TurboTax Basic

Step-by-step guidance

(4.3/5 | 516 reviews)
Star ratings are from 2021
$50$40* Federal
Includes 5 federal e-files
State download and e-file additional

Why use TurboTax Basic?

  • No tax
    knowledge needed

    Answer simple questions and based on your responses, searches every tax credit that applies to you.

  • Step-by-step guidance

    Walks you through every step of your taxes with tax tips along the way, so you don't miss
    a thing.

  • Transfer last year's info

    Get a head start by importing your info from last year's
    TurboTax return.

  • Import
    your W-2 info

    Save time and avoid mistakes—import your W-2
    from over a million
    participating companies.

  • Answers as
    you go

    Free U.S.-based product support by phone and easy-to-understand answers
    online 24/7.

  • Tax credits
    for children

    Claim important tax credits, like the Child Care Credit, Earned Income Credit (EIC), and child tax credit.

View all product features

All TurboTax Basic
CD/Download features

Easy to use & guaranteed accurate

  • Import your W-2 info

    Save time and avoid mistakes— import your W-2 from over a million
    participating companies.

  • Step-by-step guidance

    Walks you through every step of your taxes with tax tips along the way, so you don't miss a thing.

  • Tax credits for children

    Claim important tax credits, like the Child Care Credit, Earned Income Credit (EIC), and child
    tax credit.

  • Transfer last year's info

    Get a head start by importing your info from last year's
    TurboTax return.

  • No tax knowledge needed

    Translates taxes into easy to answer questions about your life and puts the information in the right place for you.

  • Tailored for your unique situation

    Guides you through common life changes, big or small, and finds any new tax deductions and credits you may qualify for.

  • Thousands of error checks

    Double-checks your tax return for accuracy before you file, so you won't miss
    a thing.

  • Finish your state
    return faster

    Once you complete your federal taxes, transfer your information over to your state return (Fees may apply).

  • Go at your own pace—
    no appointment necessary

    Finish your tax return at one time or do a little at a time and pick up right where you left off.

  • Up-to-date with the latest tax laws

    When tax laws change, TurboTax changes with them, so you can be confident you have the
    latest information.

  • Security is built into everything we do

    TurboTax safeguards your information, so you can file your taxes confidently and without
    any worries.

  • See your tax refund in real time

    Displays your refund (or tax due) in real time, so you always know where
    you stand.

  • Free federal e-file for your fastest possible tax refund*

    E-file your federal and state tax return with direct deposit to get your fastest tax refund possible. Free federal e-file is included.

  • Answers as you go

    Free U.S.-based product support by phone and easy-to-understand
    answers
    online 24/7.

