Dropping support for WIndows 10 for Turbotax 2025

[UncleSamPayer]

There's a bit of a difference between storing my entire tax return on the cloud vs. a few charitable donation.

[M-MTax]

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@UncleSamPayer wrote:

There's a bit of a difference between storing my entire tax return on the cloud vs. a few charitable donation.

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Understood but what do you suppose happens when you e-file?

[UncleSamPayer]

Data transmitted during e-filing is protected with encryption, such as 256-bit SSL.  I really think that this is a Windows 10 vs. 11 discussion though.

[M-MTax]

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@UncleSamPayer wrote:

I really think that this is a Windows 10 vs. 11 discussion though.

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It is, correct, but those who refuse, for whatever reason, to migrate to Windows 11 (or can't) have the option to use an online version of TurboTax. The main argument against doing so is security which may be a specious one if they e-file their returns.

[m12345$$!!6]

Cool ... so the H & R block software does indeed import Turbotax files?

[M-MTax]

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@m12345$$!!6 wrote:

Cool ... so the H & R block software does indeed import Turbotax files?

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@ greyman1952 wrote:

I used the PDF import feature, but my return was very basic. I just like e-filing. It can also read the .tax2024 file. but, honestly I don't have a lot of complexity.

Read that carefully, @m12345$$!!6 

[M-MTax]

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@m12345$$!!6 wrote:

Cool ... so the H & R block software does indeed import Turbotax files?

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Also, NOT "cool" since we only know, for certain, that basic information gets imported from TurboTax.

We do NOT know whether any of the following gets imported:

1. W-2 information from the prior year

2.1099-B information from the prior year

3. Passive loss carryovers

4. Capital loss carryovers

5. Rental property information, including asset depreciation

6. Schedule C information, including asset depreciation

7. Dependent information

8. AMT credit carryforwards

And that's just a partial list. None of that may be applicable to you, but it certainly applies to others who have switched or may consider doing so.

It would be great to get confirmation here, one way or the other, but we don't have that at this point, as far as I know.

[ARD58]

So, I gave in and upgraded to Windows 11 thx to Black Friday deals 🙂 

After all that I am still not happy with software companies wanting everyone to keep their data in the cloud or forcing me to fill my taxes online. . Microsoft OneDrive still presents challenges. I can’t pause it indefinitely unless unlink it completely. It also tried to sync all my personal data in the disguise of backing up my new computer. Seems you have to jump through hoops to set it up to leave my documents directory on the local computer. 

I seem to be tscreaming into the wind when I try to explain « I don’t want my personal data stored online. Allow me to chose to do my taxes offline and upload the data if I choose to do so « 

[user17644055483]

I haven't used H&R since 2014.  I've used TT for every year from 1993 through 2024 aside from 2014.  When I switched to H&R in 2014, it was able to import almost everything you've mentioned, but as I was not subject to AMT, and had no rental property, I cannot attest to those.  As I've posted here previously, it did import my Schedule C and asset depreciation, but it lost sync on when each depreciated item was initially claimed.  This made more work for me, but I didn't mind so much, because I was protesting TT's reduction in capability for their "Home & Business" product.  Intuit got the message then, and restored the capability the following year (2015), and I went back to them.

I'm still waiting a few more months before I purchase H&R again to see if TT will reverse course on their abandonment of W10.  As others have said, the Windows APIs haven't changed much between 10 & 11, and there's no technical reason to not support 10 and force 11, other than the artificial claim that 11 is more "secure", which is a load of BS because it's actually less secure in that it exports your personal data to OneDrive, sends telemetry to MS about pretty much anything you do, and "Recall" records everything that appears on your screen.

Perhaps it's correct that Intuit is just looking for an excuse to force migration to their "cloud" based tax preparation, but I'll be avoiding that too.

[M-MTax]

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@ARD58 wrote:

...Microsoft OneDrive still presents challenges....

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You don't have to put up with OneDrive. You can even completely uninstall it if you want to do so.

Method 1: Unlink & Stop Syncing (Recommended First Step)

1. Find OneDrive Icon: Look for the white or blue cloud icon in your system tray (bottom-right) and click it (you might need to click the upward arrow to show hidden icons).
2. Open Settings: Click the ? (Help & Settings) icon, then select Settings.
3. Unlink Account: Go to the Account tab and click Unlink this PC, then confirm. 

Method 2: Stop Startup & Notifications (To prevent it from running) 

1. Task Manager: Right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. Startup Apps: Go to the Startup apps tab and find OneDrive.
3. Disable: Right-click OneDrive and choose Disable to stop it from starting with Windows.
4. Quit: Right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and select Quit OneDrive to remove the icon.

Method 3: Stop Folder Backup (If you want files back on your PC) 

1. Access Settings: Right-click the OneDrive icon and go to Settings.
2. Manage Backup: Navigate to the Sync and backup tab (or Backup) and select Manage backup.
3. Turn Off: Turn off backups for Desktop, Documents, and Pictures to move them back to your PC. 

Method 4: Uninstall OneDrive (If you don't want it at all)

1. Go to Settings: Open your PC's main Settings.
2. Apps: Select Apps > Apps & features (or Installed apps).
3. Uninstall: Find Microsoft OneDrive in the list and click Uninstall. 

[M-MTax]

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@user17644055483 wrote:

Perhaps it's correct that Intuit is just looking for an excuse to force migration to their "cloud" based tax preparation, but I'll be avoiding that too.

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I understand and empathize. However, that is simply something that cannot be avoided forever; it will happen eventually in a world where there are few, if any, alternatives.

[Average]

I guess, to truly take a stand against invasion of privacy, you could work all your taxes in the stand-alone software, and then copy all the data to paper forms and file by mail.  Of course, you'd have to skip any of the "review" wizards that look for errors, since that is a round trip to the server. 

Truthfully, my taxes have become far less complicated in the last 30 years, and I could just do them manually. The convenience of importing all the boiler plate from the prior year is a big time-saver, though.

For now I'm switching back to H&R Block. I had been using H&R for several years, ever since the year TT dropped a massive price increase on us without warning or apology. I only came back to Turbo a couple years ago. I'm quite sure H&R '25 can ingest my TT data file from last year.  

This might be the year I just dump Windows and run a Linux variant, like Mint.  The open versions of Excel, Word, etc. aren't nearly as polished and pretty. But I rarely share data with anyone, anymore, anyway. 

It's just so tiresome to *change* again. Ha!

[Bobbo00]

I'm seriously thinking about doing the same thing. One question, though, that I have searched all over the web for and can't find an answer. TT did a great job of importing my forms, and filling in the appropriate schedules, from Fidelity and my banks. Does H&R Block software do this? Which version would I need - Deluxe or Premium?

[ARD58]

Finally someone else understands my concerns especially about OneDrive automatically syncing your documents without my OK and leading us down the path of filling in our personal taxes online. I like the choice and so far they seem to be listening.  I like OneDrive´s convenience  to backup and restore the system files however  I want control of my critical data files. 

[M-MTax]

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@Bobbo00 wrote:

TT did a great job of importing my forms, and filling in the appropriate schedules, from Fidelity and my banks. Does H&R Block software do this? Which version would I need - Deluxe or Premium?

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I believe that any version of H&R Block will import 1099 data including from a brokerage firm.

Gotta appreciate the irony of asking this question on the TurboTax board, though. Does H&RB Block have one?