The most widely used tax software in the US — polished, guided and hard to get wrong, but it is also the most expensive way to file. Here is what each tier really costs, where the upsells hide, and what to use instead.
By Bookkeeping Reviews · Published 2026-09-23 · 9 min read
TurboTax is the most widely used tax software in the US and the easiest to follow — but it is also the most expensive option in its class, and the "start free, pay when you file" flow moves a lot of people onto a paid tier. In 2026 the federal tiers run roughly $0 (Free), ~$69 (Deluxe), ~$109 (Premier) and ~$129 (Self-Employed), plus ~$59-64 per state — a cost H&R Block charges about $37 for. Audit defence is another ~$40-50 on top. If your return is simple, you are paying a premium for guidance you may not need: FreeTaxUSA files the same forms for $0 federal and about $15 per state.
TurboTax is Intuit's consumer tax-filing product — the best-known name in American DIY tax filing, and by a wide margin. Its pitch is guidance: you answer plain-English questions about your year, and the software walks you through the forms (1040, Schedule C, Schedule D, Schedule E and so on) without you ever needing to read an IRS instruction sheet.
It covers the full range of personal returns: W-2 employment, itemised deductions, student loan interest, HSA contributions, investments, rental property, cryptocurrency, and self-employment income. Documents can be imported by photo or from participating brokerages, and each paid tier includes basic audit support. Higher tiers add Live Assisted (on-demand access to a CPA or Enrolled Agent) and Live Full Service (a professional prepares the entire return for you).
It is a genuinely good product. The question this review answers is whether it is worth roughly ten times what an equally accurate alternative charges.
| Tier | Federal | State (each) | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Edition | $0 | $0 (one state, if eligible) | Simple W-2 income and the standard deduction only |
| Deluxe | ~$69 | ~$59 | Homeowners, HSA contributions, student loan interest, itemised deductions |
| Premier | ~$109 | ~$59 | Stocks, crypto, rental property, broker import |
| Self-Employed | ~$129 | ~$59 | 1099 income, Schedule C, business expenses, mileage, home office |
Live Assisted (on-demand CPA access + final review): adds roughly $89 and up per tier.
Live Full Service (a CPA prepares and files your whole return): from roughly $389.
Audit defence bundle (MAX): around $49.99 — not included in any standard online tier.
Pay-from-refund fee: about $39 if you choose to settle the bill out of your refund rather than by card.
Prices move during the season and vary by promotions — figures here are indicative early-season 2026 pricing. Confirm current numbers on turbotax.intuit.com before you file.
Read that table again as a total: a homeowner with one state return is at roughly $128; a freelancer with one state is at roughly $188. Neither figure includes audit defence. The same returns filed through FreeTaxUSA come to about $15 and $22 respectively.
Only for the simplest returns — and fewer people qualify than expect to. The Free Edition covers W-2 income with the standard deduction. It does not cover itemised deductions, HSA contributions, student loan interest, investment income, rental income, or any self-employment income on a Schedule C.
In practice this means a single extra box ticked — one HSA contribution, one 1099 from a side gig — silently moves you into a paid tier. That is the design: you can complete most of your return before the paywall appears, at which point switching to another product means starting over. It is not a scam, but it is worth knowing before you start.
Best for: the same return, for about a tenth of the price
Best for: paid filers who want audit protection included
Best for: mid-tier filers who want a familiar guided interview
Best for: absolutely free filing, both federal and state
Best for: freelancers and 1099 workers with heavy deductions
Our take: TurboTax is the best-designed product in the category and the worst value in most of it. It earns its price only when the guidance — or the live expert — genuinely saves you from a mistake worth more than the difference. For the majority of returns, it does not.
Indicatively: $0 (Free Edition), ~$69 (Deluxe), ~$109 (Premier) and ~$129 (Self-Employed) for federal filing, plus ~$59-64 for each state return. Live Assisted adds roughly $89 and up; Live Full Service starts around $389. Audit defence is a separate ~$50 bundle. Prices rise through the season — confirm the current figure on turbotax.intuit.com.
Only for simple returns — W-2 income with the standard deduction. One HSA contribution, one student loan entry, itemised deductions, or any 1099 or investment income moves you into a paid tier.
FreeTaxUSA. It is $0 for federal filing on all forms including Schedule C, with state returns around $15. What you give up is the point-and-click hand-holding and live CPA access.
Yes. Pricing tends to creep upward during the season and can be $20-40 higher in March and April than in January. Live-assist wait times also lengthen after mid-March. Filing early is usually cheaper.
Its Self-Employed tier covers Schedule C, 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC income, mileage and the home office deduction, and its Schedule C guidance is among the best available. It is also the most expensive way to file a Schedule C — FreeTaxUSA supports the same forms from $0 federal.
As early as your documents allow — typically late January once W-2s and 1099s arrive. You avoid the seasonal price increases, get shorter support queues, and receive any refund sooner.
If you are weighing TurboTax against bookkeeping or accounting suites rather than filing tools, our other reviews may help: QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave and Zoho Books.
TurboTax and Intuit are trademarks of Intuit Inc. Bookkeeping Reviews is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any product mentioned on this page. Pricing cited is indicative for the 2026 filing season and is subject to change — always confirm on the vendor's official site.
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