Just have had a frustrating experience... I went to start my taxes (I know, I'm running late but it's only because my husband was supposed to do it!) and I went online to Turbotax's website. Great!, I thought when I saw I could just do it through their website instead of downloading something. So I tried.

It said I needed an updated browser. Hmm, I thought. That's odd - although I'm using a Mac, I just downloaded the new Firefox 4.0 browser a week or so ago.

So I looked at the page: It said I needed the current Firefox browser: Firefox 3.0. That can't be!, I thought. Maybe they just never updated their site...?

So I Googled to see if anyone found a solution. I found a lot of people with the same problem, but no solutions. So I tried the online tech support. She said that I needed to be using Firefox 5.0, according to her information. I then informed her that there was no such thing - the latest 'final' release was 4.0 and their own website says to use 3.0.

So she suggested I download one of the other supported browsers - Google Chrome or IE. I already have two web browsers on my computer and didn't really want to download a third when it was clear there was a problem on Turbotax's end that a lot of people were having... So she suggested I downgrade to Firefox 3.6.

Argh.

I eventually downloaded Google Chrome this morning and it seems to be working... Just very frustrating when it seems the tech support people don't really know anything! I'm sure this lady was just reading from her script and wasn't used to 'real' technical problems from someone who knew a little about computers, but still...

Try TaxAct instead...I have used it for three years and no issues.

Is that the H&R Block one? I tried it one year and hated it....

No, it's its own separate entity.

After upgrading to Firefox 4.0, I had the same message from our bank about needing an updated browser. This is probably just the stock message designed to be triggered if the server recognises the type (make) of browser but not the version number. Firefox 4.0 is a very new release and their server won't have been updated to cater for it yet. I wasn't stopped from doing business with the bank using Firefox 4.0 though. It is the finished product with all security measures in place, so I happily carried on with the secure financial the dealings.

Perhaps don't be too worried that you installed Google Chrome. I have this too and find I spend as much time using it as I do Firefox. A few extensions enhance it no end. Look into these:

Adblock+ for Google Chrome (beta).

LastPass Password Manager (remembers passwords that Chrome doesn't offer to save).

Lock Tab (prevents accidental closure of a tab or navigation away from a page).

Tab Cookies (deletes cookies when the browser is closed except those that you choose to protect).

Tabs to the Front (brings new tabs to the front).

Type Ahead Find (find words in a page as you type).

WOT (Web Of Trust - site safety rating system).

Oh, I'm not worried that I installed Chrome and I'll probably keep it installed. I was just frustrated by a tech support person who first tried to tell me to upgrade to a version that didn't exist and then to downgrade the browser I used instead of admitting there was an error and apologising for it... Honestly, my cable company is a lot better at tech support!