Finding one platform offering both banking and investing accounts can be challenging. This Albert app review dives into the various features that can help improve your finances. TurboTax Advantage members get their tax software each year and have access to a number of exclusive benefits at no additional cost. These benefits include free Audit Defense and a dedicated support line.
- However, if you find the banner distracting, you can opt to turn off the function.
- 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.
- Tax season can feel overwhelming, but the right software can simplify the process.
- They also offer financial planning, such as a Retirement Planning Tool that can tell you if you’re on track to retire when you want.
- The Deluxe edition is the right choice for the person who doesn’t want to shell out that much more but wants help finding all the possible tax credits for them.
- This article was expert reviewed by Sheneya Wilson, MS, MBA, CPA, an accountant and CEO of Fola Financial.
File your taxes, your way
You can switch back and forth between TurboTax online and the app seamlessly. Yes, TurboTax has live support through TurboTax Live, you can connect with tax pros for personalized help, available with Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed plans. TurboTax excels in generating IRS forms automatically and reviewing them for errors. With a comprehensive error-checking system, it identified 96% of intentional mistakes in testing.
The Deluxe or Premium Editions of TurboTax let you report income from self-employment, rental properties, investments, or partnerships. All TurboTax plans allow you to scan or upload your tax documents to speed up data entry. You may also be able to easily import documents from a payroll provider, bank, or brokerage that partners with TurboTax. TurboTax also can be a good choice if you’d like to hand off your tax documents to a professional and have them do all the work for you.
If your tax situation involves freelance work, rental properties or investment income, you’ll likely need to upgrade to a paid version, such as TurboTax Premier or TurboTax Premium. Our testing included 12 support inquiries across different times and topics, with an 89% satisfaction rate for response accuracy and helpfulness. The primary drawback is that direct tax professional support is limited to premium packages. TaxSlayer’s pricing is lower for do-it-yourself tax preparation, which costs up to $62.95 for federal tax filing ($47.95 per state).
It provides comprehensive support for reporting income from investments, rental properties, freelance work and self-employment. Finally, users can file state tax returns through TurboTax for an additional fee in most cases. However, some states offer free filing options, so it’s worth checking local requirements before paying for the add-on.
Help and support
If you get stuck along the way, you have the option of paying an additional fee and upgrading to TurboTax Live to get on-demand help from a TurboTax expert or CPA. When you choose this option, the tax pro will do a final review of your return before you file it. For example, when other tax software platforms asked the same questions to all users regardless of their tax situation, TurboTax pioneered a “click here if this applies to you” format.
TurboTax: File Your Own Taxes
TurboTax may be best for someone who wants custom tax help without going into an office and dealing with a live person. It’s also a good option if you’re looking for a truly fee-free line of advance tax credit so you can access your money ASAP. If you owe taxes after you file, you can pay with credit card or debit card through payment processors recommended by TurboTax.
Your credit card information will only be used to process your order. That means that if you find a bigger refund or smaller overall tax payment from another method, it will refund you the federal or state purchase price you paid for access to its programs. (Free users can get up to $30.) This is true for the lifetime of the tax return, defined as seven years from the date in which it was filed through TurboTax. If your taxes might require a little extra help, more than just the simple file, then you’ll want to shell out for TurboTax Live Assisted.
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. But the company and its experts cannot provide legal advice or represent you before the IRS. While it connects filers with a network of experts nationwide, there are no in-person options. Before considering an upgrade to TurboTax Premium, make sure it’s the right fit for your specific tax situation and needs.
Access to tax pro support requires upgrading to TurboTax’s Live Assisted packages, which range from $79 to $209, plus state fees of $59 to $69. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. If you are in the military, you may get your taxes done for free. Active duty and reservists of an enlisted rank with a W-2 from DFAS qualify for free returns for both federal and state.
- TurboTax software for the current tax year is also available in select retail stores and online retailers from November through April, oftentimes at discounted prices determined by the retailer.
- It scans for eligible deductions and credits, including mortgage interest, student loan interest and charitable contributions.
- TurboTax has a full-service filing option in addition to self-preparation plans, while FreeTaxUSA is entirely self-paced.
- TurboTax raises its prices in peak tax season at the beginning of April.
Three ways to get your taxes done right
Prices range from $39-$159 based on the complexity of your tax return. There is also the option to add on other services, like an Audit Defense, which ensures you will have representation in the event that your return is audited. The idea of free tax filing software sounds too good to be true, and that’s because sometimes it is. Still, more than 10 million customers used the free filing service last year, per the company, a decrease of one million from the year before, so it is possible. These star ratings are based on a tax provider’s free tier score. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to each provider’s site.
If you later file an amended return with identical information with another tax service and end up with a lower tax bill or higher refund, you can file a claim with TurboTax to have your preparation fees refunded. This year the company made a noticeable shift toward recommending its expert-assisted and full-service experiences over its self-preparation filing plans. For current, direct-from-Intuit pricing, visit our personal tax products, mobile tax products, or business tax products page. While TurboTax simplifies the tax filing process, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Before filing with TurboTax, it’s important to know that not all versions are free.
Who Should Use TurboTax Premium?
While TurboTax Premium is a popular choice, there are other premium tax software versions available, such as TaxSlayer Premium and H&R Block Deluxe, each offering unique features and support options. For those seeking additional help, TurboTax Live connects users with tax experts for real-time assistance. This service is ideal for complex returns but comes at an added cost, which may not be worthwhile for simpler filings.
These prices are the list prices advertised as of March 4, 2025, without any discounts that TurboTax may offer to people turbotax advantage cost who file early in the tax filing season. If you want to pay your filing fee out of your federal refund, TurboTax charges an extra $40 processing fee for the convenience. It also offers numerous plain-language definitions and explanations if you’re unsure whether a particular income category or tax deduction applies to you. Should you choose to cancel your enrollment, we will not charge your credit card for the next tax season’s product as long as you cancel before renewal is processed (typically in early November).
You only pay at the end when filing your federal and state tax returns. TurboTax offers a tiered pricing structure with packages tailored to different tax situations, from simple returns to complex business filings. All packages include federal filing with state filing available at an additional cost. We rated TurboTax’s well-known online tax software on cost, value, user experience, access to experts, and importantly, its trustworthiness. 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.
For the paid do-it-yourself plans, each state return costs up to $39 (or $64 during peak tax season). 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. TurboTax Premium also includes tools for tracking tax deductions and credits, ensuring that users take advantage of all eligible tax benefits. It also offers AI-powered assistance and the ability to snap and auto-fill forms like 1099-NEC and 1099-K, making the process more efficient and accurate. TurboTax Premium is an upgraded version of the software and offers a range of advanced features designed to simplify tax filing for people with more complex financial situations.