Buyer's Guide - Which personal product should I buy?
For each TurboTax version, you have the choice of using our Online version through your browser, or the Desktop Software version which you install on your computer. You’ll find links for more information about each of these options in the sections below. To compare features, visit our Personal Taxes Page.
- We recommend TurboTax Basic if
- We recommend TurboTax Deluxe if
- We recommend TurboTax Premier if
- We recommend TurboTax Home & Business if
For your reference, here's some help with TurboTax System Requirements.
We recommend TurboTax Basic if
- You don't pay state taxes.
- You rent your home or apartment (don't own a home).
- You don't make many charitable contributions or have many deductions to claim (if any).
- You didn't sell investments, such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.
To see which forms are included in TurboTax Basic, click here and select the Included Forms link.
Learn more about TurboTax Online Basic
We recommend TurboTax Deluxe if
- You file one or more state returns.
- You owned (or sold) a home during the tax year.
- You made charitable contributions during the tax year.
- You had a lot of medical expenses during the tax year.
To see which forms are included in TurboTax Deluxe, click here and select the Included Forms link.
Learn more about TurboTax Online Deluxe
We recommend TurboTax Premier if
- One or more TurboTax Deluxe situations apply to you, plus:
- You own rental property.
- You sold investments, such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.
- You sold options from an employee stock plan, such as Non-qualified Stock Options (NQSOs), Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), or Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs).
- You're a partner in a partnership business where you received a Schedule K-1.
- You're the beneficiary of an estate or trust where you received a Schedule K-1.
To see which forms are included in TurboTax Premier Investments, click here and select the included forms link.
Learn more about TurboTax Online Premier
We recommend TurboTax Home & Business if
- One or more TurboTax Deluxe or Premier situations apply to you, plus:
- You file a Schedule C.
- You receive self-employment income from contract, consulting, or freelance work.
- You are a sole proprietor. A sole proprietor is a one-owner company that is not registered as a corporation.
- You receive income from a business you run from your home or from a separate office (that isn't incorporated).
- You receive income from a side job, such as home-party sales (Avon, Tupperware, etc.).
- You need to prepare W-2 or 1099-MISC forms for employees and contractors (not available in TurboTax Online)
- You don't file separate returns for your business and personal income taxes.
- Your business is not an S corporation (Form 1120S), a partnership or limited liability company (LLC) (Form 1065) with more than one member, a C corporation (Form 1120), or an estate or trust (Form 1041).
To see which forms are included in TurboTax Home & Business, click here and select the Included Forms link.
Learn more about TurboTax Online Home & Business