TurboTaxTurboTax Customer Ratings & Reviews
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Select all that apply to find reviewers similar to you.
Own a business
Student
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Rated 5 out of 5 by from Turbotax is fantastic I have used turbotax four years in the making. Simple and very user friendly. I wish the Tax Code was as easily as turbotax. Keep up the great work team turbo-tax. Fred
Date published: 2021-10-16
Rated 4 out of 5 by from TURBOTX 2020 THERE IS A GLITCH IN THE CA STATE FORMS RE EXCESS SDI THAT STOPPED THE PROGRAM FROM BEING ABLE TO TRANSMIT ELECTRONICALLY. i DID NOT HAVE EXCESS SDI BUT THE PROGRAM WOULD NOT ACCEPT A ZERO. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. NOW I HAVE TO PRINT AND SEND RATHER THAN TRANSMIT ELECTRONICALLY; AND I PAID FOR ELECTRONIC TRANSMITTAL
Date published: 2021-10-16
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Awesome and easy to use. Awesome and easy to use. Have been using TurboTax for many years. Never have had any issues. CS great, app great. Thank you.
Date published: 2021-06-22
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Needs Improvement Have been using turbo tax a number of years. Most forms and workflow is straight forward. But I'm Canadian and have a few bank accounts and retirement accounts back in Canada. Your workflow to fill out all the required forms for foreign accounts is horrible. Some terms on the required forms are not explain and confusing.
Date published: 2021-06-16
Rated 5 out of 5 by from rfficient always easy to follow, year by year i continue using this application with excellent results
Date published: 2021-06-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from This was an excellent experience, Thanks!!! I've used other products before, this took all of the guess work out of it, thanks!!!
Date published: 2021-06-14
Rated 2 out of 5 by from felt ripped off to charge $45.00 for the state and an additional $25.00 to efile is just wrong. I will not be back.
Date published: 2021-06-11
Rated 5 out of 5 by from easy and fast You can let them walk you through every possible situation or pick and choose what you want to work on
Date published: 2021-06-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by from I LOVE TURBO TAX I've been using Turbo Tax since 2000 after becoming extremely frustrated with another tax return software product (even though my brother was working for that company at the time!) Turbo Tax never lets me down.
Date published: 2021-06-02
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Turbotax makes my tax life manageable! Lots of tax tax law and tax form changes for 2020. The user community and the Turbotax representatives were patient and informative in dealing with the questions I posed. Thanks!
Date published: 2021-05-20
TurboTax® Basic CD or Download Reviews - Page 2
TurboTaxTurboTax Customer Ratings & Reviews
Narrow your results
Select all that apply to find reviewers similar to you.
Own a business
Student
Select a row below to filter reviews:
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Turbotax is fantastic I have used turbotax four years in the making. Simple and very user friendly. I wish the Tax Code was as easily as turbotax. Keep up the great work team turbo-tax. Fred
Date published: 2021-10-16
Rated 4 out of 5 by from TURBOTX 2020 THERE IS A GLITCH IN THE CA STATE FORMS RE EXCESS SDI THAT STOPPED THE PROGRAM FROM BEING ABLE TO TRANSMIT ELECTRONICALLY. i DID NOT HAVE EXCESS SDI BUT THE PROGRAM WOULD NOT ACCEPT A ZERO. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. NOW I HAVE TO PRINT AND SEND RATHER THAN TRANSMIT ELECTRONICALLY; AND I PAID FOR ELECTRONIC TRANSMITTAL
Date published: 2021-10-16
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Awesome and easy to use. Awesome and easy to use. Have been using TurboTax for many years. Never have had any issues. CS great, app great. Thank you.
Date published: 2021-06-22
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Needs Improvement Have been using turbo tax a number of years. Most forms and workflow is straight forward. But I'm Canadian and have a few bank accounts and retirement accounts back in Canada. Your workflow to fill out all the required forms for foreign accounts is horrible. Some terms on the required forms are not explain and confusing.
Date published: 2021-06-16
Rated 5 out of 5 by from rfficient always easy to follow, year by year i continue using this application with excellent results
Date published: 2021-06-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from This was an excellent experience, Thanks!!! I've used other products before, this took all of the guess work out of it, thanks!!!
Date published: 2021-06-14
Rated 2 out of 5 by from felt ripped off to charge $45.00 for the state and an additional $25.00 to efile is just wrong. I will not be back.
Date published: 2021-06-11
Rated 5 out of 5 by from easy and fast You can let them walk you through every possible situation or pick and choose what you want to work on
Date published: 2021-06-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by from I LOVE TURBO TAX I've been using Turbo Tax since 2000 after becoming extremely frustrated with another tax return software product (even though my brother was working for that company at the time!) Turbo Tax never lets me down.
Date published: 2021-06-02
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Turbotax makes my tax life manageable! Lots of tax tax law and tax form changes for 2020. The user community and the Turbotax representatives were patient and informative in dealing with the questions I posed. Thanks!
Date published: 2021-05-20
TurboTax® Basic CD or Download Reviews - Page 2
Commonly Filed Tax Forms and Schedules
1040U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Schedule 1Additional Income and Adjustments to Income
Schedule 2Tax
Schedule 3Non-refundable Credits
Schedule AItemized Deductions
Schedule BInterest and Dividend Income
Schedule CCovers miscellaneous income and some related expenses (1099-MISC)
Schedule DCapital Gains and Losses
Schedule ESupplemental Income and Loss, including rental property
Schedule EICEarned Income Credit
Schedule SESelf-Employment Tax
