TurboTax Basic: Step-by-Step Help, Biggest Refund Guaranteed

TurboTax Online Basic

The easy way for returning TurboTax users to get the biggest refund

$29.95 Federal | $39.95 State (optional)
Start for Free
Pay when you're satisfied.

Free efile included

Included Forms | Computer Requirements | Security
Rated 4.46 Stars (5,966 customer reviews)

Prices determined at the time of print or efile. Prices and product offerings are subject to change without notice.

Here’s how it works:

Guides you through your taxes, like a GPS … with extra help for first-time users

All the help you need

Gets your refund fast with e-file

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Why TurboTax Basic is the easiest choice for you …

Ideal for returning TurboTax users, TurboTax Basic makes doing your simple taxes easy by guiding you step by step through your federal tax return. It also searches for credits and provides tax-saving tips to help you get the biggest refund possible. Choose TurboTax Basic if any of the following apply to you:

  • You file a 1040EZ or other simple tax return
  • You own your home but don’t have a mortgage
  • You rent your home

If you have a mortgage, childcare expenses, or made charitable donations, TurboTax Deluxe will help you maximize your deductions for the biggest tax refund.

If you own investments or rental property, choose TurboTax Premier. It has everything in Deluxe PLUS provides extra guidance to help you get the most from your investments.

If you are a sole proprietor, consultant, 1099 contractor, or single-owner LLC, TurboTax Home & Business has everything in Premier and will help you make the most of your business and personal tax deductions.

 

Everything you need to easily do your simple tax return


Does the Hard Work for You

  • Asks Easy Questions, Tailored to You — Guides you step by step through your tax return, then puts your answers on the right tax forms for you, including 1040EZ, 1040A, and 1040. Skips interview questions that don’t apply to you, so you can finish your return faster.
  • Improved Automatically Fills in W-2 and 1099 Info — Gets your W-2 and 1099 data directly from over 100,000 participating employers and financial institutions and automatically puts it in the right tax forms. A brief summary lets you review and edit downloaded information if necessary.
  • Transfers Last Year’s Tax Info — No retyping necessary. Fills in information from your previous year’s return to save time and increase accuracy. Shows you what you’re importing and where it goes in your return.
  • Imports Your Financial Data — Imports your financial data from Quicken®*, so you can skip the cut and paste this year.
  • Finds Every Credit You Deserve: Pay for tuition? You could add as much as $1,800 to $2,000 to your refund with the Hope Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit. Buy a hybrid? The Hybrid Car Credit could add as much as $3,000 to your refund. Each year, lots of taxpayers get a smaller refund than they deserve because they fail to take advantage of all the tax credits they’re eligible for. That won’t happen with TurboTax. We’ll make sure you get every credit you’ve got coming for the biggest refund possible.

Offers Help When You Need It

  • Live Tax Answers — Get live answers and tax-saving tips online from TurboTax experts and other TurboTax users in our Live Community. Plus you’ll have instant access to answers to commonly asked tax questions on every screen.
  • Straightforward Guidance and Tax-Saving Tips — Find help on any tax topic from anywhere within TurboTax. Plus get plain-English explanations of specific tax areas with helpful examples and tips for keeping more money in your pocket.
  • New Life Events Expert — Explains how changes in your life, such as purchasing a new home, changing jobs, or becoming a parent, will affect your taxes.
  • New Guide Me — Not sure how to answer a tax question or what information to enter? We’ll guide you to the right answer, making your taxes even easier.
  • FREE Technical Support — Got a question about using TurboTax? No problem! Get answers for free from a TurboTax expert via e-mail, phone, or live chat.

Spots Errors and Shows Where to Fix Them

  • Checks for Mistakes — Double-checks your return for errors, so you can be confident your taxes are done right.
  • Guaranteed Accurate Calculations — If you should get hit with an IRS or state penalty or interest due to a TurboTax calculation error, we’ll pay you the penalty and interest.
  • Always Up-to-Date with the Latest Tax Laws — Ensures your return includes the latest tax forms and complies with every update in the tax law.

Get Your Refund Faster with FREE Federal Efile

  • Improved Shows Your Tax Refund in Real Time — Watch your refund add up as you complete your return. Our improved Dual Refund Monitor constantly displays and updates both your federal and state refunds (or taxes due) as you complete your federal return.
  • FREE Efile Speeds Up Your Tax Refund — Get your refund in as few as 8 days with efile and direct deposit. If you’re a returning customer, we’ll automatically transfer your efile information from your previous year’s return to save you even more time.

Plus, TurboTax Basic includes these helpful features to make doing your taxes even easier:


  • Improved Search Topics or Forms — Looking for a specific form? Just type in the name of the form and TurboTax will take you to it.
  • Compares Sales Tax vs. State Income Tax Deduction Savings — Shows you whether deducting sales tax paid, or state and local income tax paid, will get you the biggest savings and potentially increase your refund.
  • Takes the Confusion Out of Vehicle Registration Deductions — Tells you if you can deduct vehicle registration costs and how to take the deduction to save you even more on your taxes.
  • Summarizes Your Tax Situation — Gives you an overview of your tax return so you can rest assured it’s accurate. Compares this year’s return to last year’s return and shows you how your numbers compare with the U.S. average. Plus it provides tips to help you get a bigger refund next year.
  • Explains AMT and How to Avoid It — Gain a better understanding of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and how it affects your bottom line. Learn why you may be subject to AMT and how you might be able to avoid it in the future.
  • Handles Social Security and Other Types of Income — Provides extra help for entering Social Security income, disability income, Supplemental Security income, and dependent’s Social Security income.
  • Simplifies Estimated Tax Payments — Explains how estimated taxes work and tells you if you need to make estimated quarterly payments.
  • Saves Your Progress — Do your taxes at your own pace, at any time of day. You can even skip around in your return.
  • Try it without creating a user ID. Save your info when you want to.
  • Right for You — Not sure TurboTax Basic will cover your unique situation? Start anytime and we will prompt you if another TurboTax program may be better for you. When you upgrade, the info you’ve already entered so far will transfer automatically.
  • Guides You Step by Step Through Amending Returns, if You Need To — TurboTax makes it easy to amend your return. Need more time? You can submit an application for a filing extension with just a few clicks.
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Leading Tax StoreTurboTax
Asks you questions and fills in the right tax formsYes
Yes
Gets you every deduction and credit you deserve Yes
Yes
Tips and advice tailored to your unique tax situation Yes
Yes
Support in case of an audit (fees may apply)Yes
Yes
Handles tax impact of changes in your life Yes
Yes
Years of expertise to help answer your questionsYes
Yes
Up-to-date with all the latest tax laws Yes
Yes
Federal efile included at no extra chargeYes
Yes
Prepare and file your taxes anytime, 24/7 
Yes
Do your taxes yourself, without leaving home 
Yes

TurboTax Online

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  • Customer Testimonials

    Once I got into doing my own taxes, it was kind of fun. I just answered the questions and I was home free.”

    Jim
    Hebron Township, Wisconsin

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