This means, in part, that the information you share when preparing your tax return cannot be used to generate product recommendations for you. TurboTax’s top-tier plan connects you with a TurboTax expert or a verified local tax pro matched to your situation to get your taxes done for you in as little as two hours. The Free Edition is available to filers with W-2 income, qualified retirement distributions, and limited 1099 interest and dividends. People with unemployment income, stock sales (including cryptocurrency), income from rental properties, and self-employment income won’t qualify.
How Much Does TurboTax Cost?
- The Free Edition is available to filers with W-2 income, qualified retirement distributions, and limited 1099 interest and dividends.
- The plans offered are the same as the DIY plans above, but you can consult an expert when needed (they’re even available nights and weekends during tax season).
- H&R Block and TurboTax both offer online tax prep, downloadable software, and full-service tax prep.
- You may also be able to easily import documents from a payroll provider, bank, or brokerage that partners with TurboTax.
- But the company and its experts cannot provide legal advice or represent you before the IRS.
And this is the plan for you if you have any income, deductions, or credits related to Certified Bookkeeper a partnership reported on Schedule K-1. Despite its wide name recognition, Business Insider’s personal finance team compared TurboTax to the best tax software and found it to be a standard offering. TurboTax has an accuracy guarantee that ensures customers are compensated for any fees from the IRS or their state in the event of a math error attributed to the company. Live Assisted packages allow you to share your screen with a TurboTax expert when you have a question about your taxes, but sensitive information, such as your Social Security number, will not be visible. If you have any income or losses to report from trading stocks, crypto, or bonds, you’ll need to upgrade to TurboTax’s Premium Edition. The company also says this is the best plan for contractors and freelancers claiming tax breaks such as the home office deduction.
TurboTax Online: Important Details about Filing Simple
TurboTax lists one general phone number for customer support on its website and a library of help articles. TurboTax calculations are 100% accurate so your taxes will be done right, guaranteed, or we’ll pay you any IRS penalties. Everything you need to know about taxes that you didn’t learn in school.
Many Americans qualify for free tax prep, and both companies have been the subject of federal complaints for misleading advertising practices that pushed filers into paid plans. For the 2025 filing season, H&R Block’s free federal plan covers more situations than TurboTax’s and its paid plans are more attractive because they include live expert help. TurboTax has a free option for qualified customers for both federal and state tax returns, which is available with no income cutoff, but does not cover certain income types. Like several online tax services, TurboTax charges extra for state returns, though there is no fee for those who qualify for free federal filing. For the paid do-it-yourself plans, each state return costs $39 (or $64 during peak tax season). TurboTax online offers four ways to file your taxes, depending on your unique tax needs.
TurboTax has multiple features that give it an edge over FreeTaxUSA, like document import and upload capabilities and QuickBooks integration for business owners. But for situations that require a paid package at TurboTax, costs can add up. TurboTax’s Live Assisted option gives you on-demand access to a tax pro to answer your questions while you prep your return yourself. The plans offered are the same as the DIY plans above, but you can consult an expert when needed (they’re even available nights and weekends during tax season).
Premium Edition
You may also be able to easily import documents from a payroll provider, bank, or brokerage that partners with TurboTax. Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest). We bring together seasoned experts and powerful technology to get your taxes done right. TurboTax tells you what you need to enter to do your taxes based on your unique circumstances. The interface provides step-by-step guidance and directions for most tax forms. There’s also seamless integration for self-employed filers who use Quickbooks to keep track of expenses and tax payments.
- Among other time-saving tasks, the tool searches “millions of data points” to find deductions and credits you qualify for that could reduce what you owe or boost your refund.
- TurboTax calculations are 100% accurate so your taxes will be done right, guaranteed, or we’ll pay you any IRS penalties.
- TurboTax tells you what you need to enter to do your taxes based on your unique circumstances.
- We bring together seasoned experts and powerful technology to get your taxes done right.
Estimate Your Taxes
After an initial assessment, you’ll get a cost estimate from your expert, based on how many tax forms need to be completed and filed with your return. TurboTax is best for those with complicated tax situations who need expert help and prize premium features. Self-employed workers who use QuickBooks for their accounting may have a smooth filing experience with TurboTax, as both services are provided by the same company, with integration between them. For the Live Assisted plans, a state return is an additional $39 or $49 ($59 or $69 during peak tax season). State returns are $49 each ($69 during peak tax season) with the Full Service plans.
- TurboTax has a free option for qualified customers for both federal and state tax returns, which is available with no income cutoff, but does not cover certain income types.
- This means, in part, that the information you share when preparing your tax return cannot be used to generate product recommendations for you.
- For the Live Assisted plans, a state return is an additional $39 or $49 ($59 or $69 during peak tax season).
- If it’s determined that you entered information improperly, the guarantee does not apply.
But the company and its experts cannot provide legal advice or represent you before the IRS. Yes, TurboTax allows you to upload your previous tax return to save time entering your information. You should always double-check that the data was imported correctly before moving on. As you prepare your return online, TurboTax’s new AI-powered Intuit Assist can answer your questions to help you understand how tax rules apply to your situation. You can also find support from other TurboTax users and experts in the online forum.
This year the company made a noticeable shift toward recommending its expert-assisted and full-service experiences over its self-preparation filing plans. Here, you’ll find the right TurboTax product to file tax returns for a prior year. If you’ve already purchased a previous year’s Desktop tax software you can access it here. TurboTax has a full-service filing option in addition to self-preparation plans, while FreeTaxUSA is entirely self-paced.
With all versions except the desktop computer software, you can start and enter your information at no cost. You only pay at the end when filing your federal and state tax returns. TurboTax’s customer support ranges from AI-driven chatbots that answer tax or technical questions to experts who provide live, on-demand advice to tax professionals who offer full-service tax preparation. While it connects filers with a network of experts nationwide, there are no in-person options. Intuit-owned TurboTax is among the most expensive options for filing taxes online but offers competitive early-season pricing.
The basic version supports W-2 income, retirement account distributions, unemployment income, interest and dividend income, the earned income tax credit, student loan interest, and the child tax credit. Active duty military and reservists can file free using any of TurboTax’s DIY online packages. H&R Block and TurboTax both offer online tax prep, downloadable software, and full-service tax prep. But H&R Block is the only one with brick-and-mortar locations that support an in-person filing experience.
You upload all of your documents digitally and speak with the tax pro on a phone or video call when needed. Once complete, the tax pro signs your return and files it on your behalf. If you receive an audit letter from the IRS, you have the ability to get one-on-one help from a tax professional at TurboTax at no extra cost.