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Can't File by the Deadline? How to File a Tax Extension

  • Written by a TurboTax Expert • Reviewed by a TurboTax CPA
    • Updated for Tax Year 2025 • August 4, 2026 8:34 PM
    OVERVIEW

    Learn how to file a tax extension and get more time to file your taxes. It’s relatively easy to get an extension, so don’t panic if you can’t file your return on time. And you don’t even need a good reason to get an extension. But make sure you pay any tax you owe by the original deadline, since an extension doesn’t give you more time to pay your tax bill.

    NEW TAX LAW CHANGES

    The One Big Beautiful Bill that passed includes permanently extending tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including increasing the cap on the amount of state and local or sales tax and property tax (SALT) that you can deduct, makes cuts to energy credits passed under the Inflation Reduction Act, makes changes to taxes on tips and overtime for certain workers, reforms Medicaid, increases the Debt ceiling, and reforms Pell Grants and student loans. Updates to this article are in process. Check our One Big Beautiful Bill article for more information.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

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    Key Takeaways

    • You can get an automatic six-month extension to file your federal income tax return if you file Form 4868 or make a tax payment before the original filing deadline (which is typically April 15).
    • The deadline for filing a federal income tax return for the 2025 tax year can be pushed back from April 15, 2026, to October 15, 2026, if an extension is granted.
    • An extension doesn’t extend the due date for tax payments, which are still due by the original due date (typically April 15).
    • If you extend the due date for your federal income tax return, you will likely have to extend the deadline for filing any state income tax return, too.

    What is a tax extension?

    If you’re granted a tax extension, that means you have more time to file your tax return. So, if you’re having trouble meeting a tax filing deadline, getting an extension may be an option worth pursuing.

    When it comes to filing your federal income tax return, the IRS allows several different types of extensions, including for people living abroad, serving in a combat zone, or impacted by a natural disaster. While some tax extensions are automatically granted, others are only allowed if you have a good reason for missing the deadline. 

    The most common type of tax extension for individual taxpayers is an automatic six-month extension for filing your federal income tax return. With this extension, the due date for filing your return for the 2025 tax year is automatically pushed back from April 15, 2026, to October 15, 2026, if you submit a timely request for the extension. Since it’s the most frequently used federal tax extension, we’ll focus on the automatic six-month extension going forward.

    Who qualifies for a tax filing extension?

    “A six-month extension of time to file a federal individual income tax return is available to all U.S. taxpayers regardless of income,” says Kelly Wallace, a CPA and TurboTax Expert based in Homedale, Idaho. You don’t even need a reason for wanting the extension (although, as discussed later, there are several common reasons why you might need more time to file a tax return). The IRS will automatically grant the extension as long as you follow the instructions for requesting it.

    Quick Reference Guide to Federal Tax Filing Extensions (2026)

    Deadline to Apply for Extension

    April 15, 2026

    Extended Due Date

    October 15, 2026 (6-month extension)

    How to Request Extension

    File Form 4868 or make tax payment

    Extension to Pay Included

    No

    Penalty for Filing Late

    5% of unpaid tax per month (up to maximum of 25% unpaid taxes per month)

    Penalty for Paying Late

    0.5% of unpaid tax per month (up to maximum of 25% unpaid taxes per month)

    How do you file a tax extension request?

    There are two ways to request an automatic six-month extension to file your federal income tax return:

    • file Form 4868 with the IRS
    • pay all or part of your estimated tax due

    Filing Form 4868 is the most common way to get an extension. It’s a short form and pretty easy to fill out.

    You can file Form 4868 electronically – including through TurboTax – or by mailing a paper form to the IRS. It’s faster and safer to file electronically, so that’s the recommended method. If you file Form 4868 electronically, you'll need to provide your prior year's adjusted gross income for verification purposes. So, make sure you have a copy of last year's return handy.

    TurboTax Tip:

    "Many states use a federal extension as an automatic extension of time to file a state return as well. Other states have their own tax extension filing forms and requirements. Be sure to check the requirements for your state." – Kelly Wallace, CPA, Homedale, Idaho

    If you decide to make a tax payment, you can do so using either:

    Make sure you indicate that the payment is for an extension. How you do that depends on the method of payment. For example, if you’re using Direct Pay, select “Extension” from the “Reason for Payment” menu options.

