Do I need "TurboTax Business" if I have a small farm/ranch as a hobby that I need to deduct supplies for? If so, can I switch from "Self-Employed" to "Business"?

[JulieCo · Accepted solution]

It depends upon whether your farm business is set up as a separate legal entity on its own.  TurboTax Business only creates tax returns for multi-member LLCs, S Corps, Partnerships, C Corporations and Fiduciaries (Trust/Estates).  It does not create personal income tax returns. 

Because you mention that your small farm/ranch is a hobby, then you would use either TurboTax Self-Employed (online) or TurboTax Home & Business (cd or download) to create your personal income tax return that will include the income and expenses for your small farm/ranch. 

[keepitsimple]

What is the best Intuit product to use for a personal entity consisting of the following:

-farm(s) where all crops are share-cropped

-surface is leased to others

-oil and gas mineral production exists

-lease bonuses are given to others for term oil and gas exploration

-insurance proceeds are received for crop damage

-compensation from Social Security

-earnings from pensions

-investment (ie: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, savings account income)?

[Carl]

If you prefer the Desktop version of the program that you physically install on your Windows or MAC computer, you need TurboTax Home & Business 2019 for the 2019 tax year. This is assuming you are the "SOLE AND ONLY OWNER" of any business income that gets reported on SCH F and SCH C.  I highly recommend the desktop version because it is *BY FAR* more versatile and user-friendly than the online version of the program.

But if you want to use the online version for 2019 when it comes available in Dec 2018 you'll want to use TurboTax Self-Employed. I *HIGHLY* *DIS*courage using the online version, as it does not have forms mode like the desktop version does, and can be a real PITA to navigate at times.

The basic difference between the online version called Self-Employed, and the Desktop version called Home & Business, is the spelling. Literally! Both have the same exact forms in them that you need. The major difference is that with the online version, forms mode is not available. That can be a real PITA when you need forms mode to check, change, add or remove something.