Comments on: Updated: TurboTax, IRS, and the late Stimulus Check Issue…

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:36:37 +0000

This issue has been publicized, but not the one that kept our money from us for almost 2 months. I finally today found out why our stimulus payment was not direct deposited.
It turns out that if you used TurboTax and payed your taxes owed directly from your account, that doesn’t trigger the direct deposit side of the equation.
We fully expected a direct deposit because the IRS had our routing number and account info, but there’s a separate direct deposit portion of your return from the “direct debit” portion of your return.
TurboTax didn’t enter the bank info in both places because it didn’t deem it necessary (I wouldn’t think so either). In this case, it was important, and nobody (IRS or Intuit) made it clear early enough.

By: 10,000 Hits! « Williamo’s Blog.

10,000 Hits! « Williamo’s Blog. — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:04:19 +0000

[...] Updated: TurboTax, IRS, and the late Stimulus Check Issue… [...]

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:17:54 +0000

Again, I for one will NOT be using Turbo Tax again, their lack of forsight and concern for their customers is DISGUSTING! No problem getting their $$ up front, but oh well, live and learn. My check is expected May 6th. May 5th and NOTHING yet.

David

By: willwm

willwm — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:17:51 +0000

Bob,

Thank you for your comment on my blog! The fact that you took time to seek out this article and comment on it definitely changes my mind about buying TurboTax again next year (i.e. that I will actually buy it again next year).

I applaud the kind of personal attention to detail you’ve given this matter, and I sincerely hope that other companies follow your example in the future.

In regard to your comment about the articles you sent in your e-mail, I’ll post links here and at the top of this blog post when I edit it next.

That is truly unfortunate that the IRS did not anticipate the number of people using electronic filing software, as g mentioned in his/her comment above. Also unfortunate is that the IRS took so long to publish additional information. It is comforting to know, however, that this was not a problem specific to TurboTax, which, again, makes me willing to buy your product again next year.

As mentioned above, here are the articles you sent in your e-mail, for other readers’ reference:

Other sources for current information on the rebate program are.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=182734,00.html
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=182735,00.html

For more information on TurboTax and rebates, please visit http://turbotax.intuit.com/support/kb/tax-content/tax-tips/6255.html

By: Bob Meighan

Bob Meighan — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:09:24 +0000

Williamo (and others)… Please take the time to read the articles that I referenced in the email I sent to you. In those articles you would have read that on May 7 the IRS published additional information that basically said that those who used their refund to pay their tax fees would have their direct deposit flipped to a paper check. I, too, wish we would have known this much earlier. This affected not only TurboTax customers, but all taxpayers who used a bank product to pay their fees, obtain a RAL (which we don’t offer), etc. It would not have mattered if you used a competitor’s product, went to a franchise or a tax professional. This affected all players in this business.

Willwm… When we (and everyone else) sends out bulk email, they generally send it from a mailbox that does not accept responses. All our contact information is prominently displayed on our web site (www.turbotax.com) and we also provide a link to it from within the email. Your feedback is important to us and the fact that our bulk email is not monitored should not cause you to think otherwise.

Thanks for allowing me to respond to your concerns and I certainly hope you will reconsider your decision for next year.

Bob Meighan
VP, TurboTax

By: g

Fri, 23 May 2008 13:58:48 +0000

I used TurboTax and did not receive my rebate by direct deposit yet either. I did not elect to have my prep fees deducted, however.

This blog, by a reputable tax lawyer, claims the IRS did not anticipate the number of people that were going to use electronic filing software, that they did not get enough notice about the package details to work it out, so the IRS became overwhelmed.
http://www.getirshelp.com/irsblog/?p=169

By: willwm

willwm — Sun, 18 May 2008 17:58:02 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Larry! Maybe we should write them and tell them about this. I tried replying to this e-mail, and got an automated (blowoff) response, however: This Inbox is not monitored, to contact an Intuit customer support representative, please click here: https://turbotax.intuit.com/support/contact/index.jhtml?_requestid=58766

By: larry

larry — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:07:39 +0000

Completely agree. I was pretty sure that lots of other folks would be feeling the same way I do. Somehow, cheated. I’m motivated to write to them and tell ‘em I won’t be purchasing their software next year. I’ve used TurboTax for the last 5 years straight.