Marking the largest retail launch in the history of software applications, Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) today announced the availability of the Quicken® TurboTax® and Quicken MacInTax® product line for tax year 1999. To date, Intuit has already received retailer launch commitments of 1.9 million units of the best-selling software program. Of course, it's too early to predict what full-season tax sales may be, and preliminary orders are subject to return. The company also announced today that Quicken TurboTax for the WebSM, the leading online service for tax preparation and filing, will be available in mid-January 2000.
According to Bill Campbell, chairman and acting CEO of Intuit, "TurboTax was the top selling software title at retail last year -- more than even the most popular game or operating system -- and one in every five individual returns filed with the IRS last year was prepared using an Intuit tax product. TurboTax for Tax Year 1999, now in its 16th year, combines industrial-strength calculations with a simple interface that is 'drop-dead' simple to use."
Lower Pricing on Entire TurboTax Product Line
Now, the 4.2 million people who purchased TurboTax last year, as well as the large number of taxpayers expected to try tax software for the first time this year, can purchase all the power and expertise of TurboTax at the lowest price ever. TurboTax Deluxe is now available at retail for only $29.95 (that's $20 less than in tax year 1998), including one free copy of TurboTax State via mail-in rebate. TurboTax regular can now be purchased for $9.95 (after a $10 rebate for all customers), and TurboTax Home & Business is available for $49.95 (after a $20 rebate for all customers), also including one free copy of TurboTax State.
Pricing for all TurboTax software programs includes free technical support during regular business hours (toll charges may apply). And for the best value in a year-round personal finance solution, consumers who purchase any of the above-mentioned programs receive a $30 rebate coupon toward the purchase of any edition of Quicken.
File Electronically for Free for the Fastest Refund
TurboTax customers will also receive one free federal electronic filing this year via mail-in rebate, so users can electronically file and receive a tax refund due in as little as 10 days at no additional cost. TurboTax provides an end-to-end fully integrated electronic filing solution, guiding users through the tax preparation and filing process. Taxpayers can also file their state tax return electronically with 38 states. Last tax season, more than 1.6 million TurboTax customers electronically filed, representing 75 percent of all electronically filed returns under the IRS online filing program.
Intuitive Interface Provides Expert Navigation
Sporting a clean, intuitive interface, this year's smarter EasyStep® Interview is designed to make tax preparation and filing even easier, for both experienced and first-time users, by asking questions customized to each taxpayer's unique situation. The Interview is organized to reflect how taxpayers think about the tax preparation process, not how the IRS lays out forms.
Help/guidance is always available on-screen, alleviating the need for users to search for it. And as always, the TurboTax EasyStep Interview is written in plain English, avoiding confusing and frustrating tax jargon. More than 2,000 context-sensitive FAQs (frequently-asked questions), as well as hyperlinks, provide one-click access to help/guidance when users need it. The new EasyStep Progress Bar provides a single navigational tool offering quick and easy access to every area of the taxpayer's return. Tax areas are logically organized to clearly reflect how taxpayers think about their return, without adding excess clutter and confusion for novices.
Planning Tools Provide Convenient Ways to Save Money
New for 1999, TurboTax Deluxe and TurboTax Home & Business users can use the Life Events Planner to see the immediate and future impact of life-changing events, such as purchasing a home or having a child. This helps taxpayers understand and prepare for the tax impact of key life changes just by answering a few simple questions. The updated step-by-step IRA Planner reflects the newest laws to ensure users receive the best advice on retirement planning, enabling users to make side-by-side comparisons to determine the best IRA for their unique tax situation.
Integration with Quicken and Quicken.com
Superior Web integration enables users to instantly link to the Tax Center on Quicken.com (www.Quicken.com), a leading e-finance Website, for up-to-the-minute tax news and information. With two-way integration with America's #1-selling personal finance software, Quicken, taxpayers can download their tax data from Quicken in a single step using the unique Intuit TaxLink feature; and when finished with the tax process, users can export their data from TurboTax to Quicken for better year-round financial planning. TurboTax also imports data from QuickBooks®, Microsoft® Money® and other financial software, providing step-by-step guidance to make it the easiest import solution available.
Quicken TurboTax Home & Business: For the Self-Employed Taxpayer
With the recent IRS relaxation in Home Office Deduction requirements, many taxpayers now qualify for the deduction - even if they've never qualified before. The updated Home Office Expert, featured in TurboTax Home & Business (designed exclusively for the self-employed small business owner) helps users maximize their tax savings by walking them through this complex area of the tax law to take advantage of all the new home office tax law changes taking effect in tax year 1999.
TurboTax Home & Business is designed especially for the self-employed taxpayer and is the only product with EasyStep features like the Depreciation Expert and Business Tax Library, as well as extra help for Schedule C (business income). TurboTax Home & Business provides everything to prepare personal taxes and a Schedule C for the Sole Proprietor. Also included is an exclusive offer for a free copy of 1099/W-2 Tax Pro Assistant™ software and forms package, which allows users to print out much-needed year-end forms for employees and contractors.
Product Availability
All TurboTax and MacInTax products can also be purchased directly from the TurboTax Website (www.turbotax.com). TurboTax, TurboTax Deluxe and TurboTax Home & Business are available now on CD-ROM and include all the approved IRS forms taxpayers are likely to need, which can be filed electronically or by mail. MacInTax Deluxe is available at retail on CD-ROM. MacInTax and MacInTax Home & Business can be purchased directly from Intuit by calling 800/335-1348 or writing to: Intuit Inc., Personal Order Department, P.O. Box 28815, Tucson, AZ 85726-8815.
Quicken Tax Freedom Project
For the second year in a row, Intuit is establishing the Quicken Tax Freedom Project, a charitable program to donate Web-based tax preparation and electronic filing, to lower income families and individuals. This service will be available free to taxpayers with annual incomes of $20,000 or less, as well as Form 1040EZ filers. The Quicken Tax Freedom Project will be available beginning in mid-January 2000 at Intuit's consumer Website, http://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom. Intuit is working with the government and exploring public-private alliances with libraries, schools, senior centers, community centers and other public access facilities to provide the services to those without Internet access at home or work. Web-based tax preparation and electronic filing services for the Quicken Tax Freedom Project will be provided through Quicken TurboTax for the Web, which will be available to consumers in mid-January 2000 at www.turbotax.com.