Other Tax Forms and Schedules
Form 982Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of Indebtedness
Form 1040-ESEstimated Tax for Individuals
Form 1040-VPayment Vouchers
Form 1040XAmended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Form 1095-AHealth Insurance Marketplace Statement
Form 1098Mortgage Interest Statement
Form 1098-CContributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats and Airplanes
Form 1098-EStudent Loan Interest Statement
Form 1098-TTuition Statement
Form 1099-AAcquisition or Abandonment of Secured Property
Form 1099-BProceeds from Broker Transactions
Form 1099-CCancellation of Debt
Form 1099-DIVDividends and Distributions
Form 1099-GCertain Government Payments
Form 1099-INTInterest Income
Form 1099-KPayment Card and Third Party Network Transactions
Form 1099-MISCMiscellaneous Income
Form 1099-NECNon Employee Compensation
Form 1099-OIDOriginal Issue Discount
Form 1099-QPayments From Qualified Education Programs
Form 1099-RDistributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement, etc.
Form 1099-SADistributions from an HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA
Form 1116/AMTAMT Foreign Tax Credit/Foreign Tax Credit
Form 1310Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer
Form 2106Employee Business Expenses
Form 2120Multiple Support Declaration
Form 2210-FUnderpayment of Estimated Tax by Farmers and Fishermen
Form 2210/2210AIUnderpayment of Tax/Annualized Income
Form 2439Notice to Shareholder of Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains
Form 2441Child and Dependent Care Expenses
Form 2555Foreign Earned Income
Form 3115Application for Change in Accounting Method
Form 3468Investment Credit
Form 3800General Business Credit
Form 3903Moving Expenses
Form 4136Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels
Form 4137Tax on Unreported Tip Income
Form 4255Recapture of Investment Credit
Form 4506Request for Copy of Tax Form
Form 4562Depreciation and Amortization
Form 4684Casualties and Theft
Form 4797Sales of Business Property
Form 4835Farm Rental Income and Expenses
Form 4852Substitute for Form W-2 or 1099-R
Form 4868Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File
Form 4952/AMTAMT Investment Interest Expense Deduction/Investment Interest Expense Deduction
Form 4972Tax on Lump-Sum Distributions
Form 5329Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (including IRAs)
Form 5405First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit
Form 5695Residential Energy Credits
Form 6198At-Risk Limitations
Form 6251Alternative Minimum Tax
Form 6252Installment Sale Income
Form 6781Gains/Losses from Section 1256 Contracts and Straddles
Form 7202Credit for Sick Leave and Family Leave of Certain Self-Employed Individuals
Form 8283Non-cash Charitable Contributions
Form 8332Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents
Form 8379Injured Spouse Allocation
Form 8396Mortgage Interest Credit
Form 8453U.S. Individual Income Tax Transmittal for an IRS E-File Return
Form 8582/AMT/CRPassive Activity Loss Limitations/AMT/Credit Limitations
Form 8586Low-Income Housing Credit
Form 8606Nondeductible IRAs
Form 8615Tax for Certain Children Who Have Unearned Income
Form 8801Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax
Form 8814Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends
Form 8815Exclusion of Interest from Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds
Form 8822Change of Address
Form 8824Like-Kind Exchange
Form 8829Expenses for Business Use of Your Home
Form 8834Qualified Electric Vehicle Credit
Form 8839Qualified Adoption Expenses
Form 8853Archer MSAs and Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts
Form 8857Request for Innocent Spouse Relief
Form 8859Carryforward of D.C. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
Form 8862Information to Claim Certain Refundable Credits After Disallowance
Form 8863Education Credits
Form 8880Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions
Form 8881Credit for Small Employer Pension Plan Startup Costs
Form 8885Health Coverage Tax Credit
Form 8888Direct Deposit of Refund
Form 8889Health Savings Account
Form 8903Domestic Production Activities Deduction
Form 8910Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit
Form 8911Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
Form 8915-BQualified 2017 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments
Form 8915-CQualified 2018 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments
Form 8915-DQualified 2019 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments
Form 8915-EQualified 2020 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments
Form 8919Uncollected Social Security and Medicare Tax on Wages
Form 8936Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit
Form 8938Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets
Form 8941Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums
Form 8949Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets
Form 8958Allocation of Community Property Amounts
Form 8959Additional Medicare Tax
Form 8960Net Investment Income Tax
Form 8962Premium Tax Credit
Form 8994Employer Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave
Form 8995Qualified Business Income Deduction Simplified Computation
Form 8995-AQualified Business Income Deduction
Form 9465Installment Agreement Request
Form 14039Identity Theft Affidavit
Form SS-4Application for Employer Identification Number
Form W-2Wages and Tax Statement
Form W-2GCertain Gambling Winnings
Form W-4Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
Schedule 8812Child Tax Credit
Schedule FProfit or Loss from Farming
Schedule HHousehold Employment Taxes
Schedule JIncome Averaging for Farmers and Fishermen
Schedule RCredit for Elderly or Disabled
Schedules K-1 (Form 1041)Estates and Trusts
Schedules K-1 (Form 1065)Partner's Share of Income, Credits, Deductions
Schedules K-1 (Form 1120S)Shareholder's Share of Income, Credits, etc.
Schedules K-3 (Form 1120S)Shareholder's Share of Income, Credits, etc.-International
Schedules K-3 (Form 1065)Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc.-International
Schedule LEPRequest for Change in Language Preference
TurboTax Federal Tax
Year
2021 Software
Minimum System Requirements

