TurboTax Review 2026: Pricing, Features, Ease of Use
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TurboTax is generally pricier than everything else out there. Confident filers may not need all the bells and whistles that most TurboTax online products offer, but some people may find the streamlined program and the availability of human help worth the extra cost.
We’ve long praised TurboTax for its design and user experience. This year, we've rated TurboTax as the best tax software for ease of use.
How much does tax prep cost with TurboTax?
TurboTax has a lot going for it, but price isn’t on that list. The paid DIY packages — Deluxe and Premium — fall on the more costly end of the spectrum. Some people may not need support beyond TurboTax’s excellent user interface, but those who want a bit of extra help from a tax pro will need to upgrade to another package type: Expert Assist.
Just as with other providers we review, the free version is limited in what it can support, so it may not be a good fit for people with complex tax situations.
TurboTax's free version
Because the free package is designed for people with fairly simple tax returns, it won't assist with itemized deductions or Schedules 1, 2 or 3 of Form 1040. It can handle W-2 income, basic credits like the child tax credit and the earned income credit, and some above-the-line deductions for items like student loan interest, car loan interest, qualified tips and overtime pay. TurboTax says about 37% of taxpayers qualify.
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FREE | $0 + $0 per state filed. TurboTax Free Edition supports a simple Form 1040 and no schedules except for the 1-A, earned income tax credit, child tax credit and student loan interest. Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible. |
TurboTax paid packages
If you plan to deduct mortgage interest, report business or freelance income, or report stock sales or income from a rental property, you’ll have to select a higher-tiered package. The list price of TurboTax's paid DIY programs — the Deluxe and Premium tiers — is routinely on the higher end of the spectrum when compared with other tax software, especially when adding the cost of a state return. And if you want access to human help, you’ll need to upgrade to an Expert Assist version, which costs even more.
You may notice that, unlike other providers, TurboTax doesn’t have a standalone self-employed DIY package. That’s because in recent years, the company consolidated its Premier (for investors) and Self-Employed (for freelancers) packages into the "Premium" package.
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PAID PACKAGES | Deluxe $49 + $39 per state. Itemize and claim several tax deductions and credits. Works well for business income but no expenses. Premium $99 + $39 per state. Investment reporting and rental income (Schedules D and E, and K-1s), plus business income, expenses on a Schedule C, home office deductions and features for freelancers. Access to tax pro support requires upgrading to TurboTax's Expert Assist packages, which range from $39 to $159, plus state fees of $39 to $49. Promotion: NerdWallet users can save up to an additional 10% on TurboTax. |
One note about prices: Providers frequently change them. Discounted services and packages may be available toward the beginning of the tax filing season, but these markdowns tend to be replaced with surge pricing closer to the tax filing deadline. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to TurboTax’s site.
TurboTax also offers desktop software, where your return doesn't reside in the cloud, but it’s not part of our review.
How we nerd out testing DIY tax software 🤓
Our reviewers — who are writers and editors on NerdWallet’s content team — do hands-on testing of every online DIY tax program featured in our analysis. By using these programs ourselves, we can provide detailed insights into the user experience.
We evaluate each tax software based on specific features and the actual experience of filing taxes using those features. This includes but is not limited to analyzing navigation, ease of accessing help, available import options and the quality of contextual guidance provided to users.
To ensure fairness and eliminate bias, our team collaborates to compare user experiences across products. Scoring is based on clearly defined criteria, which are weighted equally in the overall score. This approach ensures a balanced and reliable assessment of each tax software product.
Transparency: What’s clear — and what’s not
As a prospective customer, few things are more frustrating than having to dig for basic information about pricing and product features. Being able to understand what you need — and how much it will cost — should be table stakes. This year, we evaluated each provider on specific aspects of transparency, including how easy it was to compare product offerings before signing up, how easy it was to downgrade or upgrade packages once using the software, and how intrusive upselling was throughout the filing experience.
