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TurboTax business review

Get access to accounting integrations, payroll reporting and auditing support.

TurboTax business makes it easy for business owners of all types to file taxes thanks to its user-friendly interface and helpful tax guides. But its robust features come at a cost. You’ll pay more for TurboTax than you would for other tax filing software solutions.

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$89

Federal starting price

$39

State returns starting price

Details

Federal starting price$89
State returns starting price$39
Payment optionsDebit, Pay with your tax refund
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Review by


Cassidy Horton is a freelance personal finance copywriter and past contributing writer for Finder. Her writing and banking expertise have been featured in Forbes Advisor, Money, The Balance, Money Under 30, Insure.com, and other top digital publishers. She holds a BS in public relations and an MBA from Georgia Southern University.

Expert review

You’ll find all the bells and whistles at TurboTax — auditing support, payroll and reporting features, software integrations and live access to tax experts.

But these dreamy features come at a cost. Although TurboTax is cheaper than filing with a tax preparer, it’s more expensive than other tax filing software companies. That’s why it’s best for small- and medium-sized businesses with complicated tax situations.

If you’re a freelancer or contract worker with a simple tax situation, you’ll likely get by just fine with a more affordable option from a company like TaxAct or H&R Block.

How much does TurboTax cost?

TurboTax has three options for business owners — each with varying features and support. One is an online platform and the other two are downloadable software.

Plan and packagesTypePriceBest forFeatures
Self-EmployedOnline software$89 for federal

$39 for state
Freelancers, contractors and small-business owners
  • Import 1099-MISC by taking a picture of it with your smartphone
  • Search for industry-specific deductions
  • Covers industries like rideshare and online sales
Self-Employed LiveOnline software$169 for federal

$50 for state
Freelancers, contractors and small-business owners who want real-time help from a tax expertEverything in the Self-Employed plan, plus:

  • Unlimited tax advice from tax experts with the ability to share your screen as you do your taxes
  • Line-by-line tax form review from a tax expert before you file
Home & BusinessDownloadable software$119 for federal

$0 for first state; $40 for additional state

Small-business owners
  • Get extra coaching on how to maximize small business and self-employment tax deductions
  • Create W-2 and 1099 tax forms for employees and contractors
  • Get guidance on what startup costs you can deduct as a new business
TurboTax businessDownloadable software$180 for federal

$49 for state
Partnerships, S Corp, C Corp, multi-member LLC, trusts and estates
  • Get guidance on how to calculate asset depreciation
  • Create unlimited W-2, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT and 1099-DIV forms
  • Create K-1 forms electronically
  • Prepare tax returns for multiple businesses even if they’re different entity types

How do I pay?

TurboTax gives you three ways to cover your filing fees:

  • Debit or credit card
  • Prepaid card
  • Deducted from your federal refund

How do I get my tax refund?

When you file with TurboTax, you’ll have these refund options:

  • Paper check
  • Direct deposit
  • US savings bond
  • Apply your refund to next year’s taxes

How do I open a TurboTax business account?

Follow these steps to choose your plan and sign up:

  1. Select Apply now.
  2. Hover over the Products & pricing tab on the TurboTax website, then do one of the following:
    a. Select Small business taxes if you’re a partnership, S Corp, C Corp, multi-member LLC, trust or estate.
    b. Select File online if you’re self-employed and want to file online.
    c. Select CD/Downloadable products if you’re self-employed and want the downloadable software.
  3. Follow the onscreen prompts to create your account and start filing your taxes.

What are the benefits of TurboTax?

TurboTax uses a question-and-answer-based system where it uses your responses to fill out your tax form for you. You can file on your phone using TurboTax’s mobile app and enjoy these features:

  • Integrations. Seamlessly import income and expenses for Quickbooks, Square, Uber, Lyft, ItsDeductible and more.
  • Auditing support. TurboTax has an Audit Risk Meter, which checks your tax return for common audit triggers, shows you whether you’re low- or high-risk for getting audited and gives you tips on how to lower your chances.
  • Access to live support. With the Self-Employed Live package, you’ll get access to on-demand support from a tax expert. And you can share your screen so they can see exactly what you see as you file your return.
  • Payroll features. TurboTax lets business owners generate a host of payroll and reporting forms, such as W-2, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV and K-1 forms. This is on par with H&R Block’s payroll features, but it’s more than what you’ll get with TaxAct.

