The 2013 tax season is coming to an end, and if you haven’t had the chance to get your tax return done, April 15, 2013 is the deadline to file individual tax returns. This is also the date that if you owe any money to good old IRS, you should write them a check by.

Here are 4 tips to keep in mind as the April 15^th date nears:

1.  Face your tax fears.  You will not know exactly how much you owe, or if you will get a tax refund, unless you actually sit down and prepare your tax return.  The first step to understanding your tax circumstances is to gather your tax information and log in to TurboTax to figure out your tax liability, if any.  You might be surprised to find many deductions and credits that you may qualify for to help you lower your tax burden and get tax refund.  In any case, knowing your tax “prognosis” will allow you to create a plan for the next step.

2.  If you can’t pay, still file on time.  Many taxpayers are overwhelmed because they owe money on their tax returns, but filing on time can be a very important step to limiting your tax liability. According to the IRS, the failure-to-file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for each month up to five months and can be as much as 25 percent of your unpaid taxes. You can use TurboTax to help you complete your tax return and file on time. The IRS also offers installment payment plans that you can establish to help you pay your taxes.  In order to pay the least possible amount, you should still file on time.

3.  If you can’t file on time, file an extension and pay on time.  A good amount of the penalties and interests that the IRS charges are based on the amount of money that you owe. An extension to file is not an extension to pay.  If you know a fair estimate of how much money you will owe in taxes but for some reason cannot file, you should still send in a check to the IRS by April 15^th along with an Automatic Extension to file.  The IRS says that as long as you pay 90% of your bill before April 15^th and the rest by the extended deadline, you will not face a failure-to-pay penalty.  In about 5 minutes TurboTax can help you get 6 more months to file your taxes (but not to pay).

4.  April 15^th, 2013 is also the deadline to claim a tax refund or file an amendment for your 2009 taxes. The end of the tax season is also a very important date for people that have not filed their tax returns and are also eligible for a tax refund. The IRS will only refund to individuals up to three years after the initial filing date. This means that if you have not filed your 2009 tax return and you are entitled to a refund, you must act quickly to make sure that the IRS can send you your hard earned tax refund.

April 15^th is also the deadline for any amendments needed for your 2009 tax returns; this deadline may be later if your income tax payment for the 2009 year occurred less than two years ago.  Unfortunately e-file is not available for prior year returns, but if you still need to prepare a 2011 or earlier tax return, you can purchase  prior-year software and install it on your computer.

It doesn’t matter what tax situation applies to you.  TurboTax has the tools and the help you need to make this income tax filing season a smooth process.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to use TurboTax to help you file your income tax return before it is too late.  Only TurboTax allows you to ask tax experts who are CPAs, IRS Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys questions while you prepare your tax return, free.

Every year there are tens of millions of taxpayers that wait until the last minute to file their taxes. Doing so will not only cause stress but might also put you in jeopardy of not being able to complete them before April 15, and possibly face penalties from the IRS.

So if you’re one of those late-filers – what are you waiting for!? With only a few weeks left before the April 15 deadline, we at TurboTax want to make sure all of your tax questions are answered and that you feel empowered to file your own taxes and keep the money you deserve

To share some important last-minute tips to help you file your taxes within a short period of time, financial expert and TurboTax spokesperson Mike Periu will be hosting a live tweetchat in Spanish on Thursday, April 4 at 9 – 10 p.m. EST / 6 – 7 p.m. PST.

By using the hashtag #TurboTaxChat in your tweets during the event, you’ll be able to join in the conversation and ask your questions on:

• How to take advantage of credits and deductions you deserve
• How filing your taxes online will help you save time and money
• What is an extension and how to file it properly
• And much more!

There might be a lot of reasons why you haven’t filed your taxes. Whatever they may be, don’t miss the opportunity to empower yourself with more knowledge during this tweetchat and file your taxes as soon as possible to keep more of your hard earned money!

Tweetchat with @MikePeriu and @TurboTax

Thursday, April 4, 2013

9 – 10 p.m. EST / 8 – 9 p.m. CST / 6 – 7 p.m. PST

#TurboTaxChat

If you’re nervous about filing on time or worried about getting your taxes done right, there’s no need to worry.  I have a few tips to make this year’s filing easier on you.

Go Online and E-File

In my opinion e-filing has made getting taxes submitted easier and receiving my refund a bit faster. E-file with direct deposit is the fastest way to receive you tax refund.  The IRS estimates that 9 out of 10 tax refunds will be processed within 21 days.

Submitting tax returns through the mail can be time consuming and paper filed tax returns that are not e-filed are proned to mathematical errors and missed tax deductions and credits.

When you file your taxes with tax software like TurboTax you don’t need to know the tax code.  TurboTax will ask you simple questions so you get all of the tax deductions and credits you’re entitled to so you keep more of your hard-earned money.

Best of all, you may be able to file your federal tax return Free and save more money.

Have a Tax Question? Get Free Help

If you have tax questions don’t worry.  Only TurboTax lets you talk to tax experts who are CPAs, IRS Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys while you prepare your tax return, free.

TurboTax’s blog is another great free resource that you can use to find tax tips and frequently asked tax related questions answered.