Product comparison
Unlike competitors that offer clear, side-by-side comparisons of all DIY products in an easy-to-view lineup, TurboTax makes it difficult to compare options. The provider displays a broad price range for each service type (DIY, Expert Assist and Expert Full Service), so unless users already know to search externally for specific tiers like “TurboTax Premier” or “TurboTax Deluxe,” these products are difficult to find through the site itself.
Instead, users are shown TurboTax’s “personalized recommendation” filtering, which creates a profile based on user responses and funnels customers to a recommended product. The downside of this approach is clear: Customers lose the ability to browse and compare DIY options independently.
We also found some aspects of TurboTax’s entry point language concerning. One selection option is “I want to maximize deductions and credits.” While an expandable footnote explains this essentially means claiming itemized deductions, in our opinion, the overall design and opaque language could easily appeal to users who don’t realize itemizing deductions isn’t a good fit for them. After all, who wouldn’t want to maximize credits and deductions? We found this approach questionable, as it may quietly nudge users who fail to open the footnote toward paid products they may not need.
Upselling
Upselling can be annoying — and when it becomes too frequent, it can be downright disruptive. In our test, TurboTax was a middle-of-the-pack offender, with a handful of full-page upsells for audit support, tax pro upgrades and other add-ons embedded in the filing experience. While it was generally easy to move past these upsells, in some cases, the upgrade option was visually emphasized, requiring uninterested users to take an extra step to dismiss it to continue.
Upgrading and downgrading
TurboTax has improved the experience of upgrading or downgrading within the software itself compared with years past. For example, if you start using the Deluxe package and later realize you only need the Free Edition, you can downgrade on your own without contacting customer support. A notable plus: Most information you’ve already entered carries over, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
To change products, users can locate the “Switch Products” button in the side panel when logged in to their online account, then choose the package they want to move to. One caveat: If you upgrade to Expert Assist, you won’t be able to downgrade back and will instead need to clear your return and start over.
TurboTax has also added more clarity around why an upgrade may be required. For instance, if a user attempts to enter income that isn’t supported by their current package, the software clearly explains the limitation. When we tested this by adding investment income in the Free Edition, a pop-up appeared outlining the pricing and explaining why an upgrade was necessary.
What it’s like to use
How it works
If you’re a new user, you’ll be asked to confirm a series of tax situations — such as whether you have donated to charity, received unemployment income, or sold crypto or stocks during the last tax year — to determine which of TurboTax’s packages will best suit your specific situation. Note our critique above, however. We suggest you instead visit each product’s homepage to learn more about each package type to better inform your selections.
If you’re a returning user, some information from the previous tax year will be preloaded into the program. You’ll be asked about life changes that occurred in the last year that might affect your tax picture, such as if you bought a new home or started freelancing.
Where TurboTax shines: The interface is like a chat with a tax preparer. Once you start working on your return, the program will run you through a series of Q&A-style and fill-in-the-blank questions and import documents (e.g., W-2, 1099s) automatically where possible to eliminate time-consuming manual entry.
It will also stop you when more information is needed or flag when forms are not yet available. For example, because one of our editors sold stock in 2025 and had some interest from a high-yield savings account, she needed to add some 1099 forms. At the time of testing, TurboTax noted that Fidelity and Discover, her providers, had not yet made those forms available and provided their date of release.
Overall, questions are user-friendly and phrased simply. Tax jargon is kept to a minimum, and all users — regardless of package type — can take advantage of the Intuit Assist function, which can field a wide variety of technical and tax questions or point you to resources for more help.
We found the Intuit Assist feature to be surprisingly helpful. Because it’s included in the software at no extra cost, we initially assumed it would be limited to answering very basic product questions or would frequently push us toward an upsell. Instead, we found that it provided accurate and helpful insight into relatively straightforward tax questions.
When we asked the AI whether short-term disability and paid family leave payments from maternity leave taken in 2025 would be included in W-2 income, the AI provided useful information and context about the two forms the income could potentially appear on.