What should I watch out for?

TurboTax business has a long list of perks, but there are a few drawbacks worth noting:

  • Few plan options. There are two plan options for business owners who want to use online software and two options for those who want a downloadable version — compared to rival H&R Block, which gives you four ways to file online, plus downloadable software and in-person support.
  • Expensive. Compared to H&R Block and TaxAct, TurboTax has the most expensive prices with packages starting out at $89, but it has the most robust features for maximizing deductions and minimizing filing mistakes.
  • TurboTax Business isn’t Mac-compatible. The TurboTax Business package — designed for corporations, partnerships and multi-member LLCs — is the only downloadable software offered by TurboTax that doesn’t work on Mac computers.

If you’re looking for a cheaper way to file taxes this year, explore other services until you find one that fits your needs and budget.

Compare tax filing services

Narrow down top tax service providers by federal returns starting price, state returns starting price and more to find the best for your budget and financial goals. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.

1 - 6 of 6
Name Product Federal starting price State returns starting price Maximum return guaranteed? Free options available? Photo import of W2? Live chat?
FreeTaxUSA
$0
$14.99
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
File federal returns for free and pay $14.99 for state returns with this online tax preparation software.
Keeper
$16
Included
Yes
No
No
Yes
Keeper Tax helps people with 1099 income automatically find tax write-offs among their purchases. At tax time, file federal and state directly for $89 or export to file elsewhere for $39.
Jackson Hewitt
$25
$25
Yes
No
No
Yes
File taxes online or in-person for a no-fee refund advance loan. But watch out for high filing fees
Intuit TurboTax
$59
$49
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
File returns electronically and get taken step by step through the tax-filing process, so that you can receive the fastest refund possible for yourself, and/or your business.
Liberty Tax
$45.95
$36.95
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Choose from EZ, Basic, Deluxe, and Premium packages to support the simplest or the most complicated of returns; including business and investments.
TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer
$34.95
$39.95
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
TaxSlayer offers free federal and state filing for simple returns and $0 federal return to service members filing with a military EIN.
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TurboTax business reviews and complaints

TurboTax gets a B+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) based on factors like financial stability and years in business. It scores 1.09 out of 5 stars from 462 customers as of November 2022.

Customers love how much time TurboTax saves them. They can easily import information from QuickBooks, search for deductions and find answers to their questions in the support forum. Customers also enjoy the risk meter, which shows your likelihood of getting audited based on your return.

The biggest complaint we found is that it can get expensive. But several customers admit it’s still a lot cheaper than what they’d pay with a tax preparer.

TurboTax customer support

The level of support you get depends on which TurboTax business package you choose. But generally, these are all the ways to contact customer support:

  • Call 800-446-8848
  • Live chat on the website
  • Community forum on the website

If you choose the Self-Employed Live package, you’ll get unlimited access to a tax expert.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for the ERC using TurboTax?

Yes, your business can apply for the ERC tax credit using TurboTax.

Which TurboTax business package do I need for an LLC?

TurboTax recommends going with TurboTax Home & Business if you’re a single-member LLC and TurboTax business if you’re a multi-member LLC. Freelancers, contractors and sole proprietors can go with the standard TurboTax Self-Employed online package.

Do I have to buy TurboTax business every year?

Yes. If you file online, you’ll pay once you’ve completed your return and are ready to file. With the downloadable version, you’ll pay up front, and the software will be good for that tax year.

What TurboTax products can I buy at Costco?

You can buy both downloadable software packages — TurboTax Home & Business and TurboTax business — at Costco.

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