Time to switch to HR Block

[NakedRanger]

Getting the recurring "activation code required".   

Intuit apparently thinks that instead of fixing an obviously seriously flawed programming defect on their part, that we all should uninstall our anti-virus software and firewalls and install or uninstall USB drives or OneDrive or other such hokum.   Never have I seen such a poor excuse for programming.  Basing authentication of a PC's physical or logical configuration factors that obviously can be very fluid is one of the dumbest things I've seen in my 30 years in IT.   If Intuit was looking for a way to convince their loyal customer base to switch to the competition, this is certainly a good way to do it.

I'm not disabling or uninstalling BitDefender or Malware Bytes, I'm not disabling my firewall (which by the way, I confirmed granted full permissions to TurboTax 2025).  Nothing on my PC has changed when TurboTax pops this "activation screen",  that is EXCEPT TurboTax !!!.   It gets an update and it thinks it has to be activated again.  Some programmers need to be fired, both for a poor implementation and for even thinking that they could craft a "signature" of the device the software was installed on by mapping to things that change like USB connected devices/drives.  almost 20 years of using TurboTax to do my taxes, down the drain.

[M-MTax]

Time to switch to HR Block

Investigate this decision thoroughly would be my suggestion. H&R Block is fine, generally, but there are a few areas that are problematic compared to TurboTax.

For example, check out your import options if you have investment accounts and make sure you can import your transactions from your financial institution.

Users have been posting here (for weeks) about the lack of import capability from Merrill Edge with TurboTax. This has now been fixed in TurboTax but NOT in H&R Block and some folks on another board are actually switching from H&R Block, that they've used for years and years, to TurboTax as a result. H&R Block is also missing a few institutions that are import partners with TurboTax but not, apparently, with H&R Block.

You should also note that in the event you have any issue with their software, H&R Block does NOT have a forum like this one where you can report your issue(s), report bugs, ask tax questions, etc. Good luck!

[NakedRanger]

At least with HR Block I get to open the application more than 5 times.  I would rather have to enter everything manually then put up with lame programming that prevents me from even using the application.  Please let me know when TurboTax pulls it's head out and fixes this problem, otherwise, alternatives here we come.

[M-MTax]

---

@NakedRanger wrote:

I would rather have to enter everything manually then put up....

---

No you wouldn't, not if you had a few hundred sales to enter.

If you've been having issues with opening the program, you should contact Support. Clearly, the vast majority of users are NOT having that issue so it's probably something specific to your setup.

[NakedRanger]

The forums are filled with people having exactly this same problem, and it's been affecting TT since 2019.

[M-MTax]

---

@NakedRanger wrote:

The forums are filled with people having exactly this same problem, and it's been affecting TT since 2019.

---

That's patently absurd since only a tiny fraction of users post on this forum and even then only users with issues. 

It should be noted that H&R Block users don't post because they have no dedicated forum in which to post.

[user17748294106]

TurboTax 2025 acts as if it's been coded by AI Grok or Claw; perhaps, Intuit had fired most of their human programmers already. 

[M-MTax]

---

@user17748294106 wrote:

TurboTax 2025 acts as if it's been coded by AI Grok or Claw; perhaps, Intuit had fired most of their human programmers already. 

---

No need to fire them because they're all in India and work cheap.

[user17748294106]

The company in question, aka. Intuit, should never assume people that do not voice out anything on this board or anywhere else are completely peachy.  A piece of software that costs $50~100ish, and gets used for a few days, is NOT cheap by any measure.  From at least 20 yrs of using TT, 2025 version is particularly sketchy: inconsistent UI presentation (It's been this way thou.), unnecessary changes & incoherent work flow, cryptic questions in arcane English (Do not just copy and paste the sentences from IRS publications, make them something that a layman can understand!), inability to restart the program (This is the WORST scenario!)... just to name a few.  It does look like Intuit just threw everything into the bucket in a hurry to bunch up the desktop version of TT 2025; while their objective now-a-day is to push out the online version (and other services) and trying to get people into the subscription scheme, as Microsoft has done.  You never know there might a silent revolution brewing and boiling as we speak!

[user17748294106]

And its quality shows as such.

[M-MTax]

---

@user17748294106 wrote:

A piece of software that costs $50~100ish, and gets used for a few days, is NOT cheap by any measure. 

---

Uh, not cheap compared to what? Microsoft 365 is $99.99/yr (family), Adobe Acrobat Standard is like $150/yr, the higher tier of NordVPN is around $85/yr, TaxAct Premier desktop is $150, I have a second tier PDF pro package that costs over $70 for an annual renewal. 

It makes no difference that TurboTax gets used for a few days, it's the price of admission for preparing tax returns. You can always use free programs out there such as freetaxusa.com.

[user17748294106]

"Microsoft 365 is $99.99/yr (family), Adobe Acrobat Standard is like $150/yr, the higher tier of NordVPN is around $85/yr, TaxAct Premier desktop is $150, I have a second tier PDF pro package that costs over $70 for an annual renewal. "

Never paid a dime for any of those. 🤓  In addition, why keep sending private data to all these companies, so they could get you hooked on more stuff.  Still using Office 2007 suit, and still happy like a clown. 🤡  PDFgear & PDF24 get me through the days rather easily. 🤗

[M-MTax]

---

@user17748294106 wrote:

Never paid a dime for any of those. 🤓  In addition, why keep sending private data to all these companies, so they could get you hooked on more stuff.  

---

I wouldn't be paying for those products if I didn't have a special need for them.  If you want to live like a semi-luddite, that's your business and your choice. I don't, personally.

Also, what private data? I restrict that and they only have my name and credit card number (which I monitor closely). Further, I totally ignore the paltry numbers of solicitations I receive for products/services.

[user17748294106]

Heard you, heard you🙉.  Btw, being with a major industrial conglomerate for several decades involved in CAD/CAM system development, that probably disqualified me as being even "quasi-luddite"🤣

[M-MTax]

---

@user17748294106 wrote:

....that probably disqualified me as being even "quasi-luddite"🤣

---

It probably does except there are those who qualify because they're resistant to change and, as you should know, tech changes continually and rapidly.