Windows Version Requirements Going Forward

[sawdustguy]

I also will avoid subscription & cloud usage. I posted on this thread recently that I will be switching to H&R Block desktop download for 2025 taxes as they have not abandoned Win 10 or Mac OS Ventura. I am surprised no other users have yet to state a similar decision.

[M-MTax]

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@sawdustguy wrote:

I am surprised no other users have yet to state a similar decision.

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They have stated similar decisions, you just didn't happen to see the threads in which they were stated.

[M-MTax]

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@sawdustguy wrote:

I also will avoid subscription & cloud usage

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But not for long. DIY desktop (installed) tax preparation software is going downhill and seems to be gathering speed.

You may use H&R Block desktop this year, but they probably won't support Windows 10 next year, so you'll have to make other arrangements at some point. 

[mesquitebean]

Also when comparing 2 competing products, be sure to read and compare each company's Privacy policy and "Terms and conditions."

[user17634017183]

well if H&R Block follows suit next year, then I will probably just decrease my withholding to where I am sure any refund is insignificant and do my 2026 taxes the old fashion way on paper and le t Trump figure it out. Won't care if it takes weeks to be accepted.  Most states now have an online filing system and no logical reason the fed should not also. No opinions or subjective  help just e forms and math. WIth standard deductions continuing to increase and itemized deductions being neutered, it is really not very complicated anymore anyway. Did it manually for years before Macintax ( then TT) and can do it again.

[VolvoGirl]

Well with the recent changes I will be switching back to itemizing.  The SALT deduction limit is increased to 40,000 from 10,000.   

[sawdustguy]

 I too will be itemizing due to the SALT change, hopefully recouping some of the tax increases experienced in past years 

[leafnose]

Appreciate the insight into the "Guts" of software. 

In a response an exec with the firm contends that the security loopholes in Win10 will exist due to MS only providing security updates, and not full spectrum support. 

That's a scurrilous position for Intuit to take, and doesn't have traction.

This strategic stance might gain validity with the online version. Fallibility with security issues in that domain could be an issue.

However, Win 10 with MS support through October 2026 ought to give TT users a version that operates for 2025.  

A true shame that Intuit is not more agile in their customer consideration. 

[user17634017183]

I do not think Agility is the issue. They have provided a 2025 version for business that apparently does not have the same alleged and assumed security  risks. They are simply not concerned enough about their customers over their bottom line, to do the right thing. If it is truly not in their technical capability, or as I suspect they are capitulate with Microsoft to help promote WIN11 transition rates, then they should fold up and move on. 

[user17634017183]

A good point, but still not that complicated to complete schedule A.

[baldietax]

@leafnose @user17634017183 they waffled about security but see blog post below which implies it was a business decision that they didn't protect enough users to take up ESU.  They also cut bait this year on other non-strategic things like ItsDeductible (apparently only 100k users) and desktop basic edition (presumably a push for simple returns to online).   Desktop is only 1% of their revenues so they don't care about the loss of low revenue users on desktop as long as their online/live revenue continues to grow, etc etc.

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

(and I'm sure you'll parse this and retort that the "pay for the ESU program" is a mis-statement since MS offered many free ways to get it).

For those staying on Win 10 thru tax season this seems solvable with Win 11 VM, someone commented here that was a little inconvenient but still better solution for them than switching to HRB.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/has-anyone-tried-tt-2025-in-a-windows-11-virtual-...

[rjk2]

Windows 11 is bloated, bug-riddled spyware. Milllions of Windows users are NOT going to junk perfectly good hardware to use your crap software.

[rjk2]

Exactly this. Intuit just lost a loyal customer forever

[rjk2]

Only if you use their crappy web browser version. The inability to zero in on exactly what I want to work on, and not wade through interminable serial dialogs, is preceisely why I transitioned to the desktop version in the first place

[M-MTax]

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@rjk2 wrote:

Windows 11 is bloated, bug-riddled spyware. Milllions of Windows users are NOT going to junk perfectly good hardware to use your crap software.

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They don't really care all that much. Read the following sentence from baldiebax's post:

Desktop is only 1% of their revenues so they don't care about the loss of low revenue users on desktop as long as their online/live revenue continues to grow, etc etc.