TurboTax Review

Even if you’ve never used an online tax preparation software before, you’ll find TurboTax to be straightforward and transparent.

When you open an account with TurboTax, you’ll have the option to file your 2022 taxes or taxes from previous years. Once you’ve chosen your tax year, TurboTax will ask you a series of questions about your tax situation and suggest the correct version of the software for you.

Once you’ve selected your tax software version, you’ll start entering your tax slips and forms into TurboTax, which will dynamically calculate your refund.

TurboTax will automatically search for and suggest the correct deductions for you, as well as suggest ways to optimize your taxes so that you’ll receive the largest refund.

When you’ve entered all of your tax information, you’ll be able to review your income tax return to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything or made any mistakes. If you aren’t sure you’ve completed your return correctly, you can choose to have an expert review your taxes or contact support for advice.

Once you’ve completed your return to your satisfaction, it takes just a few clicks to file your taxes, and then you’ll wait to receive your refund.

The entire process will take between half an hour and two hours, depending on whether you have just a few tax slips to enter or self-employment, rental, or investment income to declare.

TurboTax Live Products

If you’d prefer to have an expert help you file your taxes or take the reins completely, TurboTax offers several premium features that serve this need.

TurboTax Assist & Review/Live Basic

If you’re comfortable preparing your taxes and looking for a tax expert to review your return, Live Basic (also known as Assist & Review) is an excellent choice.

With this product, you’ll prepare your taxes online yourself. Before you file, you’ll meet virtually with a TurboTax expert who will review your return and ensure you’ve maximized your refund and entered your details correctly. The cost listed above includes the cost of the software.

TurboTax Assist & Review costs $39.99 CAD per return.

Currently, they have a special offer for US customers: $0 USD if you file before March 31, 2022 (or $79 USD thereafter).

TurboTax Live Full Service 

If you aren’t comfortable filing your return yourself, but you don’t want to put yourself at risk by meeting with an accountant or visiting a brick-and-mortar tax filing service, then TurboTax’s Full-Service product might be a good fit.

This product matches you with a tax expert who will prepare your taxes on your behalf and submit them to the federal government for you. All you’ll need to do is gather and submit your tax documents electronically, and your TurboTax tax expert will handle the rest.

At the moment, Turbotax is running a special offer.  Full Service Basic costs $69.99 CAD ($89.99 after April 1, 2022) and $0 USD if you file before February 15, 2022 (or $199 USD thereafter).

TurboTax Downloadable Products

The products mentioned above are available through the browser version of TurboTax, accessible from your computer or online via mobile.

You can also download TurboTax as desktop software. The versions, features, and prices of the desktop software are similar to the online versions with some slight variations.

TurboTax Mobile App

The online version of TurboTax is also accessible via mobile app, which means you can start your mobile phone return and finish it later at your computer.

TurboTax is one of the most well-known online tax preparation software programs in North America and it is an excellent choice if you are filing your taxes online for the first time. The user-friendly interface, variety of options, and premium features make the tax filing process a breeze. That said, if you have a good grasp on your tax situation and don’t need those premium features, you may find TurboTax to be overpriced and not worth the cost.