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I haven't used Square or the Intuit payment device, but here is a semi-relevant bit about Intuit: I randomly tried TurboTax (owned by Intuit) this year. My fri

I haven't used Square or the Intuit payment device, but here is a semi-relevant bit about Intuit: I randomly tried TurboTax (owned by Intuit) this year. My friends used it. I trusted their taste, but only that it was the best of mediocre options. I was wrong. The app was amazing. One of the best apps of any kind I've ever used. The UX from the visual progress workflow to the copywriting de-stressing you out about taxes (but not getting forced-humorous), saving sessions that you time out (you're gonna time out something as long as your taxes, trust + believe)... Just everything. I know it sounds crazy, but doing my taxes was actually fun. Anyway... I bring this up because they also own Mint, which lots of people think is pretty nice, too (but its heritage predates Intuit's purchase of it). All I know is... I have faith in Intuit to make something truly nice. I am really rooting for Square, because I always root for disruptive upstarts, but i hope they both make slightly different variations of stuff that will help customers.

pitdesi 15y ago
TurboTax isn't bad (although I prefer the much cheaper TaxACT), but you should know Intuit has put a good deal of lobbying money towards blocking proposals to have the federal government send you pre-filled out tax forms that would make everything much easier. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9112083 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9112083 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100723/09055310339.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100723/09055310339.shtml They put a million dollars to Republican Tony Stricklands campaign for California Comptroller because the other guy wanted free e-filing http://www.consumercal.org/article.php?id=127 http://www.consumercal.org/article.php?id=127
- thesethings 15y ago
  Thanks for the info on Intuit's unfortunate lobbying activities. That stuff does matter to me. I'll be reading into it. (Though sheesh, neither pre-filled out forms, nor free e-filing would be as radical as simpler tax policy. :D) As for TaxAct, at least the onboarding process wasn't as nice as TurboTax on the day I was doing my comparison shopping. But I definitely will give it a try + trust your opinion (i peeped your profile and suspect you know more about consumer financial services than i do, heh).

pitdesi 15y ago

TurboTax isn't bad (although I prefer the much cheaper TaxACT), but you should know Intuit has put a good deal of lobbying money towards blocking proposals to have the federal government send you pre-filled out tax forms that would make everything much easier. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9112083 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9112083 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100723/09055310339.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100723/09055310339.shtml They put a million dollars to Republican Tony Stricklands campaign for California Comptroller because the other guy wanted free e-filing http://www.consumercal.org/article.php?id=127 http://www.consumercal.org/article.php?id=127

thesethings 15y ago
Thanks for the info on Intuit's unfortunate lobbying activities. That stuff does matter to me. I'll be reading into it. (Though sheesh, neither pre-filled out forms, nor free e-filing would be as radical as simpler tax policy. :D) As for TaxAct, at least the onboarding process wasn't as nice as TurboTax on the day I was doing my comparison shopping. But I definitely will give it a try + trust your opinion (i peeped your profile and suspect you know more about consumer financial services than i do, heh).