Product activation required via internet. Download option requires free online
Intuit account.

Windows® CD/Download Products
(Basic, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business
and Business)
NOTE: TurboTax Business is Windows Only

Operating Systems
  • Windows 8.1 or later (Windows 8
    not supported)
    • Specific Win OS: Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
RAM
  • 2 GB or more recommended
Hard Disk Space
  • 1 GB for TurboTax (plus up to 4.5 GB for Microsoft .NET 4.5.2 if not
    already installed)
Monitor
  • 1024x768 or higher recommended
Third Party Software
  • Microsoft .NET 4.5.2 (included with TurboTax Installer)
Internet Connection
  • 1 Mbps modem (Broadband connection highly recommended). Required for product activation, software updates and optional
    online features
Printer
  • Any Windows-compatible inkjet or laser printer
  • Administrative rights required


Mac CD/Download Products (Basic, Deluxe, Premier, and Home & Business)

Operating Systems
  • macOS Catalina 10.15 or later (macOS Mojave 10.14 not supported)
    • Specific MAC OS: macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS Big Sur 11, macOS Monterey 12
RAM
  • 2 GB or more recommended
Hard Disk Space
  • 1 GB for TurboTax
Monitor
  • 1024x768 or higher recommended
Internet Connection
  • 1 Mbps modem (Broadband connection highly recommended). Required for product activation, software updates and optional
    online features
Printer
  • Any Macintosh-compatible inkjet or laser printer


Technical Support
Product activation required via Internet. Download option requires free online Intuit account. Windows 8 and macOS Mojave 10.14 not supported, click here for full
system requirements.

What customers are saying about
TurboTax Basic CD/Download

  • customer review 5 out of 5

    Bob’s Review

    I have used TurboTax for at least 20 years and would never go back to the old way of paying someone to do it
    for me."

    Bob276 -
    Weston Lakes, TX

  • customer review 5 out of 5

    Perfect every year!

    "I've been using TurboTax for years. It walks you through everything and makes what would have been an hours-long process quick and easy."

    nursenancy923 -
    Orlando, FL

  • customer review 5 out of 5

    Intuitive Program

    "This is the first time I have filed my tax return with software. It took me less time than going to the accountant's office at a fraction of
    the cost."

    RHF001 -
    New York


*Actual customer testimonials. Photos are illustrative only.

View all product reviews

Get your maximum tax
refund — guaranteed

  • Maximum Refund Guarantee

    Searches over
    350 tax deductions

    TurboTax finds every tax deduction and credit you qualify for to get you the biggest tax refund, guaranteed.

  • Complete Check of Your Return

    Double-checks your return

    TurboTax runs through thousands of error checks and double-checks your tax returns as you go to help make sure there are no mistakes.

  • 100% accurate calculations guarantee

    100% accurate calculations

    TurboTax calculations are 100% accurate so your taxes will be done right, guaranteed, or we'll pay you any IRS penalties.

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