Intuit Freaks Out Last Minute Tax Filers By Rebooting Machines

from the oh,-sure,-it-was-was-preventatitve dept

Mon, Apr 17th 2006 7:27pm — Mike Masnick

In what must have absolutely spooked out a ton of last minute tax filers, Intuit shut down its computer systems briefly this evening. While they claim that this was "preventative maintenance" in order to "prepare for the heavier volume of electronic tax filing expected later in the evening," that seems hard to believe. It's quite likely that an awful lot of people were already using the system around 5:30 PM on the east coast (even if many east coasters actually get one extra day for tax filing). If you're running a system that you absolutely know is going to get overwhelmed with traffic at a certain time, such as Turbo Tax's e-filing system on tax day, there's no way that you plan to take it offline for 20 minutes on purpose. Perhaps their servers were "sunset" and they were forced to upgrade, as Intuit has been known to do to plenty of customers.

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19 Comments

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Bob K Mertz, 17 Apr 2006 @ 8:19pm

April Fools
It seems that April Fools has been lasting all month with announcements such as Microsoft's Linux Lab, Windows on Apple. etc, etc.... Intuit had to get in on the fun too.
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Lee Gilbert, 17 Apr 2006 @ 8:58pm

(An) Other Intuit problem
As a dedicated last-minute filer, I began by opening the box on the 15th, installing the software (easy), updating it (boring, but simple), and opening my 2005 return. Next, transfer last year's data. Oops!
Followed all the recommended steps and workarounds, without success

Filed an extension, of course. So far, their helpdesk isn't very helpful.
And the online forum has many others with the same problem, but no solution in sight. Isn't technology wonderful!
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Andrew Pollack, 17 Apr 2006 @ 10:26pm

Intuit pisses me off more each day
I've had it with their piece of garbage. I've documented problems where it has lost record of reconciled transactions, suddenly throwing cleared balances totally off base. They advertise their add-ons in software I've purchased, and charge fees for services other packages don't need to do at all because they've abandoned support for non-fee based imports.

I cannot WAIT to dump their formerly great software and -- FSM help me -- switch from Quickbooks to Microsoft's Small Business Accounting.
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John, 17 Apr 2006 @ 11:01pm

Intuit Sucks!
I think ever since they outsourced to India, their customer service has gone for a toss. The Indian calle centre fols have a lot to learn yet. They are neither technically proficient, nor easy to understand. On the other hand, Microsoft agents located in India are extremely skilled and helpful. Intuit, we don't pay you to get this kind of customer service. ARE YOU LISTENING?
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Paul, 18 Apr 2006 @ 5:49am

If you want customer service then drive over to H&R Block, don't pick up a $29.99 box at Walmart.
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John W, 18 Apr 2006 @ 6:36am

Re:
Oh yeah, the H&R Block that messed up their own taxes and is coercing their customers to put money into retirement funds that actually decline in value over time? There's a good plan.

Let's just abolish the income tax altogether and go to a FairTax. We'd no longer have to spend time filling out tax forms, we'd collect taxes on all of the illegals out there, and all of our products would become cheaper since the personal and corporate income taxes wouldn't be embedded in the cost of stuff.

FairTax Thumbnail Sketch
http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/sketch.html

FairTax FAQ's
http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/faq-main.html

Main Site
http://www.fairtax.org
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Moogle, 18 Apr 2006 @ 8:12am

Fairtax is a lie
There's nothing 'fair' about fairtax. It's yet another duplicitous naming scheme like 'patriot act'.

It's a national sales tax, and it's arguably worse than the current system. It's got myriads of enforcement problems (who qualifies as a seller that has to pay tax? What if you have a garage sale? Fear the exemptions that corporations will squeeze into for that!), lots of bad side effects (black markets for everyone, you won't be able to sort out the cheaper food from the drugs and child porn!), and it lies pretty badly with numbers. Their 23% is actually 30% when you're looking at it from the consumer's perspective. (100 will cost 130, 30/130 = 23%). And don't forget that the rich have better resources to import and buy untaxed items.

I know you hate filling out a couple forms every year, but if you want tax reform, a pure Income tax only plan is far better than (un)fairtax. I'm sure there are other good proposals as well.