Prepare for Next Year

Though 2013 is still in its first quarter, now is a great time to get your system set up for when you file next time. If you haven’t gotten a smooth system for gathering your financial paperwork, consider using online options like to scan, save, and file these important documents for when you’ll need them.

I’d love to hear from you about how you manage your taxes. What do you do to simplify getting your taxes handled? If you’ve been stressed before, how did you cope? What tips do you want to share with others?

Cada año, millones de contribuyentes esperan hasta el último momento para declarar sus impuestos. Esperar no solo te causará estrés pero también te pone en peligro de no poder terminar tu declaración antes del 15 de abril, y posiblemente meterte en problemas con el IRS.

Si todavía no has declarado tus impuestos – ¿qué estás esperando?  Solo quedan algunas semanas antes de la fecha límite del 15 de abril, y aquí en TurboTax queremos estar seguros de que tengas las respuestas a todas tus preguntas y que te sientas seguro/a de poder declarar tus propios impuestos y quedarte con el dinero que te mereces.

Mike Periu, experto en finanzas y portavoz de TurboTax, estará compartiendo unos consejos muy importantes que te ayudarán a declarar tus impuestos en poco tiempo. Lo hará durante un Tweetchat en español que se llevará a cabo el jueves 4 de abril, entre 9-10 p.m. EST / 6-7 p.m. PST.

Para ser parte de la conversación y hacer tus preguntas, incluye el hashtag #TurboTaxChat en tus tweets durante el evento. Temas a tratar incluirán:

• Cómo tomar ventaja de los créditos y deducciones que te mereces
• Cómo ahorrarte tiempo y dinero al declarar tus impuestos en línea
• Qué es una extensión, y cómo procesarla correctamente
• ¡Y mucho más!

Es posible que tengas muchas razones por las cuales todavía no hayas declarado tus impuestos. Sean las que sean, no te pierdas de la oportunidad de aprender de este tema tan importante y poder declarar tus impuestos en cuanto antes, y así poder quedarte con más de tu dinero.

Tweetchat con @MikePeriu y @TurboTax

Jueves 4 de abril, 2013

9 – 10 p.m. EST / 8 – 9 p.m. CST / 6 – 7 p.m. PST

#TurboTaxChat

Tax season is here, and with it might come new questions about your taxes or financial situation. One of the most common misconceptions among members of the Hispanic community is that you need to pay someone to prepare your taxes in order to get your biggest refund.

This can be very costly in terms of time and money. You work hard for your money and deserve to keep every penny of it.  By filing your taxes online with TurboTax, you could save an average of $100 or more over going to a tax store.

For this reason, TurboTax gives you the opportunity to learn how to take control of your financial future during a free webinar this upcoming Tuesday, February 26. The session will be led by Mike Periu, a financial expert with more than 14 years of experience in the Hispanic community.

He will share tips on how you can start taking control of your finances, starting with filing your own taxes by the April 15 deadline. Mike will also answer live questions during the webinar.

This webinar will only be in Spanish. To access it, follow these steps:

1.     Go online next Tuesday, February 26  at 7:00 p.m. EST (6:00 p.m. CST / 4:00 p.m. PST)

2.     Click on the following Webex link:

https://turbotax.webex.com/turbotax/onstage/g.php?d=667940175&t=a

3.     Follow the instructions on the screen and enter your city, name and email.

4.     Depending on your computer settings, Webex might ask your permission to install free and safe software.

We know you work hard to earn your money, so don’t miss the opportunity to learn how to keep more of it by taking control of your financial future.

TurboTax is up to date with all recent tax law changes so you can file now with confidence.

Our tax pros are here for you every step of the way. And at TurboTax, if you have a question, you get expert answers from only qualified and credentialed tax professionals.

Just give us a call and an experienced tax expert will answer your tax questions.

More and more Americans choose to do their own taxes with TurboTax to get their maximum refund possible and save more of their hard-earned money. Last year alone, more than 25 million people used TurboTax including nurses, teachers, firefighters, U.S. service men and women and people like you.

Ready to get started? Compare TurboTax to major tax stores.

Click on image to enlarge

La temporada de impuestos ya está aquí, y con ella surgen preguntas acerca de tus impuestos o situación financiera.  Uno de los errores más comunes en la comunidad hispana es pensar que tienes que pagarle a alguien para preparar tus impuestos y poder recibir el rembolso más grande posible.

Esto puede salir muy caro en cuestión de tiempo y dinero. Trabajas duro por tu dinero y mereces quedarte con él.  Al preparar tus impuestos en línea con TurboTax, te podrías ahorrar un promedio de $100 dólares o más a comparación de lo que le pagarías en una oficina.

Por esta razón, TurboTax te da la oportunidad de aprender como tomar control de tu futuro financiero durante un taller gratuito por internet el próximo martes 26 de febrero.

El mismo será dirigido por Mike Periu, experto en finanzas con más 14 años de experiencia en la comunidad hispana. Él compartirá consejos de cómo puedes apoderarte de tus finanzas, empezando con declarar tus propios impuestos antes de la fecha límite del 15 de abril. Mike también contestará preguntas durante el taller.

