Tax Software Review

TurboTax Review (2026)

TurboTax is the premium choice: if you value the easiest interview, the best imports, and one-tap access to a human expert, it delivers, at a price. Most people with simple-to-moderate returns can get the same result for far less elsewhere.

By Wealthy Pot · Last updated September 2026

Free federalFree Edition $0 (simple Form 1040 only)
Free state?$0 (included on Free Edition)
Paid federalDeluxe $79; Premium $139
Per stateState additional (shown at checkout)
Expert helpExpert Assist $59–$209; Full Service from $129
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Pros

  • The smoothest, most polished guided experience
  • Best-in-class W-2/1099 import and prior-year import
  • Easy access to live experts (Assist or Full Service)
  • Strong accuracy and max-refund guarantees

Cons

  • The most expensive mainstream option
  • State returns cost extra and are easy to overlook
  • Aggressive upsells and tier jumps

Who TurboTax is for

Best for filers who will pay a premium for the smoothest experience and the easiest access to expert help, and who dislike doing taxes.

Free tier, pricing & who qualifies

TurboTax offers: free edition $0 (simple form 1040 only) ($0 (included on free edition) for state). Free qualifies: simple returns only (~37% of filers); rolls to paid if you add most other forms. Paid federal: Deluxe $79; Premium $139. Per state: State additional (shown at checkout). Expert help: Expert Assist $59–$209; Full Service from $129. Prices are promotional and change through the season — confirm the current total on the official site before filing.

The bottom line

TurboTax is the premium choice: if you value the easiest interview, the best imports, and one-tap access to a human expert, it delivers, at a price. Most people with simple-to-moderate returns can get the same result for far less elsewhere. Main drawback: the most expensive option; state costs extra; frequent upsells.

Compare TurboTax with…

See how TurboTax stacks up in our tax software comparison and the best free tax software roundup.

We summarize each product's published pricing and features, not user reviews. Prices are promotional, change through the season, and are re-checked against the official page. Some outbound links may be affiliate links — that never affects which products we include or how we rate them. Nothing here is tax advice.