Standard TurboTax Live is a hybrid product that pairs you with credentialed tax experts for on-demand assistance during the prep and filing process. If you need more prep assistance than TurboTax’s DIY resources can provide, TurboTax Live is right for you. If you opt for a paid plan, you don’t have to pay until you file. If TurboTax recognizes that you require a form or function that your current plan doesn’t support (such as itemized deductions or self-employment income), it automatically prompts you to upgrade without losing the information you already entered. Based on your answers, TurboTax determines which forms and schedules you need to successfully complete your return. The DIY platform uses an interview-style process in which your answers to a series of simple questions help it evaluate your tax situation. Many TurboTax filers begin by choosing from one of four DIY plans. TurboTax Live is further divided into standard TurboTax Live and an even more robust option called TurboTax Live Full Service, which is totally hands-off for filers.

TurboTax has two primary services: do-it-yourself and TurboTax Live. Is TurboTax right for you? Learn more about the platform’s features, capabilities, and overall suitability for your tax preparation needs to find out. It also isn’t the fastest service I’ve ever used. But it’s pricier than most competitors and requires people with even modest tax situations to upgrade to more expensive plans. Its interview-based filing process is highly intuitive, and the mobile-friendly platform is a snap to use. That’s not to say that TurboTax is perfect. That was my go-to before freelancing rendered my tax situation too complex, and it’s only growing more robust.

Its free filing package has long been one of the best free tax filing options around. I’ve personally used TurboTax to file my taxes in the past. Major TurboTax competitors include popular online tax filing software like H&R Block, TaxAct, eSmart Tax, and TaxSlayer. TurboTax is one of the most popular online tax preparation and filing software programs in the United States.

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