Turns out, there are big difference between these two top-tier tax-prep applications that are more than skin and dollar deep.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
OK, OK. Doing taxes may be the last thing on your mind, but as long as you must file them (and you must), you should know there are some interesting differences between TaxCut and TurboTax, two top-tier tax-prep applications, that might help you decide which one to use for your 2008 return.
Overall, TurboTax 2008 does a better job calling out the tax law changes most important to Americans, including guiding you if you've lost your job or have had to foreclose on a home. It also offers more scenarios for folks affected by natural disasters.
2 of 9 CBS Interactive
Help files
TaxCut and TurboTax 2008 both address tax conundrums with a form of frequently asked questions and extensive help files. TaxCut's common questions are baked into the sidebar for each section of the tax interview, so you'll be able to refer back to the same question and answer every time.
3 of 9 CBS Interactive
Community support
This sidebar is TurboTax 2008's version of FAQs. Instead of using prewritten questions, TurboTax pulls in the top questions users are asking on any given topic. You'll be able to read the full question text and respond online. To ask your own question, you'll need to register for an account. This peer support sidebar is new to the desktop versions of TurboTax this year.
4 of 9 CBS Interactive
Importing tools
Importing your W-2 wages from your payroll company and your 1099 investment income details from your brokerage firms is, hands-down, TurboTax's best timesaving convenience. The import won't calculate your cost basis, but it will grab the big numbers. We just wish TaxCut did this, too.
5 of 9 CBS Interactive
Deductions
TurboTax 2008 for the desktop is padded with more features this year than TaxCut. This deductions estimate is one such change to TurboTax's interview. According to Intuit, estimating your figures will help TurboTax zip you through the deductions process faster by showing you just the fields you need to enter.
6 of 9 TaxCut
Preparing to E-File
The IRS needs to know either your AGI (adjusted gross income) from your 2007 tax form or the PIN number you previously used to file your return electronically. TaxCut has a great convenience tool for returning TaxCut users that looks up the previous year's AGI.
7 of 9 CBS Interactive
Advanced charts and tools
A bonus if you enjoy props and other visual reinforcements, TurboTax's audit thermometer predicts if you're at risk for unwanted IRS attention. You'll read hotter if you're a small business owner, for example, or if you claim child tax credits. If a former flame does too, that's a big IRS no-no.
8 of 9 CBS Interactive
Live Tax Help
When it comes to live support, TaxCut has TurboTax soundly beat. TaxCut 2008 offers users of its paid products a free phone or e-mail session of live tax help for one topic. In addition, live audit support comes completely free, and if you do get audited, you can go into any H&R Block office for help.
9 of 9 CBS Interactive
Audit support
TurboTax may charge for most of its audit protection and help services involving a real human being, but you won't be left in the cold. Intuit's free, downloadable self-help audit support center is well-organized and can help walk you through the most common audits. For an additional $40, you can turn over harder cases to an Intuit's tax pros.
