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TurboTax Reviews

9.2

Free Filing for Simple Tax Returns

Written by Steven Walters

About TurboTax | Read More

9.2

LS Score

9.0

Credibility

9.5

Support

9.3

Accessibility

Visit site

Opening Hours

Mon-Sun 24/7

Contact Information

(800) 446-8848
Headquarters: 2700 Coast Ave Mountain View, CA. 94043

Social Media

9.2

LS Score

9.0

Credibility

9.5

Support

9.3

Accessibility

Visit site

Opening Hours

Mon-Sun 24/7

Contact Information

(800) 446-8848
Headquarters: 2700 Coast Ave Mountain View, CA. 94043

Social Media

TurboTax Tax Relief Review

TurboTax is a tax preparation software that helps taxpayers file their federal and state taxes. It is one of the most popular tax software in the United States, with over 35 million users. It is a good option for taxpayers of all levels of experience.

TurboTax Tax Relief Highlight

Free Consultation

Free

Min Service Cost

YES

Potential Extra Fees

YES

Money Back Guarantee

A-

BBB Rating

Pros & Cons

Easy-to-use platform that makes tax filing easy
Excellent customer service
Upload W-2 or 1099 to fill out fields automatically
Free tax filling (for simple tax returns only. Not all taxpayers qualify)

Expensive DIY tax software option
Tax expert assistance is an additional cost
It tries to upsell extensively

Tax Relief Service Types

Tax Preparation and Planning
Audit Representation
Federal tax
State tax

Type of Fees

Flat rate

In-House Professionals

Tax Attorneys
CPAs
Enrolled Agents

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Associated Fees

While there is a free basic TurboTax edition, it’s really only suitable for the most basic returns. Many taxpayers will find that they need to upgrade, which comes with a cost. Here are the tiers of service and prices as of October 2022:

Do-it-yourself options

Plan	Federal Tax	State Tax (per state)
Deluxe (Allows itemized deductions)	$59	$49
Premier (Allows reporting of capital gains and losses. Allows reporting of income and expenses from rental properties and pass-through businesses)	$89	$49
Self-Employed (Allows reporting of income from a trade or business, contract work, and freelancing. Also works for the home office deduction)	$119	$49

TurboTax Live

Includes everything in the DIY options, plus on-demand help from a tax pro via video and a final review of your self-prepared return.

Plan	Federal Tax	State Tax (per state)
Basic	$79	$79
Deluxe	$119	$54
Premier	$169	$54
Self-Employed	$199	$54

Full-Service

Everything is included in the DIY version, but a tax pro prepares your return.

Plan	Federal Tax	State Tax (per state)
Basic	$199	$199
Deluxe	$249	$54
Premier	$359	$54
Self-Employed	$389	$54

Process & Time Frame

How long it will take to complete your tax return using TurboTax is also dependent on your own unique tax situation. Online sources indicate that for the most basic returns (single filer, only W-2 income, no dependants) the time required can be as little as 13 minutes (this doesn’t include the time to gather documents). As your return becomes more complex it can take considerably longer. I know from personal experience that as a sole proprietor filing married with dependants it can take over an hour to complete the return, plus additional time for gathering documents. The good news is that TurboTax is very thorough in gathering information and finding allowable deductions.

Applying to TurboTax

Accessing TurboTax will allow you to compare the different levels of the software and decide which option is best for you. If you’re unsure, you can always start with the free version and upgrade if necessary during the tax preparation process. You are not charged for any of the TurboTax products or services until you file.

After creating an account and logging in TurboTax will ask you if you’d like to start your return based on the time of year. Note there is a link for live help in the upper right of the screen if needed. You’ll also have access to any prior returns or uploaded documents through this portal. And if you don’t want to file using the desktop version of TurboTax there are also mobile versions available for both Android and iOS operating systems.

Required Information

To use the TurboTax software, you will need all the basic information required for tax preparation and filing. These documents will differ based on your own unique situation, but the basic information you can expect to need includes the following:

Your name is exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.
Date of birth.
Social Security number.
Home address.
Copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns.
Bank account number and routing number to receive your refund by direct deposit.

Dependent Information

If you can claim someone else as a dependent, you’ll need the following information:

Dependent(s) name(s) (as it appears on their Social Security card), date(s) of birth, and Social Security number(s) (or tax ID number(s)).
Form 8332 if your dependent child’s custodial parent is releasing their right to claim the child as a dependent.

Other forms and information you might require fall under the following categories:

Sources of Income (W-2, 1099, etc)
Self-Employment and Business Records
Deductions
Tax Credits
Estimated Tax Payments
Proof of Losses
IRS Letters

State Availability

- Available in all states

Written by Steven Walters

Steve has been writing in the financial products space for over a decade, with interests ranging from personal loans to investing. He is also deeply into the blockchain space. In his free time, you can find him in the kitchen preparing delicious meals, or outside hiking and biking.

FAQ’s

Can I file my taxes for free with TurboTax?

Yes, but you do need to meet certain requirements. Typically only those with very simple returns can use the free version of TurboTax. I.e. Basic W-2 income and standard deduction along with limited interest and dividend income reported on a 1099-INT or 1099-DIV, Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC), child tax credits, and student loan interest deduction.

Can I file my state taxes with TurboTax

TurboTax will calculate and file your state taxes for an additional fee. What happens if I am audited?

What happens if I am audited?

If the IRS audits a return prepared and filed through TurboTax you get free audit support. This means a tax expert will review any IRS correspondence and advise you how to prepare and respond. For an additional fee you can upgrade your audit protection and a TurboTax tax expert will represent you during the audit process.

Customer Support

TurboTax is well known for their customer support, which includes the option to contact live professional tax preparation personnel for assistance. While we didn’t have a tax return to discuss, we did have a number of questions about the TurboTax product offerings. We started on the TurboTax support page, where we found TurboTax help articles, a community of other TurboTax users, video tutorials and more. It’s quite comprehensive and helpful for most basic questions.

Next, we contacted the TurboTax support team to see just how well they would respond to our questions.

We decided to reach out via the toll-free 800 number and were quickly connected with a live human support person. We quickly received answers to our questions in a friendly and professional manner. The support person then went on to ask if there was anything else they could help with and directed us to other resources we could use if we had further questions regarding the product.

Privacy & Security

Using TurboTax means trusting the company with very personal financial information. Intuit claims to protect that data with industry leading practices and technology. With over 40 years in business the security technology used to protect that data is being built with extensive experience. You can expect full encryption of all stored data, anti-fraud technology, and multi-factor authentication. TurboTax is constantly testing its security technology and improving its security practices to provide the best protection.

In terms of privacy, TurboTax saves all your personal information (excepting tax preparation data) in a single Intuit account. This allows Intuit to customize your experience and connect you with a live professional when needed. None of the data collected is ever sold, and is only available to internal employees when needed to do their job. You can also download, update, or delete any of your data through the online Intuit Account at any time.

In Conclusion

TurboTax has extensive experience in tax preparation, making it a good choice for anyone interested in an easy-to-use platform. They also provide a guarantee to pay any penalties if you are audited, and will provide support during the audit process. That said, they are somewhat more expensive than competing products. With over 40 years of experience in the tax software business you are likely to have a good experience if you choose TurboTax for your own tax preparation.

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