Comments on: QuickTax responds to complaints

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:59:53 +0000

Since the CRA requires all certified tax software to prepare tax returns under 25K net income for free, the rest of us have to pay for this feature.

Studiotax uses a different business model. They rely on contributions to sustain their enterprise. I’ve donated some small amount as appropriate to the number of returns I do (6-7 per year). This business model hopes that after seeing how much business they take from the big players (Intuit, etc), those big players will buy them out and remove the competition.

This was the case a few years ago when CanTax was also free and unlimited and then a fixed number in subsequent years… until Intuit finally got the “message” and bought them out.

I’m a believer in free enterprise… but really, do we need 10-20 different software versions to do our income tax? Why doesn’t the CRA just let us use a web version of their income tax software and put them out of business.

But I think the answer to that question is buried in the political contributions list of some of the federal political parties. And, as they say… “if pigs could fly…”

By: Cherry

Cherry — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:59:50 +0000

Furio: Why did you have to pay extra for business? Did you need just the T2125 for business (part of the T1 return), or did you have to get the T2 return for incorporated business? Sounds as if the online versions of QT are worse than the the ones on CD – despite the deceitful advertising, you do get all the necessary forms for the T1, including business, with even the Basic CD for $19.99.

By: Cherry

Cherry — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:59:47 +0000

By: Furio

Furio — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:58:55 +0000

…fired up the online version, put in both mine and my wife’s returns (2 hours) – paid for the online version update for business ($84 for 2 of us) – and now it won’t even load up the saved return. 1.5 H of useless tech support from India.

Thanks for nothing Intuit.

By: Cherry

Cherry — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:04:38 +0000

Leigh: You download the software from the Studiotax site, and all the info. you input stays in your computer – it’s not stored somewhere online. Go to http://www.studiotax.com and check out their FAQs. One of them (#2, I think) addresses this point.

By: leigh

leigh — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:36:37 +0000

I’ve been a long time QT user but concur with all the frustrations expressed on this blog. Am interested in trying Studiotax as it seems to be well regarded on this site … but is it only online, or can you buy a software version? I’m a bit anxious about loading our financials online for identity/security reasons. Any information appreciated.

By: Cherry

Cherry — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:34:50 +0000

To “Disappointed with QT” (…aren’t we all?):
My constant complaint against QT is that their advertising is so misleading. Apparently you bought a more expensive version for your rental income because QT makes it appear that the Basic will only do T4s and little else.
In fact, all the versions of QT from the Basic to the Platinum have all the necessary forms for the T1 return, including business income. The more expensive versions include “planners”, “optimizers” and the like, which are just frills.
This year I’m running StudioTax alongside “Basic” QT, just for comparison, and they both do rentals, professional income, partnership income – everything I might need. Basic QT has no extras and won’t, for instance, bring forward figures from 2007 or work out optimal income splitting – but these are easy enough to do all by myself. QT would do them for me if I paid more for it.
That said – I filed with StudioTax last year, and will be doing so again.

By: Rick Crammond

Rick Crammond — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:10:22 +0000

Really PO’d with Quicktax !

I just wasted a couple of hours filling out forms online only to be told I need a credit card to make changes to “additional income”…when it was Quicktax that automatically added the $19,000 to my additional income!!!
This sent me through the roof. This is outrageous and I can only hope a class-action takes down this extremely arrogant company.

I used to really like the product, too…

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:29:31 +0000

I have just spent better part of yesterday using QT Platinum to input to two web-based returns. Large parts of the data (estimated 50%) were lost today when I revisited the site. Screens take exceptionally long to load which may be part of the problem. Very cumbersome to skip around through the returns. The software and customer support seem to have gone down hill the last few years.

By: I'm Just Not That Intuit Anymore!

I'm Just Not That Intuit Anymore! — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:30:30 +0000

Why is everyone so negative about Intuit? I, for one, am grateful to them. If they hadn’t ruined Quicken a couple years back (remember that very nice forced upgrade to continue my online banking?), I would never have discovered Moneydance. And if it wasn’t for last year’s Quicktax stunt, I would never have thought of using Ufile or StudioTax (free!). So, thanks again Intuit! Keep up the good work!