topic Number of returns one can file. Is it the same for desktop and online? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Number of returns one can file. Is it the same for desktop and online?

Milton1225 — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:48:33 GMT

Is it the same for desktop and online? And how many?

Re: Number of returns one can file. Is it the same for desktop and online?

VolvoGirl — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:50:38 GMT

No. Online and Desktop are different. Desktop can do unlimited returns and efile 5 federal for free. The rest you can print and mail.

Online is only good for 1 return and 1 account. So you need to setup separate accounts for each person. The offer to switch to Online is only good for 1 return and account.

Turbo Tax Desktop to Online Migration Offer
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/marketing/ty25-ttd-direct-offer/L0aUgksJd_US_en_US
"Offer includes one Tax Year 2025 federal return and one state tax return filed using the TurboTax Online"

You can start another return in TurboTax Online by:
Logging out if you are in your account
Choose what TurboTax Online product you want to use for the second return
https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/compare/online

Create your account screen
Set up a new login for the second return
Start working on the new return

Re: Number of returns one can file. Is it the same for desktop and online?

DoninGA — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:50:54 GMT

Online - One tax return per account

Desktop - Unlimited number of tax returns, 5 free federal e-files

Re: Number of returns one can file. Is it the same for desktop and online?

DawnC — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:51:15 GMT

No, they are different. With the desktop software, you can prepare as many returns as you need. With TurboTax Online, you can prepare one federal return per account, so you will need to create a separate account for each federal return you want to file.