Infographic by Column 5 Media

Embed the above image on your site using the code below:<a href="<a href="http://images.blog.turbotax.intuit.com/swf/TurboTax-Growth-of-Online-Filing.png"><img" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://images.blog.turbotax.intuit.com/swf/TurboTax-Growth-of-Online-Filing.png"><img</a> src="<a href="http://images.blog.turbotax.intuit.com/swf/TurboTax-Growth-of-Online-Filing.png&quot" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://images.blog.turbotax.intuit.com/swf/TurboTax-Growth-of-Online-Filing.png&quot</a>; alt="TurboTax-Growth-of-Online-Filing" title="TurboTax-Growth-of-Online-Filing" width="580" height="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8428" /></a><br/>Free Tax Filing, Efile Taxes, Income Tax Returns - <a href="<a href="http://www.turbotax.com">TurboTax.com</a&gt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.turbotax.com">TurboTax.com</a&gt</a>;

Photographic by Column 5

Embed the above image on your site using the code below:<a href="<a href="http://images.blog.turbotax.intuit.com/swf/TurboTax-Pennies-Saved2.png"><img" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://images.blog.turbotax.intuit.com/swf/TurboTax-Pennies-Saved2.png"><img</a> src="<a href="http://images.blog.turbotax.intuit.com/swf/TurboTax-Pennies-Saved2.png&quot" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://images.blog.turbotax.intuit.com/swf/TurboTax-Pennies-Saved2.png&quot</a>; alt="Pennies-Saved" title="Pennies-Saved" width="580" height="1820" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8428" /></a><br/>Free Tax Filing, Efile Taxes, Income Tax Returns - <a href="<a href="http://www.turbotax.com">TurboTax.com</a&gt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.turbotax.com">TurboTax.com</a&gt</a>;

Fortunately I never had to go through that experience. There are so many advantages to using tax software that I couldn’t possibly name them all. I will, however, name the three biggest reasons why I’ve never been tempted to do my taxes by hand.

With Tax Software No Need to Know the Tax Code

The number one reason why I think tax software is incredible is you don’t have to know the tax code. The software does it for you by asking you simple questions that you can answer. TurboTax walks you through the appropriate questions related to your tax situation and makes sure you don’t miss tax deductions or credits that you’re eligible for.

Tax Software Can Be Updated

This is especially valuable this year because of the fiscal cliff resolution that was passed earlier in the year. If you paper file, your printed forms may be outdated and while the IRS will still accept it, it might be confusing if you review them later on in the year or, should you need to, years in the future.  Tax software like TurboTax is updated with the latest tax laws.

Tax Software Can Collect Tax Information

My favorite feature in tax preparation software is the ability to pull in tax data from outside sources like payroll processors. Instead of having to type in all the data from your W-2, you can download it from a processor like ADP and save yourself time and headache, in case you enter in the wrong numbers.

Software, especially tax software, has really simplified our lives and reduced the potential headaches. If you have been doing them by hand, consider software.

TurboTax is up to date with all tax law changes, so you can file today and feel confident that your will get every tax deduction and credit you deserve.  And remember, if you have any questions, only TurboTax lets you talk to CPAs, enrolled agents and tax attorneys as often as you like while you prepare your return, free.

The IRS has updated it’s Where’s My Refund site with additional FAQs: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=254102,00.html

Some taxpayers who filed electronically and received an acknowledgement from the IRS are concerned when they visit “Where’s My Refund” and are told that IRS has no information regarding their tax return. The IRS informed us on February 10 that this is a temporary situation and should be resolved in several days.  At that time, you will be able to get an expected refund date when you visit “Where’s My Refund.”

This is an IRS issue and impacts returns regardless of who sends them in
to the IRS. This is not a TurboTax issue.

If you have received an acknowledgment of your tax return from the IRS, then the IRS assures us they have received your return and are processing it.

Information on the status of your refund will be updated in “Where’s My
Refund” once your return processes. This is a temporary situation, and we expect to resolve the matter in a few days.

IRS expects the vast majority of tax refunds to continue to be issued
within the historical range of 10 to 21 days.

We want to quickly share any updates we receive through IRS because we know many of you are still waiting for  your refund status and estimated direct deposit date.  We really appreciate your patience in this really frustrating time and we’ll continue to provide updates as we receive them from IRS.