Overall, TurboTax makes the process of filing your taxes generally seamless — the program never drops the curtain between you and the IRS forms. You simply answer questions, and your return gets filled in behind the scenes.
What it looks like
One of TurboTax’s most notable features is its contextual help in the form of videos, expandable sidebar information, and embedded links throughout the program that offer tips, explainers and other resources. Help buttons can also connect you to the searchable knowledge base, on-screen help and more.
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 skip around if you need to — which is helpful if you want to get started on parts of your return but aren’t ready to fill out everything just yet.
A refund estimator is present on all pages. Not only does it tally up your estimated bill or refund, but it also provides a detailed breakdown of what factors are affecting it. We like that this helps you get insight into your full tax picture.
Notable features and tools
You can switch from another provider: TurboTax imports electronic PDFs (not scans of hard copies) of tax returns from H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, Liberty Tax/Tax Brain and ezTaxReturn.
Auto-import certain tax documents: You can automatically import W-2 information from your employer if it's partnered with TurboTax, but you can also take a picture of your W-2 and upload it to transfer the data to your return. The Premium version also lets you upload 1099-NECs and 1099-Ks from clients via photo, as well as import income and expenses from Square, Uber and Lyft. TurboTax also boasts a large number of import partners (review them here).
Crypto support: TurboTax’s Premium package eliminates one of the biggest pain points for cryptocurrency investors: manual entry. Users can import up to 20,000 crypto transactions at once.
Donation calculator: In years past, the Deluxe and Premium packages integrated ItsDeductible — a feature and standalone mobile app — that was helpful for quickly finding the deduction value of donated clothes, household items and other objects. This is no longer included in the TurboTax experience, which might be a sticking point for those who itemize.
Platform mobility: Like many other providers, TurboTax lets you access and work on your return across devices: on your computer via the website, or on your phone or tablet.
Spanish language support: New this year, TurboTax allows users of its online products to complete their taxes in Spanish if preferred. All contextual help is also available to view in Spanish.
Ways to get human tax help
TurboTax Expert Assist
One of TurboTax’s most notable tax help options is Expert Assist. It’s a service that you can add to every package for an additional fee, and it gets you screen sharing, phone or chat access to tax pros who can help you with questions that arise as you fill out your return. From Jan. 5 through April 20, you can schedule a chat with a tax pro seven days a week, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time. There are also special hours on Tax Day (April 15), where the service is available from 5 a.m. to midnight to help last-minute filers.
Taxpayers are matched with a pro based on the question they have, and you can request a new tax pro if you’re not satisfied with the one assigned to you. According to TurboTax, its pros are either tax experts (EAs or CPAs) or TurboTax employees who have gone through vetting and internal training. The Expert Assist option also gets you a final review with a tax pro before you file.
TurboTax Expert Full Service
TurboTax also offers Expert Full Service, which eliminates the need for tax software altogether. Instead, you upload your tax documents and a human puts together your tax return. You’ll be matched with a tax preparer, meet on a video or phone call before they begin working, and then you’ll meet again when your return is ready for review. The preparer files the return for you, and if you choose to use Full Service next year, you can even request to work with the same tax pro if they’re available.
Expert Full Service starts at $89 to $129. Per the company, this base price includes a W-2 and 1040. The state fee is additional. The final price of Full Service may vary based on your actual tax situation and forms used or included with your return.
TurboTax local offices
The company has sunset its verified tax pro program, which allowed customers to work with a vetted tax pro outside the TurboTax network. Instead, TurboTax is investing in physical office spaces, with 600 local service centers across the country and 20 new retail locations in major cities. (See a list of offices near you.) This will give customers in qualified areas the option to work face-to-face with a pro if they have questions, need support or want the pro to handle their return.
What the Nerds think 🤓
Sabrina Parys, editor/content strategist
"TurboTax’s user experience is smooth, intuitive and well designed. Importing documents is straightforward, and the interface provides step-by-step guidance, so you’re never left unsure of what to do next. I sometimes need more time to work on a section before I’m ready to finish it, so the ability to move between different parts of your return without losing momentum is incredibly useful. The refund tracker offers a detailed breakdown of your numbers, giving you a clear understanding of how your refund or bill is calculated — helpful for both beginners and experienced filers.
