Free Turbo Tax Software!

March 15, 2011

Free TurboTax Premier Giveaway

Thanks to the team at Intuit, I’m giving away free access to TurboTax Premier to six of you! We covered using the software to file your income tax return earlier this year in the TurboTax review so I figured it would make sense to give some of you a chance to try the tax software for free.

Actually, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll recall that I’ve written before about how anyone can get a free trial of TurboTax.  There’s no charge to go through the process of entering all your information in the online edition, you only pay when you go to file. 

The winners of this giveaway will get a special TurboTax coupon code that you’ll enter when reviewing your tax return that will waive your fees.  The promo code is good for TurboTax Premier Online 2010 – one federal & state preparation with e-file. 

Why I Like TurboTax

There’s a guy at my office who’s about to retire who’s been doing his taxes by hand for decades.  Every year during tax season he takes vacation days for part or even all of a week to prepare his tax return.  It’s become kind of joke that whenever he’s out for a few days he must be working on his taxes.

Of course his are a little more complex than average because he has things like rental properties and a side business.  Regardless, I don’t think many of us would want to use up a whole week, or even a day, of vacation time to work on taxes.

I’m busy enough now that I actually use my old college roommate, turned tax attorney, to prepare my taxes for me.  But for years prior to that I always used TurboTax to do the tax prep, then I printed out my return and mailed it in.  The years I probably appreciated it the most were the ones when I put my taxes off until the last minute. 

Don’t Procrastinate

There were some late nights when I was really glad to have the software walking me through it so I could get it finished and mailed in the next day. What always seemed to get me was a form I couldn’t find. I knew it was filed somewhere in my office but didn’t want to go through my whole desk again at 2 AM. 

So don’t wait until the last minute to file your taxes.  Even if you can’t sit down and do them all at once, at least spend a few minutes on them each night so you’re not scrambling the night before the tax deadline.

TurboTax Versions

Last year I had some conversations with Bob Meighan at Intuit about TurboTax vs manually filing a tax return.  Turns out about 15% of people that use TurboTax use the Free 1040 EZ edition. If you qualify for free filing, you’re welcome to try and win the Premier edition but it’s definitely more than you need.  

I also learned that around 60% of their customers use TurboTax Deluxe; which doesn’t have some of the investment (cost basis tracking, retirement contributions, stock sales) and rental property (real estate depreciation, landlord deductions, loan fees) features in TurboTax Premier. Of course, if you only need the Deluxe version, the Premier edition will work for you so feel free to enter to win.

Win TurboTax Premier

So how can you get your hands on TurboTax Premier? Well you don’t actually have to worry about messing around with the mail because the versions up for grabs can be accessed via TurboTax online. As I mentioned above, the winners will receive a Turbo Tax code that gives you one free federal, free state, and free e-file with the Premier edition.

I ran this same giveaway last year with fewer copies and it was really popular so I’m pretty excited to offer it again. I imagine some of you have already finished your taxes but if you haven’t then certainly give this a shot.

How to Enter

The rules are simple, all you have to do is signup for my free email newsletter to win.  I’ll randomly select 6 people as winners and notify you via email.  If I don’t hear back from you in 3 days after emailing, or you no longer need it, I’ll randomly select an alternate winner.  I’m afraid I also have to limit it to residents of the United States.

Enter your email address below to signup for the newsletter and enter to win:

  

Ben

Will this article help you save or earn more money? Get others like it simply by entering your email address below. Your email is used only for delivering daily money tips and you can opt out of delivery at any time. Click here to see all your free subscription options.

  

Ben
Ben Edwards, the founder of Money Smart Life, saved up enough to buy a Nintendo back when he was 12 years old. When he used the money to buy shares of Wal-Mart stock instead, he knew he wasn't like the other kids... His addiction to personal finance has paid off for his family and now he's helping you to afford the life that you want. Check him out on the web at Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook.

All posts by

Comments

35 Responses to Free Turbo Tax Software!

  • Henria

    Forgot to mention that I’m subscribed via email (for an additional 5 pts). Thanks!

  • Frugalista

    I just moved states, again, so filing for two states is frustrating and I need to make sure I get it right.

