Tip #002: Read The Small Print - TurboTax and Quicken on Sale

As the tax season begins, this is the time of year that tax software, such as Turbo Tax, are on sale. As a long time user of Intuit's Quicken Home and Business financial package and Turbo Tax, I was investigating any packaged deals. Staples, appeared to offer the best deal. The local ad stated buying Turbo Tax Deluxe with State and eFile for $59.99 and get Quicken Deluxe Free after rebate. The deluxe version did not meet my needs so further investigation was needed. At Staples' website, all versions of Turbo Tax and Quicken had the similar deals however, upon visiting a local store, the story was slightly different.

Do your homework

After researching on Intuit's site, Staples and other local computer stores, the price for Quicken Home and Business ranged from $79.99 to $99.99. Most stores offered Turbo Tax Home and Business was $99.99 which included 5 Federal e-filings and 1 state e-file. As a packaged deal, the price should have been $100 (Turbo Tax) + $100 (Quicken) - $60 rebates = $140. This would be far better than filing individual tax returns for 1 Federal Deluxe ($29.99) + State ($34.99); 2 individual Federal Home and Business filings (2x $74.95) + 2 individual State versions (2 x $34.99). I have not added all of this together but the packaged deal via CD was obviously more cost effective.

Read the Posted Ads

Off to the Staples I went for my packaged deals. Turbo Tax Home and Business version was $99.99 as expected. The sales sign stated Quicken 2009 Home and Business version was $59.99. Not $59.99 after rebates but $59.99 with the purchase of Turbo Tax. This meant that after all the applicable mail-in rebates of $60, Quicken Home and Business would be free!!! At the end of the day, both packages totaled $100!! I love getting a bargain. Needless to say, the store manager corrected the sign for the versions of Quicken above the Deluxe version but the store had to honor what was written, even if the print was small.