TurboTax
Easy tax filing with maximum refund
by Intuit Inc.
About this app
TurboTax is the most popular tax preparation app in the United States, helping over 40 million Americans file their taxes each year. The app guides you through the tax filing process with a simple question-and-answer format, automatically finding deductions and credits to maximize your refund. TurboTax offers multiple tiers: Free Edition for simple returns, Deluxe for homeowners and those with deductions, Premier for investments, and Self-Employed for freelancers and gig workers. The app can import W-2s by photo, connect to financial institutions for automatic data import, and e-file both federal and state returns. New AI-powered features include Intuit Assist, which provides personalized tax guidance and can review your return for accuracy before filing.
Key Features
Snap your W-2
Import tax forms by taking a photo with your phone
Deduction finder
AI searches for 400+ deductions and credits
Expert review
CPA or tax expert reviews your return before filing
Auto-import
Pull data from employers, banks, and investments
Intuit Assist
AI-powered guidance throughout the filing process
Refund tracking
Track your federal and state refund status
How It Works
Answer questions
Simple Q&A format guides you through your tax situation
Import & review
Snap W-2s, import financial data, and review your return
File & track
E-file your return and track your refund
Detailed Review
TurboTax has maintained its position as the most popular tax filing software for good reason: it makes the genuinely unpleasant process of filing taxes as painless as possible. The mobile app brings the full desktop experience to your phone, and it works surprisingly well.
The interview-style approach guides you through every aspect of your tax situation with plain-English questions. Instead of confronting you with tax forms, TurboTax asks things like 'Did you buy or sell a home in 2025?' and 'Do you have any investment income?' Based on your answers, it fills in the appropriate forms behind the scenes.
W-2 photo import is a genuine time-saver. In our tests, the OCR accurately captured data from W-2s about 90% of the time, though we recommend double-checking every field. The auto-import feature for financial institutions (connecting to banks and brokerages for 1099 data) worked seamlessly with major institutions.
The deduction finder is where TurboTax earns its price tag. The software scans for over 400 deductions and credits, asking targeted questions to ensure you don't miss anything. In our test scenario with a moderate-complexity return (homeowner, student loan interest, charitable donations), TurboTax found $2,400 more in deductions than a basic manual filing would have captured.
Intuit Assist, the AI tax assistant, is a new addition that provides contextual guidance. It can explain tax concepts, suggest relevant deductions based on your situation, and review your return for common errors. In practice, it's helpful for answering specific questions but doesn't replace the value of the expert review option.
The pricing is TurboTax's biggest weakness. The Free Edition covers only the simplest returns (W-2 income, standard deduction, no dependents). Most users will need at least Deluxe ($69), and anyone with investments or self-employment income needs Premier ($99) or Self-Employed ($119). Add $59 for state filing, and you're looking at $128-178 total.
The upselling is persistent. Throughout the filing process, TurboTax promotes upgrades, add-ons (like audit defense for $49), and its expert review service ($100-200 extra). While these features have value, the constant prompts can feel pushy.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Our Verdict
TurboTax is the easiest way to file taxes, and its deduction-finding capabilities genuinely help maximize refunds. However, it's also the most expensive option. For simple returns, try Credit Karma Tax (free) first. For complex situations with investments or self-employment, TurboTax's Premium or Self-Employed tiers justify the cost.