Para acceder al seminario en español, sigue los siguientes pasos:

1.     Conéctate a internet el próximo martes 26 de febrero a las 7:00 p.m. EST (6:00 p.m. CST / 4:00 p.m. PST)

2.     Haz clic en el siguiente link de Webex:

https://turbotax.webex.com/turbotax/onstage/g.php?d=667940175&t=a

3.     Sigue las instrucciones en la pantalla e ingresar tu ciudad, nombre y dirección de correo electrónico.

 4.      Dependiendo de tu computadora, Webex te pedirá permiso para instalar un software gratuito y seguro.

Sabemos lo duro que trabajas para ganar tu dinero, así que no dejes pasar esta ocasión para aprender cómo quedarte con más de el al tomar las riendas de tu futuro financiero.

En Español

Tax filing season officially began on January 30, 2013 when the IRS began to accept e-filed individual tax returns. The deadline for filing your taxes is still Monday, April 15.

This year’s tax season started a little later than usual since the IRS was reviewing changes to the tax code stemming from the fiscal cliff legislation, according to an IRS spokesman.

Since no one deserves more money in their pocket than you, it’s important not to wait until the last minute to prepare your taxes so you can get the tax refund you deserve. In fact, TurboTax is up to date and currently accepting individual e-files.

Here are five things you can do to get ready to file your taxes now:

1.  If you still haven’t done so, organize your deductible expenses from 2012 that can help lower the amount you    owe. A good place to start is to remember all of your visits to the doctor or dentist – as well as your dependents’ (i.e., children and elderly parents) – and associated costs. Look for the receipts or invoices that you received for these medical and dental treatments.

2.  The payments you made against the interest on your home mortgage are also deductible. Look out for a letter from your bank or a 1098 form detailing how much interest you paid in 2012. For example, if a family had a household income of $60,000 in 2012 and paid $11,000 in interest on their mortgage, the income on which their taxes will be based will be $49,000. You could then apply additional deductions (like the Dependent Care Deduction, donations and others) on this lower income, ultimately lowering the taxes you owe.

3.  Your donations and contributions to non-profit organizations are also deductible. Donations to your church, and even clothes and toys that you donated to Goodwill or the Salvation Army can help lower your taxes. For this, it’s important to keep receipts for your donations to recognized organizations and assign a real value to the items you donate. TurboTax ItsDeductible can help you correctly value your items at fair market value per IRS requirements.

4.  Determine which deductions and credits you could qualify for based on who your dependents are and how much you invested in them in 2012. For example:

a.  In 2013, we’ll continue to enjoy the benefits of the Child Tax Credit, which can give you up to $1,000 back  for each eligible child. This will lower the final amount of your income susceptible to taxes.

b.  The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) continues to be expanded this year to families in the lower income brackets.  This tax credit can be worth a credit up to $5,891.

c.  An education credit called the American Opportunity Credit was also extended, allowing eligible taxpayers to get a credit of up to $2,500 for costs associated with college education.

5.  If you work from home, keep in mind that you might be able to deduct costs associated with it, such as rent, phone and internet services, among others.

The average tax refund was $2,700 in 2012, which is equivalent to three months’ worth of grocery expenses for a family of four! So make sure to take the time to gather all of the documents associated with your expenses and income in one place and take advantage of the tax credits and deductions available to you this year.

TurboTax will guide you step-by-step through all of the tax deductions and credits you’re eligible for.  If you have a question, TurboTax has tax experts who are CPAs, IRS enrolled agents, and tax attorneys available year round to answer your questions for FREE.

Step-by-Step Guidance Personalized to U.S. Military Needs

With step-by-step guidance to help claim every tax deduction and credit you’re entitled to, TurboTax Military Edition is easy to use and walks you through military specific provisions, including:

• State of residency
• Filing in multiple states
• Combat pay
• BAS and BAH
• Deductions for uniforms, relocation, PCS, and special provisions for the earned income tax credit

helping you keep more of what’s yours.

Free Limited Time Offer

If you are junior enlisted personnel, rank E-1 to E-5, you can prepare and file your federal and state tax returns with TurboTax Military Edition for free, through Feb. 14, 2013.

TurboTax CPAs are also available for you year round as a free service to provide expert, one-on-one personalized answers to your tax questions.

Intuit, a Freedom Award winner and G.I. Jobs Top 100 employer, has hired veterans and military spouses with expertise in military taxes so that customers using TurboTax Military Edition have tax experts in their corner who personally understand their situation.

Want to experience TurboTax Military Edition with help from TurboTax tax experts in person? We are holding a tax filing event for enlisted personnel and their families on Thursday, February 7th, 2013 from 10 am – 7 pm PST at the Intuit, San Diego headquarters.  To reserve your time and for more details email Kay_Romubio@intuit.com.

You can also tune in to our “Last Minute Tax Tips That Save You Money and Gets You a Bigger Refund” webinar on, Wednesday, December 19 at 1:30 pm PST.  We will cover some end of year tax tips for military families.  Log-in to to Adobe Connect at https://meet71696781.adobeconnect.com/_a1103789093/taxtips/

Tax Tip Webinar

Our Webinar will cover:

• Forms needed to get started and how to get organized
• Getting started with TurboTax
• Entering your information and filing your tax return
• How to get more help if needed

We will also have a Q & A session available and questions will be answered after the presentation.

