The desktop version of turbotax is available now for purchase as a CD or download.
Turbotax online will open to start preparation in mid-December (usually).
The IRS opens e-filing around January 15-20 (usually).
Not all forms are finalized at the same time, especially with state taxes, so the date when you personally can file may vary.
Additionally, the IRS is required by a new law, to hold all refund payments until at least February 15 if they contain earned income credit or the additional child tax credit, in an effort to reduce fraud by giving the IRS more time to compare people's claimed W-2s with matching info from their employers.
