# Turbo tax **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376 "2016-11-18T22:28:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/1 "2016-11-18T22:28:20Z")
I saw a thread about taxes and it reminded me my husband and I need to decide what to do. We’ve used an accountant for years because my husband was either self employed or an independent contractor. He’s now an employee. Last year after we got the bill from the accountant we decided next time we need to do them ourselves. Is Turbo Tax easy to use? Do we need a certain type to do federal and state? I’m very clueless about this. I’ve heard you can get it for a great price at certain times. Anyone know about that? Does it usually go on sale at the start of the year or right around tax time? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/2 "2016-11-18T22:36:35Z")
You can do your taxes with TurboTax entirely online, no need to purchase a specific type of software. It will guide you through the process and if you need to update to a “higher” version because of some features you need it will let you know. The basic federal version is fairly cheap, if you want to use it to file state taxes you’ll need at least one level of upgrade, more if you have more complex taxes. It may also cost you extra to efile. I usually get out for about $100 each year. I have found TurboTax pretty easy to use but there are others out there that work just as well possibly for cheaper. [https://turbotax.intuit.com/](https://turbotax.intuit.com/) - if you scroll down there’s a selector to help identify how much you’ll pay based on what you need to do with your taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/3 "2016-11-18T22:47:33Z")
Depending on your income level and the complexity of your return, there are free filing options from Turbotax and some of the other software vendors. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/4 "2016-11-19T00:21:55Z")
It is a good outfit and they will defend their results for you against the IRS. They don’t have to that hardly at all. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/5 "2016-11-19T01:56:44Z")
Thanks so much! ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/6 "2016-11-19T02:00:33Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > You can do your taxes with TurboTax entirely online, no need to purchase a specific type of software. It will guide you through the process and if you need to update to a “higher” version because of some features you need it will let you know. The basic federal version is fairly cheap, if you want to use it to file state taxes you’ll need at least one level of upgrade, more if you have more complex taxes. It may also cost you extra to efile. I usually get out for about $100 each year. > > I have found TurboTax pretty easy to use but there are others out there that work just as well possibly for cheaper. > > [https://turbotax.intuit.com/](https://turbotax.intuit.com/) - if you scroll down there’s a selector to help identify how much you’ll pay based on what you need to do with your taxes. The link was very helpful, really appreciate it! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/7 "2016-11-19T02:47:15Z")
I’ve used Turbo Tax to e-file my federal return but they want $20 to e-file a state return, which is much simpler. Including the cost of ink, paper, & a stamp it works out to about $1.25 to print & mail it. I’m all for being green but not at a penalty of 13-16 times more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/8 "2016-11-19T04:33:52Z")
I’ve used Turbo tax for years. Last years mobile friendly version had me re-thinking my brand loyalty. It has become difficult to do anything more complex than a w-2. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/9 "2016-11-19T06:26:04Z")
I’ve used TaxAct like forever. It is online, nothing to download. Easy to use. Carries your federal data over to the state. As you change things it keeps an updated total refund on the top of the screen. No cost to run through your taxes, but small fees to be able to print and file, I think $16 for both federal and state. Checks your return for errors and compares things like deductions to the national averages in all categories. Offers legal assistance for any audit for a reasonable fee. Carries your basic information over for the next year. > **[File Taxes Online | Free Tax Return Filing | Tax Prep Software](https://www.taxact.com/)** > > Simplify tax season with our online income tax filing products. Start for free and get your maximum tax refund with our tax preparation software. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbo-tax/772376/10 "2016-11-20T00:19:51Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I’ve used TaxAct like forever. It is online, nothing to download. Easy to use. Carries your federal data over to the state. As you change things it keeps an updated total refund on the top of the screen. No cost to run through your taxes, but small fees to be able to print and file, I think $16 for both federal and state. Checks your return for errors and compares things like deductions to the national averages in all categories. Offers legal assistance for any audit for a reasonable fee. Carries your basic information over for the next year. > > [http://www.taxact.com/](http://www.taxact.com/) > > Dennis Thanks, definitely something else to consider, options are good.