So you filed your 2010 tax return and now your wondering, “Dude, Where’s My Refund?“  Possibly, your tax refund is one of the checks out of $153 million in undeliverable tax refund checks just announced by the IRS, with an average refund  totaling $1,547 this year!

Undeliverable Tax Refunds

Only a small percentage of checks mailed out by the IRS were returned as undeliverable, but 99,123 taxpayers’ 2010 tax refunds could not be delivered because of mailing address errors.  With Christmas coming soon and the tough economy, you need your money as soon as possible.  So how can you track your tax refund and how can you avoid this problem in the future?

How to Track Your Undeliverable Refund?

If you believe your tax refund may have been returned to the IRS as undeliverable:

• Use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool.  The tool will provide you with the status and, in some cases, may give you instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.
• Call the telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” at 1-800-829-1954

How Can You Avoid Undeliverable Tax Refunds In the Future?

Here are steps to take to ensure you receive your 2011 tax refund:

• E-file your return – E-filing with tax software like TurboTax eliminates the risk of lost papers and errors.  When you paper file there is no way to verify when, and if, your tax return is received or whether or not your tax return has errors.  When you e-file, you receive confirmation from the IRS that your tax return is received and accepted.  The IRS also recommends that you file your tax return electronically and supports tax software like TurboTax.
• Direct Deposit your Refund Check – Last year, more than 78.4 million taxpayers chose to have their refund checks deposited directly into their bank accounts.  TurboTax gives you the option to deposit your tax refund directly into your bank account or you can request to have your tax refund placed directly on the TurboTax Refund Card.

The combination of e-file and direct deposit is the best option to avoid undeliverable tax refund checks and TurboTax makes it easy!

Nearly 8 out of 10 taxpayers chose to e-file for tax year 2010 and that number is expected to increase for tax year 2011, so what are you waiting for?  Make your plans to e-file and use direct deposit for tax year 2011.

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.

###

TurboTax has captured the endorsement of many of the nation’s top tax software reviewers, including winning recommendations from PC Magazine, CNET.com and The New York Times. Reviewers rank TurboTax No. 1 for its ease of use, completeness and simple, well-organized interview.

Here’s what software critics are saying about TurboTax for 2010:

• PC Magazine awarded TurboTax the coveted Editors’ Choice Award, noting the software’s sleek interface and smart navigation. TurboTax Premier received the highest rating of all reviewed online tax services based on its voluminous help, support options and its easy, thorough review. Software reviewer Kathy Yakal says TurboTax remains king of the hill, writing “It’s combination of financial topics, guidance, navigational tools, and interface excellence make it the best choice for 2010 taxes .”
• CNET.com recommended TurboTax Deluxe, giving it the Editors’ Choice Award for having the clearest-worded interview with the most broadly beneficial tax-information importing abilities.
• The New York Times rated TurboTax Premier as the best overall experience.
• USA Today said “TurboTax Deluxe provided the clearest instructions of all the programs we tested.” For taxpayers with straightforward returns, reviewer Sandy Block said “tax software gets the job done, at a fraction of the cost of a tax preparer.”
• PC World recognized TurboTax Home & Business for its attention to detail and excellent data-import features, making it the package of choice for sole proprietors with complex tax situations.
• TopTenReviews.com named TurboTax Online Deluxe a Gold Award winner for 2011, noting its ease of use, accuracy and ability to handle tax scenarios from simple to complex. “This online e-file tax software once again passed our tests beyond our expectations.”

Year after year, influential software reviewers give the nod to TurboTax for its unparalleled ease of use, step-by-step guidance and ability to easily and accurately handle a wide range of tax situations. Whether your return is simple or more complicated, there’s no reason to pay someone else hundreds of dollars to do your taxes.

In fact, more people than ever are doing their own taxes with tax software. According to the IRS, almost 19 million tax returns have been filed from home computers so far this year, an increase of almost 6 percent compared to the number of returns from the same time last year.

So if you’re shopping for the best tax software for you, no need to take our word for it. Just take a minute to see what the nation’s most respected tax software critics have to say.

That’s why we have more than 100,000 unedited customer reviews right on our web site so you can see for yourself what people like you have to say about using TurboTax.

We want you to know that TurboTax can handle your unique tax situation, whether you just bought a home, had baby or retired.

We also want you to know that TurboTax is easy, accurate and a lot less expensive than going to a tax storefront or paid preparer.

