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If it's possible to make tax time fun, TurboTax knows the secret. Just watch TurboTax's real time calculation of your refund, (hopefully) and utilize every feature available within this year's program and you can't help but have a little fun. TurboTax can spice up the process while preventing IRS "procedural headaches" and save you money! This years improvements have been made across the board on

most versions of TurboTax, and even the Basic picks up some attractive features.

For instance; for filing 2008 taxes, purchasing one downloaded product gets you up to five free federal e-filings and unlimited snail mail federal returns. Online editions of federal and state include a free e-file that could have you spending "your" money in less then ten days. Each year TurboTax enjoins with more and more employers and financial institutes (over 100,000 this year,) making the error free importing of your W-2 and 1099 data one click away.

Generally I would recommend the "Deluxe" (or higher) versions of TurboTax, but there are reasons to take advantage of the lower cost Basic edition; like those lucky folks living in states with no state taxes. You should know that TurboTax Basic and all online versions do not come with any state filing whatsoever. Stand alone "state" TurboTax products are available for $34.95 which includes e-file. In any case, the state versions work seamlessly with whatever federal version you use, and whether or not you do it online or a CD/Download install. You don't have to spend hours second guessing which data goes where from your federal to your state returns, TurboTax already knows what the agencies want, and does it all for you.

The real difference between Basic and the advanced editions is mostly Intuits automated guides and features having nothing to do with filing status, save the Business Suites. You get the same forms in Basic as you do the deluxe version, however, all the advanced editions come with what is arguably a "must have" set of tools and information guides to make for easier understanding, and most likely a more favorable refund or tax due. There's no doubt, you would enjoy the wisdom of TurboTax's renowned features like ItsDeductible and their built in "Audit Risk Meter." TurboTax does offer a free download with all editions called "Audit Support Center," that helps prepare you for responding to that increasingly popular day of being audited.

For the common issues that raise doubts or confusion, TurboTax and their wonderful Q and A interface rids you of all the usual worrisome moments. As you and the interviewer proceed together, you'll see tabs and buttons offering things like; "Explain this" and "Guide Me." These powerful tools are chalked full of guides and information, starting with easy to understand, professionally written answers to the most complex questions. If you want to subject yourself to the government's confusing database of documents, the program leads you to those as well. This year all versions include an improved "real time" online help system with both tax professionals and other TurboTax users like you, ready to help. In any case, TurboTax brings back confidence and puts a refreshing halt to the typical worries at tax time.

If you're still nervous about a computer doing your taxes, TurboTax confidently offers you some guarantees. Some of these include; "100% Accurate calculations' guaranteed," "If you get a bigger refund using any other tax preparation method, we'll give you your money back." "Satisfaction Guaranteedor you don't pay!" You can read more about all their guarantees here.

As for our own experience with TurboTax products, after using them for a decade, we can't come up with too many complaints. We have yet to run into confusion or problems and we've put it to the test as far as complex issues go. It saved us untold headaches (and probably some money too,) when we sold our home, a business and moved across the country and opened another business, all in the same year. It took all the guesswork out of these and many more issues over the years. At times our situations have required so many forms, without TurboTax, (and an occasional call to the IRS for assurance,) we wouldn't have known where to begin. We have since been filing a retail business and a farm through the same program, and each year TurboTax has made quick work of it all.

I have run across an occasional complaint now and then about TurboTax and usually when I read it, I can relate to exactly what "they" (not the program) did wrong. The vast majority of problems come from people losing their prior years files, (making it impossible to transfer data,) or other issues that clearly have nothing to do with the program itself. It is imperative, if you back up anything at all, make certain you back up your TurboTax files. As ridiculous as it may sound, to this day, we make "THREE" separate CD's of each years files. The program allows you to save and or print copies in PDF as well. After having a year with a crashed hard drive and a CD becoming unreadable, we take no chances.

TurboTax can't "fix" deception or intentional omissions, but it does go out of its way to question your answers if you've input information suspect of error. I also see where people actually skip the interview process and fill in the forms manually? Although you can fill in forms without the interview, doing so literally overrides the knowledge base of the program and makes purchasing it a complete waste.

Often times I find people claiming they "hate" TurboTax because they get lost in the maze of questions during the interview process once they've moved beyond a particular area. While researching this complaint,

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