H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile [Formerly TaxCut] [Download]

I've always used this software program and never had a problem until this year. E-filed both federal and state. No problems with Federal. Turns out there was a thousand variance between the number the software calculated I'd get and what I actually ended up owing the state. Since all the information is imported and there were no itemized deductions, I don't see how a software program could be so off. I'll be using turbo tax from now on.

I purchased the HR Block at Home software on 4/13/10. I completed my Federal and State income taxes that same day and efiled both. It is now 5/13/10, and I have not received the refund, so I checked the status with the IRS. Well, my income tax returns were NEVER RECEIVED!!!!!!!! This year I switched from Turbo Tax to HR Block to save a few bucks, well, I guess I learned my lesson. Not only did it not take my 2008 Turbo Tax data like it was marketed to do, the 'free' efile obviously didn't work. I will be contacting Amazon for a refund on this abomination of a product.

I've used H&R Block for the last 3+ years. I've never been disappointed with it ... so far. Ok, one minor exception, but I'll get to that. I originally tried because it was on a ridiculous deal at OfficeSomthing where you got tax software, MS Money, and a couple of other things for around $30 after rebates. I could not pass up trying it. Since then, I've been getting it online usually and have never regretted using it. I purchased the electronic download from Amazon. I've purschased one other Amazon download, which was a mp3. This, like the previous purchase, went off without a hitch. The download did require their software to be installed, but I had no problems with its function under Windows 7 Professional 64-bit through a cable connection. I did purchase it late in the game, March, so some of the issues mentioned by other reviewers may have been worked out by then; I rarely by early into anything to avoid such problems. I was concerned about the purchase due to some negative reviews of the downloads and codes. However, install went fine, updates went fine, state download went fine, state e-file purchase and processing went fine, and finally the free federal e-file went fine; I'm always worried about "codes" provided for services because they are sometimes stolen (used before use) and sometimes just don't work as some reviewer commented. There were a couple of software glitches that caused the software to just die. This caused a couple of minor reentries, but for the most part the software was stable. Updates and downloads were fine. I had an issue with entry of stock sale information. The electroinc entry allowed for no wiggle room related to exceptional conditions. The IRS paper instructions state something like "if there are exceptions, attach a note of explanation". The electronic form entry does not allow that. In my case, the basis for gifted stock had two possible values as the IRS rules state; the basis at the time stock was purchased and the basis at the time of giftng. This directly affects the tax liability. There was not a good way of expressing that I did not owe tax and still put in one of the valid numbers since the sale price fell between them. So, I had to match (fake) the basis number to match the sale price so that the software computed 0 differnce and neither a tax credit nor tax liability. This came from a suggestion on the online forum, which in my case actually did help me decide what to do. The online forum allows you after registration to post (only requires registartion) and review questions and answers. Also, this entry massaging allowed me to still electronicly file the return without appending a note of explanation. I was concnerned that after buying the software I would have to print and paper submit. Fortunately, that did not have to happen. I'm grateful for the suggestion from the tax people who apparently do visit the site. The best thing about this kind of software is the carry over from year to year of last year's info, names, ids, tax refunds, .... It makes entry very simple for only the new W2 info, interest, and deductions. It makes completing a tax return very simplistic; assuming that you have all your documents kept somewhere from the previous year (but that's true no matter how you do taxes). Also, most of the federal info is auto-filled in for the state. State literally takes about 5 minutes once the federal is in order. Any last minute federal changes automatically update the state, which again requires no duplicate book entry. I just love that. Simple. Then a few steps to submit the federal and state online and I'm good. No stamps or envelopes to fill out. So far, I've had great success with this software. This is my second Amazon purchase and first electronic download of the software. I'll keep using it since I like that it makes taxes ALMOST "fun". At the lvery least, much less of a chore! Some complain about the charing for state e-file, but If included, you would only end up paying an additional $20 in the price. I'm not sure what the basis for the complaints other than I didn't pay for it once when I bought or I want it all for $10 and no more. Ok, one could hope, but they can charge what they want for it since we do still live in America last I checked; capitalism and all. And everyone has the right to refuse to buy it at that price. The only thing that I do agree with is the sometimes misleading "features" that should spell out CLEARLY that e-file for fedral is included but state is NOT. They do say the, but it's sometimes too well hidden. Other than that, I recommend using the software and sticking with the brand for simplicity of next years. What I do not recommend is getting the software too early in the year AND not buying it automatically from H&R Block when it is released for full price. Come to Amazon from February-April and look for a good deal. So far, they have not priced it out of my usefulness even with the $20 for state e-filing fee. I think that a total $50 is worth the time saved in entering all the redundant year to year stuff and corrections that are so much easier to make electronically in software rather than on paper.