There’s no reason for you to miss out on your tax refund or pay high prices to get your taxes prepared.  Here are the directions to join the Webinar and learn how easy it is to file your own taxes:

1. In order to view the presentation, please ensure you have Flash installed on your system.  Please copy and paste this link https://join.me/529-687-178 to your browser’s address bar or you can go to the join.me site and enter 529-687-178 in the “Join someone’s screen” field.
2. To enable sound, locate the phone icon (green circle with a phone at the top of the screen) and click on the button once.  Dial the conference number and you’ll be asked to enter the conference id and then the # symbol.  The conference number is toll free.

During the presentation, all participants will be muted, so please submit your question via chat.  You can submit your question by clicking the icon next to the phone icon at the top of your screen.  Questions will be answered after the presentation.

Ask a Tax Expert

To find out more and RSVP check out our facebook event page.

Audit

In fact, a true audit happens to very few people every year, and it’s usually because of a glaring problem or unusual situation found on a tax return. More common are correspondence audits and adjustment letters, which are not like the audits you hear horror stories about.

The Examination Audit

A traditional tax audit is usually picked up by computer programs that are set up to detect irregularities on tax returns that might signal there is a problem. While it may seem like a simple error or wrong number may instantly create a red flag and cause you to get audited, that’s not exactly how it works. In fact, the IRS typically audits less than one percent of all tax returns filed each year.  Also, keep in mind that not all audits mean the IRS is out to get you and stick you with a greater tax bill. They are looking for problems and inconsistencies and it could actually result in getting a larger refund.

If you do receive a letter stating that the IRS would like to conduct an examination audit, there will be instructions as to how to provide the information they need. Some of these audits can be conducted through the mail, but in other instances it may require meeting an auditor in person either at your home, place of business, or an IRS office. At the end of the audit process there will be a determination as to what needs to be done to satisfy the IRS. There is an appeals process if you don’t agree with the outcome.

The Correspondence Audit

The correspondence audit is far more common than the examination audit that people think about when they hear the word audit. Again, these are usually triggered by software that compares returns against common trends and selects those that don’t match for a correspondence audit. The IRS will mail the taxpayer either a Letter 566 or a CP 2000 notice. The 566 letter advises taxpayers that their return has been selected for examination and will list documents needed to verify the return. The CP 2000 notice will contain adjustments based on third-party documents associated with the return. In these types of audits it may be as simple as providing copies of a 1099 form to verify the numbers match what was reported to the IRS.

The Adjustment Letter

Finally, the letter you receive from the IRS may simply be an adjustment letter or adjustment notice. These are simply letters sent out to give notice to a taxpayer about additional taxes owed or a change in the refund amount. The reason there may be additional taxes owed is typically just because of a miscalculation or a wrong number entered on your tax return.

For a list of the different IRS notices sent out and what action needs to be taken for each, the IRS has a comprehensive list.

In the unlikely event that you receive an audit notice from the IRS, don’t worry.  If you prepare your taxes with TurboTax this year, TurboTax Audit Support Guarantee provides free one-on-one guidance from an experienced tax professional to help you know what to expect and how to prepare if you receive an audit letter.

Free Tax Filing

IRS Free File Alliance is a public-private partnership between the federal government and private tax preparation companies, including TurboTax maker Intuit.

People with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $57,000 or less can select from more than a dozen online tax preparation services.  That means about 70 percent of all taxpayers, or 95 million people, are eligible to use these free services.

Intuit has supported the Tax Freedom Edition for nearly a decade. In that time, we’ve donated more than 22 million federal and state tax returns through TurboTax Tax Freedom Online, to low and middle-income taxpayers.

For tax year 2011, anyone who qualifies for EITC, or is on active duty military with an AGI of $57,000 or less, or has an AGI of $31,000 or less can use TurboTax Online Tax Freedom Edition. Please note, Turbotax Online Freedom Edition is not to be confused with our Free file available on TurboTax.com if you don’t meet these qualifications.

This year, TurboTax Online Tax Freedom Edition includes free tax advice from CPAs, IRS Enrolled Agents and tax attorneys via phone or chat. TurboTax is the only tax software to offer live one-to-one tax advice to everyone.

Through the TurboTax Online Tax Freedom Edition site, TurboTax also offers free state tax preparation to qualified taxpayers who file returns in 22 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

Additionally, anyone, regardless of their income, can use the Free File Fillable Forms at irs.gov. It’s a free, simple forms utility that’s basically the electronic equivalent of a paper 1040 along with associated schedules and forms. You just type in the numbers and it does the math for you.

It’s already December 1st! Time to trim the tree and start thinking about your taxes!  Perfect timing, because today TurboTax launched TurboTax 2011 online and it’s in retail stores as well.

So, you’re wondering what’s new with TurboTax 2011?  Here are just a few highlights:

TurboTax 2011 now offers you free one-on-one tax advice, giving you unparalleled ease, accuracy and confidence when preparing your tax returns.  Whether by phone or live chat, you can easily get answers to your questions from an experienced tax professional – for free!

