We apologize if the product description is unclear. Let's try to clarify what TurboTax can do for you, based on your question.
With our web-based online TurboTax family of products, it's strictly a one-taxpayer per account proposition, with the only exception being that a taxpayer and their spouse can both use one single online account, where they choose Married Filing Jointly. Both federal and state e-filing are free.
With our desktop-based (CD-ROM installed or software downloaded) TurboTax family, it works a little bit differently. In TurboTax desktop, you can complete an unlimited number of tax returns, both federal and state. But you can only e-file up to (5) federal tax returns per software license. Any additional federal tax returns, while they can still be prepared using the software, would have to be printed and filed by mail. You are allowed (1) free state tax module download per copy of the desktop software. Once you select a state for downloading, that state is installed in the program and you cannot change it later on to a different state. The product doesn't work like that.
But, any additional states that the customer may require can then be downloaded and installed, although there will be an additional charge for each extra state purchased. For example, as a TurboTax employee, I have all (45) states with an income tax, plus Washington D.C., installed under my TurboTax desktop program. The desktop program can accept that many.
Currently, the retail charge is $30-something per extra state beyond the first state, but the price may vary by a few dollars up and down during the year. With respect to e-filing state tax returns from within TurboTax desktop, there is a charge to e-file every single state return of around $25-something per state, including the first state return to go with the first federal return. The lone exception here is for New York state, which has no e-file state fee. Up to (5) state tax returns can be e-filed, in total, to match the same number in the federal program. Of course, to save money, many taxpayers with TurboTax desktop will choose to just print and mail their state return, rather than pay the state e-file fee (it is absolutely allowed).
Once your (5) e-file return limit has been exhausted, as was mentioned above, you can still continue to use the desktop TurboTax software to prepare and paper file an unlimited number of additional tax returns, both federal and state.
All of the above is true for TurboTax desktop, whether you are using Basic, Deluxe, Premier, or Home & Business.
Hopefully that detailed explanation will tell you what you wanted to know.
However, if you still have further
questions, or would like to speak with a live tax
expert who can discuss your preparation needs, please feel free to contact us. We
would be very happy to help you (and the call is free to
you). Here is a link where you can create a support ticket and reach us:
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/
If you do choose to call, please ask for the "Shop & Buy" department in your support ticket. That will assist us in routing your call to the department best equipped to help you.
Thank you for your interest in TurboTax.