I've been using Turbo Tax deluxe for about 10 years, but it just kept getting more and more expensive. I finally decided to switch because this was much less expensive and promised to be able to import my prior year Turbo Tax return. It did, and it did it so easily and perfectly that I'll use this again next year. Not only that, but this was much easier to do my state (PA) taxes than with Turbo Tax.

File electron federal return is free. But you have to pay for the state return. Becuase each state wants some money if you use HR software to file return. This software title is misleading people. Otherwise it is a fine software

Very good product. I have been using Tax Cut for over 10 years and I think this was the easiest of them all. Could not find my free e-file code but Amazon.com Software Download people directed me effortlessly to the Games & Downloads section to get the number.

I've used Tax Cut for the past 6 years. Never had a problem and I like it better than TurboTax. Anyway, I waited until the last minute to do my taxes...again and I had to load Tax Cut (H & R Block at home). I had 2 copies that they mailed to me, no discounts and with my state would have cost me well over $50. Found this download version on Amazon. I read the good and the bad reviews and decided to take a stab at it. In less tan 10 minutes I was importing last years information and adding this years. Great way to do it for me, and the price was really cheap. Bad thing was, my State (the wonderful state of Georgia), still wanted to charge me an additional $15 to e-file, so I spent the cost of a stamp instead. That's not H & R Block's proble. All in all, really easy to do and I did notice some people couldn't find their activation code but it was right on the download page on Amazon. Since I read alot of the reviews I wrote it down as soon as I saw it to avoid confusion.

I've read some complaints about people who downloaded the software from Amazon and did not get the KEYCODE that allows them to e-file for free. I was similarly perplexed until I saw on the Amazon product page the link that says: 'Looking for your e-file key? Find it in Your Games & Software Library'. If you've purchased and downloaded the software from Amazon you'll find your keycode in 'Your Games & Software Library' Just follow the link and look for the Product Key.

I downloaded the production thru Amazon. No problem what so ever. I have a HP laptop with Windows 7, 4G RAM, 64 bites. The download process was simple enough. I did struggle a little bit with Schedule K-1 but I think I got it right. I used 1040, Schedule B (for interests, dividends), Schedule D, Schedule M and L, and Form 6781. Overall, I am very happy with the product. One thing I specifically liked was that I was able to call H&R Customer Support re: a question about line 44 (Tax Amount). They couldn't answer it and referred me to a local office. The tax advisor in the office took me in right away and answered my question. I was in and out within 10 minutes. I think God was watching over me on this one. :)

I have down loaded this product from Amazon site. I was able to install it and upgrade the software. However, I have discovered a bug in the IRA computation module. If you insert an amount then then a go back and replace with another amount, instead of overwriting it, it will add the new amount to the old amount. I called the tech support line at HRB and the lady who answered could not understand what I was saying and said I need to talk to Amazon. I asked for supervisor, when she came she understood what was there and said there is a bug. However, because I got the SW from Amazon, she can not give me the code to download a version of SW that is free of bug. This is the most ridiculous statement that I heard in a long time. When the SW is bought legitimately from a retailer, then it is upto the the SW designer to support it and not the retailer. She said the only option I have is to contact Amazon to return the SW.. I will avoid them as much as I can..they need to know who to support the customer and staff proper people when something does not work.