turbotax.intuit.com

TurboTax's site is built around filing, but it also lists several services that sit before, after, or outside the filing step itself: refund estimation, refund-related loans and early refund options, filing an extension, prior-year filing, amending a return, and finding an in-person office. Most of these are entry points into the same account and product flow rather than standalone products, so what you can actually use depends on your situation — for example, an extension is a filing action, while a refund estimate is just a calculator you can use before you commit to anything.

Refund and tax calculators

The site's calculator section includes:

• TaxCaster — described as a way to preview your refund or see what you'll owe.
• Tax bracket calculator
• Self-employed expense monitor
• W-4 withholding calculator

These are estimation tools, not filings. TaxCaster is the one the site frames specifically around "get an estimate of this year's tax refund," so it's the natural first stop if you want a number before deciding how to file. The W-4 calculator addresses a different question — how much withholding to set on a paycheck — so it's useful mid-year rather than at filing time.

Refunds and loans

Under "Refunds & loans," the site lists:

• Refund Advance
• Early tax refunds
• File Now, Pay Later™

These are presented as separate options from the filing products themselves. The site does not state eligibility rules, amounts, or fees for these in the material available here, so treat them as options to check inside your account rather than as guaranteed outcomes. If your main concern is timing — getting money before a refund would normally arrive — this is the section to look at, but confirm the current terms on the specific page before relying on any of them.

Filing an extension

"File an extension" appears under other filing options. This is for taxpayers who can't complete a return by the deadline and want more time to file — it is not the same as more time to pay, and the site does not spell out the mechanics here. Use it if you know you won't finish in time; otherwise it adds a step you don't need.

Prior-year returns and amendments

Two related options sit alongside the extension:

• File taxes for a prior year — for returns you didn't file when they were due.
• Amend a return — for correcting a return you already filed.

Both are common reasons people return to the site outside the normal season, and both are listed as distinct entry points rather than being folded into the main filing flow.

Desktop and product access

• TurboTax Desktop — a separate way to file, for those who prefer installed software over the online flow.
• Activate your product and Access your products — for people who already bought something and need to get back into it.

Business taxes and year-round advisory

The site separates Business taxes (with its own filing options) from personal filing, and lists year-round tax advisory as a service. If your question is about a business return or ongoing advice rather than a one-time personal return, these are the relevant sections — they are not the same product as the personal filing tiers.

Finding an in-person office

Find a TurboTax office is marked as new, and the site also offers a TurboTax office locator. This matters if you'd rather hand documents to someone in person than work entirely online. The site notes you can "match with a local tax expert as soon as today" to do your taxes start to finish, which is the same expert-help option described in the filing comparison, just routed through a physical location.

Support and post-filing help

Beyond the services above, the resources section covers:

• TurboTax Support and community
• FAQ
• Track your refund
• Find a prior year return
• Tax tips & videos and the TurboTax Blog

"Track your refund" and "find a prior year return" are the two most practical here — the first for checking status after filing, the second for retrieving a return you need a copy of.

How to choose among them

One caveat: the site describes these as available options, but eligibility, pricing, and timing for the loan and advance products aren't specified in the material here. Check the individual page for current terms before counting on any of them.

TurboTax advertises that your taxes will be done "100% right, guaranteed," whether you file on your own or have a tax expert do them. The guarantee is a promise tied to the accuracy of the tax return TurboTax helps you prepare: if a calculation or preparation error on TurboTax's side leads to an IRS penalty or interest, TurboTax covers those costs. The guarantee applies to returns prepared and filed through TurboTax, and it comes with terms and conditions you should read before relying on it.

What the guarantee actually covers

Based on TurboTax's own site language, the accuracy guarantee is framed around two things:

• The return is prepared correctly — TurboTax states your taxes will be done "100% right," and this applies however you choose to file (doing it yourself, getting advice from an expert as you file, having an expert do it start to finish, or a final expert review).
• Penalties and interest are covered — if an error attributable to TurboTax results in an IRS penalty or interest charge, TurboTax pays those amounts.

The guarantee is about accuracy of preparation, not about the size of your refund. TurboTax separately markets getting your "biggest tax refund," but that is a different claim from the accuracy guarantee.

Who the guarantee applies to

The guarantee is described as applying across the ways you can file:

The site also notes that simple returns can be filed 100% free, with roughly 37% of filers qualifying. Free filing eligibility is a separate condition from the accuracy guarantee — qualifying for the free tier does not change whether the guarantee applies.

What you need to do to rely on it

The guarantee is conditional, so the practical steps are:

1. Prepare and file through TurboTax — the guarantee is tied to returns prepared within TurboTax, not returns you prepare elsewhere.
2. Provide complete and accurate information — the guarantee covers TurboTax's preparation errors, not errors from information you entered incorrectly or documents you failed to provide.
3. Keep your records — retain your filed return, supporting documents, and any IRS notice showing the penalty or interest.
4. Contact TurboTax if a penalty or interest charge arises — you'll need to show that the charge resulted from a TurboTax error.
5. Read the specific terms — the guarantee has terms and conditions, and those terms define exactly what is and isn't covered.

Common points of confusion

• "100% accurate" vs. "biggest refund" — these are two separate promises. The guarantee addresses correctness, not refund maximization.
• Free Edition and the guarantee — filing for free doesn't remove the guarantee, but free eligibility depends on having a simple Form 1040 return (no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A).
• Expert-assisted filing — having an expert involved doesn't change the guarantee's scope; it still centers on preparation accuracy.
• What triggers a payout — the trigger is an IRS penalty or interest charge caused by a TurboTax error, not a change in your tax outcome.

