TurboTax 2023 Desktop requires Windows 10 or higher

[Kilo58]

I just received an email:

At Intuit, the security of our customers' data is a top priority. To help customers protect their personal information, we require TurboTax CD/Desktop customers using Windows 8.1 upgrade to Windows 10 or higher, and customers using macOS Catalina 10.15 upgrade to macOS Big Sur 11 or higher, to be able to use TurboTax for tax year 2022.

If you’d rather not upgrade your Windows or macOS operating systems but want to continue using TurboTax, we’ve got easy-to-follow instructions on moving your data to TurboTax Online.

Seriously? I'm pissed off. Intuit is not my mother. The security of my computer is none of their **bleep** business. This "help" will cost me $200 and hours of work to upgrade my PC. Or maybe my PC won't run Windows 10 at all, and I'll have to buy a new computer. I sure as hell don't want my data stored on the servers behind TurboTax Online.

[Bsch4477]

You can still use the online product with your computer. 

[noforlong]

I do not use the online product. 

I agree with the OP:  TT is about tax filing assistance, and should not  force desktop users to upgrade.   I wonder if this requirement comes with some security guarantees?  Unlikely, what we will get after spending money on win10 is TT assumes no responsibility for security on your end regardless the OS.  Let there be no doubt, we are responsible for the security on our end, not TT.  Lastly, I run an updated security suite on my PC, so my concerns are minimal.  Does that protect me from every exploit?  No, but neither does upgrading as the exploits continue.

I will look at my options, non-TT, prior to upgrading to win10.  

[NCperson]

@noforlong @Kilo58 - oh come on! Technology keeps moving and for a variety of reasons we are all forced to upgrade from time to time... otherwise, we'd still be using DOS and floppy disks!

there can be security issues - do you e-file your tax return?  the issue may not be the security of your PC itself, but the security of transmissions to the IRS and your State's revenue department .  

[Mike9241]

oh come on you can get a win 10 laptop for under $150 new even less used. there may also be emulation software even cheaper that will fake a win10 environment allowing you to run TT. others may require the actual purchase of Win 10.   why not demand that Turbotax support DOS and versions of windows 1,2,3,3.1, 95,  98. 2000. ME, XP, Vista. 7. etc. 

no one is forcing you to use Turbotax, you're free to move to other apps or even use a tax pro. 

[fanfare]

Microsoft support for 8.1 is ending in two months so you will be liable to newer hacks and ransomware that will not be addressed by Microsoft.

This is so whether or not you use TurboTax.

[Critter-3]

@Kilo58 

Welcome to the world of planned obsolecense where you are forced to upgrade or be left behind.  FYI ...all the DIY tax programs will have the same system requirements.   You do have the option to use an ONLINE program instead of a downloaded one.  Or if you qualify you can use one of the IRS FREE FILE options :  https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

[cgaiddon]

I just recently bought a new desktop primarily because of Intuit's requirement to use W10 or higher.   It did not come with a CD drive.  In trying to download 2021 TT to have a copy on my new PC so I could refer back to it when I do 2023's tax return I found myself bounced around Intuit's website telling me to get the download and then told my activation key was registered to another account.  I did this several times, gave up and hunted for a customer service # (which is NOT easy to find).  I don't have another account.

After chatting with 2 people at customer service, it wound up being that you can't both use the CD and download later.  But certainly, they could have guessed that all of us being required to upgrade the OS would likely have to upgrade the hardware too.  Finally, after an hour I was given a "courtesy" copy of the download.  I am sure they will get a lot of phone calls like mine.

[VolvoGirl]

@cgaiddon   It was that way last year too, maybe even the year before.  Yes, There is a problem if you first installed from the CD. It doesn't connect you to an account you can find. You have to call in and ask for the download and a new License Code. Hopefully you get a customer service person who knows about it.

See this FAQ. It says....you can download your software directly from TurboTax. But, keep in mind, you can't use both the CD and the download — you must use or or the other.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/i-bought-the-cd-but-my-computer-doesn-t-have-a-cd-...

Another user posted this. If you have a computer with a CD drive or know someone, you can try copying the CD to a USB flash drive and use that to install the program.