    When do you have to request a tax filing extension?

    “Requests for a tax extension must be made on or before the original due date of your federal income tax return,” says Wallace. So, to extend the deadline for filing your return for the 2025 tax year, you must file Form 4868 or make a tax payment no later than April 15, 2026.

    When is your tax return due if you get a tax extension?

    If you get an automatic six-month extension for your 2025 federal income tax return – which is normally due April 15, 2026 – you have until October 15, 2026 to file your return.

    Does a tax extension give you more time to pay any tax you owe?

    A tax extension gives you more time to file your tax return, but it does not give you more time to pay any tax due.

    For example, suppose you get an automatic six-month extension to file your tax return for the 2025 tax year. That will push the filing deadline from April 15, 2026, to October 15, 2026. However, you still have to estimate the amount of tax you’ll owe and pay that amount to the IRS by the original April 15 deadline. If you don’t pay the full amount you owe on time, the IRS will impose a penalty and charge you interest on the unpaid balance.

    What are some common reasons for requesting a tax extension?

    While you don’t need a reason to request an automatic six-month tax filing extension, you probably should have one anyway – and here are some of the most common situations where it makes sense to get an extension:

    • You don’t have all your tax records – If the filing deadline is approaching, but you lost or never received an important tax document, you can request an extension to buy some more time to collect all the necessary records.
    • There’s an illness or death in the family – Filing your tax return on time should be a high priority, but sometimes you have even more important things to worry about. For instance, if there’s an illness or death in the family, or you’re seriously ill, get a tax filing extension so you can focus on what matters most.
    • You’re dealing with a home fire, natural disaster, or other tragic event – Again, sometimes you need to deal with something that’s more important than taxes. If that means you’re going to miss the tax deadline, get an extension and just do your taxes later. (Check to see if the IRS has already granted an extension if you’re impacted by a natural disaster.)
    • You’re getting married, having a child, or experiencing another major life event – Joyful events can happen around tax time, too. For example, if you’re getting married or having a baby in April, there’s no need to add filing your tax return to the long list of things on your plate. Just get an extension and file your return when things settle down.
    • Your return is particularly complex – Sometimes you just need a little more time to sort out an unfamiliar tax issue. Better to get an extension and figure it out than to make a potentially costly mistake. A TurboTax expert can help with your tax questions, too.
    • You need to find a tax preparer – You might need an extension if you wait until the last minute to find a tax professional to do your taxes. A local TurboTax expert can help you with the extension and then handle your return.
    • You’re out of the country – It may be particularly difficult to file your taxes if you’re traveling outside of the country at or around the filing deadline. If you’re in that situation, requesting a tax filing extension may be a smart move.
    • You’re a business owner and want more time to save for retirement – Certain small business owners (including self-employed people) can open a SEP IRA or solo 401(k) plan to save for retirement. Normally, the last day to contribute to these accounts for any particular tax year is the due date for filing a tax return for that year. However, if you get an automatic six-month extension to file your return, the deadline for making contributions is also extended for six months.
    • You need more time to withdraw excess IRA contributions – If you put too much money in an IRA for the year (contribution limits are set each year), you can avoid a penalty if you withdraw the excess amount before the due date for filing your tax return for that year. But you get an extra six months to withdraw the money if you get an automatic six-month federal tax filing extension.

    What are some of the benefits of getting a tax extension?

    Getting more time to file your tax return can have several benefits, including:

    • Reduced stress – If you start feeling anxious as the tax deadline approaches, a tax extension can help reduce your stress level.
    • Avoiding IRS penalties – You’ll dodge up to six months of late-filing penalties and interest charges if you get a tax extension. However, you’ll still owe late-payment penalties if you don’t pay the taxes you owe by April 15.
    • Saving money on tax-preparation fees – If you hire a CPA, enrolled agent, or other tax professional to prepare your tax return, you might pay less for their services after tax season.
    • More accurate return – You might avoid errors on your tax return – and any related penalties – if you have more time to work on it.
    • Additional time to save for retirement (if you own a business or are self-employed) – As noted earlier, if you extend the deadline for filing your federal income tax return, you also extend the deadline for contributing to a SEP IRA or solo 401(k) plan. These retirement accounts are available to certain small business owners, including self-employed people.

