from retrieving your taxes, in case of an audit, if you buy a new computer. Don't have a hard drive failure near tax filing time with the Spyware, C-Dilla, installed. Intuit made the choice between Turbo Tax and Tax Cut easy when they introduced the Spyware, C-Dilla. They sent their customers in droves over to buy H&R's Tax Cut. Thats why I started using H&R's Tax Cut!!!

No sweat taxes
Wow, the reviews are quite spotty for a very good and capable program.I am always wary of reviews, and it appears Intuit (Turbo Tax) may have required its employees to submit competitive reviews.I am not affiliated with either product and have used both, but last year switched to Tax Cut for several well publicized reasons--see previous posts.

Tax Cut is cranky about using TT's data, so be prepared to fill in some data.Had worse problems when I switched from Tax Cut to TT three years back and needed to re-enter all the previous year's data.These programs do keep improving each year.

I run XP, have broadband cable, run a wireless home network, and have had no issues with initial loading, downloading updates, or getting the program to work.The rebates for upgrading, free state program, on-line filings, other included freebies, all showed-up within 60 days.I also used the call-a-consultant service for advice on a real estate question and was charged the the nominal fee.

Tax Cut handled all the forms on my 1040 fine, which included capital gains, carryovers, etc., and I had no repercussions from the IRS or worse, California.The program doesn't have as much "fluff" as TT, and is pretty straightforward, with not as much hand-holding, but is not invasive either.

The only negative was it was a little baulky in getting the Fed return co-odinated with my CA State return, but this could have been "pilot error".Overall, a competent product.

2002 Tax Cut
I have no idea how this program works.It will not download.Went back and it said it had downloaded and would not let me try again. ... Read more

Product Description

Intuit QuickBooks Premier 2004 Manufacturing & Whosale Edition.Track inventory components and assembled goods using the features, tools, and reports in Premier ManufacturingWholesale Edition 2004. Define more price levels for different customer types: up to 100, per item, and set by percentage or by dollar amount. Create sales orders and work orders to streamline processes. Work more quickly, in fewer steps on purchase orders, packing slips, and more. See profitability and sales trends instantly through more than 10 reports designed specifically for manufacturers and wholesalers. Manage your finances faster and easier with the ManufacturingWholesale Menu and Navigator. Improve your inventory control with new forms and customized worksheets for better inventory tracking and recording. ... Read more

Features

• Financial management system for manufacturing and wholesale businesses
• Easy menus help set up invoicing, recordkeeping and more
• Easily manage accounts payable and receivable
• Integrate financial systems
• Advanced accounting, inventory and asset tools