TurboTax Premier 2025 Desktop vs. Online Version

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
January 15, 2026
1 reply
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I am trying to activate the Turbotax 2025 Desktop version, and it automatically offers $0 to upgrade to online version, can you please clarify the pro and cons of Online version? Especially please clarify my below Qs?

Question 1: Online version allows only 1Federal & 1 State Filings, where as With desktop download software you can prepare and e-file up to five federal returns with their associated state returns. If you need to file more than five returns you can file the others by mail. The five federal e-file limit is an IRS limit.

Question 2: Once you have chosen the Online version, you cannot go back to Desktop version?

Question 3: It says the following, does it mean if you upgrade to Online version, you lose your $10 Retail Club Credit and TurboTax Advantage Benefits such as Audit Defense?

*Includes one federal and state return. Additional fees apply for more returns, upgrades, and add-ons. File by April 16, 2026.$10 Retail Club credit and TurboTax Advantage benefits such as Audit Defense, do not transfer to TurboTax Online"

xmasbaby0

Level 15

Q1---You did not ask a question; you made a statement. If you are really trying to ask if you can get five federal filings with online--no. With online you get one return per fee. Except for the special offer you can use for using online with federal and state now instead of desktop, that is an offer to prepare and file ONE return. If you have other returns for other family members, etc. you pay for online for each one, with separate fees for federal and state. Desktop is much more cost effective if you have to prepare multiple returns.

Q2 --- You can switch from online to desktop and move your data from online to desktop, but you cannot go the other way. If you start using desktop and decide you want to use online, you cannot move the information to the online program unless you start over.

Q3 --- Yes you lose the $10 Retail Club Credit and Advantage. The Advantage Plan is for desktop software.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

xmasbaby0

Level 15

Desktop software

Every version has all forms and schedules

Forms mode to see all forms as you work and “what if” feature

Can e-file up to five federal returns and their associated state returns

If you have more than five federal returns the additional ones can be mailed

Tax file is stored on your own hard drive

Always available even after tax season ends

State e-file fee is an extra fee. State can be mailed to avoid e-file fee

Desktop is more cost effective for multiple returns for family members, etc.

Desktop software is available from Intuit or from various retailers—prices vary

Only works on full PC or Mac—not on any mobile devices

Online TurboTax

Forms and schedules supported vary by which version you use

No Forms mode, but you can “preview” Form 1040 and Schedules 1, 2, or 3 before filing

One return per fee

Separate fees for federal and state returns

Each return needs its own account and user ID

Tax file is stored in online account for seven years

Can be used on any device with internet access

When you use Desktop TurboTax, which you download to your own hard drive, you can prepare and e-file multiple returns for the cost of the software. You can e-file up to 5 Federal returns—more if you mail the additional ones. If you have multiple returns to prepare for family members, Desktop is more cost effective.