    What are some of the disadvantages of getting a tax extension?

    If you don’t really have a good reason to extend your tax filing deadline, then it’s probably best if you just file by the standard due date (typically April 15). That’s because there are some potential downsides to getting a tax extension, such as:

    • Taxes still due in April – Remember, you only get more time to file your return – not to pay your taxes. So, you still have to go through the process of estimating your tax bill. If you have to do that, maybe you should just complete your tax return by the April deadline. It might not take much more time and effort.
    • Delayed refund – If you expect to receive a tax refund, the longer you take to file your return, the longer you’ll have to wait to get your money back.
    • Taxes still on your mind – If you’re the worrying type, it might be better to just file by the original due date and get it out of the way. That way, you won’t be thinking about your tax return for an extended period of time.

    Can you get a tax extension for your state income tax return?

    If you also have a state tax return to file (some states don’t have an income tax), you generally can request a state tax extension if you need more time to file that return.

    In fact, if you extend the due date for your federal tax return, there’s a good chance you’ll need to extend your state return as well. That’s because you typically need information from your federal return to complete your state return. So, you usually can’t file your state return until you finish your federal return.

    Check with the state tax agency where you live to see how you can extend the deadline for filing your state income tax return.

    Frequently asked questions about tax extensions

    Q1: Can businesses get a tax extension?

    Yes, an automatic six-month filing extension is generally allowed for business tax returns. However, instead of using Form 4868 to request an extension, C corporations, S corporations, and partnerships use Form 7004.

    Learn more information about filing a business tax extension.

    Q2: Will filing a tax extension delay your refund?

    “By delaying the filing of your return, you are also delaying your refund,” notes Wallace. Since the IRS can’t process and disburse your refund until you’ve submitted your tax return, you’ll have to wait for any refund that may be coming your way if filing an extension.

    So, if you expect to receive a refund this year, you may want to file as soon as you can to get your refund as quickly as possible – especially if you need that money right away.

    Find out how to track your tax refund.

    Q3: What happens if you don’t file your tax return on time?

    You could be hit with IRS penalties if you don’t file your tax return on time and you owe the tax agency money. The late-filing penalty usually equals 5% of any unpaid tax for each month, or partial month, your return is late (up to a maximum of 25%).

    There’s also a separate penalty on any tax that isn’t paid by the original due date (typically April 15). This late-payment penalty is generally 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month, or part of a month, the tax remains unpaid (up to a maximum of 25%).

    The IRS charges interest on unpaid taxes, too. This is on top of any penalties imposed.

    See how IRS penalties can be reduced or even eliminated.

    Q4: What should you do if you can’t pay your taxes on time?

    If you can’t pay your taxes on time, you might be able to pay over time, pay at a later date, or pay a reduced amount under one of the following IRS programs or policies:

    • Payment plans – The IRS offers both short-term (pay within six months) and long-term (pay within six years) tax payment plans.
    • Offer in compromise (OIC) – You might be able to reduce your tax bill through the IRS’s OIC program.
    • Payment extension – The IRS might give you up to six months of additional time to pay your taxes if you can show that paying your tax bill on time would cause “undue hardship” (use Form 1127 to request a payment extension).
    • Delay collection activities – You can ask the IRS to temporarily suspend collection activities against you if you can’t pay any of the taxes you owe.

    The IRS also has an online Tax Debt Tool that helps you explore payment options and identify next steps based on your situation.

    Learn more about what you need to know if you file your taxes late.

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      Not all consumers will qualify for a loan or for the maximum loan amount. If approved, your loan will be for one of ten amounts: $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $3,000, $3,500, or $4,000. Your loan amount will be based on your anticipated federal refund to a maximum of 50% of that refund amount. Those filing with TurboTax Expert Full Service may be eligible for a loan, issued by WebBank, in an amount that is based on the full amount of their anticipated federal refund with a maximum loan amount of $10,000, and such loans are available in amounts that are multiples of $250. Full Refund Amount calculation based upon the estimated amount of your refund less any fees associated with additional refund products. You will not receive a final decision of whether you are approved for the loan until after the IRS accepts your e-filed federal tax return. Loan repayment is deducted from your federal tax refund and reduces the subsequent refund amount paid directly to you.

