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miclus · Jan 21, 2007, 06:49 PM

I decided to make this a new thread. I don't know why, but using the same W2 info, TurboTax says I get $135 for a refund, TaxCut says $174, and TaxAct says $440. What's with the big disparity?

AtlantaTaxExpert · Jan 21, 2007, 07:22 PM

First, make sure you have keyed in the W-2 information correctly. A transposed number can make a difference in a tax bracket.

Second, check to see if they are giving you credit for the telephone excise tax rebate. It can be a high as $60 for a married couple.

Hird, make sure you are claiming the same filing status (Single VS. Married Filing Jointly Vs. Head of Household). That can make a big difference.

miclus · Jan 21, 2007, 07:29 PM

Yes, checked all that. I'm entering the same info on each one, but not necessarily the correct numbers. Do you think you can tell what any of the W2 boxes will be from my last check here?

http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~mbp02/taxes.jpg

AtlantaTaxExpert · Jan 21, 2007, 07:38 PM

Check to see if you put your date of birth in correctly.

Fr_Chuck · Jan 21, 2007, 08:09 PM

I quesss just a silly question of why a person runs all three versions to do their taxes and compare ?

miclus · Jan 21, 2007, 08:15 PM

Don't worry Chuck, not a silly question at all. I wanted to compare the ease of use of each.

Fr_Chuck · Jan 26, 2007, 07:10 AM

Thank you, so for my knowledge, since I use the programs myself, which did you find easier to use, and did you ever find the difference ?

AtlantaTaxExpert · Jan 26, 2007, 10:12 AM

I have not used either TurboTax or TaxCut in years, because TaxAct is, for me, so much easier to use, and the cost of the software or the website just beats the pants off either TurboTax or TaxCut.

miclus · Jan 26, 2007, 01:35 PM

Yeah, I found them all easy, but I like TaxAct now since it's free. I found the difference too, it was basically each program picks up on the EIC at a different time, so I wasn't following all the steps through in some programs.

Fr_Chuck · Jan 26, 2007, 03:42 PM

Thanks I got a free program for taxact, so it looks like that is the way I am going, lucky we don't have a state income tax here in TN so I don't have to buy any state programs.

Sentra · Jan 26, 2007, 03:50 PM

Make sure that 'Parsonage' is not checked if you are not affiliated with the line of work Fr_Chuck is in.

Our tax clerk had it checked, and when he corrected his mistake our return was at the right amount it should have been.

rktompsett · Feb 13, 2009, 06:02 PM

I like this thread. I've been using TurboTax for years at $70 - $80 a crack for the Premier version. I went with TaxAct this year and found it a whole lot easier, and much more reasonable price wise. I like TaxAct and I plan on sticking with it in the years to come.

taxy200 · Jan 23, 2011, 12:01 PM

As a retired Dept of Tres agent I can tell your that Turbo Tax and Taxcut in past years has made a lot of tax rate chart mistakes Taxact has never made those same mistakes... taxy200