A quick google on fairtax tells me:
http://www.jpfo.org/fairtax.htm
I'm sure you can find more.
Sorry for going off topic, but I want to see this silly idea nipped in the bud before it infects more disgruntled tax payers.
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Axe, 18 Apr 2006 @ 8:36am

I may be asking for it, but...
doing your taxes nowadays is much easier than it was say... 3 years ago.

But I agree that Intuit is going through a "Big Blue" phase. First they changed their Banking format (Which made me switch to Micro$oft money) and then they outsourced to Gupta and Rajij and, being a Techie myself, I can't think of any reasonable reason to have to restart your system before a big day.

Obviously Intuit will have to pay a humility fee of a couple of million before thay go back to being a Software company.
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Anonymous of Course, 18 Apr 2006 @ 10:17am

Re: Fairtax is a lie
I'm not a fairtax supporter. But you obviously
haven't read or do not understand the proposal.
It's a sales tax on /new/ goods and services.
So your garage sale question is moot.

I'd like something /like/ fairtax but with no
exemptions or exceptions and it should be the
/only/ tax. No income tax, no property tax,
no fica, medicare...

Then the revenue stream generated will reach
a point where increasing the tax will decrease
revenue immediately. Because the government
would not be exempt from paying the tax.

The notion that we can keep increasing taxes to
cover ever increasing expenditures will be seen
as false at once. And the decrease phase shift
will tend to stabilize the system.

Also it would eliminate political patronage via
tweaking of the tax code. Which I think is the
biggest fault of all with the current system of
taxation. It can never be fair and is a tool of
both corrupt politicians and would be social
engineers.

I believe the fairtax proposal is defective
because it does not address the issues of
eliminating patronage and providing proper
regulatory feedback.
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dennis, 18 Apr 2006 @ 1:23pm

i can think of one good reason...
...for restarting their servers, that is, ...

if they host on Windows, the only way to clear the ugly memory leakage is reboot the box. as the leaks grow, the server comes to crawl. that would suck for us poor overtaxed fools...

Windows blows as a hosting platform IMHO.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Apr 2006 @ 1:57pm

Some funny things were going on during the weekend -
I entered and completed a filing on Saturday evening.

On Sunday afternoon, I started on the last two filings, and the software needed an update!

Have no idea what the upgrade involved!
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I hate Insuckit, 18 Apr 2006 @ 9:10pm

I hate Intuit
Intuit sucks, plain and simple. I hope they burn to the ground.
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I hate Insuckit, 18 Apr 2006 @ 9:10pm

I hate Intuit
Intuit sucks, plain and simple. I hope they burn to the ground.
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Dice, 19 Apr 2006 @ 7:52am

Re: Re: Fairtax is a lie
The fairtax (i am a supporter) does not tax any b2b sales, or sales of used products. It affects only new products and services in a retail environment. It also requires a repeal of the constitutional amendment that authorizes the current income tax system. The fairtax also eliminates all FEDERAL income taxes, medicare taxes, and (i think) social security taxes. state income taxes, sales taxes, etc. are controled at the state government level; and property taxes are assesed by the county/parish/whatever that you reside. My favorite thing about the tax is that it eliminates exemptions alltogether, and that there are no taxes automatically taken out of your paycheck.
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Rich D, 19 Apr 2006 @ 6:31pm

Tax's
I didn't have a problem. We filed early. Turbo Tax is the best and easyest to use.
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MoMospy, 10 Aug 2006 @ 2:48pm

Enjoy the open debate while it lasts...
Enjoy your ability to openly comment on and criticize the FairTax while it lasts...AFFT wants to take that right away from you...

The Americans For Fair Taxation (fairtax.org) are on a mission to squash out any public criticism of the FairTax plan and are attempting to exploit the federal trademark system for the ADMITTED purpose of being able to shut down anti-FairTax websites during the upcoming elections. They have an open application to obtain a service mark for the word "FairTax." Genie Hayes, the communications director for AFFT, openly admitted that the goal of AFFT is to get this service mark and be able to yank any anti-FairTax websites as well as to have total control over any shirts, bumper stickers, or anything of that nature that is printed with the word FairTax. They are attempting to get the strong arm of the federal government to back them up in hindering free speech and open/honest debate.