      If approved, your TurboTax Refund Advance will be deposited into your Credit Karma Money™ Spend (checking) account typically within 15 minutes after the IRS accepts your e-filed federal tax return and you may access your funds online through a virtual card. Your physical Credit Karma Visa® Debit Card* should arrive in 7 - 14 days. *Card issued by MVB Bank, Inc., Member FDIC pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.; Visa terms and conditions apply. Other fees may apply. For more information, please visit: https://support.creditkarma.com/s/article/Are-there-fees-with-a-Credit-Karma-Money-Spend-account.

      If you are approved for a loan, your tax refund after deducting the amount of your loan and agreed-upon fees (if applicable) will be placed in your Credit Karma Money™ Spend (checking) account. Tax refund funds are disbursed by the IRS typically within 21 days of e-file acceptance. If you apply for a loan and are not approved after the IRS accepts your e-filed federal tax return, your tax refund minus any agreed-upon fees (if applicable) will be placed in your Credit Karma Money™ Spend (checking) account.

      If your tax refund amounts are insufficient to pay what you owe on your loan, you will not be required to repay any remaining balance. However, you may be contacted to remind you of the remaining balance and provide payment instructions to you if you choose to repay that balance. If your loan is not paid in full, you will not be eligible to receive a TurboTax Refund Advance loan in the future.
    • Loan details and disclosures for the File Now, Pay Later program: If your expected federal tax balance owed is between $200 and $6,000, you could be eligible for a File Now, Pay Later loan. File Now, Pay Later loans are issued by WebBank, not affiliated with Cross River Bank, Member FDIC. File Now, Pay Later is a loan based upon your federal tax balance due and can only be used to make your federal tax payment directly to the IRS. You must be eligible to receive a loan in the amount of your full federal tax balance due in order to be approved. Availability of the File Now, Pay Later is subject to credit approval, satisfaction of identity verification, certain security requirements, eligibility criteria, and underwriting standards. This File Now, Pay Later offer expires on October 16, 2026, or the date that available funds have been exhausted, whichever comes first. Offer, eligibility, and availability subject to change without further notice.

      File Now, Pay Later is available with a 3, 6, or 9 month loan term. Variable APR ranging from 15%-33%. For example, a 6-month $2,000 loan with an APR of 19% has a finance charge of $112.28 and 6 monthly installments of $352.05 each. Payments may change if you have missed payments, overpayments, or payments made outside of your normal payment schedule.

      File Now, Pay Later loans issued by WebBank are facilitated by Intuit Financing Inc. (NMLS # 1136148), a subsidiary of Intuit Inc. Although there are no loan fees associated with the File Now, Pay Later loan, separate fees may apply if you choose to pay for TurboTax with your state refund. Paying for TurboTax with your state refund is not required to be eligible for a File Now, Pay Later loan. Additional fees may apply for other products and services that you choose.

      You will not be eligible for the loan if: (1) your physical address is not included on your federal tax return, (2) your physical address is located outside of the United States or a US territory, is a PO box or is a prison address, (3) you are less than 18 years old, (4) the tax return filed is on behalf of a deceased person, (5) your federal tax balance owed is less than $200 or greater than $6,000, or (6) you do not have a social security number. Additional requirements: You must (a) e-file your federal tax return with TurboTax and (b) authorize Intuit Financing Inc. to open a Router Account in your name with an FDIC insured bank. Opening a Router Account is subject to identity verification.

      If approved, your File Now, Pay Later will be deposited into a temporary router account established for you at an FDIC insured bank ("Router Account"), shortly after the IRS accepts your e-filed federal tax return. You will have no access to the funds and the funds will only be accessed by the IRS via an authorized debit of the Router Account. Authorized tax payments are debited by the IRS, typically within 5 days of e-file acceptance.