TurboTax, the nation’s leading tax software from Intuit Inc (Nasdaq: INTU), guides you through your return step by step, helping you claim every tax deduction and credit you deserve so you can be confident you get the biggest possible refund, guaranteed.

Free One-On-One Expert tax Advice

New for 2011, TurboTax offers free access to its “Ask a Tax Expert” service.  This gives you personalized answers to your tax questions from an experienced tax professional by phone or live chat, so you feel even more confident that your taxes are done right.

“We’re focused on making it even easier for taxpayers to get their maximum refund,” said Dan Maurer, general manager of TurboTax.  “Each year, many Americans needlessly overpay someone else to do their taxes.  This year, TurboTax will provide one-on-one expert tax advice, giving those that need it the confidence that their tax return is done right.”

TurboTax experts are highly qualified U.S. based IRS-Enrolled Agents, CPAs, or tax attorneys with extensive knowledge in tax law and tax return preparation.  Available daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PT, the free “Ask a Tax Expert” service is accessible through all TurboTax desktop, online, and mobile offerings.

Making it even easier for you to get the biggest possible refund, TurboTax 2011:

• Guides you step-by-step through your tax return, getting you every deduction and credit you deserve.  New improvements make it simpler to quickly enter personal information and claim important deductions and credits, such as dependents or the Earned Income Tax Credit, which could be worth as much as $5,751 per family.
• Transfers information automatically from more than 400,000 employers, banks and financial institutions.  You can gain immediate access to essential information, dramatically reducing data entry and making tax preparation easier and more accurate.
• Offers more ways for you to quickly get your tax refund.  Free IRS electronic filing gives you an easy and fast way to receive your federal tax refunds – in as little as seven days with direct deposit.  No other tax service or software can get you your refund faster.  You can also put your refund on the TurboTax Prepaid Visa Card.
• Makes it even easier for you to stay informed even after you file by offering you the option to receive updates on your e-file status via text messages.  In addition, if you e-file your tax return, you can track the status of your federal return with MyTaxRefund, a free app available for iPhone and Android.

Mobile Makes it Easier

TurboTax mobile apps make it easy for you to estimate your taxes, prepare and e-file your return and track your refund while on the go.  TurboTax offers the nation’s only start-to-finish tax apps that enable people to prepare and e-file a federal and state tax return directly from a mobile device.  TurboTax Snap Tax designed for you if you have a simple return (1040EZ), lets you snap a photo of your W-2, answer a few simple questions, review for accuracy and e-file from an iPhone or Android in minutes.  If you want more guidance, you can choose to prepare and e-file your taxes with TurboTax for the iPad, which combines the ease and accuracy of TurboTax with the convenience and portability of the iPad.  TurboTax apps for 2011 will be available in January.

Pricing and Availability

TurboTax Online pricing starts at free for simple federal tax returns.  All TurboTax Online federal and state products include e-filing at no additional cost and are now available at http://www.TurboTax.com.

TurboTax 2011 desktop products start at $29.95, including preparation and e-filing for up to five federal returns, and are available at retail stores or direct from TurboTax.

So what are you waiting for?  Take a look at the new TurboTax 2011 Online software.  Find out how TurboTax has made it even easier to get the deductions and credits you deserve!

SAN DIEGO – Dec. 1, 2011 – TurboTax for 2011 now offers free one-on-one tax advice, giving taxpayers unparalleled ease, accuracy and confidence when preparing their tax returns.  Whether it’s by phone or live chat, taxpayers can easily get answers to their tax questions from an experienced tax professional – for free!

TurboTax Logo

TurboTax, the nation’s leading tax software from Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), guides customers through their return step by step, helping them claim every tax deduction and credit they deserve so they can be confident they get their biggest possible refund, guaranteed.

Free One-On-One Expert Tax Advice

New for 2011, TurboTax offers free access to its “Ask a Tax Expert” service.  This gives taxpayers personalized answers to their tax questions from an experienced tax professional by phone or live chat, so they feel even more confident that their taxes are done right.

“We’re focused on making it even easier for taxpayers to get their maximum refund,” said Dan Maurer, general manager of TurboTax. “Each year, many Americans needlessly overpay someone else to do their taxes. This year, TurboTax will provide free one-on-one expert tax advice, giving those that need it the confidence that their tax return is done right.”

TurboTax tax experts are highly qualified U.S. based IRS-Enrolled Agents, CPAs or tax attorneys with extensive knowledge in tax law and tax return preparation. Available daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PT, the free “Ask a Tax Expert” service is accessible through all TurboTax desktop, online and mobile offerings.

Making it even easier for taxpayers to get their biggest possible refund, TurboTax 2011:

• Guides taxpayers step-by-step through their tax return, getting them every deduction and credit they deserve. New improvements make it simpler to quickly enter personal information and claim important deductions and credits, such as dependents or the Earned Income Tax Credit, which could be worth as much as $5,751 per family.

• Transfers information automatically from more than 400,000 employers, banks and financial institutions. Customers gain immediate access to essential tax information, dramatically reducing data entry and making tax preparation easier and more accurate.

