Windows Version Requirements Going Forward

[Phdbw]

Can windows 10 still allow me to do my taxes for 2025?

[VolvoGirl]

@Phdbw  For 2025 we file next April 2026?  Sorry no,  you will need to upgrade or use a Windows 11 computer.

 2025 Turbo Tax Desktop Download System Requirements.  Windows 11 or later or Mac OS Sonoma 14 or later (newer).  Click on the 2025 tab at the top.
https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/cd-download/tta-system-requirements

[gbc12]

Having 2025 turbotax work only with windows 11 because Microsoft is not supporting windows 10 is not correct. Microsoft is implementing 3 plans to continue fir another year till October 2026. I have contacts at Microsoft and they are stating that 51% of computers still use windows 10. Also in case you didn't know Microsoft is extending the continent of Europe continuous support till Oct 2026 free of charge. Since the majority of owners still use windows 10 it would be ill advised to exclude them from using turbo tax. The overwhelming customers will leave including me. Rethink your decision

[Mike9241]

first online users don't need W11.   Don't you think Intuit consider what it's net income loss would be and decided it didn't matter? Also, consider that desktop can do 5 returns for one price while online only 1 for more than 3 times the price. 

also consider that sooner or later other desktop tax app providers will also require W11. 

[baldietax]

@gbc12 nothing has changed since August other than MS offering different options to get ESU if those are the "3 plans" you're referring to but whether ESU is $30 or $0 (or free in Europe) isn't a big deal that would influence Intuit really.  Win 10 share in US is down to 35% according to statcounter, and the Intuit decision itself will probably be pushing that share lower within TurboTax user base as most folks will likely take the cue to just sort out their upgrade sooner than later and move on.

https://gs.statcounter.com/windows-version-market-share/desktop/united-states-of-america

See what happens in the final days/weeks here as Win 10 technical support other than ESU is still set to end next week, and tax prep companies release their s/w over the next month or so and we'll see final system requirements - but seems unlikely if not announced by now that Intuit would reverse position on Win 10.  Desktop s/w is only 1% of Intuit's revenue and they're focused on growing the other $20bn of their business.  They're also cleaning house on desktop Basic edition, ItsDeductible and Mac OS 13 (as usual for Mac as they have been dropping support for an OS version annually).

[bamaluv]

Been using TurboTax for many years.  No more!   I use Windows 11 at work and like Windows 10 MUCH better.  Not upgrading my personal laptop to Windows 11 and I'm certainly not going to save all my info online!

[Craigo]

Like most people, if you upgrade you will probably hate Windows 11 and you'll want to go back to Windows 10. So it's very unfortunate that Intuit did not do their research and allow TT to be run on Windows 10 with updated security that many of us are paying for anyway, or to offer this as an option. They jumped the gun on this one and unwittingly will be losing a large portion of their customer base due to poor decision-making skills.

[Craigo]

The web versions of TT are very limited in many ways, many folks want to do their taxes at home and not online, and Windows is offering extended security options for 10. Intuit didn't think this one thorough at all. Mark my words, Intuit will be losing MANY more customers than they anticipated.

[Mike9241]

revenue from desktop versions make up an insignificant part of its revenues. it will make up at least a portion of that loss from the higher fees for those that switch to online. also, desktop users got to prepare 5 returns for one fee. online one fee one return at about 3 times what the desktop version cost.  it will also save on some expenses. then there are those that will continue with desktop using W10 by using workarounds.  

[Craigo]

If that's true, they could have just raised prices to cover it (with an explanation, which is rare) and most of us would have been fine with that.

[baldietax]

Intuit's focus is on the 35mil high revenue online returns not the 4mil low revenue desktop which is declining 5% annually anyway, and they're fine losing the latter as long as everything else they do is growing 10%.  They're also cleaning house on ItsDeductible (only 100k users) and Desktop Basic edition so there will be a lot of churn between desktop and online and it will be interesting to see how it all falls out a year from now; but Intuit's $20bil behemoth will keep on trucking just fine, if not better.

For most users it's a choice whether to deal with Win 10 end of life in the next few months and keep their long-term tax process intact; or spend time changing tax process then still have to upgrade a few months after filing anyway.

[Craigo]

Yes, but there was no emergency here. Intuit could have easily waited 1 or 2 more years so that customers would not be scrambling at the last second. Microsoft offers their Extended Security Updates program which extends security updates for Windows 10 until October 13, 2028.

[baldietax]

My understanding is most consumers will have the 1-year ESU til October 2026; the 3 year version til 2028 is for enterprise/business tho I may be wrong, but I suppose there's a hack to get that.  Then the LTSC people pop up and say they're good til 2032.  Intuit did provide an extra year of support for the business edition on Win 10.

FWIW, here's more from the Veep.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/articles/community-news-announcements/turbotax-windows-10-desktop-...

[Craigo]

Nothing about ESU mentioned in that letter, which is very peculiar. Of course, it was written by Karen.

[Mike9241]

a notification received earlier this month stated that W11 would be required for desktop 2025. W10 with ESU is not W11. whether desktop 2025 will work in W10 or W11 emulations is unknown at this time.