Placed a download order for turbotax deluxe 2018 and have no download options when I click on the link in the email

You should be able to access from "My Downloads" within your profile/account settings - if you try clicking your profile/account info & scroll to the bottom, click thru "TurboTax CD/Download billing and shipping info", then scroll over to the downloads tab, you should be able to download from there!

I see that section and it shows the 2018 download but has no tab to click on

Hmm, can you take a look here: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901571-minimum-system-requirements-for-turbotax-windows-software">https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901571-minimum-system-requirements-for-turbotax-windows-software</a> & confirm if your device meets the system requirements?

I have windows 8.1 and ran a update check and no updates are available at this time, I've used the same computer last year and had no problems

Yeah, you should be fine then, hmmm. Did you try clearing your cache? I'd try doing that and then re-logging in and check to see if it's there. It should have a little blue clickable button next to the name of the product you ordered.