CD version of turbotax

[JSchlund]

For those saying there is not a difference between a CD and the download, I would like to point out the obvious. An internet connection is not needed to load from a CD, allowing me to work offline at my convenience.

Another is that I can load a CD from a prior year in case I need to review or redo a previous year.

Having a CD is a 'security blanket' to all of us old-timers that want to touch and feel what we purchase.

The cost to TurboTax is minuscule, taking just pennies to cut a CD so there is zero reason not to include a physical CD.

Why piss of your customer base?

Offer a physical CD.

[xmasbaby0]

Do you also miss rotary dial phones?   There will be no more CD's.   Many/most computers on the market now have no disk drives.   Even when you used a CD, you only achieved the initial installation via that piece of plastic.   All of the updates and state programs had to be downloaded.    And if you re-installed a CD, you still would have needed to download all of the updates.

[Opus 17]

Actually, no.  The version released on the CD is a beta version that does not have final forms and instructions.  Even if you install from a CD, you must update from an online connection before you can file. 

[taxlady28]

My last two computers had CD drives but I never used them.  CDs are just old technology and not many people use them.  Fax machines, VCR's, and CD Roms are now memories for most of us.  The world changes and all we can do is adjust to the newer ways.  It can be hard, but if there was a real demand for CD's then they would be produced again.

[VolvoGirl]

Starting last year for 2023 even if you installed the CD you had to go online and setup an online account.  And you have always needed to go online when you install the CD to get the first updates.    And starting in 2019 you needed to go online to activate the License Code.  If you want a CD, you can burn the installation file to a CD or save to a usb flash drive.

The download is the same way and you can still work offline.   Since you now have to log into an Intuit Account when you first install it, all your downloads and licenses are listed there (even if you bought it from somewhere else) so if you need to install it again or install on another computer, even on the other operating system (Windows, Mac) you can download it again. 

I'm an old timer too and resisted doing the download method.   But last year I bought the download from Costco for 2023.  It went fast and easy.   Most of the laptops and computers now don't have a CD drive.  And I had to get a new laptop with Windows 10 to run Turbo Tax starting for 2022. 

But even if you have the CDs you won’t be able to reinstall 2020 or prior. They only support the last 3 years. And the License Code started in 2019. So 2019 and 2020 needs to connect to Turbo Tax to verify the License Code. But they only support the last 3 years. So you can’t install and activate 2020 and prior and adding a new year going forward.

One confusion people have, is that the Online version is NOT the Download program. The Download program is EXACTLY the same Desktop program as the CD. You buy it the same way directly from Turbo Tax or in stores like Costco. When you installed the CD you still had to go online to update it. It's only the method you use to install it. Even when I bought the CD I used the download method to install it.

[rjs]

"An internet connection is not needed to load from a CD ..."

That's not true. As VolvoGirl pointed out, an internet connection has been required to install from a CD for at least the last five years.

"... allowing me to work offline at my convenience."

With the download software, once it's installed, you can work offline at your convenience, the same as if you installed from a CD.

"Another is that I can load a CD from a prior year ..."

You can load (reinstall) a download from a prior year. You can save the download on your hard drive or removable media, or download it again from your account. (You couldn't get a replacement CD if you misplaced it.) You can only reinstall for a year that is still supported - the current year and three prior years. That is true for both the CD and the download.

"Having a CD is a 'security blanket' to all of us old-timers that want to touch and feel what we purchase."

You can burn the download to a CD so you can touch and feel it, if that gives you a sense of security. Or you can save the download on a flash drive that you can touch and feel.

[Samsolve]

As this is written I note several posts from users not able to activate their downloads---that is another reason to at least have the base software available on a CD/DVD, thumb drive, or a digital certificate that can be downloaded to a user's  thumb drive.  Many years ago I used the download option and then got a new computer for Christmas.  There was no way to open the software as it did not exist on the new PC.    I did have the Intuit "product key #", but that only, and understandably, allows ONE download.   I had to call Intuit, and it took weeks to get support to get my taxes done.   Since that time I purchased the CD/DVD and have been able to port the software to the any new PC with no problem.  

I "get" many newer PCs/Macs have no DVD drive, but most have a USB PORT.   Upon product download there should be a way to preserve some type of digital product key/set up code to allow the software to move to a a user owned THUMB DRIVE.  When a PC is replaced, crashes, or a program corrupts, a download embedded on "hard/solid state" drive is of no use.

Having a download mechanism to save the product key to a thumb drive could work with the understanding that in event of a new PC, Intuit will disable the software on the old PC (to prevent cloning).

[VolvoGirl]

@Samsolve   You could always install the Desktop program on 5 computers you own.  Since you now have to log into an Intuit Account all your downloads and licenses are listed there (even if you bought it from somewhere else) so if you need to download to install it again or install on another computer, even on the other operating system (Windows, Mac).  And the download will always be up to date with all the updates.

You can also burn the installation file to a CD or save to a usb flash drive.  And you can now buy an install CD for $10 after you buy a License Code for the version you want.

TurboTax® Desktop 2024-2025 | Tax Software Download