TurboTax review 2026: Intuitive interface, popular free tier

TurboTax has an easy-to-follow interface that even novice filers can master and live assistance from tax pros if you get in over your head.

Its free tier is a popular option for people reporting W-2 income and claiming limited tax breaks. (Intuit claims roughly 37% of filers qualify.)

If you don't have a simple return, however, paid plans can be pricey and come with lots of bells and whistles you might not need.

TurboTax offers several tiers for DIY and assisted filing.  

Free

TurboTax Do It Yourself includes federal returns for W-2 income but no schedules except for the child tax credit, earned income tax credit and student loan interest.

Deluxe

Allows for itemized deductions and more credits. Users can report business income (not capital gains or losses) and assess the value of donated clothes, household goods and more with ItsDeductible calculator.

Premium

Can report income from businesses, investments, rental properties and more. Investors can import up to 20,000 crypto transactions and 10,000 stock transactions at once. Freelancers can claim home office, mileage and other expenses.

Expert Assist

Can be added to any plan for unlimited help from tax experts and a final review before you file. 

Expert Full Service

An expert matched to your situation does your taxes from start to finish. In 35 states and Washington, D.C., local tax pros are available by phone, video or in person through Intuit TurboTax Verified Pro.

Free state and federal filing with TurboTax is available for filers with simple returns. The company claims 37% of filers qualify for the free edition, which supports Form 1040 and limited tax breaks, including the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and student loan interest. In most cases, if you're itemizing deductions, you'll need to select a paid plan.

Deluxe: $79 (Discounted to $49). State filing $39 extra

Premium: $139 (Discounted to $99). State filing $39 extra

Expert Assist: $79 to $209 (Discounted to $39 to $159). State filing is $39 - $49 extra

Expert Full Service: $89 to $129+ (Discounted to $150 through Feb. 28 for combined federal and state filing.)

TurboTax pricing is dynamic, so check the website for the latest rates and promotions.

TurboTax provides several ways to get your refund:

• Direct deposit into a checking, savings, brokerage or IRA account
• Get your refund five days early by depositing it in a CreditKarma money account
• Paper check
• U.S. savings bonds
• A credit for next year's taxes
• Refund advance loan: Eligible filers can qualify for a no-fee, zero-interest loan of up to $4,000 from CreditKarma . Funds available within seconds of IRS acceptance

For a $40 service fee, you can deduct the cost of your TurboTax service from your refund.

DIY TurboTax filers can import PDFs of previous returns, data files from H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt and Tax Act or a smart import from participating employers. If TurboTax doesn't recognize your EIN, you can use the mobile app to snap a photo of your W-2 and upload it.

The AI-powered Intuit Assist feature searches for more than 450 deductions and credits you could qualify for. TurboTax is also integrated with QuickBooks, streamlining the filing process for self-employed workers who use both.

With Live Assisted, you can get phone, chat or screen-share access with a tax pro, as well as a final review before you file. Vetted experts are available daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

You can let someone else handle your return with the Live Full Service option or, in select markets, choose Intuit TurboTax Verified Pro and be matched with an independent local tax professional in your area for online or in-person assistance.

TurboTax guarantees the accuracy of your return and will reimburse users for any penalty or interest assessed by the IRS because of calculation errors. It also guarantees the maximum refund or you'll get a full refund of the purchase price. (TurboTax Online Free Edition customers are still entitled to a payment of $30.) 

TurboTax DIY plans and live experts are available in English or Spanish.

We put TurboTax up against two major tax-prep competitors.

Turbo Tax vs. H&R Block

The biggest difference between H&R Block and TurboTax is price: Both companies have free robust plans, but if you need a paid tier, H&R Block is generally the cheaper option.  

TurboTax has begun offering in-person tax assistance, however, removing one of H&R Block's chief advantages. It also makes tax refund advance loans available for up to $4,000, more than H&R Block's $3,500 cap.

TurboTax vs TaxSlayer 

Although TaxSlayer and TurboTax are close competitors, TurboTax offers more tax breaks in its free edition, including the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

TaxSlayer offers live assistance at a lower price, but only TurboTax offers full-service, in-person filing with its Verified Pro plan.

If you have a simple return, TurboTax Free Edition is a great option for both state and federal filing.

For more complex returns, TurboTax's paid plans are on the pricier side. But its generative AI-powered assistant can unlock valuable tax breaks to maximize your refund. There's also live human assistance if you get stuck or just want a tax pro to do the heavy lifting.

In addition, TurboTax integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks (both are owned by Intuit), making it a smart choice if you're a small-business owner or self-employed worker who uses both products.

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