TurboTax Expert Full Service: How It Works and What's Included
TurboTax Expert Full Service matches you with a dedicated tax expert who prepares, signs, and files your return, online or in person. Here's how the handoff works, what's included, and how pricing is set before your expert starts.
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How does Expert Full Service work?
TurboTax Expert Full Service hands your taxes to a dedicated expert from start to finish:
- First, match with an expert. Get matched with a dedicated expert who knows your situation—and handles taxes your way, in person or online.
- See your price upfront. Know your price estimate before your tax expert starts working on your taxes.
- Hand off to your expert. Upload your docs, then your expert takes it from there. Hop on a welcome call for extra support.
- Get support on your schedule. We're not your 9-to-5 tax shop. Connect with your expert even on nights and weekends during tax season. Track their progress and see them finish as soon as today.
- They file. You get every dollar you deserve. When your return is finished, your expert will walk you through the details and answer any questions. They'll file for you with 100% accuracy and audit support, guaranteed.
- Keep your expert next year. The best part? You can choose to work with the same expert again—someone who already knows you and your taxes.
What's included in Expert Full Service?
TurboTax Expert Full Service includes:
- A dedicated expert matched to your unique tax situation who prepares, signs, and files your return start to finish, online or in person
- A confirmed price estimate before your expert starts
- Unlimited tax help whenever you need it. Our experts are standing by, even on nights and weekends during tax season.
- Year-round access to experts at no extra cost
- The option to work with the same expert again next year, when available
- Audit support for the full 7-year life of your return, guaranteed
How do I know my return is accurate?
Full Service Guarantee
When your Full Service expert does your taxes, they'll only sign and file when they know it's 100% correct and you're getting the best outcome possible, guaranteed. Limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee
If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we'll pay you the penalty and interest. Limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
100% Accurate, Expert-Approved Guarantee
If you pay an IRS or state penalty (or interest) because of an error that a TurboTax tax expert made while providing topic-specific tax advice, a section review, or acting as a signed preparer for your return, we'll pay you the penalty and interest. Limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
Tax Return Lifetime Guarantee
A combination of coverage including 100% accurate calculations, audit support and a maximum refund. All guaranteed for the full 7-year life of your tax return. Excludes TurboTax Expert Assist Business and TurboTax Expert Full Service Business. See Terms of Service for details.
Audit Support Guarantee
If you receive an audit letter based on your 2025 TurboTax individual or business return, we will provide one-on-one question-and-answer support with a tax professional, if requested through our Audit Support Center, for audited returns filed with these products for the current tax year (2025) and, for individual, non-business returns, for the past two tax years (2024, 2023). This guarantee does not apply to TurboTax Business desktop software. Audit support is informational only. We will not represent you before the IRS or state tax authority or provide legal advice.
If we are not able to connect you to one of our tax professionals, we will refund the applicable TurboTax federal and/or state purchase price paid. (TurboTax Free Edition customers are entitled to payment of $30). Additional limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
Maximum Refund Guarantee / Maximum Tax Savings Guarantee - or Your Money Back
If you get a larger refund or smaller tax due from another tax preparation method, we'll refund the applicable TurboTax federal and/or state purchase price paid. (TurboTax Online Free Edition customers are entitled to payment of $30.) Limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What are the differences between TurboTax Expert Assist and TurboTax Expert Full Service?
With Expert Full Service, you're matched to a dedicated tax expert who will do your taxes, start to finish, and review them with you before filing. Where available, you will have the option to work with a local expert in person. You may see this option after starting with Expert Full Service if it's available in your area.
With Expert Assist, a team of tax experts is available to provide you with unlimited answers and advice as you do your taxes, and can review your return before you file.
Q: When is my tax expert available?
After you're matched with your dedicated Expert Full Service tax expert, they'll share the hours they're available. If you need help when your Expert Full Service tax expert is unavailable, you can talk to our other Expert Full Service experts.
Q: What qualifications do the tax experts have?
Our US-based tax experts have extensive experience and training. They can handle all kinds of tax situations, from simple to complex and are always up-to-date on all the latest tax laws, from crypto to side gigs and new government credits. They'll guarantee your taxes are done 100% right, with every dollar you deserve.
Q: How am I matched with my tax expert?
With Expert Full Service, we'll start by asking you questions about your tax situation. This can be done online, or in person at one of our hundreds of locations. We'll use what you tell us to match you with a tax expert who understands your tax situation, has relevant expertise, and is local to your state.
