Mar 29, 2008
H&R Block’s TaxCut is a scam
Did you know that when you pay money for H&R Block’s TaxCut software you’re only able to use it for one filing season, despite its built-in ability to download the latest forms and recognize the latest regulations for federal and state filing laws? I sure didn’t — and H&R Block doesn’t make that clear anywhere on their site (like, say, the FAQ, where one CSR told me that was supposedly clearly outlined). Apparently they expect you to re-pay for the same software every year — not including their ridiculously overpriced e-filing fees. Absolutely not cool. (I’ll try to fight back the urge to do my annual post in favor of flat taxes.) Maybe it’s time to go back to the local CPA!
I'm an editor and technology critic in the midst of founding a new web startup: 
To be “fair” turbo tax is just as evil if not worse. After buying the “basic” you learn that you must upgrade to file for your state. The upgrade+basic costs MORE than deluxe which includes both.
Fair Tax only taxes what you spend. The problem with this logic is rich people don’t spend all their money, they save a tremendous amount of it and put it in stocks and real estate. A middle class person doesn’t have this luxury. So, while everyone is paying 23% sales tax, the rich would still not be paying into the system what they could (and arguably should). Not that any of that matters, our country’s back is about to be broken when we start paying the 23 trillion in promised social security payments. Sure, we can print that money, but do we really want to return to 80′s stagflation?
In the wise words of Charlie Brown, “We’re doomed”.
Ouch, that stings. I think the lesson to learn is don’t use that garbage tax software — some things are best done the old fashioned way (i.e. yourself, or with the help of a CPA / tax preparator).
Regarding taxing what you spend, “fair tax” is synonymous with VAT, no? Flat tax == everyone of every income bracket pays the same % of tax on income regardless of how much they make, donate, spend, or save. It’s hard to swallow on the surface, but considering that the American tax system is by far the most complicated and arcane in the civilized world — yet our nation’s rich are still able to find loopholes and breaks year after year — in the end we’d have more usable tax dollars and less bureaucratic overhead / national tax stress.
All tax software requires that you purchase every year. The tax laws are always changing and they are adding new features at least in TurboTax. I use it every year but I make sure to get the version that includes the state so that I am not double paying. If you are only doing one return, you might want to use TurboTax’s online service which is very similar to the installable and has FREE i repeat *FREE* E-file.
FWIW, I started using TaxCut several years ago when Intuit decided to include spyware with TurboTax. (Up till then, I had been a TT user since it was first introduced.).
I only had to pay for TaxCut the first year. Every year since then they have sent me a free copy. I do have to pay tp eFile, but that all since I live in one of the few states without a state income tax
Why are you using any installed software at all?
I’ve used the online version of TurboTax for about 5 years. No spyware. No problems.