      Not all consumers will qualify for a loan or for the maximum loan amount. If approved, your loan will be issued in the exact amount of your federal taxes owed. You will not receive a final decision of whether you are approved for the loan until after the IRS accepts your e-filed federal tax return. Your loan repayment period begins once the IRS has received your tax payment. If your loan is not paid in full, you will not be eligible to receive a File Now, Pay Later loan in the future.
    • Pay for TurboTax out of your federal refund or state refund: Individual taxes only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Additional terms apply. A $40 service fee may apply to this payment method. Prices are subject to change without notice.
    • TurboTax Help and Support: Access to a TurboTax product specialist is included with TurboTax Do It Yourself Deluxe, TurboTax Do It Yourself Premium, TurboTax Expert Assist and TurboTax Expert Full Service; not included with TurboTax Free Edition (but is available as a paid upgrade). TurboTax specialists are available to provide general customer help and support using the TurboTax product. Services, areas of expertise, experience levels, wait times, hours of operation and availability vary, and are subject to restriction and change without notice. Limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
    • TurboTax Experts - Tax Advice and Expert Review: Access to an expert for tax questions and Expert Review (the ability to have a tax expert review) is included with TurboTax Expert Assist or as an upgrade from another TurboTax product, and available through December 31, 2026. Access to an expert for tax questions is also included with TurboTax Expert Full Service and available through December 31, 2026. If you use TurboTax Experts, Intuit will assign you a tax expert based on availability. Tax expert availability may be limited. Some tax topics or situations may not be included as part of this service, which shall be determined at the tax expert’s sole discretion. The ability to retain the same expert preparer in subsequent years will be based on an expert’s choice to continue employment with Intuit and their availability at the times you decide to prepare your return(s). Administrative services may be provided by assistants to the tax expert. On-screen help is available on a desktop, laptop or the TurboTax mobile app. For the TurboTax Expert Assist product: If your return requires a significant level of tax advice or actual preparation, the tax expert may be required to sign as the preparer at which point they will assume primary responsibility for the preparation of your return. For the TurboTax Expert Full Service product: Hand off tax preparation by uploading your tax documents, getting matched with an expert, and meeting with an expert in real time. The tax expert will sign your return as a preparer.
    • TurboTax Experts - Unlimited Expert Support: Unlimited access to TurboTax experts refers to an unlimited quantity of contacts available to each customer, but does not refer to hours of operation or service coverage. Service, area of expertise, experience levels, wait times, hours of operation and availability vary, and are subject to restriction and change without notice.
    • TurboTax Experts - Years of Experience: Based on experts’ self-reported years of tax experience.
    • TurboTax Experts - Expert Availability: During tax season, TurboTax experts online are available 7 days a week from 5 AM to 9 PM PT from January 5 to April 20, 2026, and 5 AM to 12 AM PT on April 15, 2026. Outside of tax season, regular hours for our online TurboTax experts are Monday through Friday, 5am to 5pm PT. Near the September and October extension deadlines, we will resume extended hours of operations including evening and weekend hours. Service, area of expertise, experience levels, and wait times vary, and are subject to restriction and change without notice. Unlimited access to TurboTax experts online is included with all Expert Assist and Expert Full Service products. TurboTax experts hours at TurboTax stores and Expert offices vary by location.
    • TurboTax Expert Full Service - File your taxes as soon as today: TurboTax Full Service experts are available to prepare 2025 tax returns starting January 5, 2026. One-day preparation and filing availability depends on start time, the complexity of your return, is based on completion time for the majority of customers, and may vary based on expert availability. A tax preparation assistant will validate the customer’s tax situation during the welcome call and review uploaded documents to assess readiness and ability to file same-day. All tax forms and documents must be ready and uploaded by the customer for the tax preparation assistant to refer the customer to an available expert for live tax preparation.
    • TurboTax Expert Full Service - “Local”: Not all feature combinations are available for all locations. In-person meetings with a local tax pro are available in some locations, but not available in all states or locations. "Local" tax pro is defined as being located within the same state as the client for virtual meetings. "Local" tax pro, for the purpose of in-person meetings, is defined as being located within 50 miles of the consumer's zip code.