Q: Can I choose which tax expert I work with?
We'll use your location and information about your tax situation to match you with the right tax expert to handle your taxes. If at any time you want to be matched to a new expert, you can inform your current expert and they'll help you get reassigned.
If for any reason you feel that your expert isn't the right fit for you, we'll help you match with a new expert as soon as you're ready.
Q: What do I need to do to prepare?
After starting in Expert Full Service, we'll ask you some questions to learn about your tax situation and create a personalized tax planner for you. This tax planner helps you know what docs you'll need so you can gather them and start securely uploading them to your TurboTax account.
Q: Will the tax expert understand my personal tax situation?
We use information about your tax situation to match you with an expert who has experience with taxes like yours. During the process, they'll also learn more about your unique situation so they can make sure your taxes are 100% correct before filing.
Q: How do I communicate with my tax expert?
You can speak to your tax expert on the phone, through a live one-way video call on your screen (you can see your tax expert, but they can't see you), or you can work with an expert in person at one of our hundreds of locations. Your tax expert will ask you questions and provide advice as they prepare your return and get ready to file on your behalf. You can also communicate with your tax expert via the messaging center as needed.
Q: How will my documents be securely transferred to my tax expert?
Our software allows you to securely upload your tax documents to our system so they're available to your tax expert. There are multiple ways to upload your documents: you may be able to snap a photo of your documents, upload them from your phone, or import them directly from your employer or your financial institutions. We use industry accepted encryption standards for data at rest and in-transit to help ensure your information is protected.
Q: How long will the process take?
The time it takes to prepare your return depends on the complexity of your taxes, your availability, seasonal peak days for tax preparation, and how busy our experts are. Our goal is to get your taxes done with as little waiting as possible. When you're ready to start, we're ready to take taxes off your plate.
Q: How are fees and prices determined?
Two factors determine the pricing for TurboTax: the complexity of your tax return and the level of service you choose (Do It Yourself, Expert Assist or Expert Full Service). More complicated tax situations and higher levels of tax expert services may cost more, depending on the product you select.
If you choose to add other services (like Audit Defense), there may be additional fees.
We'll always let you know how much you can expect to pay, and we'll get your confirmation before any products or services are added.
You can review your fees along the way at any time and will see a full balance of your charges before you choose to pay and file your taxes.
Q: Can my fees or price change?
When you file with Expert Full Service, your tax expert will confirm your price estimate with you before they start working on your taxes. Your price may change if your actual tax situation includes other forms. Your expert will review any changes with you and provide your final price before filing your return. You can decide to leave Expert Full Service at any time before payment.
Prices for paid products are determined based on the product you use and the time of print or e-file and are subject to change without notice. Special discount offers may not be valid for mobile in-app purchases.
Your price could also change if you decide to upgrade your service level and add expert help, or if you choose to add other services like Audit Defense.
Q: Is there any type of guarantee if I get audited?
Yes. As part of our Lifetime Guarantee, you can file with complete confidence knowing that you'll get your maximum refund, 100% accuracy, and audit support for your return's full 7-year lifetime.
We offer free one-on-one audit guidance year-round from our experienced and knowledgeable tax staff. We'll let you know what to expect and how to prepare in the unlikely event you receive an audit letter from the IRS.
If you've already received a letter from the IRS for a return you filed with TurboTax, please review our Audit Support Guarantee for instructions on how to receive FREE step-by-step audit guidance and the option to connect with an expert.
We also offer full audit representation for an additional fee with TurboTax Audit Defense.
Q: Will my expert be there to help me year-round?
Tax experts are available year-round for questions and tax advice—at no extra cost. Depending on the service you choose, you may or may not be connected with the same tax expert who prepared your tax return. Working with the same expert year-round is dependent on the expert's availability.
Q: Can I use the same tax expert next year?
Yes, you may work with the same expert who prepared your tax return, when available.
With TurboTax Expert Full Service, a local expert matched to your unique situation will do your taxes for you start to finish. Or, get unlimited help and advice from tax experts while you do your taxes with TurboTax Expert Assist.
And you can file your own taxes with TurboTax Do It Yourself. Easily start your taxes by adding your forms and answering a few simple questions, then we’ll guide you from there. No matter which way you file, we guarantee 100% accuracy and your maximum refund.


