How much does turbotax live cost

How much does turbotax live cost

Let a tax expert do your taxes for you

Personalized, professional service, backed by new technology

Your dedicated tax expert will take the
time to get to know you and your
unique situation personally so they can get you the best outcome.

We’ll match you with the right expert

Tell us about you and we’ll match you with a dedicated tax expert based on your unique situation, so you get every deduction you
deserve as they do your taxes.

Hand your taxes off without ever leaving home

Enjoy the confidence of knowing your taxes are in the hands of an expert. Just share your documents and your tax expert will take it from there, keeping you in the loop at every step.

Stay in the loop every step of the way

Get regular updates from your expert along the way as they uncover deductions and answer any questions you may have. You’ll always know where your taxes stand, from start to finish.

Go over your return together and be 100% confident

Once your tax expert finishes your return, they’ll share the results, and can answer any questions. Once you give the thumbs up, they’ll file it and guarantee it’s done right.


What Full Service customers are saying

I needed to get my taxes done quickly during the pandemic so I tried the TurboTax Live Full Service. I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of sharing my documents and the knowledge of the accountant.

DDS4 | San Francisco, CA

Your satisfaction, guaranteed

File with confidence knowing your tax return is backed by America's #1 tax preparation
provider. Every TurboTax Live tax return is backed by these guarantees.

Preparing your tax return with TurboTax is a lot like sitting down with a tax preparer. The software walks you through the tax preparation and filing process with a series of interview-style questions.

As part of my review process, I went through the process of preparing three sample returns. Here’s how long it took me to get from start to filing for each one:

  • Single taxpayer, no dependents, W-2 income and the student loan interest deduction: 13 minutes
  • Married couple filing jointly, one dependent, two W-2s, Child Tax Credit and child and dependent care credit: 20 minutes
  • Single taxpayer, no dependents, self-employment income, federal and state estimated tax payments: 30 minutes

During the process, a banner at the top of the screen keeps a running tally of your estimated federal and state refund or amount due.

How much does turbotax live cost

Embedded links on each screen offer tips, explain different income, deductions, and tax credits.

If you get stuck along the way, you have the option of paying an additional fee and upgrading to TurboTax Live to get on-demand help from a TurboTax expert or CPA. When you choose this option, the tax pro will do a final review of your return before you file.

You can also pay an additional fee to move to Full Service and have your tax return prepared for you. Before filing your return, a tax pro will schedule a time to review your return with you.

While the software offers many tips to help do-it-yourselfers, including a bot (known as the TurboTax Digital Assistant), you won’t have access to hands-on customer service unless you’re willing to upgrade to TurboTax Live.

And that’s another aspect of using TurboTax you should be aware of: near-constant urging to upgrade your package. During the 13 minutes I spent preparing a simple return, I encountered no fewer than three offers to upgrade.

Throughout the tax preparation process, you’ll periodically come across screens encouraging you to upgrade from Free* to Deluxe, get help from a TurboTax Live expert, or add TurboTax MAX—an add-on package that includes audit representation, identity theft resources, and priority customer service.

In some cases, these upgrades can be useful. For example, if you could reduce your tax bill by itemizing deductions, upgrading from the Free Edition* to Deluxe might make sense. And if you legitimately want extra help from a tax expert, you may be happy to pay for TurboTax Live. Just make sure you need and want the upgrade before accepting the offer.

Some reasons you may want to upgrade include:

  • Your total itemized deductions are greater than the standard deduction available for your filing status
  • You have self-employment or rental income, capital gains and losses, or other income, deductions or credits not covered by the Free Edition*
  • You don’t feel entirely comfortable preparing your tax return on your own and want help from a TurboTax Live or Full Service tax expert
  • You’re worried about an IRS audit or identity theft, and the peace of mind offered by TurboTax MAX is worth the extra $59 fee

Is there a fee for TurboTax live?

For a premium price, you can pay for instant, live access to a tax expert. You opt for TurboTax Live Full Service: For about double the cost of filing yourself, you can hire a tax expert to take care of it all for you. The all-in cost is between $0 and $389 for a federal return. You pay TurboTax from your refund.

What does TurboTax live include?

In TurboTax Live with Full Service, you have a dedicated tax expert or CPA to prepare, sign, and file your return for you. You can review everything with your expert before they file knowing that your taxes are done right, backed by our Expert Approved Guarantee.

Is TurboTax live full service worth it?

TurboTax Live Full Service fees You're essentially getting professional advice at a reasonable cost. I personally find that to be a good value, especially since you don't need to leave your home. Everything is done online. Don't let the low cost fool you though.

Is TurboTax live basic free?

Both TurboTax Live Basic and TurboTax Free Edition are available at no cost to you. They allow you to file your federal taxes, as long as it's a simple file, with direct support. The personalized experience will walk you through the entire process, making it simple and quick.