Windows Version Requirements Going Forward

[sixbales]

I think there is basis for a massive class action lawsuit against Microsoft, Intuit, et.al., for forcing many people to obtain new equipment to meet the requirements of windows 11, with no support for windows 10. 

[DoninGA]

@sixbales Why, how were you damaged?

You can always use another tax preparation program.  See this - https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/browse-all-offers/

[M-MTax]

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@sixbales wrote:

I think there is basis for a massive class action lawsuit against Microsoft, Intuit, et.al., for forcing many people to obtain new equipment to meet the requirements of windows 11, with no support for windows 10. 

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You have no damages so a lawsuit would go nowhere. You, and others, could have simply switched to H&R Block for the 2025 tax year which would actually have saved you money as it's much less expensive than TurboTax and it supports the transfer of virtually all prior year tax information from TurboTax. You might wind up owing Intuit money.

[BrooklynJeff]

@sixbales

Firstly,  Windows 11 has been out for several years.  And you can't realistically stifle innovation by saying MSFT can never require new hardware for new products.

While I believe TT jumped the gun by pulling support for Win10, I don't see how they could be restricted from doing so.   I'm pretty sure they did it for their own convenience , and not because of any technical restrictions. 

 We considered jumping ship and voting with our pocketbooks .   but the missus didn't want to deal with any potential conversion issues so we succumbed to the inevitable and updated one of our laptops.   

BTW you can still get WIN10 updates - my old laptop updated itself recently

[Lancerdad34]

Same Here!

[Lancerdad34]

We have been using trubotax for years. Not anymore. I am not ready to buy a new PC!

[M-MTax]

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@Lancerdad34 wrote:

We have been using trubotax for years. Not anymore. I am not ready to buy a new PC!

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H&R Block and TaxAct both support Windows 10.

[btmacdou]

Thus the reason Intuit wants to shift more people online... so they can charge more. 

[M-MTax]

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@btmacdou wrote:

Thus the reason Intuit wants to shift more people online... so they can charge more. 

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Exactly, and the entire DIY tax prep industrial complex is moving in that direction. Probably in a few years, there will no alternative other than online tax prep AND none of them are exactly cheap (see below).

Self-employed online editions:

TurboTax: $129 + $59 State

Tax Slayer: $70 + $46 State

TaxAct: $105 + $63 State

H&R Block: $120 + $49 State

[docjon49]

On Amazon the program foe preparing the 1120S is $189.00. The H&R version is $89.00.
For the first time I went away from TT for the 1120S (although I did stay with TT for the individual return; on my wife's Windows 11).
While the H&R block is a full $100 cheaper is is not user friendly and I may have made mistakes, however since I have a loss there wont be a problem.
BUT, don't know if I will H&R again next year, unless TT tries to force me onto the "cloud" again.

[M-MTax]

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@docjon49 wrote:

While the H&R block is a full $100 cheaper is is not user friendly and I may have made mistakes...

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Yeah, The HRB UI is pretty crappy, IMO, and you have to use some caution (i.e., know exactly what you're doing) while the sole advantage appears to be lower cost.

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@docjon49 wrote:

BUT, don't know if I will H&R again next year, unless TT tries to force me onto the "cloud" again.

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I have no inside information, but I believe that TT will be the last to go full-bore in that direction. I think they will eventually but only after all of the others dump their desktop versions.

[docjon49]

Suppose I could go back to my CPA, but I still do all the work, and he forces what should be a 30 minute job into two extensions and $750.00.
Of course, IF the government would do away with or simplify the tax code then we wouldn't need CPA's or Tax program.

[DoninGA]

Well, getting desktop edition on a Windows 11 pc really is not that expensive.  You can get a Laptop with Windows 11 installed for about $250 on Amazon.  So there is no need to use the online editions or pay a CPA a heck of a lot more then $250

[docjon49]

My biggest fuss is not being forced onto a remote server ("the cloud"). Then I no longer own or control my data. Quick Books is a good example, once your data is all on their server, it belongs to them and you have to pay forever to access it. ANYWAY, I speak only for myself when i say i do not like the direction this is going.

[M-MTax]

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@DoninGA wrote:

You can get a Laptop with Windows 11 installed for about $250 on Amazon. 

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Exactly, and some people forget that they can use that laptop for things other than TurboTax.