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H&R Block discontinues Mac TaxCut

updated 03:35 pm EST, Wed February 22, 2006

H&R discontinues software


H&R Block has discontinued the Macintosh version of its "TaxCut" income tax preparation software. The company cited declining support and claims that its web-based "TaxCut Online" product will continue to support Mac users, including the ability to import tax data files from previous years. The company said "unfortunately, despite our best efforts to invest and enhance our Macintosh prodcuts over the past everal years, customer demand has continued to decline. Due to poor sales, we've decided to discontinue Macintosh development for this year. We will continue to evaluate the market viability for Macintosh-based products in the future." Users can provide feedback on the decision by contacting H&R online .


by MacNN Staff

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  1. metfoo

    Junior Member

    Joined: Apr 2002

    0
    02/22, 04:49pm | report spam | Reply |

    Boycott H&R Block

    I used turbotax this year since the taxcut cd i received in the mail was for windows only. Putting my financial data on a windows box is not an option for me. I voiced my concern using the link provided, and let them know that I am boycotting H&R block, and the taxcut software.

    Apple has M$ in their eyes. Apple feels that vistas strict hardware requirements, spyware, and security will make many windows users look elsewhere. By releasing an Intel mac, they are trying to woo in people. They are hoping people say "If i don't like OS X, i can always install windows" because the fact that the system has an Intel CPU. If somebody can get windows running on an Intel mac, I think it will be a blessing, since people will know that they have a second option,

  1. hayesk

    Professional Poster

    Joined: Sep 1999

    0
    02/22, 05:04pm | report spam | Reply |

    Bad software

    Isn't it funny how companies put out half-a$$ed versions of software and then blame the users when it doesn't sell.

    H&R Block could have made some money, had they invested enough development to produce quality software.

    Intuit are just as bad. In Canada, the last Mac version was released after the RRSP contribution deadline. One of the biggest reasons for tax software is to play the "what if" game - for example, "what would my return be if I put $1000 more dollars into my RRSP." Well, that software is kind of useless if it's too late to put more money into an RRSP. The following year, they said QuickTax for Mac was discontinued due to poor sales. Gee, I wonder why?

    If these companies had the smallest amount of common sense, they'd use a platform-independent file format for their tax forms, and then have native viewer applications for each platform. There'd be almost no maintenance from year to year, and their return on investment in the Mac (or any other) platform would grow every year.

    Idiots.

  1. chadpengar

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2001

    0
    02/22, 05:27pm | report spam | Reply |

    more macs=less customers?

    Funny how Macs are increasing in their consumer marketshare yet H&R Block can't sell more SW? Maybe the SW sucks? I have been using it for several years but have to use the TurboTax product for my business. TurboTax is a LOT smoother (even though it sucks too).

  1. MaxGuru

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2003

    0
    02/22, 05:36pm | report spam | Reply |

    You suck, you lose

    I tried TaxCut. When I tried to electronically submit my return it said there was an error in the return. It would not, however, tell me what that error was. I got no help from their support other than to "try again". I went so far as to redo the return from scratch. Still no luck. The printed return was accepted so I guess there really was no error. Bye TaxCut. TurboTax has improved but still has problems. I need to file married but separate state returns. TurboTax did not tell me this until I reached the end. It then has no way to go back and create the 2 returns. You must file, then go back a create a new return for the spouse.

    Good software at a lower price than TurboTax will easily win marketshare. Don't blame the users because your stuff stinks.

  1. fletcher

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2005

    0
    02/22, 07:08pm | report spam | Reply |

    TaxCut

    I used TaxCut several years ago. All tax software requires an update just after January 1 to catch up with any last minute tax law changes. TaxCut had a Windows update in the first week of January, but I had to wait until sometime in February for the Macintosh update. I found myself waiting for weeks after I had all my paperwork to be able to file. I switched back to Intuit the following year.

    I've actually bee pleased with Intuit the last couple years. They are supporting and updating QuickBooks on Mac again. TurboTax on Mac seems pretty good (a bit buggy, but no more so than the Windows version). And, they really seem to be making an effort to listen to customers.

  1. Glasspusher

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2000

    0
    02/22, 07:42pm | report spam | Reply |

    good riddance

    I concur. I used TaxCut up until last year, when I switched to Turbotax. Far better than that eyesore TaxCut.

    I discontinued them before they discontinued me!

  1. LouZer

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2000

    0
    02/23, 12:46am | report spam | Reply |

    Turbotax blows

    I dumped turbotax years ago. It was bloated and annoying. Taxzcut was/is easy enough to use, without wasting time trying to be fancy with the UI.

    I was going to get Turbotax this year because taxcut left, but couldn't justify (a) the price increase, and (b) the loss of the 'free' electronic filing.

    And you people should be bemoaning the departure of taxcut, as it now leaves intuit no competition and letting them get away charging their overpriced c***. Same goes with Quicken (no competition means absolutely no advancement in the software compared to the windows version)

    Oh, and all Mac tax software takes longer to update than windows software. Turbotax was/is the same way. But why complain about it? I mean, its a mac. You should be used to such service. Very few companies offer up their mac software when they release their windows software/patches.

  1. trevc

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2000

    0
    02/23, 02:19am | report spam | Reply |

    good riddance ... not!

    I just HATE this. I prefer NOT to use online Tax software as I'm sometimes paranoid about all that info on someone elses server ... and now I don't even have an option to Calculate Taxes on a Mac in Canada?

    What happened to an excel spreadsheet based Tax thingy ... geez ... more macintoshes out there and dropped software like this raises eyebrows from recent 'switchers' that I know ... and they ended up doing their taxes on their work computer ... I'm sure it doesn't help promote the mac...

  1. Saint_Stryfe

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2001

    0
    02/23, 02:31am | report spam | Reply |

    Try...

    If your in the US, Try TaxSlayer. THey use a fully encrypted system, and was very fast and accurate for me. Had my refund in my bank account within a week.

  1. ATPTourFan

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2003

    0
    02/23, 09:22am | report spam | Reply |

    blame turbotax...

    ...their software is better

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