"TurboTax also demonstrates how AI can be genuinely helpful. The Intuit Assist feature provides easy access to information, blog posts and the company's extensive community support pages. I’ve found it to be a handy tool to turn to whenever you have questions or need more clarity on a topic."
Customer support options
Here are some of the various ways you can find answers and guidance when filing your return with TurboTax.
Ways to get help
General guidance: Searchable knowledge base, forums, calculators and video tutorials are helpful for research on the fly.
Tech support: Free and paid packages get access to a TurboTax product specialist who can help with technical product questions via phone, chat and one-way video. TurboTax also has an online support page that covers basic questions taxpayers may have about the product or their return, as well as a community forum.
Intuit Assist: TurboTax’s digital chatbot, powered by AI, is available to all filers, regardless of package type.
Help if you get audited
Getting audited is scary, so it’s important to know what kind of support you’re getting from your tax software. First, be sure you know the difference between "support" and "defense." With most providers, audit support (or "assistance") typically means guidance about what to expect and how to prepare — that’s it.
Audit defense, on the other hand, gets you full representation before the IRS from a tax professional. TurboTax gives everyone free audit support from a tax pro to help you understand what’s going on if you get that dreaded letter about your tax return; if TurboTax can’t connect you with a pro, you’ll get a refund, or $30 if you used the Free Edition. If you want someone to represent you in front of the IRS, you’ll need TurboTax’s audit defense product, called MAX. It runs an extra $49.99 and includes features such as identity theft monitoring, loss insurance and restoration help.
Ways to receive your refund
No matter how you file, you can choose between several ways to receive your refund:
Direct deposit to a bank account, brokerage, IRA or Coinbase account.
Transferred to your Credit Kama Money Spend account (up to five days early).
Apply the refund to next year’s taxes.
Directing the IRS to buy U.S. Savings Bonds with your refund.
You may also have the option of paying for the software out of your refund, but there’s a $40 charge to do so.
As of Sept. 30, 2025, the IRS no longer issues refunds as paper checks. The agency will instead use electronic methods in most cases to deliver refunds this filing season. TurboTax offers a few direct deposit options for refunds, but unlike other providers we review, it doesn’t offer prepaid debit cards or gift cards, which may be more useful for taxpayers who don’t have access to a bank account.
How TurboTax stacks up
Promotion: NerdWallet users get 20% off federal and state filing costs. | |
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Promotion: NerdWallet users can save up to an additional 10% on TurboTax. | |
Promotion: NerdWallet users receive 20% off federal filing costs on Classic, Premium, and Self-Employed packages with the code "Nerd20". |
These star ratings are based on a tax provider's free tier score. For more detailed scoring, see the full product details above. Providers frequently change pricing. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to each provider's site.
Is TurboTax right for you?
With its intuitive design and variety of human support options, TurboTax is, in many ways, the standard for the do-it-yourself tax-prep industry. However, its products come at a price, and confident filers might find that similar offerings from competitors provide a better value.
» How does TurboTax stack up against the competition? TurboTax vs. H&R Block and TurboTax vs. TaxAct
Methodology
NerdWallet’s comprehensive review process evaluates and ranks the largest online tax software providers. Our aim is to provide an independent assessment of available software to help arm you with information to make sound, informed judgements on which ones will best meet your needs. We adhere to strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
We collect data directly from providers, do first-hand testing and observe provider demonstrations. Our process starts by sending detailed questions to providers. The questions are structured to equally elicit both favorable and unfavorable responses. They are not designed or prepared to produce any predetermined results. The provider’s answers, combined with our specialists’ hands-on research, make up our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance.
The final output produces star ratings from poor (1 star) to excellent (5 stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star. For more details about the categories considered when rating tax software and our process, read our full methodology.
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