    • Smart Insights: Individual taxes only. Included with TurboTax Do It Yourself Deluxe, Premium, TurboTax Expert Assist, TurboTax Expert Full Service, or with PLUS benefits, and is available through October 31, 2026. Terms and conditions may vary and are subject to change without notice.
    • My Docs: Included with TurboTax Do It Yourself, TurboTax Expert Assist, and TurboTax Expert Full Service and is available through December 31, 2026. Terms and conditions may vary and are subject to change without notice.
    • Tax Return Access: Included with all TurboTax Do It Yourself, TurboTax Expert Assist, and TurboTax Expert Full Service products. Access to up to seven years of tax returns we have on file for you is available through December 31, 2026. Terms and conditions may vary and are subject to change without notice.
    • Easy Online Amend: Individual taxes only. With TurboTax Do It Yourself Deluxe, TurboTax Do It Yourself Premium, TurboTax Expert Assist, TurboTax Expert Full Service, or with PLUS benefits, you can make changes to your 2025 tax return online through October 31, 2028. For TurboTax Expert Full Service, your tax expert will amend your 2025 tax return for you through November 15, 2026; after that date, TurboTax Expert Full Service customers will be able to amend their 2025 tax return themselves using the Easy Online Amend process described above. TurboTax Free Edition customers may amend 2025 tax returns online through October 31, 2026. Terms and conditions may vary and are subject to change without notice.
    • #1 best-selling tax software: Based on aggregated sales data for all tax year 2024 TurboTax products.
    • #1 online tax filing solution for self-employed: Based upon IRS Sole Proprietor data as of calendar year 2025, for tax year 2024. Self-Employed defined as a return with a Schedule C/C-EZ tax form. Online competitor data is extrapolated from press releases and SEC filings. “Online” is defined as an individual income tax DIY return (non-preparer signed) that was prepared online and either e-filed or printed, not including returns prepared through desktop software.
    • 1099-Ks: Those filing in TurboTax Free Edition or TurboTax Expert Assist Basic will be able to file a limited IRS Schedule 1 if they have hobby income or personal property rental income reported on a Form 1099-K, and/or a limited IRS Schedule D if they have personal item sales with no gain reported on Form 1099-K. Those filing in TurboTax Do It Yourself Deluxe or TurboTax Expert Assist Deluxe will be able to file a limited IRS Schedule D if they have personal item sales income reported on Form 1099-K. If you add other schedules or forms, or need to report other types of income on Schedules 1, D, E, F, or Form 4835 you may be required to upgrade to another TurboTax product. Intuit reserves the right to terminate this offer at any time for any reason in its sole and absolute discretion.
    • 1099-K Snap and Autofill: Available in mobile app and mobile web only.
    • 1099-NEC Snap and Autofill: Available in TurboTax Do It Yourself Premium (formerly Self-Employed) and TurboTax Expert Assist Premium (formerly Self-Employed). Available in mobile app only. Feature available within Schedule C tax form for TurboTax filers with 1099-NEC income.
    • Year-Round Tax Estimator: Available in TurboTax Do It Yourself Premium (formerly Self-Employed) and TurboTax Expert Assist Premium (formerly Self-Employed). This product feature is only available after you finish and file in a self-employed TurboTax product.
    • Refer a Friend: Maximum of $500 in total rewards for 20 referrals. See official terms and conditions for more details.
    • Refer your Expert (TurboTax Customer referring Intuit’s own experts): Maximum of $500 in total rewards for 10 referrals. See official terms and conditions for more details.
    • Average Refund Amount: $3,453 is the average refund amount American taxpayers received in the 2024 filing season based upon IRS data as of February 21, 2025 and may not reflect actual refund amount received. Each taxpayer’s refund will vary based on their tax situation.
    • More self-employed deductions: based on the median amount of expenses found by TurboTax Do It Yourself Premium (formerly Self Employed) customers who synced accounts, imported and categorized transactions compared to manual entry. Individual results may vary.
    • TurboTax Online Business Products: For TurboTax Expert Assist Business and TurboTax Expert Full Service Business, we currently don’t support the following tax situations: C-Corps (Form 1120) and entities electing to be treated as a C-Corp, Trust/Estates (Form 1041), Tax Exempt Entities/Non-Profits, returns that require more than 5 state filings, and other issues unrelated to the preparation of a tax return or unrelated to business income/franchise taxes.
    • Audit Defense: Audit Defense is a third-party add-on service provided, for an additional fee, by TaxResources, Inc., dba Tax Audit. Audit Defense is included at no added cost with business returns filed with TurboTax Experts for Business (excluding Sole Proprietor). See Membership Agreements at https://www.intuit.com/legal/terms/ for service terms and conditions.

