Intuit TurboTax Home and Business 2006
Date Published: 2/27/08
Intuit TurboTax Home & Business 2006 tax software is designed for sole proprietors. If your business is a corporation -- including Subchapter S -- or a partnership, you will need to use TurboTax Business, as well as a standard version of a tax software program to prepare your personal return.
One of the things we like best about TurboTax -- besides its clean, uncluttered interface -- is its time-saving ability to import financial information from Quicken, QuickBooks, Microsoft Money or any program that can export TXF (Tax Exchange Format) files.
The Deduction Maximizer Center can help you find every last possible deduction, using one of two methods. You can have the program guide you through all the possibilities, or you can hunt for deductions on your own. We decided to go our own way. We intentionally left out a couple of possibilities and then tested the automatic method. We were pleased -- and slightly disappointed -- that we were not able to fool it. If you're not sure whether you qualify for a particular type of deduction, such as a Residential Energy Credit, you can click on a "Do I Qualify" link for guidance. In fact, most entries include a link to explanations or additional information, so you will rarely, if ever, end up feeling lost or overwhelmed. The built-in help is well-organized and well-written; if you ever get really stuck on a personal or business tax issue, you can click the Live Tax Advice link to contact a tax professional, although this is a pricey option.
The online version of Intuit TurboTax Home & Business 2006 is virtually identical to the desktop version, so you can take it for a test run if you're a new user. There's no obligation and no charge until you print or e-file your return.
Intuit TurboTax Home & Business 2006 tax software is easy to use and takes much of the stress out of the tax preparation process.
Pros: Easy to use, compatible with the major personal and business financial software programs
Cons: Relatively high price, doesn't include free audit support, limited to sole proprietors