How to verify the current terms

Guarantee terms can change, so confirm the details on TurboTax's site before you file. Look for the guarantee language on the main filing pages and any linked terms and conditions. If you're deciding between filing yourself and having an expert do it, the guarantee applies either way — the choice comes down to how much help you want, not to whether you're covered.

TurboTax offers two broad paths: you answer guided questions and file on your own, or a tax expert does the work for you. The right choice depends on how complex your return is, how much you want to stay involved, and whether you'd rather hand off the process entirely. Both paths are presented as ways to get your taxes done "100% right, guaranteed."

The two paths at a glance

Filing on your own

With the do-it-yourself option, you "just answer simple questions" and TurboTax guides you through filing. The site also notes you can ditch paperwork by snapping a photo, uploading docs, or importing them directly from your employer or financial institution.

This path suits filers who want to stay in control of each entry and whose return doesn't raise questions they can't answer themselves.

Having an expert do your taxes

The expert-assisted path lets a tax expert handle your taxes from start to finish, and you can be matched with a local tax expert potentially the same day. A middle option gives you advice from tax experts as you file, plus a final expert review before submission.

This suits filers who want a professional involved — either fully taking over or checking the work — without giving up visibility into the process.

How to decide

• Choose do-it-yourself if your return is simple, you're comfortable answering guided questions, and you'd rather not wait on another person.
• Choose expert-assisted if you want someone else to do the work, want advice while filing, or want a final review before you submit.
• Consider the middle option if you want to file yourself but have an expert available for questions and a last check.

TurboTax also offers a free option for simple returns: simple Form 1040 returns only, with no schedules except for the EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A. The site states roughly 37% of filers qualify. If your return goes beyond that, you'd move to a paid tier.

Practical starting points

• Use the TaxCaster calculator to preview your refund or what you might owe before choosing a path.
• Check the document checklist to see which forms you'll need on hand.
• If you're unsure which tier fits, the site's "Help me choose" and pricing pages lay out the filing options side by side.

One caveat: the site describes guarantees and options in general terms. Specific eligibility rules, pricing, and what each tier includes should be confirmed on the relevant product page before you commit.

TurboTax Free Edition is designed for simple tax situations. According to TurboTax's official site, it covers "Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A)," and roughly 37% of filers qualify. If your return requires any other schedule or form, you'll need to move up to a paid product.

The Core Eligibility Rule

The free edition is built around the Form 1040 — the basic individual income tax return. The key restriction is on schedules (the additional forms attached to your 1040 when your situation is more complex).

You can still file free if your only additional items are:

• EITC — Earned Income Tax Credit
• CTC — Child Tax Credit
• Student loan interest deduction
• Schedule 1-A

If your return needs anything beyond those, Free Edition won't cover it.

What "Simple Return" Typically Means

Based on the Form 1040 structure, a simple return generally involves:

• W-2 income from an employer
• Standard deduction (not itemizing)
• The credits and adjustments listed above

It generally does not accommodate situations that require separate schedules, such as itemized deductions, self-employment income, or rental income.

Quick Self-Check

What to Do If You're Not Sure

TurboTax's site notes that about 37% of filers qualify, which means most people don't. The most reliable way to confirm is to start your return in Free Edition — the software will tell you if your situation requires an upgrade. You can also use the "Help me choose" tool on the TurboTax site to compare filing options before you begin.

If your return turns out to need a paid tier, TurboTax offers several levels (Deluxe, Premium, and Expert Assist options) so you can move up without starting over.

TurboTax is Intuit's online tax preparation and filing platform. It lets you either file your own federal and state tax return by answering guided questions, or hand the whole job to a tax expert who prepares and reviews your return. The site's own promise is that taxes get done "100% right, guaranteed," however you choose to file. It fits most individual filers, from someone with a single W-2 to someone with investments or self-employment income, though the right product depends on how complex your return is.

The two main ways to file

TurboTax splits its offering into do-it-yourself and expert-assisted paths.

Do it yourself. You answer simple questions and the software walks you through filing. Documents can be imported directly from your employer or financial institution, or you can snap a photo or upload them. This path includes a Free Edition for simple returns.

Have an expert do it. You can match with a local tax expert to handle your taxes start to finish, or get advice from tax experts as you file plus a final expert review. The Expert Assist line covers this.

The site also lists a Desktop version, prior-year filing, and extension filing as separate options.

Which product tier applies to you

The tiers differ mainly by the complexity of return they cover. The site lists these filing options:

The Free Edition is described as covering simple Form 1040 returns only — no schedules, except for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A. The site states roughly 37% of filers qualify. If your return needs any other schedule, you'd move up to a paid tier. The Premium tiers are the ones the site links to for pricing, so check those pages for current figures rather than assuming a price.

What it helps you do beyond filing

• Estimate your refund before you file. The TaxCaster calculator previews what you'll get back or owe.
• Know what documents you need. A checklist tracks the docs to gather before you start.
• Track your refund after filing.
• Find a prior year return or amend a return.
• Use calculators for tax brackets, self-employed expenses, and W-4 withholding.
• Get year-round tax advisory and read tax tips and videos on the TurboTax Blog.
• Find a TurboTax office if you'd rather work in person.

What to check before you commit

The guarantee language ("100% accurate," "biggest tax refund") is the site's own claim, not an independent assessment. Two practical things to verify for your situation:

1. Does your return fit the tier you picked? The Free Edition's schedule limits are the most common trip-up. If you have freelance income, rental income, or itemized deductions, you likely need a paid tier.
2. What does your chosen tier cost this year? Pricing is not stated on the pages summarized here — follow the Premium pricing links or the main Pricing page for current numbers.

If you want a human to handle everything, start with the expert-assisted comparison. If you're comfortable answering questions yourself and your return is straightforward, the do-it-yourself tiers or the Free Edition are the faster route.