    TURBOTAX EXPERT 365 BUSINESS Subscription Terms:

    Who’s Eligible for Expert 365 Business:
    • Expert 365 Business is available to new QuickBooks customers with the following entity and business tax situations: sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs.
    • At this time, the following entity types and business tax situations are not eligible for Expert 365 Business: C-Corps, S-Corps, partnerships.
    Your Expert 365 Business subscription includes access to the following services and features:
    • Tax-Ready Bookkeeping: You must connect your business accounts to QuickBooks in order for your Expert to be able to review and reconcile your books on a quarterly basis. The expert will update bookkeeping to be tax-ready on a quarterly basis, so the expert can calculate your quarterly tax payments and develop personalized tax advice. All advice and information made available by Expert 365 Business in connection with the bookkeeping service is based on the information you provide to Intuit or authorize Intuit to obtain from your banks and other third party platforms that sync data into our bookkeeping services, so it is important for you to make sure that information is complete and accurate. The bookkeeping service cannot be relied upon to discover errors, fraud deflections or other irregularities, should any exist.
    • Business Tax Advisory Sessions: You can meet with your Expert on a quarterly basis to obtain personalized tax planning recommendations based on your information provided.
    • Quarterly Expert Reviews: Your Expert will be available to meet with you at least once per calendar quarter to deliver quarterly tax estimates, and review and reconcile your books.
    • TurboTax Expert Full Service: TurboTax Experts are available to prepare 2026 tax returns starting January 5, 2027. One-day preparation and filing availability depends on start time, the complexity of your return, is based on completion time for the majority of customers, and may vary based on Expert availability. A tax preparation assistant will validate the customer’s tax situation during the welcome call and review uploaded documents to assess readiness and ability to file same-day. All tax forms and documents must be ready and uploaded by the customer for the tax preparation assistant to refer the customer to an available Expert for live tax preparation. The TurboTax Terms of Service apply to your use of TurboTax Expert Full Service and Expert 365 Business. As described more in those Terms, the following Guarantees apply to your use of TurboTax Expert Full Service: TurboTax Accurate Calculations Guarantee - Business Tax Returns, TurboTax Maximum Savings Guarantee - Business Tax Returns, and TurboTax Audit Support Guarantee - Business Tax Returns.

    In addition to the above Expert 365 Business subscription features, you have access for 1 user license to the QuickBooks Simple Start product. QuickBooks Simple Start offers features such as receipt capture, tracking income and expense, tracking miles and running financial reports on any device (mobile and web). The cost of QuickBooks Simple Start is included in the displayed pricing, but this subscription is sold separately from Expert 365 Business. The QuickBooks Terms of Service apply to your use of QuickBooks Simple Start.

    Cancelation: Expert 365 Business is billed on a monthly basis of $61, and QuickBooks Simple Start is billed on a monthly basis of $38, your subscription will automatically renew each month on your account’s billing date until you cancel. You may cancel your subscription at any time by navigating to the Account & Settings section of your Expert 365 Business account and selecting “Cancel.”  You will not receive a pro-rated refund; your access and subscription benefits will continue for the remainder of the billing period.

    Cancelation of your Expert 365 Business subscription will not impact your QuickBooks subscription. You will continue to receive all QuickBooks benefits and incur ongoing monthly charges until you separately cancel your QuickBooks subscription. Your Expert 365 Business subscription is dependent upon maintaining an active QuickBooks subscription. As a result, cancelation of your QuickBooks subscription will result in a concurrent cancelation of your Expert 365 Business subscription.

