Can we file 2 tax returns of me and family member with 1 copy of Desktop Premier TT?

[jackkgan]

I live in CA and my daughter lived in 2 states - NY and IL in 2025. She recently bought a new construction house but still waiting for tenants. We both have sales from stocks + dividends along with our salaries. 

1. Would 1 copy of TurboTax Premier Desktop version be sufficient for both of us? 

2. We have to pay additional for each of the 3 states right? 

2. We have been using Turbo Tax Premier desktop so far. We were suggested not to use Turbo Tax online due to following. Please confirm if you think that's not true and if you suggest switching to online instead. Thank you!

Online can technically do rentals, but in practice:

• It aggressively upsells mid-return

• Weaker visibility into:

  • Depreciation schedules

  • Basis adjustments

  • Carryforward losses

• Harder to audit / review forms

• One return per account

• Slower for multi-state edge cases

For your dollar amounts, the risk and friction aren’t worth it.

[VolvoGirl]

Yes you can use Desktop  Premier.  It can do unlimited returns and efile 5 federal for free.  You will have to buy 2 extra state program downloads.   Then each state is $25 to efile BUT you're in luck, NY state efile is free.  

Since you have to buy 2 other States and pay for 2 state efiles (unless you print and mail state for free) I'm not sure how the total price will work out compared to 2 Online Premium accounts.  

Would all the returns be done on the same computer?  Or would your daughter need to install the program on her computer?  You can install it on 5 computers you own.  

[jackkgan]

Thank you so much! Please confirm if we can do both tax returns on 1 computer. Thanks again. 

[xmasbaby0]

When you have desktop software you can prepare and e-file up to five federal returns and their associated state returns (with state e-file fees except for NY).   With Premier, you will get one included state download, and you will need to purchase two additional state downloads so that you have software for CA, NY and IL.   Your daughter will need to prepare part-year returns for the two states she lived/worked in.

The download can be used on any computers that YOU own---you cannot "give" the license to your daughter to use on a computer in her home, so that means you prepare her returns for her on your computer.

State e-file fees can be avoided if you print and mail the CA and IL returns.   There is no state e-file fee for NY.

[VolvoGirl]

Oh for Online.  You would have to use Premium to enter rental.  Premium is the highest version.  And everything else you posted is right.  There is no Forms mode.  The Desktop program is better in many ways.  You can do test returns and it has a What-If worksheet.  Online you have to pay the fees before you can see your return even before you file.  

[Mike9241]

with desktop you can do and e-file up to 5 people's returns. one state is free but there will be a charge for additional states.

online version

one return per account

higher fees 

no forms mode which some people want. 

[SteamTrain]

@jackkgan 

And to repeat....and stress your situation..

........IF you use "Online" Premium, you will have to create two separate accounts.  One for yourself and a new one for your daughter....and pay the full/separate Federal and state software fees for each account.

Only the Desktop software allows you to prepare multiple  tax files from the purchase of the desktop software. 

[SteamTrain]

Of course, there is one detail involved with buying the desktop software.

You are in CA, and she in IL..

Exactly who is going to prepare those tax returns?

If you are preparing both using desktop software on your own personal computer(s) in your location/possession...then probably OK.

But if you plan on sharing your desktop software with her,  you in CA and plan to send her the same purchased copy to install in IL, then that's a no-no.  You can only install a purchased copy of the desktop software on computers that one person owns.

[jackkgan]

Thanks a lot for all your answers which were all helpful. Understood . I will be preparing and e-filing her tax returns also in my computer in CA.