Not too long ago we were wrapping up the 2010 tax year.  It is now, December 1st and TurboTax Online is now live.  It is now safe to say, another tax season is here.  So let us start the 2011 tax season with a bang!

We begin with the topic that is on many of your minds, the Inner Circle discount.  This year we have been able to get you a 35% discount for both the TurboTax Online products and the TurboTax Desktop (download only) products.  To obtain your Inner Circle discount, you must order the products from the following website: http://turbotax.intuit.com/affiliate/tticty07.  For anyone that is part of the TurboTax Advantage (Automatic Renewal) program, you should have seen your discount reflected on your bill.

Please note: When ordering from the Inner Circle discount site, you will only see Desktop products available on the home tab.  After 12/6, you will see the Online products as well.

Don’t forget that you have your own priority support.  Your priority support number is 877-682-4254.  Your Customer Care agents can handle many types of TurboTax questions, including questions about your bill, refunds, technical help such as installation and updating, and even questions about entering your information.  Please do not hesitate to contact them if you need any help.

TurboTax for 2011 now offers free one-on-one tax advice. TurboTax tax experts are highly qualified U.S. based IRS-Enrolled Agents, CPAs or tax attorneys with extensive knowledge in tax law and tax return preparation. Available daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PT, the free “Ask a Tax Expert” service is accessible through all TurboTax desktop, online and mobile offerings.

Let’s have some fun this season!  Let us jump start this community, and get the idea party started.  Send me your feedback on ways we can improve.  Don’t hesitate to tell me what you want to read and learn about.   And most importantly, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Thank You,

Vanessa Valenzuela  
Your Inner Circle Manager

P.S. Speaking of starting with a BANG, be on the lookout for a free giveaway next week!

As the manager of the TurboTax Inner Circle, I get to do a lot of really cool things, including helping members like you who have questions or feedback.  One of the most important things I do is share your ideas with product managers so that we can continually improve the TurboTax experience.

The fact is, the more ideas I can capture from customers, the better the TurboTax product will be. That’s why we’ve decided to make a change and open the Idea Exchange to people outside the Inner Circle. My vision for TurboTax, just like yours may be, is easy, delightful and confidence building –the technology is cutting edge, the software is easy to use, the design is appealing – you know you’re getting everything you deserve. The Idea Exchange is one of the ways to accomplish that. By making the Idea Exchange available to more people, who want to share their ideas on how we make TurboTax the best it can be, we increase our ability to get more great ideas.

The Idea Exchange will now be available through the TurboTax FaceBook page and TurboTax blog, in addition to your access through the Inner Circle. Anyone can view all your great ideas and if they want to add their own or comment, they can register to use the Idea Exchange. The account only gives them access to the Idea Exchange. They will have to go through our regular registration to join the Inner Circle.

I hope you are as excited as I am to have more ideas on ways to improve TurboTax.  We are on our way to making TurboTax even better, one idea at a time!