    TURBOTAX DESKTOP GUARANTEES

    TurboTax Desktop Individual Returns:
    • 100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee - Individual Returns: If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we'll pay you the penalty and interest. You are responsible for paying any additional tax liability you may owe. Excludes payment plans. This guarantee is good for the lifetime of your personal, individual tax return, which Intuit defines as seven years from the date you filed it with TurboTax Desktop. Excludes TurboTax Desktop Business returns. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.
    • Maximum Refund Guarantee / Maximum Tax Savings Guarantee - or Your Money Back - Individual Returns: If you get a larger refund or smaller tax due from another tax preparation method by filing an amended return, we'll refund the applicable TurboTax federal and/or state software license purchase price you paid. You are responsible for paying any additional tax liability you may owe. This guarantee is good for the lifetime of your personal, individual tax return, which Intuit defines as seven years from the date you filed it with TurboTax Desktop. Excludes TurboTax Desktop Business returns. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.
    • Audit Support Guarantee - Individual Returns: If you receive an audit letter from the IRS or State Department of Revenue based on your 2025 TurboTax individual tax return, we will provide one-on-one question-and-answer support with a tax professional, if requested through our Audit Support Center, for audited individual returns filed with TurboTax Desktop for the current 2025 tax year and, for individual, non-business returns, for the past two tax years (2023, 2024). 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 license purchase price you paid. This guarantee is good for the lifetime of your personal, individual tax return, which Intuit defines as seven years from the date you filed it with TurboTax Desktop. Excludes TurboTax Desktop Business returns. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.
    • Satisfaction Guarantee/ 60-Day Money Back Guarantee: If you're not completely satisfied with TurboTax Desktop software, go to refundrequest.intuit.com within 60 days of purchase and follow the process listed to submit a refund request. You must return this product using your license code or order number and dated receipt. Desktop add-on products and services purchased are non-refundable.
    TurboTax Desktop Business Returns:
    • 100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee - Business Returns: If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we'll pay you the penalty and interest. You are responsible for paying any additional tax liability you may owe. Excludes payment plans. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.
    • Maximum Tax Savings Guarantee - Business Returns: If you get a smaller tax due (or larger business tax refund) from another tax preparation method using the same data, TurboTax will refund the applicable TurboTax Desktop Business license purchase price you paid. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.
    • Satisfaction Guarantee/ 60-Day Money Back Guarantee: If you're not completely satisfied with TurboTax Desktop software, go to refundrequest.intuit.com within 60 days of purchase and follow the process listed to submit a refund request. You must return this product using your license code or order number and dated receipt. Desktop add-on products and services purchased are non-refundable.

    TURBOTAX DESKTOP DISCLAIMERS

    • Installation Requirements: Product download, installation and activation requires an Intuit Account and internet connection. Product limited to one account per license code. You must accept the TurboTax License Agreement to use this product. Not for use by paid preparers.
    • TurboTax Desktop Products: Price includes tax preparation and printing of federal tax returns and free federal e-file of up to 5 federal tax returns. Additional fees may apply for e-filing state returns. E-file fees may not apply in certain states, check here for details. Savings and price comparison based on anticipated price increase. Software updates and optional online features require internet connection. Desktop add-on products and services purchased are non-refundable.
    • Fastest Refund Possible: Get your tax refund from the IRS as fast as possible by e-filing and choosing to receive your refund by direct deposit. Tax refund time frames will vary. The IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days.
    • Average Refund Amount: $3,453 is the average refund amount American taxpayers received in the 2024 filing season based upon IRS data as of February 21, 2025 and may not reflect actual refund amount received. Each taxpayer's refund will vary based on their tax situation.
    • TurboTax Technical Support: Customer service and technical support hours and options vary by time of year.
    • Deduct From Your Federal or State Refund: Individual taxes only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Additional terms apply. A $40 Refund Processing Service fee applies to this payment method. Prices are subject to change without notice.
    • Data Import: Imports financial data from participating companies; Requires Intuit Account. Quicken and QuickBooks import not available with TurboTax installed on a Mac. Imports from Quicken (2023 and higher) and QuickBooks Desktop (2024); both Windows only. Quicken import not available for TurboTax Desktop Business. Quicken products provided by Quicken Inc., Quicken import subject to change.
    • Live Tax Advice: Access to tax experts to obtain answers to tax questions and to assist with tax year 2025 return(s) prepared with TurboTax Desktop software. Additional fees may apply. Must be purchased and used by October 31, 2026. Excludes TurboTax Desktop Business. See License Agreement for details.
    • Audit Defense: Audit Defense is a third-party add-on service provided, for a fee, by TaxResources, Inc., dba Tax Audit. See Membership Agreements at https://turbotax.intuit.com/corp/softwarelicense/ for service terms and conditions.
    All features, services, support, prices, offers, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

    Unless otherwise stated, strikethrough prices reflect anticipated late-season pricing (4/1–10/31; for S-corps & partnerships, 5/1–10/31).

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