Review of Intuit TurboTax software for tax return preparation

How much does Intuit TurboTax cost?

Intuit TurboTax is a tax software that uses an interview-style process to help you file your taxes. The software collects your answers to various questions, and evaluates them to determine exactly which forms to include in your return. Intuit TurboTax offers a variety of products, including the Free Edition, Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed package.

Plan and packages	Early bird Price	Best for	Features
Free Edition (for simple returns only)	$0 for federal $0 for state	Simple returns	Access to prior year returns Covers W2 income Earned income tax credit (EIC) and child tax credits
Deluxe	$59 for federal $49 for state	Families and those with itemized deductions	Covers W2 and 1099-MISC income without expenses Mortgage & property tax donations Charitable donations Student loan interest and education expenses Health saving accounts Retirement savings contributions
Premier	$89 for federal $49 for state	Investors and those with rental properties	Auto import investment tax data Covers stocks, bonds, robo-investing, cryptocurrency, rental property income and more
Self-Employed	$119 for federal $49 for state	Small business owners	Covers 1099-MISC income and expenses Maximizes work-related deductions QuickBooks Self-Employed subscription to track expenses and mileage

When you first visit the Intuit TurboTax website, you’ll fill out a few simple questions to determine which package is best for your situation.

Free File Program discontinuing in October 2021

The Free File Program, a service delivered by TurboTax through the IRS Free File Alliance (FFA), will be discontinued in October 2021. This program allows Americans to file federal and state taxes for free, regardless of how complex their tax return is. But it has strict eligibility requirements, such as having a household adjusted gross income (AGI) of $39,000 or less.

The TurboTax Free Edition is not the same as the Free File Program and will continue to be available to all filers with simple returns. If you need to file additional schedules or have a more complex situation, you’ll be able to upgrade from the free edition to a paid version.

How do I open a Intuit TurboTax account?

Signing up for Intuit TurboTax online takes just a few minutes:

1. Select Apply now.
2. From the official website, click Get Started.
3. Select which tax situations apply to you and select your plan. You can either choose the one Intuit TurboTax recommends or your own.
4. Select how you filed taxes last year and click Continue.
5. Create your account using your email address, User ID, phone number and password and click Create Account.

Once you create your account, Intuit TurboTax will ask you a few simple questions to determine which tax forms you need. As you move through the filing process, you can go back and edit or delete forms you have already completed.

Pros

Those who file taxes with Intuit TurboTax will enjoy perks like:

• Easy to use. Simply answer simple questions and Intuit TurboTax generates the correct tax forms you need.
• Mobile friendly. The mobile app is available on both IOS and Android devices, and offers almost all the features you can take advantage of on the computer. It even lets you submit some forms by taking a picture of them by phone.
• Military discount. If you are a service member, you can file your federal and state taxes for free using any Intuit TurboTax package.
• Helpful resources. In addition to the vast amount of online written resources, you can also take advantage of tax experts who are happy to help via phone call.

Cons

If you plan on filing with Intuit TurboTax, watch out for these potential drawbacks:

• Limited. Intuit TurboTax can handle most individual tax situations for small business owners, but it may not be comprehensive enough for those with large companies.
• Cost. You typically don’t know the final cost of Intuit TurboTax until you finish your return. If your situation is more complicated than your plan allows, Intuit TurboTax automatically upgrades you to a higher plan.
• Free Edition doesn’t offer everything. The Free Edition is only for simple tax returns and it doesn’t include Schedules A, C, D, E, H or K. If you are planning on itemizing deductions, or if you have to pay self-employment taxes, you may want to look into the other plans.

If you want a filing service that offers straightforward pricing, you’ll want to keep looking. As always, compare your options when considering a tax filing service.

Intuit TurboTax reviews and complaints

Intuit TurboTax earns an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) based on such internal criteria as years in business and financial security. As of July 2021, it has a 1.12 out of 5-star customer rating based on 301 reviews.

Of those reviews, many customers claim Intuit TurboTax is easy to follow, and is laid out clearly. Others complain about being tricked into upgrading to pricier plans than needed. Once you upgrade, there’s no way to undo it. You either pay the higher price or start the entire process over with a different filing service.

Compare services to file taxes online

Intuit TurboTax customer support

There are three ways to contact Intuit TurboTax customer support:

• Call 1-800-446-8848
• Use the chatbot on its website
• Post your question in the online community on its website

Frequently asked questions

• I don’t know a lot about taxes. Where can I go to learn?

  Intuit TurboTax offers a vast amount of educational resources. The company provides video tutorials, articles, a glossary, forums, and more. The website also offers a lot of previously asked questions.

• Is this program fully online, or can it help me in person at an office?

  Intuit TurboTax is online software you can buy. You complete the process online, and not with a tax professional in person in an office. However, you can take advantage of the company’s helpful resources if you do need assistance. More recently, Intuit TurboTax implemented a feature called Smart Look that lets you see a representative’s face while they talk. The representative is only able to see your Intuit TurboTax screen.

• What if I am not happy with Intuit TurboTax Tax Preparation Software?

  If you are not happy with Intuit TurboTax Online or Mobile, you do not have to pay. You can use Intuit TurboTax for free up to the point that you decide to print or electronically file your return.

  If you purchased Intuit TurboTax from a retailer store, you can return it for a full refund to Intuit within 60 days of purchase. To do this, you will need your receipt.

  If you bought Intuit TurboTax via direct download from the company’s website, you can still return it within 60 days of shipment with your receipt.

• Is there a maximum refund guarantee?

  Yes. Intuit TurboTax offers a maximum refund guarantee. If you get a larger refund or small taxes due with another tax preparation method, Intuit TurboTax will refund the applicable Intuit TurboTax federal and/or state purchase price paid.

• Does Intuit TurboTax Tax Preparation Software work with an accuracy guarantee?

  Yes, if Intuit TurboTax makes a calculation error, and you have to pay the IRS, a state penalty, or interest as a result, the company will cover the penalty and interest.

• Does the website offer any kind of calculators?

  Intuit TurboTax offers tax calculators, as well as many different kinds of resources. You can also go to Intuit TurboTax’s website for tax tips, videos, helpful blog posts, and more.