TurboTax and the Microsoft .NET Framework

TurboTax for Windows 2009 and later relies heavily on the .NET Framework, so it's crucial that the .NET Framework files on your computer are up-to-date and functional. If the installer finds any missing or corrupted files, installation freezes or aborts.

It is possible to have a corrupted or nonfunctional .NET Framework on your Windows operating system without you noticing anything amiss. The .NET Framework is generally used only by newer programs; even then, many programs currently built off the .NET Framework aren't as tightly connected to it as is TurboTax.

However, as time goes by, your chances of encountering issues related to broken .NET Framework will increase, as more and more programs tied to the .NET Framework are being released.

Because TurboTax was an early adopter of the .NET Framework, think of it as an "early warning system" for missing or corrupted .NET Framework files that could potentially create additional problems in the future.

As part of its pre-installation routine, TurboTax checks for common .NET Framework issues using tools provided by Microsoft. If it finds a problem, it tries to fix it.

While TurboTax can fix many of these issues, there are some that cannot be fixed solely by the installer.

Microsoft has acknowledged that .NET Framework files can and so become corrupted. While most of these problems can be fixed using their tools, a handful have proved difficult to fix. Our engineers have been working with their Microsoft contacts to find an easy and comprehensive solution that works for all Windows customers.