You can find out what first time users have say, like Carrie from New Jersey:

“This is the first time I’ve done my own taxes and I found this to be extremely simple, user friendly, affordable and organized. I’ll never pay someone to do my taxes for me again. We’re second year homeowners and I thought doing our taxes would be complicated and confusing, but with this easy, but simple program, it was a breeze.”

Or get the details from someone who switched to TurboTax from a national tax storefront, like Tom from Virginia:

“After a bad experience with H&R Block, I turned to TurboTax for help. I have been using it for 5 years now and am in love! TurboTax is super easy to use and helps me maximize my refund. E-file is great. I get my refund direct deposited into my bank account in about 2 weeks. TurboTax is awesome. Truly awesome.”

Click here for more TurboTax customer reviews.

So what’s new in TurboTax 2010?  Here are a few of the highlights:

Greater Ease and Accuracy

TurboTax 2010 has expanded the ability to automatically transfer essential tax information from your last year’s return and from hundreds of thousands of employers and financial institutions. Instead of typing in wage, interest, dividend, stock transactions, and mortgage information, you can instantly transfer that data and simply confirm it’s correct.

Eliminating more manual data entry, TurboTax is now able to transfer:

• Wage, salary, investment and mortgage information – the same data the IRS receives – from more than 250,000 employers and 300 financial institutions, banks and credit unions.
• Tax and personal information from last year’s tax return prepared on different software into your 2010 tax return via PDF.
• Interest income from financial institutions, banks and credit unions by connecting with your Mint.com accounts.

Customized Guidance and Recommendations

Based on all the information TurboTax is able to transfer and answers to a few simple questions, TurboTax will guide you step-by-step through a customized preparation process to help make sure you get every deduction and credit to which you are entitled. Whether it’s $1,757 for a college education, $3,000 for triplets or $2,351 for a new hybrid car, TurboTax is going to make sure you get every dollar you deserve.

This year, the unique GPS feature in TurboTax provides additional guidance and recommendations, based on your individual tax situation.  For example, taxpayers may not know which of the 16 different education deductions and credits will get them to their maximum refund. But TurboTax does.  By doing hundreds of calculations and recommending the best choice, TurboTax makes tax preparation even easier.

Better, Faster Answers

Have questions along the way?   Streamlined and integrated help puts answers at your fingertips. With a single click, TurboTax quickly searches and brings together all the relevant answers from thousands of FAQs, articles and the TurboTax Live Community.

You can also speak with TurboTax customer support and a tax expert if you’d prefer.

Fast Refunds

We know getting your refund quickly is important, so this year TurboTax offers more ways for you to get your refunds as quickly as possible. For free, IRS electronic filing is the fastest, easiest way to get your federal refund, in as little as eight days with direct deposit. You can also choose to put your refund on the TurboTax Refund Card, a pre-paid debit card.

With the current recession, surprisingly crime has not increased dramatically as it did the last time we were in an economic hole back in 1976. Despite that, there has been a recent rash of thefts at Target stores in Brevard County, Florida that should alarm us all.

According to numerous news sources, a theft ring has been – excuse the pun – targeting Target stores and stealing one of their most popular products this time of the year – TurboTax.

That’s right, these Mensa candidates are stealing TurboTax. They’re not organizing and stealing Playstation 3’s or valuable electronics easy to sell in the secondary market. They’re stealing tax software.

Does this mean that somewhere in Orlando there are strange people on street corners wearing long overcoats, which when they flip them open exposes cascading copies of TurboTax CDs?

Let’s face it, as much as we at TurboTax love, well, TurboTax, we fully recognize that there are likely to be more appealing items for a five-fingered discount. What makes this such an odd story is that TurboTax is already an affordable piece of software.

As wrong as these criminals are for stealing from Target and from us here at Intuit, you have to admire them for one thing. With all the products they could steal, these thieves have been bright enough to skip the boxes with the green squares on them.

Apparently that software isn’t even worth stealing.

Staying timely, with the IRS announcement that e-file is officially open, this image shows how people are filing their taxes.  Last year, taxpayers e-filed a record 95 million tax returns, about two-thirds of all individual federal returns filed. Consumer use of do-it-yourself tax software and online tax preparation Web sites, such as TurboTax, was up 20 percent last year, making tax software the fastest-growing tax preparation choice. Check out the TurboTax press release announcing the kick off of tax season for more information.

Embed infographic on your site:

http://intuitturbotax.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/turbo-info-final.png