What is TurboTax used for?

TurboTax is Intuit's online and desktop tax preparation software for US filers, with do-it-yourself and expert-assisted filing options. It is a good fit for filing a straightforward federal return online, getting a tax expert to review your return and self-employed workers tracking deductible expenses.

Is TurboTax open source?

No. TurboTax is proprietary (closed-source) software. In the Finance & Accounting category, open-source options include Actual Budget, Firefly III and Sure.

What are some alternatives to TurboTax?

TurboTax competes with H&R Block, TaxAct and FreeTaxUSA.

TurboTax: features, pricing and alternatives

About TurboTax

TurboTax is tax preparation software from Intuit for filing US personal and business returns. People can complete their own return online or with desktop software, or have a tax expert prepare it or review it with them. It also lets users file prior-year returns, file an extension, amend a return and track a refund.

Filing is organized into tiers, including a free edition for simple returns, Do It Yourself editions for more complex situations, and Expert Assist editions that add professional help. A guided interview collects tax information, and the site adds calculators for refund estimates, tax brackets, W-4 withholding and self-employed expenses, as well as refund advance and similar financing options.

TurboTax is a commercial product from a large vendor and is tied to a user's Intuit account. Intuit also lists a network of physical offices where customers can get help in person. Prices vary by edition and tax situation and are listed on the vendor's pricing pages.

Key features

Guided online tax return preparation
Free edition for simple returns
Expert Assist tiers with professional review
Desktop software for local filing
Prior-year filing, extensions and amended returns
Refund estimate and withholding calculators

Good fit for

→Filing a straightforward federal return online
→Getting a tax expert to review your return
→Self-employed workers tracking deductible expenses

Tags: tax-filing; tax-preparation; intuit; personal-taxes; e-filing; small-business-taxes; us-taxes

TurboTax: questions and answers

What is TurboTax used for?: TurboTax is Intuit's online and desktop tax preparation software for US filers, with do-it-yourself and expert-assisted filing options. It is a good fit for filing a straightforward federal return online, getting a tax expert to review your return and self-employed workers tracking deductible expenses.
Is TurboTax free?: Yes. TurboTax has a free plan.
Is TurboTax open source?: No. TurboTax is proprietary (closed-source) software. In the Finance & Accounting category, open-source options include Actual Budget, Firefly III and Sure.
What are some alternatives to TurboTax?: TurboTax competes with H&R Block, TaxAct and FreeTaxUSA.