  • Night Runner

    My biggest frustration about taxes is that there’s so much completely unnecessary complexity involved. 🙁 Why can’t it be simple?..

  • Robert in SF

    I stress about missing deductions, since I don’t know all the possible deductions possible.

    Thanks for the contest!

  • Jimi

    Biggest Frustration? Waiting. Waiting for forms from retirement, medical, work, IRS, state…

  • Amit

    finding all the documentation is annoying. Preparing the returns after that is not too bad.

  • Henria

    The most frustrating thing for me when filing taxes is finding all of my tax documentation that I should have proactively set aside in a file throughout the year!

  • Sean

    I have to agree with everyone else. I wish my tax forms would get to me faster. In the age of “the internets” you would think it would be easier/faster to get my forms to me so I can do my taxes and be done with it!

  • Wealthy Immigrant

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  • William

    Waiting for all the different forms to arrive!

  • Kush

    My biggest issue would be finding out which tax breaks I’m qualified for there are so many it can get confusing….

    p.s. I follow moneysmartlife on twitter and RSS 🙂 and retweeted.

  • Brett Bristow

    The hardest part is waiting for my W-2 to arrive and to know exactly what information to put in my schooling.

  • Madison

    My biggest frustration? That taxes aren’t all year round! Of course, as a tax preparer, I love taxes. Kinda sick, I know!

  • Laura

    My biggest frustration is just finding all the right forms for the various things I need to file!

  • James

    Most annoying is waiting to get forms from work, banks, other investments to complete my taxes. I also hate trying to see if I can read into IRS instructions, what I want them to say.

  • Cecilia

    I am following you on Twitter, and tweeted the giveaway. This would be a godsend. Every year there is always a new twist to our taxes. They are never simple.

    Once we even paid someone to do them. And they had us paying almost $1500 when we should have been getting back nearly $1000. I insisted that I just leave and not pay. The manager came running into the office on a saturday, and said yes, lets just forget about this. Never again… Groan….

    I subscribed to your email also.

  • Sun

    Since I have owed taxes for the past few years and this year probably the same, I hope April 15th will never come 🙂

  • Megan

    That the government mandates you have to pay to be in compliance. Especially since state here you can’t free file!

  • Matt

    I’m with Laura…..I’m ready to file now….but Ihave to wait for the docs to arrive.
    p.s. please select me for the free tax software.

  • copper

    The only real frustration I have is the time I’m ready to do my taxes doesn’t coincide with the delivery schedule of financial documents. Last week was perfect “stay inside – do nothing – work on the computer” weather and I was mentally prepared to do my taxes but not documentally prepared. 🙁

  • M.L.

    I really don’t have a major frustration with preparing taxes – I most annoying aspect is just making sure all of the forms are available. I have used Turbo Tax for years now and it makes tax prep very easy.

  • lunettes

    I’m really frustrated with this year’s tax issue because I got married and this is the first year I’m off my parents’ dependancy. I know how they have filed taxes in the past, but I never had to deal with some of the oil/gas leases and farm situation in my name before. Additionally, my husband has an easy W-2 situation but I had multiple jobs and freelancing positions this year in addition to being a student and things have just gone CRAZY tax-wise especially with saving for retirement and getting married halfway through the year and our deductions changing then! This software would be a big help. 🙂

  • Steve

    My biggest frustration about preparing taxes is the fear that I’ve missed something in MY favor. I’m good about catching anything that might hurt me but I’m always afraid I missed a deduction, etc. That’s something TurboTax helps with, for sure.

  • Laura M.

    My biggest frustration is waiting for the documents to file! I’m impatient. 🙂

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  • Tax Deadline TurboTax Giveaway! | Money Smart Life
  • Friday Finance Findings for March 18th
  • linklings, my ache-y break-y tooth edition | brip blap
  • TurboTax Winners! | Money Smart Life
  • Common Income Tax Problems | Money Smart Life
  • Weekend Tax Tips | Money Smart Life
  • Weekend Linkage – February 7, 2010
  • TurboTax Online Deluxe 2009 Giveaway
  • Turbo Tax Free Trial! | Money Smart Life
  • Search For Turbotax 2010 | Broadcasting News
  • Friday Finance Findings for January 29 : Generation X Finance