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Heads-Up – I received a notice this morning letting me know to use the 2025 TurboTax desktop software will require Windows 11, released in 2021. Windows 10 or earlier will need to be upgraded to Windows 11. You can check whether your PC is compatible by running a PC Health Check, find in your PC settings or do a Google search. (Looks like I’ll be purchasing a new computer as mine isn’t compatible with Windows 11.)
I’ve been using TurboTax for years to both file my taxes and plan for capital gains and other variables. The TurboTax desktop software offers some clear advantages over the online version by allowing for unlimited “what-if” scenarios looking at different income levels, stock sales, deduction strategies, etc. I’ve already started my 2025 planning using the 2024 software.
For tax planning, the desktop allows you to see all federal/state tax forms and features not available in the online version. I like to toggle back-n-forth between “Forms” and “Step-by-Step” function to see, for example, the effective tax for a capital gain from a stock sale and details in the forms.
The desktop version often costs less in the long run since it allows multiple returns and doesn’t require separate online fees year after year, such as an amendment. I also can use the desktop version to file up to 5 federal tax returns online.
For state taxes, some extra challenges but still useful. Desktop users receive software for 1 state and have the ability to file 1 state tax return at no cost. Additional states software costs ~ $40 and online filing for additional state returns can be filed for $25. But easy to download the state taxes from the Forms feature and either file electronically with state or sign/mail a hardcopy.
I enjoy taxes (call me crazy) and especially enjoy helping family/friends with tax planning, preparing and filing. I just ask they make a contribution to my favorite charity. A win-win!!
For iOS users: I noted that during one of the seemingly endless updates to TT 2024 throughout 2025, that the ability to utilize “What-If” scenario planning now includes the ability to utilize 2025 tax rules/limits information available at the time of that update. Sure feels that there’s more changes on the way, but for now, this helps avoid having to “fudge” as much information from 2024.
I am presuming that the same would have been done for PC users as well, but not sure until you check the “What-If” document header for the options you want to put into play for your scenarios.
Cheers!
Thanks for information on “What-if” scenario planning using the “Info Wks” form. I was not aware of this form. I’m using a PC and don’t see the 2025 updates in 2024 TT but am able to fudge enough for planning purposes. Seems the increase in SALT may be the biggest item that will change in 2025? Thanks!!
For those of you contemplating the move to the Windows 11 OS to do your 2025 tax returns, I recently installed 2025 Turbo Tax Desktop Deluxe edition on Windows 11 without any issues. FWIW,
My old MSWin10 laptop was old and creaky, and I already knew about the MSWin11 requirement for TurboTax 2025. I upgraded to a new laptop a couple of months ago. I’ve used TurboTax since the dark ages, on MSDOS.
Suzee, unless things are changing for tax year 2025, I think there’s an error in your second to last paragraph. In my experience TurboTax allows one free electronic Federal tax submittal, but you must pay a fee to TurboTax to submit a State tax return. In North Carolina, the number of forms is quite small, so I submit by mail. If there is payment due, I submit that online.