The FairTax is promising to become a rather prominent issue in the upcoming Congressional elections--and if AFFT succeeds in obtaining this service mark, they are going to be in an excellent position to keep people from criticizing the FairTax Act.

The time for opposition to their application is fast approaching. I know that an application for a service mark can't be opposed just because the applicant's motive is unethical. However, I do believe that there is a very STRONG case that AFFT doesn't meet the legal requirements for obtaining a service mark. The strongest argument is all around us--the phrase "Fairtax" is SYNONYMOUS with H.R. 25 and the Fair Tax Plan.

Unfortunately, as it stands right now, I think they'll win their service mark and they'll be on the road to having the power to tell people that they cannot participate in public debate regarding H.R. 25. Perhaps, at least, the public will be informed of this attempt to filter open and honest critiques.
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momospy, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:01pm

enjoy the debate...it wil be gone soon...
Enjoy your ability to openly comment on and criticize the FairTax while it lasts...AFFT wants to take that right away from you...

The Americans For Fair Taxation (fairtax.org) are on a mission to squash out any public criticism of the FairTax plan and are attempting to exploit the federal trademark system for the ADMITTED purpose of being able to shut down anti-FairTax websites during the upcoming elections. They have an open application to obtain a service mark for the word "FairTax." Genie Hayes, the communications director for AFFT, openly admitted that the goal of AFFT is to get this service mark and be able to yank any anti-FairTax websites as well as to have total control over any shirts, bumper stickers, or anything of that nature that is printed with the word FairTax. They are attempting to get the strong arm of the federal government to back them up in hindering free speech and open/honest debate.

The FairTax is promising to become a rather prominent issue in the upcoming Congressional elections--and if AFFT succeeds in obtaining this service mark, they are going to be in an excellent position to keep people from criticizing the FairTax Act.

The time for opposition to their application is fast approaching. I know that an application for a service mark can't be opposed just because the applicant's motive is unethical. However, I do believe that there is a very STRONG case that AFFT doesn't meet the legal requirements for obtaining a service mark. The strongest argument is all around us--the phrase "Fairtax" is SYNONYMOUS with H.R. 25 and the Fair Tax Plan.

Unfortunately, as it stands right now, I think they'll win their service mark and they'll be on the road to having the power to tell people that they cannot participate in public debate regarding H.R. 25. Perhaps, at least, the public will be informed of this attempt to filter open and honest critiques.
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Tabacco, 18 Aug 2006 @ 4:53pm

Re: Fairtax is a lie
Moogle:

Very interested in your opinion and perspective. I have written several Articles exposing this Con. See my blog.

If you do not blog, I might be interested in collaboration with you for my next Posting.

“The FairTax”: Morphh Advocates In The Affirmative – Tabacco Responds In The Negative – RI10 (Publ. May 23, 2006)
http://tabacco.blog-city.com/the_fair_tax_morphh_advocates_in_the_affirmative__tabacco_re.htm

Call To Repeal Regressive Taxes: State/ National Sales Taxes (FairTax.org) Impact Rich The Least & The Rest Of Us The Most –RI10 (Publ. Mar 25, 2006)
http://tabacco.blog-city.com/call_to_repeal_regressive_taxes_state_national_sales_taxes_i.htm

Open Letter To http://www.hundiejo.com/ Re The "FairTax" FairTax.org Un-Fairness To Middle Class -RI10 (Publ. Oct 22, 2005)
http://tabacco.blog-city.com/open_letter_to_httpwwwhundiejocom_re_the_fair_tax_fairness_t.htm

Illogical "National Sales Tax” FairTax.org Proponents Think Middle America is Stupid! Are We? -RI10 (Publ. Sept 14, 2005)
http://tabacco.blog-city.com/illogical_national_sales_tax_proponents_think_middle_america.htm

I think Bush will spring HR25 on us after November elections.

email me: scobrax@optonline.net

Tabacco

(Truth About Business And Congressional Crimes Organization)
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suzie, 26 Apr 2007 @ 8:32am

Re: Intuit Sucks!
No they are not listening. I know !its all about the bottom dollar. it is just a matter of time before they crash and burn
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