• Offers more ways for customers to quickly get their tax refunds. Free IRS electronic filing gives taxpayers an easy and fast way to receive their federal tax refunds – in as little as seven days with direct deposit. No other tax service or software can get taxpayers their refund faster. Customers can also put their refund on the TurboTax Prepaid Visa® Card

• Makes it even easier for customers to stay informed even after they file by offering them the option to receive updates on their e-file status via text messages. In addition, any taxpayer who e-files their tax return can track the status of their federal refund with MyTaxRefund, a free app available for iPhone and Android.

Mobile Makes it Easier

TurboTax mobile apps make it easy for customers to estimate their taxes, prepare and e-file their return and track their tax refund.  TurboTax offers the nation’s only start-to-finish tax apps that enable people to prepare and e-file a federal and state tax return directly from a mobile device. TurboTax SnapTax, designed for taxpayers with simple returns (1040EZ), lets customers snap a photo of their W-2, answer a few simple questions, review for accuracy and e-file from an iPhone or Android in minutes. Taxpayers who want more guidance can choose to prepare and e-file their taxes with TurboTax for the iPad., which combines the ease and accuracy of TurboTax with the convenience and portability of the iPad.  TurboTax apps for 2011 will be available in January.

Pricing and Availability

TurboTax Online pricing starts at free for simple federal tax returns. All TurboTax Online federal and state products include e-filing at no additional cost and are now available at http://www.TurboTax.com.  .

TurboTax 2011 desktop products start at $29.95, including preparation and e-filing for up to five federal returns, and are available at retail stores or direct from TurboTax.

About TurboTax
TurboTax is the nation’s No. 1 rated, best-selling, do-it-yourself tax preparation software. Available on desktop, online and mobile, TurboTax helps more than 23 million people a year easily and accurately claim every deduction and credit they’re entitled to, so they get their biggest tax refund possible. For more information, visit the TurboTax press room.

About Intuit

Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit’s leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by providing on-demand solutions and services that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.9 billion in its fiscal year 2011. The company has approximately 8,000 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at http://www.intuit.com.

Intuit, the Intuit logo and TurboTax, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries.

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In addition to the ease and guidance of TurboTax, this year we are offering access to free one-to-one tax advice from qualified tax professionals so you can be even more confident you are getting your taxes done right.  Available through our Ask a Tax Expert service, TurboTax tax experts will be providing personalized guidance and answers via phone or live chat free of charge.

All of our tax professionals are highly qualified CPAs, IRS Enrolled Agents, or Juris Doctors (that’s tax lawyers) with extensive knowledge in tax law and tax return preparation, unlike some national tax franchises where tax preparers can simply take a tax course before they start to prepare your taxes.

Here is a glimpse at the experienced tax professionals TurboTax has available to help you.  Meet three of our many fantastic, highly qualified Ask a Tax Expert agents:  Michael Stadler, Rhonda Collins, and Mark Farmer!

Meet Michael Stadler MBA, EA

Ask a Tax Expert Michael Stadler

I have a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame and a MBA from the University of Maryland.  I am also an IRS Enrolled Agent and have been with the Ask a Tax Expert Team for 7 tax seasons. I have over 15 years tax experience preparing both business and personal tax returns.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing  golf as well  as taking long walks with my wife, Letty, and our dogs, Kaiser and Arleigh.  I run about six miles each morning.

Working at TurboTax and helping customers get answers to their tax questions is probably the best position I’ve had during my career.  During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to apply both my education and business experience to some very complex tax situations.  I’ve always enjoyed the feeling of solving customer problems as well as receiving positive feedback from customers who have appreciated my help.  Moreover, I enjoy being part of a team that shares knowledge and expertise in making us all successful.  This position is challenging, fulfilling and rewarding.

Meet Rhonda Collins CPA, MBA

Ask a Tax Expert Rhonda Collins

I entered the public accounting arena in 1986 as a tax professional with Ernst and Young.  I have and continue to work extensively with individuals as well as small, medium, and large-sized businesses.  My passions include assisting customers with income tax planning and preparation, preparation of financial statements and tax returns, and individual and business consultation as well as being a “Tax Expert” for TurboTax.

In 2008, I earned my Master of Business Administration in Finance from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.  I also hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Franklin University.  I became a CPA ( Certified Public Accountant) in 2005  Professional affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as several state CPA societies.

In addition, I am a moderator for the Becker Professional Education program providing web-based and in-house continuing professional education and I also maintain an independent tax practice.

I am very active in my community volunteering my time at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site, the Humane Society, and a local high school.

I enjoy the outdoors, traveling, and being with my family. My husband of 23 years and I have two children, Jimmy and Hunter, and a mini-farm.

Meet Mark Farmer MBA, EA

Ask a Tax Expert Mark Farmer

I’ve been involved in tax since 2002.  My area of expertise has been IRS representation, Form 1040 for individuals, Schedule C for Self-Employed Individuals, 1065 for partnerships, and 1120S for S-Corporations.  I am an IRS Enrolled Agent and also have my MBA.

