Used to be good, but this year is much worse. Updating takes forever after the download. (Maybe they should cut out the cute messages.) The state program for PA is hopelessly screwed up. It's so bad that I'll have to file my state return by hand.

Last review was in 2009. Probably for the best. The program has only gotten worse. Don't get me wrong. I started way back when using one of the few tax programs for Mac .... MacInTax. Then Intuit threw it into a blender and spit it out as TurboTax. Initially, TurboTax was okay. Unfortunately, Intuit's lack of serious support over the years for anything Mac forced me to switch to H&R Block 4 years ago ... and I have not looked back. Unfortunately, a nearby relative still insisted on using TurboTax. To add insult to injury, he only has a dial-up connection. So, I would manually download the updates for him ... updates which numbered well into the double digits. Many of these updates were to correct program errors ... not to just finalize forms. This year, things are even worse. There were problems which prevented Lion users from downloading updates via the program. Unfortunately, manual updates were not an option either .... and are still not an options. On TurboTax's site, there is a link for Windows users to manually download updates. For Mac users ... only a link to contact Intuit to figure out what to do next. Peruse the TurboTax community forums and you will see tons of problems for Mac users. Again ... to add insult to injury ... you have Windows "super users" advising Mac product owners on how to solve problems! This final straw was enough to make my relative switch top H&R Block. I still have to manually download updates for him ... but it is easy and there have only been 2 (with only 1 more ... probably a final one ... projected for 28 Feb). I really don't know why MacUpdate continues to include TurboTax here .... unless it is at the request of Intuit.

Intuit has been shortchanging MAC users for years. I dumped Quicken for the MAC as it went without meaningful support for stability problems and progressively lost features made available in the Windows version (I use MoneyDance and have never looked back). But after being dissatisfied with TaxCut last year (It will not import Fidelity data, while TurboTax does), I decided to give Intuit's Turbotax another try. After confirming on the Turbotax website that Turbotax could transfer in my data from TaxCut2007, I purchased TurboTax 2008. Immediately after purchase I ran into trouble trying to do the transfer (TaxCut file grayed out and not accessible). I reached out to Turbotax support and was provided as a "resolution" direction to this hidden gem on their support site: "You can't transfer from TaxCut or TaxACT to TurboTax for the Mac. If you want to transfer from these products, try one of our TurboTax Windows desktop products." Intuit seems intent on maximizing sales and screwing MAC users. If they are not going to support the platform, and continue to mislead consumers that their products function fully on the MAC, then I say we boycott the company's entire product line.

ADVICE for TurboTax:

Seeing as how there are no listings for newer versions, I will post here. I write this as TurboTax2005 is out.

A client who uses TurboTax tried to open their "04" tax file and TurboTax05 simply stated it could not open the file "due to an unknown error". Luckily I made them keep the previous year's CD. After installing TurboTax04 the "04" file opened fine in that version. However, the client could not import the past year's data and had to manually enter the information.

Yes, we have run all updates. Yes, we have tried clean installs, etc.

For those who insist on using TurboTax, please at least heed this advice:

1) DOWNLOAD THE UPDATES MANUALLY from Intuit's site. Their auto-updater is terrible, and in some cases, needlessly intrusive. (Go to "turbotax.com", click SUPPORT tab near top-right, click "Get the Latest Information" next to Update TurboTax Desktop, click a link that read something like "Manually download and install the update"). Intuit likes to change their web site and frequently moves the location of the Manual Download links. It is there, you may have to call support to get them to direct you.

2) PRINT COPIES FOR YOURSELF of all important forms each year. Also keep past version CDs of TurboTax in case the current version refuses to open past year's files.

Another comment on the Manual Update, you can really see Intuit's disdain for the MacOS platform as they require you download multiple files (5 or more) whereas the Windows folks have one file.

The one POSITIVE comment I will make about TurboTax2005, is that they finally made the package a Mac/PC combo. It was so incredibly confusing and wasteful to have separate boxes and order numbers for each platform for such a small, single-use product.

Went to CompUSA and MicroCenter today looking for this. Neither had it. What they did have were spectacular deals on PC version of TurboTax and PC Turbotax bundles with Quicken 2004.

Mac Users are getting shaft as (1) $20 Quicken 2004 Upgrade rebate expired 11/30 and (2) online bundles are about $90 instead of $40.

Intuit can forget about any upgrade money from me this year.