2025 downloadable version

[user17597590908]

How to get action to reverse discontinuation of downloadable version: 

Here is template you can use to write your concerns to your Senator.

Subject: Urgent: Request for Oversight on TurboTax’s Decision to End Downloadable Software

Dear Senator [Last Name],

I am a long-time user of TurboTax and the owner of multiple small businesses employing hundreds of people. TurboTax recently announced plans to discontinue its downloadable and CD software in favor of an online-only version. This change will severely affect many small business owners and individual taxpayers who depend on the offline version for privacy, compatibility, and reliability.

Many of us still use Windows 10 systems for business-critical tasks and cannot migrate to Windows 11 or cloud-based tax software without major security and technical issues. Forcing all users into an online-only model also increases the risk of data breaches and undermines consumer choice.

I urge your office to review Intuit’s actions and consider whether they violate consumer protection principles or create anticompetitive barriers. Please help ensure that taxpayers maintain the option to prepare taxes safely and locally on their own computers.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[City, State, ZIP]

Each Senator may have different ‘requirement’ for getting ‘complaint’ to them. Be persistent. Call their local office to find out how to get your ‘concerns’ to the Senator. Also, you can always drop off letter at Senators locate office if it is near you.

[DoninGA]

TurboTax is not discontinuing the 2025 software for the desktop editions.  What makes you think it is being discontinued?

[M-MTax]

@DoninGA 

The OP is complaining about the discontinuation of support for Windows 10 in the 2025 downloadable products.

[user17597590908]

Why do so many people on here seem to think TurboTax is for users of Win10?  Google searches seem to indicate that? And I believe so does TurboTax web site.

[Mike9241]

maybe there looking at the app offered in 2025 which is for the 2024 return. the app to do the 2025 1040 isn't out yet and unless Turbotax changes its stance would not be installable on a noncompliant computer

[user17597590908]

Every other company that sell tax software does and will provide software that remains functional on computers that use Win10 OS. Surely TurboTax/Intuit can figure out how to do it - they are the leaders in the field.  Everything thing I have read indicates TT/Intuit is doing it to force people into much more expensive option and for that reason alone! That is no way to treat loyal customers. My experience tells me they only way greedy corporations take notice, is when they find out what they are doing is going to cost them millions of dollars in lost revenue and this certainly will with all the people who still use Win10.  Tax filers can amend their 2025 taxes until April 15th 2028 and that will be hell for users and then the mess it will cause business that continue to use Win10. At least Microsoft offered an extended security update for Win10 users for 3 years; certainly TT/Intuit could follow suit if they cared about their customers. TT/Intuit ought to be glad someone is bringing this to their attention now, because come tax season they are going to find out just how big a mistake they are making.

[VolvoGirl]

You only need Windows 11 to install 2025 program next year.   2024 and prior programs will still work on Windows 10 going forward.   So you can still use Windows 10 to amend or file or open any 2024 or prior returns until April 2028 and beyond.  

Now that that’s cleared up what other tax software for 2025 returns (next year) will let you install on Windows 10?

[VolvoGirl]

@user17597590908   You might be confusing the years.   When we say 2025 we refer to the new program that doesn’t come out until November 2025 to do 2025 returns.   Not the program we used in 2025 to do 2024 returns.   That was the 2024 program.   You can run 2024 and prior years on Windows 10 as long as you want, no change.   

[M-MTax]

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@user17597590908 wrote:

Every other company that sell tax software does and will provide software that remains functional on computers that use Win10 OS.

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Do you know that for certain? I can't find any information re Windows 10 support for H&R Block or TaxAct, which are the two main competitors.

[user17597590908]

Yes—both H&R Block and Tax Act still indicate Windows 10 is supported for their desktop software, which you’d use to file 2025 taxes (in early 2026).

H&R Block (desktop/CD/download): System requirements list "Windows 10 or higher."

Tax Act (desktop/download): System requirements say "Windows 10 or 11." Both consumer and pro pages indicate Windows 10 support.

Why doesn’t TurboTax address the claim that it is doing this to force customers into more expensive software and services?

There is credible evidence from regulators and reporting that Intuit has a history of steering customers toward paid options and is shifting other products toward cloud and subscription models.

The FTC issued a final opinion in January 2024 finding that Intuit engaged in deceptive "free" advertising, prohibiting future claims unless eligibility is clearly disclosed. This reflects past practices that pushed consumers from "free" into paid TurboTax products.

Multiple state attorneys general and FTC cases grew out of reporting that Intuit used design and marketing to nudge users into paid tiers, such as Pro Publica investigations and a 2022 multi-state settlement.

Intuit is also sun-setting QuickBooks Desktop and moving users to QuickBooks Online, a clearer shift to recurring, higher-revenue subscription models, suggesting a broader corporate preference for more expensive cloud-based products.

[VolvoGirl]

Do you have a link?  Because I think  you need to ask for 2026 not 2025.  It looks like HRB calls the program by the year you file in, not the tax return year.  Like this article says 2025 will be available in Nov 2024...2024.

https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/support/software/software-tax-filing/before-filing-software-retur... 

[M-MTax]

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@user17597590908 wrote:

Yes—both H&R Block and Tax Act still indicate Windows 10 is supported for their desktop software, which you’d use to file 2025 taxes (in early 2026).

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You're looking at the products on those web sites for the 2024 tax year; neither one has a product for the 2025 tax year available as of yet and all references are to the 2024 product (read carefully!).

H&R Block actually allows you to purchase their download editions without ever informing you of the tax year to which it applies (try it). Regardless, the programs are all for the 2024 tax year, not 2025.

[user17597590908]

I didn't say they were available; I said they intent to continue to support Win10 downable versions of their software.

[M-MTax]

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@user17597590908 wrote:

I didn't say they were available; I said they intent to continue to support Win10 downable versions of their software.

---

What we were asking for is a link to the section of the web sites which state the 2025 products will support Windows 10. Personally, I can't find any; all of the system requirements that state compatibility with Windows 10 relate to the 2024 (current) products.

[user17597590908]

Yes—both H&R Block and Tax Act still indicate Windows 10 is supported for their desktop software, which you’d use to file 2025 taxes (in early 2026).

H&R Block (desktop/CD/download): System requirements list "Windows 10 or higher."

Tax Act (desktop/download): System requirements say "Windows 10 or 11." Both consumer and pro pages indicate Windows 10 support.

Why doesn’t TurboTax address the claim that it is doing this to force customers into more expensive software and services?

There is credible evidence from regulators and reporting that Intuit has a history of steering customers toward paid options and is shifting other products toward cloud and subscription models.

The FTC issued a final opinion in January 2024 finding that Intuit engaged in deceptive "free" advertising, prohibiting future claims unless eligibility is clearly disclosed. This reflects past practices that pushed consumers from "free" into paid TurboTax products.

Multiple state attorneys general and FTC cases grew out of reporting that Intuit used design and marketing to nudge users into paid tiers, such as Pro Publica investigations and a 2022 multi-state settlement.

Intuit is also sun-setting QuickBooks Desktop and moving users to QuickBooks Online, a clearer shift to recurring, higher-revenue subscription models, suggesting a broader corporate preference for more expensive cloud-based products.