"No one wants to spend a second more than necessary to prepare their tax return. This year's TurboTax and MacInTax products raise the tax software bar by helping taxpayers save significant time and avoid frustration while preparing and filing their taxes," said Larry Wolfe, senior vice president of the Intuit Tax Products Division. "TurboTax's new Smart Interview System provides consumers with accurate yet speedy tax preparation, enabling them to quickly return to their daily routines with peace-of-mind."

Improved Navigation Eases the Process
This year's new Smart Interview System features a new Interview Navigator that automatically customizes itself to each user's unique tax return. This personalized tax topic list is always visible for faster access and expands as taxpayers move through the interview, allowing the flexibility to access a precise area in their return with just one click. The Smart Interview System also offers consumers the added flexibility of simultaneously viewing the interview screen, the Interview Navigator and the tax form -- making sure users always know where they are while using TurboTax/MacInTax.

A new One-Click Delete feature allows users to delete unwanted forms or schedules, in one mouse click, without leaving the interview.

Streamlined Data Entry Speeds Preparation Time
Building on 15 years of expertise, TurboTax/MacInTax employs new on-screen FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) to help users answer interview questions accurately and confidently to identify deductions that applies to them. Over 2,000 FAQs appear throughout the interview, providing answers to the most common questions in an easy-to-understand way. These FAQs answer the most common questions taxpayers have about their taxes, based on the knowledge of Intuit's on-staff 300 tax professionals.

This year, the Fast Track feature - a customized interview approach - is integrated into the interview. With Customized Fast Track, questions are addressed in the appropriate area of a tax return. By answering questions that relate to their tax situation, TurboTax tailor the program to their specific tax situation, further customizing and streamlining the interview process.

Smart Buttons further streamline the interview by displaying more precise and intuitive action items throughout the interview. New tables added this year allow users to quickly enter information like dependents and stock transactions in just one table rather than on multiple screens. Both reduce substantial tax preparation time and effort by eliminating several questions and screens.

Customized Tax Advice Solves the IRA Riddle
This year's TurboTax/MacInTax Deluxe program includes a fully integrated, customized IRA Planner which uses data taxpayers have already entered to walk through the process of selecting which IRA option is best for them, including the Roth IRA. In addition, the Tax Law Change Advisor takes this year's tax law changes - like the Education IRA - and shows what impact the new tax law will have on each user based upon their individual tax situation.

NEW! TurboTax/MacInTax Home & Business
Of the 23.6 million business returns filed last year, 71 percent were sent to the IRS by Sole Proprietors. To help this ever-growing number of business owners prepare and file their tax returns quickly, easily and accurately, Intuit introduces TurboTax/MacInTax Home & Business. Both include all the functionality of TurboTax/MacInTax Deluxe plus additional features and money-saving advice designed exclusively for the taxpayer with a home office.

The new Home Office Expert is a tailored interview that provides step-by-step guidance and in-depth explanations that help maximize home office deductions and determine eligibility. A customized Business Tax Planner helps Sole Proprietors understand the tax implications of different business decisions to reduce tax liability for the year ahead. And to save valuable time typing information on to carbon paper forms, the new 1099/W-2 Reporter prints Forms 1099-MISC and W-2 for employees and contractors.

This is the Year to File Electronically
TurboTax and MacInTax are the only personal tax preparation products with integrated electronic filing, guiding users through the process. TurboTax and MacInTax lead the way in helping the IRS achieve its publicly stated goal of increasing electronic filing to 80 percent of all returns by 2007. Taxpayers who file electronically receive proof from the IRS that their return was received on time. In addition, the IRS processes electronically filed tax returns much faster than mailed returns, with refunds arriving as soon as 10 to 17 days after filing. Also, electronically filed returns have a less than one-percent error rate, compared to 20 percent with manually prepared returns.

Guaranteed Accuracy
Intuit guarantees that its TurboTax/MacInTax software calculations are accurate, having undergone in-depth testing by Intuit's tax experts. In the unlikely event that users are assessed an IRS or state penalty due to a calculation error in the software, Intuit will pay the customer the penalty plus any interest that may be charged.

Pricing and Availability
TurboTax/MacInTax, TurboTax/MacInTax Deluxe and TurboTax/MacInTax Home & Business are available now and include approved IRS forms that can be filed electronically or by mail. All programs are available at retail on CD-ROM; customers can call Intuit to receive diskettes. Suggested retail prices are $29.95 for TurboTax/MacInTax, $49.95 for TurboTax/MacInTax Deluxe and $69.95 for TurboTax/MacInTax Home & Business. Electronic filing is free to TurboTax/MacInTax Deluxe and TurboTax/MacInTax Home & Business users, and $9.95 to consumers who purchase TurboTax/MacInTax.

Consumers can purchase TurboTax and MacInTax products at their local computer software retailer, directly from Intuit by calling 800-4-INTUIT (800-446-8848) or writing to: Intuit Inc., Personal Order Department, 2800 E. Commerce Center Pl. Tucson, AZ 85706.

This year, users can also purchase audit protection services from Tax Resources Inc. These services include all communications and meetings with the IRS, from receipt of the first notice to completion of the audit.

Technical Support
Automated technical support is free of charge to all TurboTax/MacInTax users by telephonic voice response unit and fax, as well as via the TurboTax Website (www.turbotax.com), providing assistance with installation, printing and electronic filing. Specially trained support representatives are also available to assist users with the above-mentioned technical issues for no additional fee. In addition, users who prefer to speak with a representative regarding assistance with program usage or other issues can call an Intuit representative for $14.95 per call.