TaxAct Express 17+

The new version of TaxAct Express has vastly improved and made starting my 2017 tax return super easy. It appears that all of the available products are now accessible in the app (different from last year), and you can file your return no matter what forms you need (2016 version was limited). It also allows you to estimate your taxes, which is a nice feature to have at your fingertips. I’m not sure if I’ll complete my return on the app, but it’s nice having the option to switch back and forth between it and the website product on my laptop.

I had finally made my way through the bugs & multiple kicks & restarts. When i finally got to the end I was glad to see I’d be getting a fed refund & a little from the state. I chose this one because it advertised free filing. Being on a fixed income i needed this option. Hence me fumbling my way through vs PAYING a preparer! After everything was finished i was presented with a charge & fees to file. I was upset, but I’d spent so much darn time that i just coughed it up & decided what I’d do without this month. I pay, it all gets submitted electronically. Next Day, Federal REJECTED citing my SS number was already used in a filing! Well, it wasn’t me! Because the Fed was rejected in turn it automatically REJECTS the state. I was lead to believe I’d had help available if anything went wrong. Well? Where’s my help? I emailed them using the link in the app, it bounced back saying it’s not a functioning email address anymore. I called & was told they can’t find any records of my filing despite having the bank charge!! What did i pay for then? I’m completely lost, don’t know what to do. And there’s no guidance or live help. Don’t use this app. Mine was a simple filing but this app made it difficult, pricey and a very unsuccessful nightmare!

It was a breeze last year. I filed for federal AND state completely free, no extra charges. However, this year, I am being charged way extra to file for state which wasn’t clear until I finished putting in my information. I called the “free xpert assistant” to ask why I was being charged and she told me I was going to have to pay no matter who I filed through EVEN if I filed it on paper myself, which obviously is a lie. I wish I wouldn't have made the mistake of e-filing my federal with them because i ended up looking to see if I could file only state through turbo tax and it was 100% free for both. At least I know where to go next year. I also was looking through the app and came across a separate form I had to fill out to request that they didn’t sell my personal data so I don’t know what that’s about. But it is just way more complicated and shady than it was last year which is upsetting, but oh well, now I know for next year.