The best part of being an Ask a Tax Expert for TurboTax is helping our customers solve their tax problems or questions.  As an Ask a Tax Expert agent, I feel that I can have a direct and positive impact on our customers’ lives.  We give our customers personal assurance that they will be treated respectfully and given correct tax information they seek.  Connecting directly with our individual customers and solving their tax questions, for me is the best part of being an Ask a Tax Expert for TurboTax.

In my spare time, I am a father of two wonderful and busy high school students.  My favorite activities are playing ice hockey, hiking, and creating something special to eat for family and friends in the kitchen.

If you are on the fence about using tax software to prepare your taxes, rest assured that TurboTax makes it easy to accurately prepare your taxes and we have added extra assurance with our qualified, Ask a Tax Expert tax professionals.

TurboTax tax experts will be on the phones to answer one personal, tax-related question for free through Jan. 31 at www.FreeTaxQuestion.com. Anyone can submit a question – whether you’re a TurboTax customer or not. Simply submit a tax question online, and you’ll receive a personalized, one-on-one call back at a time you request.

TurboTax is moving up its annual free offer into November to help taxpayers get a jump on last-minute tax deductions or to better understand what they can do now in the face of pending tax legislation.

Whether someone has had a baby, lost a job, or simply wants to know where to enter information in tax software, TurboTax experts are here to help answer the top questions on taxpayers’ minds

Our experts are IRS-Enrolled Agents, Certified Public Accountants and Tax Preparers with advanced education and experience in tax law and return preparation.

This is the fourth year that TurboTax has offered Free Tax Question.

There’s no purchase necessary to participate, but it is subject to availability and for a limited time, so be sure to take advantage of the free offer with your taxing question.

Answers Anytime.

If you happen to miss out on the free tax question or don’t have a question now, then be sure to check out TurboTax Live Community.  If you’ve never experienced Live Community, you’re in for a treat.  It’s fast, easy and free.  The Live Community offers year-round, anytime access to online answers from a community of millions of TurboTax customers and tax experts.  Just type in a question and immediately find answers.

Giving taxpayers free options for their questions is just another way TurboTax makes it easy for people to get their biggest refund possible.

Intuit began as a company that uses innovative ways to get close to customers, such as founder Scott Cook’s infamous “follow-me-homes,” where he’d watch customers manage their finances so he could learn how to build a better personal finance product. TurboTax uses social media is to bring customers together and provide tax expertise (example: Live Community) or gather feedback (see: Inner Circle) and most recently to connect directly with customers existing platforms, like Facebook and Twitter.

This year, TurboTax connected 40 tax and tech experts from across the company with customers in need on Twitter using @TeamTurboTax. The @TeamTurboTax team addressed hundreds of questions from Feb. 1, 2010 through the tax deadline. About 71% of those we asked decided to recommend TurboTax after their interactions with the team.

While using the best tools to connect with customers is always important  at TurboTax, we don’t want to forget to show you the most important part of making anything this big a success: the people behind the team. With @TeamTurboTax, the subject-matter experts, from seasoned CPAs to technical gurus, were the secret sauce to making our customers happy campers.

Last week we celebrated the end of tax season and inducted the employees that make the team what it is today into the @TeamTurboTax Hall of ‘Twame.

Below we highlight seven of our 40 best and brightest: our Customer Advocate, MVP, three Process Gurus, and two Go-Getters. As you’ll see, not only did we evolve the means by which we deliver customer service, but the way we measure it too.

Our Customer Advocate, Christine Thacker, is a TurboTax Live Community Moderator day-by-day. This tax season, Christine helped the most customers on Twitter this tax season (and she’s even a Twitter newbie!). Being a part of @TeamTurboTax is a natural fit for Christine, who sees @TeamTurboTax as a great way to build relationships with customers and an extension of her work in Live Community. Christine says, “I’m so happy that I have opportunity to participate. My favorite part of the tax season was seeing retweets from customers that were ‘wowed’ by their @TeamTurboTax experience.” When not tweeting or otherwise helping customers right and left, Christine spends her days with her two children, volunteering in her son’s kindergarten class, or doing anything from relaxing to gardening outdoors.

What is in the DNA of an @TeamTurboTax MVP? Far more than Twitter expertise, so it seems. Lee Ferris, CPA and 30-year tax season veteran, brings her tax expertise to TurboTax customers on Twitter by participating in @TeamTurboTax. While not tweeting, Lee is busy as tax expert for a broader team built around getting customers answers fast, and managing tax experts from various states, from Alabama to Oregon. Lee’s favorite moments helping customers this tax season involved helping grandmas understand if they can claim their grandchildren as dependents, and military spouses understand new tax laws. Lee’s favorite thing about using Twitter to answer tax questions? How short tax answers can finally be! When not helping customers or TurboTax employees keep up with tax law changes, you can find Lee reading, watching CSpan2 Book TV!

@TeamTurboTax is all about how we help customers as quickly and easily as possible. Our three Process Gurus, Zak Jacobson, David Kanter, and Ben Kanspedos are part of the Hall of ‘Twame because of their focus on quickly finding innovative ways to help customers even faster during a very busy tax season.

