Pros: You get what you paid for. As good as it gets. :)

Cons: none. If you don't know how to use it then google cannot fail you. :)

Other Thoughts: I use it every year and so far it's been great.

Pros: Pretty easy to use. Found my last years turbo tax file that I put on my desktop without having to load it manually (that surprised me).
Shows last year compared to this year as you go so you can see if you are mistaken about certain deductions or maybe forget to include a increased cost on items. Audit checker with help should you get audited. Mine is a simple return and take standard deductions but in case I mess up, hopefully they got my back.

Cons: Some parts are not so descriptive until you go into them. As others have stated, it really only comes with 1 time free download of your state forms and not actually covering cost of e-file.

Other Thoughts: If you are confused about any parts if you should be doing it, read more about them. If you are still confused and get option to "try anyway" go for it. Worst case you go back and or don't qualify. Turbo tax will help you. At least they used to when I 1st started using them but have not called in years.

Pros: Have used turbotax for years and it seems to be fine. I don't have complicated tax problems, however.

Cons: Description obviously leads you to believe that the state efile is included, which it is not. I already figured this, as they always try to make it sound that way, then charge you after you have already purchased their product. Federal efile is free (actually it is legally mandated that it is free), but the state efile is not. The state files are included for one state, however, but not the efile.

Pros: easy to install and transfer data. no issues with missing forms like in 2014. note that the cd and probably the download version do not have all the official forms for 2015 - you won't be able to snail mail or e-file. Can't say if it is the fault of Intuit, the IRS or both. Certainly Intuit gets out its software to avoid people going to that other well known tax software. It also true that the IRS hasn't approve the all forms for 2015 (you can't get them on the IRS website)

Cons: has a higher price than competitor.

Other Thoughts: Intuit learned its lesson from the 2014 fiasco - at least for the pc/mac version.

Pros: Schedules C, D, and E forms are back (was removed in 2014 version)
Makes doing taxes easier
Auto fills data from previous year

Cons: Costs money for what can technically be done for free
Additional $20 efile fee

Other Thoughts: Last year (2014), TurboTax Deluxe got slammed with bad reviews. This was mainly due to the schedules C, D, and E forms that Intuit removed and forced people to upgrade to the more expensive Premier to get them back. Basically, these forms were for people who are self-employed, independent contractors, have non-investment capital gains or losses, or own real estate that was rented out to tenants.

Intuit claimed the removal of the forms wasn’t to force Deluxe customers to upgrade to Premier, but to synchronize the desktop version with the online version. Regardless, customers viewed it as a bait and switch prompting over a thousand 1-star ratings. If that wasn’t enough, TurboTax stopped transmitting state returns for a time due to fraud concerns; criminals using stolen identity information to hijack refunds. The company tried to make up for all this by sending out several apology letters and offering free upgrades and rebates, but the damage was still done.

This year, thankfully Intuit learned their lesson. They brought back Schedules C, D, and E to the TurboTax Deluxe version. According to Intuit’s website, the online version of Deluxe only supports schedule C (not D or E), but the download/CD version supports all three. A quick glance at the vendor’s product image also confirms all three (C, D, and E). If that wasn’t enough, I checked the software by going to Forms > Open Form and expanding the list. Schedules C, D, and E all came up. Whew!

As for myself, I didn’t need any of those forms in 2014, so it wasn’t a problem for me. I have been using TurboTax since 2005 because it makes doing taxes much easier than printing and filling out forms manually. Sure, the direct-to-forms method is free, but TurboTax not only makes it easier and quicker, but it helps prevent mistakes (which could be way more costly down the line). I love how information is retained from the previous year and easily inserts into the new one. Work at the same place as 2014? You don’t have to mess around with retyping the 10 digit employer ID or the mailing address (that is assuming you used TurboTax in 2014). My biggest gripe, however, still remains: you are given one “free” state download, but still have to pay $20 to efile it. The Federal efile is free, but not so for state. To get around this issue I enter all my state information into TurboTax, but then print out the forms and snail mail them. Sure, I still have to pay for postage, but it’s quite a bit less.

I have yet to receive all my W-2 and giving statements, but so far all the information I submitted into the desktop software has worked like a charm. 2014 data is transferred and easily comes up for reinsertion. The layout and process is nearly identical: same personal summary, refund amount status, information wizard, etc. -- there’s even the same blue bar design at the top of the screen. For me, I will gladly continue using TurboTax to help minimize the annoyance of this yearly cumbersome task.