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A reader recently asked me how to maximize points or cash back for buying TurboTax software. With tax season fast approaching, this is a timely topic! Below I’ll list a couple of options that I know about. If you know of others, please comment below. I’ll attempt to update this post with the best suggestions from the comments, so you might want to check back with this post later to see the latest and greatest suggestions (UPDATE: see reader suggestions below for even better deals)
Discounts vs. Rebates
Purchases of tax preparation software are valid deductible expenses on your taxes. So, when trying to decide between an option that gives a discount (e.g. 10% off) or a rebate (cash or points back), you are actually better off with a rebate since you’ll be able to deduct the full amount of the software. Of course, we’re not talking about big bucks here, but its something to keep in mind if you want to really maximize your savings.
Big Crumbs
Big Crumbs is a website that offers cash back when you start at their site and click through to certain merchants. Currently, Big Crumbs offers 12% cash back for shopping at turbotax.intuit.com! If you start at this evrewards page, you can combine a 10% off coupon with the 12% cash back for a total discount of 20.8%!
If you do not already have a Big Crumbs account, please consider using this link to signup. You’ll receive the same cash back offers you would anyway and I’ll receive a small referral fee as well.
Chase Ink Bold
If you have the new Chase Ink Bold that gives 5 points per dollar for office supply purchases, then my recommendation is to go through the Ultimate Rewards Mall to Staples and buy the software there. Through the Ultimate Rewards Mall you will earn 5 points per dollar, and you will get another 5 points per dollar from the Ink Bold for a total of 10 points per dollar. At the fair trading price of 1.31 cents per point, this amounts to a 13.1% rebate. Overall, I think the Big Crumbs option is the better deal unless you can find a very good discount at Staples (or OfficeMax for that matter, which currently offers 4 points per dollar through the UR Mall)
Reader Suggestions
- Scott reports that Costco sells TurboTax Deluxe with State for only $39.79! Through the Big Crumbs option I presented above, I think the total for the same product would be about $47 so Costco does have a great price!
- Dan reports that when you log into your American Express page you can get a 35% discount. I don’t see that on my account, but I did receive a similar 35% off offer from CapitalOne. The download price for TurboTax Deluxe with State, with this discount, is $44.96. Better than the Big Crumbs option ($47), but not as good as the Costco option ($39.79).
- Stephen reports that Amazon.com sells the Home and Business version of TurboTax at a price nearly as low as Costco. By maximizing points per dollar at Amazon, you can do really well with this route!
- rharrigill describes the following great approach:
I found this on slickdeals today and this is what ended up doing.
http://slickdeals.net/f/3801604-TurboTax-Deluxe-Federal-Efile-State-2011-Quicken-Starter-Edition-2012-5-gift-card-24-99-after-SER-and-25-75-couponUsing e-junkie.com, I purchased a $25 off $75 Staples coupon for $1.85.
Went to Staples through the UR portal, added TurboTax Deluxe and Quicken Starter Edition to my card, totaling $79.98.
Applied the coupon, which brought the price down to $54.98.
Staples has a current promotion giving Quicken Starter Edition free when you buy TurboTax, so I’ll get $30 Visa gift card back from that once the rebate processes through. Then my cost will be at $24.98.Also, Staples is offering a $5 Staples gift card when you buy TurboTax.
We’ll see if I get 5 points/dollar for going through the UR Portal. T&Cs state “not eligible on promotional items” but I’m not exactly sure what classifies it as a promotional item. So I could have TurboTax Deluxe (with state), Quicken Starter, $5 Staples gift card, and (potentially) 329 UR points for $24.98 + $1.85 = $26.83!
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rharrigill – that is a very good idea. Its been a couple of days now, did your UR points post? It will be good to know.
I found this on slickdeals today and this is what ended up doing.
http://slickdeals.net/f/3801604-TurboTax-Deluxe-Federal-Efile-State-2011-Quicken-Starter-Edition-2012-5-gift-card-24-99-after-SER-and-25-75-coupon
Using e-junkie.com, I purchased a $25 off $75 Staples coupon for $1.85.
Went to Staples through the UR portal, added TurboTax Deluxe and Quicken Starter Edition to my card, totaling $79.98.
Applied the coupon, which brought the price down to $54.98.
Staples has a current promotion giving Quicken Starter Edition free when you buy TurboTax, so I’ll get $30 Visa giftcard back from that once the rebate processes through. Then my cost will be at $24.98.
Also, Staples is offering a $5 Staples gift card when you buy TurboTax.
We’ll see if I get 5 points/dollar for going through the UR Portal. T&Cs state “not eligible on promotional items” but I’m not exactly sure what classifies it as a promotional item.
So I could have TurboTax Deluxe (with state), Quicken Starter, $5 Staples gift card, and (potentially) 329 UR points for $24.98 + $1.85 = $26.83!
rharrigill: Nice work! I added your entire comment to the post!
Actually, I was looking at the Home & Business version and the difference is less than $3. Amazon sells boxed and downloadable versions for the same price.
Stephen: Thanks for the tip! I added it to the post. Yes, it should be possible to save at Amazon by buying gift cards at Staples using your Chase Ink Bold. Don’t forget to also go through the Hawaiian Airlines shopping portal when making the purchase! Details for maximizing points per dollar at Amazon.com can be found here.
Stephen, Amazon’s price is $49.44, that’s just nearly $10 more than Costco. Hardly worth it for the downloadable version, IMO.
Amazon.com sells it at a slightly higher price (but downloadable) than COSTCO. According to Amazon.com’s web site Staples sells Amazon.com gift cards. A little more work, but go to Staples and buy gift cards with Chase Ink bold (plus you get Staples points. Does this work?
If you’re willing to go ‘offbrand’, you can use this link to get TaxAct Deluxe + state for $11.90. https://www.taxactonline.com/s_online_tax2011/introduction/registrationd.asp?return_type=DLX&bun=ULT&fed_price_code=F800012&state_price_code=S800008&sc=07103051103&t=47587.98
Costco is the best bet. I’ve searched around.
A download only copy from Intuit for Premier (state incl.) is $89. Costco is box copy is $69.
Do you know of any miles or other offers for TurboTax Online? Will need the small business edition.
J.J.: The BigCrumbs option should give you a discount and cash back for Turbo Tax Online. Also, if you see a 35% off offer from your bank, that should work too.
Thanks for the info about BigCrumbs’ discount! My next quarterly payment gets deducted tomorrow, and it reminds me it’s time to start working on my (and my girlfriend’s) tax return. It’s the only math I get to do anymore… 🙁
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve updated the post with two of them. Note that the Costco option really is the best reported deal so far.
American express webpage offers 35% off when logged into your open acccts too
Or just buy it from Costco where the prices For TurboTax Deluxe and Premier are currently DRASTICALLY lower than anywhere else. TurboTax Deluxe with State is only $39.79! That is a lot better than any discount from anywhere else.
you forgot to factor in the additional rewards through the Staples, Office Max or Office Depot reward programs.