Decoding TurboTax: Which TurboTax version is right for you? Plus TurboTax deals

For starters, you can useH&R Block Free Onlineto file a simple federal and state return for $0. You might think TurboTax has a similar offer — but when you compare the federal forms available between H&R Block Free Online vs. TurboTax Free Edition, TurboTax’s list doesn’t stack up. Get started filing your simple returns withH&R Block Free Online today. Filing your taxes is never a fun task (unless you’re certain that you grossly overpaid on every paycheck and are guaranteed a large refund—but even then, “fun” isn’t the word most people would use). If you’ve received your W-2 or other tax forms digitally, you won’t need to worry about manually entering your information. TurboTax makes it simple to upload your documents to their site.

You may not always get the answer you’re looking for at the top of the list, but the context-sensitive help always hits the mark. Much of the content comes from TurboTax itself in both English and Spanish, but some responses come from TurboTax’s online community. This means an answer could be from TurboTax staff (when it is, it’s labeled by TurboTax), but it might also come from a non-professional who was visiting the community, in which case you see their username.

Intuit TurboTax 2023 (Tax Year Specs

Online tax filing softwares such as TurboTax are a tempting option when looking to file quickly and easily. The draw of lower cost and being able to file on your own time appeals to many. There are pros and cons of using any tax filing software. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages below. ttps://turbo-tax.org/ If you want to add TurboTax Live to your product, its going to cost even more, but you do get access to live help from tax professionals—something that’s not even an option when you use FreeTaxUSA. If you get TurboTax Live for Self-Employed and add a state return, you’ll pay well over $200.

• Each TurboTax version performs a final scan of information you’ve entered, looks for potential problems and helps you correct them.
• While preparing your taxes may not be the most enjoyable activity, there’s no reason why it can’t be easy.
• TurboTax is the only one of these programs that lets you seamlessly import from the accounting program QuickBooks.
• The House ultimately passed the bipartisan Taxpayer First Act, which also contains some provisions that consumer advocates support, such as restrictions on private debt collection of unpaid taxes.
• The draw of lower cost and being able to file on your own time appeals to many.

For those who qualify for a simple tax return, users can take advantage of TurboTax’s Live Assisted Basic for help with their return. With H&R Block, assistance from a tax professional starts at $70. If you have a simple tax return, meaning that you just have W-2 income to report and are taking standard deductions, TurboTax’s free version could be the right fit for you. The free version includes free federal and state filing.

Working with TurboTax Self-Employed support

Multiple versions of TurboTax exist, such as TurboTax Deluxe and TurboTax Home & Business. Because they have different prices and provide different features, compare the two programs carefully before choosing one. If you want someone else to do your taxes, TurboTax Live Full Service Basic could help you get your taxes done, and get year-round tax advice. The basic service will only work for those with simple taxes, like W-2 income, earned income and child tax credits, and student loan interest.

After majoring in physics, Kevin Lee began writing professionally in 1989 when, as a software developer, he also created technical articles for the Johnson Space Center. Today this urban Texas cowboy continues to crank out high-quality software as well as non-technical articles covering a multitude of diverse topics ranging from gaming to current affairs. No one offers more ways to get tax help than H&R Block. Payroll Payroll services and support to keep you compliant. Refund Advance A 0% interest loan of up to $3,500 received within minutes of filing, if approved.

Premium Edition

If your business has employees, this tax software allows you to prep and print unlimited W-2 and 1099 forms. They offer free federal tax preparation and e-file, with many of the forms supported by Premier and Home & Business. They don’t have a deluxe/premium paid version, it’s 100% free with no upsells.

• It’s a relatively simple process, which we outline here in this article.
• Next it shows you a list of all the income topics that might apply to you.
• And our partners can never pay us to guarantee favorable reviews .
• A vertical navigation bar on the left divides the site into My Info, Federal, State, Review, and File.

This effort to help you avoid data entry wherever possible carries over into other tax forms. For example, you can extract tax data directly from sites like Uber and Lyft. And TurboTax has hired self-employment tax experts both to develop the site’s turbotax which one do i need content and to be available for support. TurboTax remains the most expensive tax service, by quite a lot in some cases. FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes are still totally free for federal filing, though FreeTaxUSA charges $14.99 for state returns.

She has written about personal finance topics for AARP Magazine, Bankrate, Credit Karma, NextAdvisor, U.S. News & World Report, Reviewed, Credit Karma and more. When she’s not writing, you can find her training for her next race, reading, or planning her next big trip. As you make your way through the return, a banner running along the side keeps track of where you stand in the process and flags areas you still need to complete. You can also click into it to get a detailed breakdown of what factors are currently affecting your refund. One of TurboTax’s most notable features is its contextual help in the form of videos, expandable sidebar information, and embedded links throughout that offer tips, explainers, videos and other resources.

Look at how they adjust their messaging to appeal to freelancers, independent contractors, and small business owners. Here are 9 tactics TurboTax used to create UX so good you might (might!) even enjoy filing your taxes. Make sure your filing status is accurate, and working for you.

Which TurboTax Version Should I Use in 2023?

In the early 2000s, H&R Block released tax software that allowed customers to do their own taxes from home. Though pricier than the competition, TurboTax Self-Employed offers easy navigation, useful in-product tool tips, and all the information you need to prepare your personal and business taxes for the year. But Congress is now moving to put the Free File program into law, including its restriction on the IRS creating its own free service. We wrote about that earlier this month and the opposition to this provision by freshman Democratic Reps. Katie Hill, Katie Porter, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others. The House ultimately passed the bipartisan Taxpayer First Act, which also contains some provisions that consumer advocates support, such as restrictions on private debt collection of unpaid taxes. Are the house cleaner and the cashier not allowed to prepare and file their taxes for free because of their particular tax situations?

• Passionate about financial literacy and inclusion, she has prior experience as a freelance journalist covering policy, financial news, real estate and investing.
• This is an optional tax refund-related loan from Pathward, N.A.; it is not your tax refund.
• Before you submit your return, TurboTax will check your return and flag any sections that require attention.
• Another important consideration is how easy it is to upload documents.
• A state return and e-filing come free with this package as well.
• There is sometimes confusion as to whether all LLC members will be subject to self-employment taxes on their share of the company.
• It does not provide for reimbursement of any taxes, penalties, or interest imposed by taxing authorities and does not include legal representation.

According to the agreement between the IRS and the companies, anyone who makes less than $66,000 can prepare and file their taxes for free. If you do not know last year’s AGI, have a copy of your prior year tax return, you can find that information by signing into your online account. This is the fastest and easiest way to view your prior year adjusted gross income and access your tax records. Cost is always a consideration when you choose a tax filing service. H&R Block and TurboTax are the two most comprehensive online services available and likewise they are also some of the most expensive.