Zak Jacobson, Process Guru and software engineer at TurboTax, has been part of a variety of projects at TurboTax, including the team behind the sweet new iPhone app from TurboTax, SnapTax. Zak, a long-time Twitter user in his personal life, joined @TeamTurboTax because he feels using Twitter to reach out to customers on a personal level is not only a great idea, but a perfect application of Twitter and social marketing. In his spare time, you can find Zak snapping pictures around San Diego and elsewhere.

David Kanter, Process Guru, spent six years as an operations manager at Intuit before moving into our Customer Care organization. David’s pedigree makes him the perfect match for TurboTax customers in need: operations expertise, a customer-centric attitude and a passion for social media. David is an early adopter of Twitter, and in fact, secured many Twitter accounts for major Intuit brands before the rest of the company rallied around the cause. His favorite experience this tax season? When one customer said “eureka!” once he was able to solve their problem. This gave David a case of the warm fuzzies. When not tweeting or working, David enjoys playing with his four-year-old, playing rock guitar, and attending SO3 concerts in San Diego. You can also find him running in San Diego through Balboa Park.

Ben Kanspedos, Process Guru, creates training content for TurboTax employees. An avid Twitter user himself, Ben appreciates when companies he reaches out to for help on Twitter take the time to respond. As a result of his own experiences, Ben thinks using social platforms to answer questions and provide targeted information has so many benefits for customers. Outside of work Ben likes playing with gadgets, listening to music and searching for the perfect beat.

Tons of customers are out there talking about TurboTax on Twitter, but since @TeamTurboTax is so new, we need to let them know we’re here to help. Our two Go-Getters, Kim Bayne and Lucy Beard, helped connect the most customers with @TeamTurboTaxthis tax season.

Kim M. Bayne, a Go-Getter and Twitter veteran, is a senior technical writer and content developer at TurboTax. Her focus on customer and agent facing support content makes her a perfect match for supplying customers in need with helpful tidbits fast. Kim is an avid blogger herself, and was at the forefront of watching how companies would use Twitter. Kim joined the @TeamTurboTax team because she wanted to return to using Twitter for Intuit and helping customers. Kim’s favorite case of helping a customer this tax season took place when she helped a frazzled customer with login issues via chat. Kim quickly got the customer’s login information late at night when the customer needed help most. Outside of work, Kim is an avid crafts artisan and loves researching the business applications of augmented reality. She plans to live long enough to experience a Star Trek holodeck in her lifetime.

Lucy Beard, Go-Getter, and a customer care analytics manager, focuses on data most of the time. Her passion for connecting customers with the right expert brought her to the @TeamTurboTax team, where she helped customers during odd hours (when they need it most!). When not using Twitter for work, Lucy uses it to find out more about her favorite topics, like geocaching or David Beckham. Her favorite way to have a ball with customers on Twitter? Finding out what customers were going to spend their refund on. Lucy says, “…they get excited to tell me about the new pair of jeans, the student loan to pay off, or a wedding they are saving for. It brings it home that TurboTax makes a difference in people’s live and puts more money in their pocket.”

Did @TeamTurboTax help you on Twitter this tax season? Share your story in comments!

Yep, you read it right. There are plenty of free options to help you complete your taxes before the looming deadline, or after, if you’re going to throw in the towel and file for an extension. Doing that, by the way, officially makes you a tax slacker! Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

But where to start looking for all these amazing freebies, you ask? I know you won’t be surprised when I tell you that TurboTax has got you covered.

Got tax questions?

Here are some great ways to get free answers:

Facebook: All you Facebook fans can join TurboTax for our live TurboChat with tax expert, Bob Meighan, CPA tomorrow, Weds. April 14, 10-10:30 a.m. PST. You can ask any last-minute burning tax questions you’ve got.

TurboTax Live Community: Get answers to your tax and product questions from tax experts and other TurboTax customers through the Live Community. Since Live Community began, more than 10 million people have used it to easily search and find answers to their questions.

Twitter: Are you one of the almost 100 million people sending 140 character tweets to your friends on Twitter? This year, for the first time, you can simply tweet your question to @teamturbotax on Twitter to get tax and tech help. If you’re curious, see what people are saying about taxes on Twitter.

Of course, there are also lots of helpful (and free) FAQs online and, if you want to go old school, you can pick up the phone and contact TurboTax customer care.

Do your taxes for free:

Not only is TurboTax dishing out free answers, we’ve got free tax prep options for you too.

Free File: If your adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less, you can prepare and e-file your federal return for free through the IRS Free File program at www.irs.gov.

TurboTax Online Free Edition: Got a simple tax return? Regardless of your income, you can prepare and e-file your federal return at no charge.

And, if you’re among the approximately 10 million people who choose to ignore April 15 altogether, you can file an extension through TurboTax.

For those of you who’re counting, ‘free’ shows up 10 times. That’s 10 good reasons to just get on with your taxes (for free). I think you get the message.

Tune in for the next TurboChat Feb. 25, 2p.m. PST – 2:30 p.m. PST (5 p.m. EST – 5:30 p.m. EST). Visit our Facebook Page, become a Fan, and chime in with questions of your own so we can get you an expert answer, live.

View today’s TurboChat below: