TurboTax vs. TaxACT vs. H&R Block at Home: 2012 Lightning Review

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AppId is over the quota

According to a MyMoneyBlog.com reader poll taken last year, 52% used TurboTax, 18% used TaxACT, and 14% used H&R Block at Home to prepare their tax returns, which agreed with the most popular software overall in the US. The remaining 16% either used an accountant (10%), filed on paper (4%), or used another software (2%).

Last year, I used each of “The Big 3? to do my taxes in order to compare and contract in detail the three software programs. (As an example, my TurboTax 2011 review talks about comma-insertion as a feature…) I plan to do the same thing this year, but to help you early-birds, here’s the highly-condensed version of my reviews:

Accuracy and Maximum Refund Guarantees
In terms of accuracy and interview style, I think all three are comparable if not nearly identical. In fact, I’m certain they all dissect each other’s products annually to ensure this. As such, all three offer a “Maximum Refund Guarantee” as well as a “Accuracy Guarantee” that states that they will pay any penalty and interest assessed by the IRS or your state due to calculation errors on their part (though H&R Block limits this to $10,000).

In my opinion, the remaining major differentiating factors are price, time-saving features, and audit support. Now, there are various discounts and sales that pop up, but here I’m just comparing regular sticker prices.

TurboTax Online

The most popular and most polished-looking user interface.Federal Deluxe regular price is $29.99. State return price is $36.99.Best import support from payroll providers and financial institutions for automatic import of W-2 and 1099 forms.Moderate audit support (you get help, but no in-person representation)

Bottom line: The time-saving choice if you have a lot of brokerage and/or bank 1099s to electronically import, or a lot of details to import from last year’s return and you used them last year. For those like me that would pay extra to avoid all that tax lot data entry.

TaxACT Online

Cheapest overall with Federal Deluxe regular price at $9.99. Many can get by with Federal Free version. Cheapest state return at $8.00.Again, just as accurate as the others.Limited import support (worst of the three).Limited audit support (worst of the three).

Bottom line: The value choice if you just want reliable DIY tax return software and don’t need any extras.

H&R Block at Home Online

Federal Deluxe regular price is $29.95. State return price is $34.95.Moderate import support for 1099s and W-2 (not as broad at TurboTax, better than TaxACT)Best free audit support, as it includes an H&R Block Enrolled Agent actually attending your audit in-person. Neither TurboTax and TaxAct not offer representation. However, you must think about whether you would hire your own representative in the actual event of an IRS audit (probably depends on severity).

Bottom line: The sleep-well-at-night choice if you want the assurance that a federally-authorized enrolled agent will guide you for free through a potential albeit unlikely audit.

Find more in Reviews, Taxes | 1/10/13, 8:51pm | Trackback

Hypocrisy of the Congress-Senate may investigate Microsoft but not Apple to block access by browser

 

Mozilla's hypocrisy: It's OK for Apple to block Firefox, but wrong when he does Microsoft

How is this for hypocrisy: Mozilla says that the prohibition on Firefox to Apple iPhone and iPads is no problem, but limiting the browser from using certain features on some Microsoft Windows 8 tablets may be illegal.

Apple bans Firefox completely by iOS, while in the upcoming Windows 8, Firefox does not have access to certain features of Windows tablets, those that run on ARM chips. Firefox will be allowed full access to the PC version of Windows 8 and Windows 8 tablets running Intel chips.

Harvey Anderson, top lawyer, Computerworld Mozilla has admitted that there are some similarities between the way Apple and Microsoft treat Firefox, but:

"The similarities with iOS do not justify a result on Windows that deprives users of choice, reduces competition and hurts innovation."

When pressed to explain the contradiction of apparenty in Mozilla's attitude towards Apple and Microsoft, said:

"The difference here is that Microsoft is using its power of Windows OS monopoly to exclude market competition in the browser market."

There is so much wrong with that quote, it's hard to know where to start. So let's start with the basics: in Tablet market, if there is no monopoly, power is in the hands of Apple, not Microsoft. The latest survey from IDC shows that Apple dominates the market for Tablet, with 68% of the market. Windows tablets barely selling at all. So what power of monopoly is Anderson referring to?

He clearly refers to the Windows market share ' on your PC. But there are no restrictions on the use of Firefox on Windows computers. And when Windows 8 ships, there will be no restrictions on the use of Firefox on PC or on tablets running Intel chips. The only restrictions will be on tablets running Windows to ARM chips, using the operating system called Windows RT.

Even then, Firefox will be allowed to run on Windows RT. It will be a bit paralyzed, though, because it will only run as an application of a meter, is not a desktop application and is limited by the use of certain features of the operating system.

Contrast that with the way Apple is Firefox on iOS: it is banned outright. Apple does not allow true Firefox and other browsers in App Store, and therefore cannot be installed on iPads and iPhones. At least Microsoft allows some version of browsers on Windows RT, although it may not be a fully featured one.

Also, keep in mind that the full version of Firefox will be allowed to execute on Windows 8 tablet based on Intel. It is Windows only RT where there will be a problem.

Anderson is hinting that Mozilla can pursue antitrust action against Microsoft in United States and Europe because of restrictions Windows RT. He writes on the Mozilla blog Microsoft Action:

"... runs afoul of browser choice and seems to represent the very behavior [Justice Department]-Microsoft settlement tried to prohibit."

Since only the smallest slice of the Tablet market has Microsoft and Apple dominates, there is no anti-trust implications here. If there were, you should apply to Apple, browser competitors banning from the dominant Tablet operating system, iOS.

Mozilla should be criticizing Apple more than Microsoft criticises it for standing in the way of browser choice. The company is not doing his argument favors embracing hypocrisy.

 

Hypocrisy of the Congress-Senate may investigate Microsoft but not Apple to block access by browser

Politicians are prone to hypocrisy, but now they are leading to new heights-a Committee of the Senate may appear in the Microsoft browser blocking access to certain features of Windows RT, but do not investigate Apple for browser restrictions even more.
According to The Hill, the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee plan to take a look at allegations that Microsoft has made it difficult for the competitors Web browsers run on a particular version of Windows. "

Staff members going to do that because of complaints from Mozilla Firefox and other browsers is not allowed to access some features of certain Windows 8 tablets, those that run on ARM chips. Firefox and other browsers will be allowed full access to 8 PC Windows and any Windows 8 tablets running Intel chips.
Windows 8 on arm (called Windows RT), the browser will be able to run in the Metro, but not the desktop. Because they cannot run on your desktop, the subway version cannot access certain APIs and other features, so I will be paralyzed when compared to Internet Explorer, it will have full access to the desktop and API.
That is certainly restrictive. But how about Apple? On iOS Apple bans Firefox and other browsers true-which is not allowed in the app store and therefore can not be installed. That is certainly worse than what Microsoft is doing.
Not only that, but Microsoft is only limiting access browser on tablets, a market where it has no presence in the market. Apple dominates the market for Tablet, with 68% of the market, according to IDC. Given that Apple has a market share of much larger and much more restrictive practices, why isn't Apple under investigation instead of Microsoft?
The Senate Committee is not alone in his hypocrisy-Mozilla, after all, started the controversy with locating Microsoft giving Apple a free pass.

The truth is that there is nothing worthy of investigation here. Due to the war, economic stagnation, and other assorted ills, you would think that Congress would have more important things to do than look into this. But investigating Microsoft is an easy way to obtain titles and give the impression of acting-and perhaps accumulating votes when November rolls around.