Intuit's TurboTax 2006

Intuit Software

It looks like Intuit has figured out how to make a little more short-term profit and drive long-term customers, like me (20 years), to Tax Cut or some other Competitor.

In an attempt to convert a friend to TurboTax, I was gathering information and read the latest Web information on the Turbotax.com site to determine which version of TurboTax he would need to complete his 2006 income tax. In comparing the "Basic, Deluxe & Premier" versions, I discovered statements in their "Choose me If " pages for the Deluxe & Premier versions which led me to believe that in the 2006 product, a buyer would have to upgrade to the more expensive "Premier" version if they sold stocks, bonds or mutual funds.

I had already purchased my 2006 Deluxe version, as in each of the past years and this greatly concerned me. So I sent an E-mail to their Tech support and asked if that were actually the case and I could not use “Deluxe” if I sold stocks.

The Intuit Tech Support reply contained the following quote (bad grammar & all):

"1. Yes, the Deluxe version do not offer this feature. If you will try to access this on your product, it will ask you to upgrade to Premier Investment product.

2. There is a question on the Deluxe interview that will ask you if you sold these items. If you will click yes, it will ask you to upgrade to Premier Investment product.

3. Yes, you need to purchase or upgrade your Deluxe 2006 to Premier 2006 to handle stock sale."

turbotax.com/support

Respectfully,

Elmer L

Intuit Tax Products Customer Service & Support

"Revolutionizing how people manage their financial lives"

I originally used used Basic for a few years and, then, switched to Deluxe for the past 15 years. A stock transaction is basic to income taxes in this era. Now they seem to have removed this fundamental tax item from that program, with no notice to consumers.

It’s like selling you software and upon installation getting a Pop-Up telling you that you now need to pay to buy an activation code.

It's a version of the old "Bait & Switch" con game.

Charles Schmitt

Sterling, VA 20165