sharing turbo tax with my immediate family

[ld keeler]

For many years I would purchase turbo tax for my 4 children and help them with their taxes.  After they got married they did their own and we could share one CD disk for the 5 of us.  Now it looks like that Intuit no longer allows that unless of course all 5 of us can have access to each others tax information which is unfathomable that they would dream up such a stupid idea.  Why is it that software companies become successful and then somehow lose their way and shoot themselves in the foot?  I have had issues with TurboTax in the past and thought about trying H&R block but haven't pulled the trigger.  Intuit just gave me the motivation to do so.  Apparently I can transfer all my info from Turbo to H&R.  I understand that the IRS plans on providing their own free software at some point.   

[CatinaT1 · Accepted solution]

The TurboTax user license allows one user to install copies of TurboTax on up to five computers that the user owns. You can also prepare multiple returns, including returns for other people. But the license does not allow, and has never allowed, one copy to be shared among different people.  This year, that license is being enforced by requiring users to log into their TurboTax online account when they install the program for the first time. This locks one particular copy of the program and one license code to one user account. The only way you could install the program on a computer that you do not own, would be to give the other person your online username and password. And even though that workaround might allow the installation, it’s still a violation of the license.  

[VolvoGirl]

And by logging into your account to install,  you still would never have access to anyone else's return. Returns are only kept on the computer that it was done on.  And I think each person has to log into their own account at the end to efile.  

[ld keeler]

Great, that clears up the confusion.  Thanks

[ld keeler]

Thanks...good to know that tax files are not viewable by others using the same license code!

[denmoo1]

You will definitely lose me as a customer with this nonsense. I bought a physical copy of the software and have no intent to log in anywhere in order to use it. Nowhere on the physical copy does it say that this is a requirement so that is false advertising as well. I would encourage you to revisit this policy as the complete offline privacy of turbo-tax is one of its most compelling features.

[taxlady28]

TurboTax was the last tax software company to offer CD's.  if you use any other company, you will have to download the software.   

[xmasbaby0]

@denmoo1 There are no other tax software companies that will be selling plastic CD's with their tax software for 2024 tax returns.    The download software is the same software as the CD---only you download it to get it.   Every CD you have ever purchased in the past has required you to download updates and state software, so it is not much different than what you have always been doing --- with the exception of the initial download to your own hard drive instead of putting a piece of plastic into a disc drive to get started.   

[brett2013]

I've been using turbotax with my wife for years, Always the two of us, never a problem, This year they are losing my business, We bought Premier like we always do. She filed her taxes, I went to do mine and I have to rebuy to do mine, Total BS  See ya Intuit, Very disappointed.

[DoninGA]

@brett2013 If you downloaded and installed the 2024 desktop software to include the license code, you can complete and file as many federal tax returns as you need without charge.

Just click on the File menu at the top of the desktop program screen and click on New Tax Return.

[SLYKTAX]

To exact.  I don't want to login to my account and let a family member use it to prepare his return.

I have installed on a laptop Window 10 PC and I use a flash drive to do my 2024 tax. I efiled already.

My laptop is especially used for TAX purpose only. Nothing else.

So now I open the TT software, and I log out from my account.

If a member use my laptop and starts the software,  what appears:

"Stay up to date .............." and asked to login or registered etc

1.) Can he registered or login to his account whence the software was registered under my name? If so, will that affect owne5ship of the software?

2.) I believe he can skip my clicking continue, correct?

3.) I believe he can also skip by going to File --- New Tax Return -- and work on his. Correct?

[DoninGA]

@SLYKTAX Once you have installed the TurboTax desktop software with the license code, you never have to sign onto the TurboTax online account again.

For another tax return, you only need to click on the File menu at the top left of the desktop program screen and then click on New Tax Return.

If you are concerned with someone trying to view your tax return then you can password protect your return.

With your tax return Continued, click on the File menu and then click on 

[MarilynG1]

It's not advisable to use TurboTax or save any tax files on a removable drive, or a cloud-based drive.  They can get corrupted and unusable.

No one can log in to their account through the TurboTax program you have installed on your computer.  I would recommend skipping the registration page entirely for multiple users.  It is not required to prepare a return. 

Anyone using TurboTax on your computer is logged in as you. 

Once you open TurboTax, anyone can 'start a new return' as you mention.  However, they are logged into TurboTax as you. 

@SLYKTAX 

[DoninGA]

@SLYKTAX Sorry, I clicked on Post by mistake before I finished my answer -

With your tax return Continued, click on the File menu and then click on Password.

[VolvoGirl]

@SLYKTAX   You can sign in or sign out of your account under FILE on the top menu.  Then right above Exit is Sign in or out. Don't know what that lets you do exactly.   Maybe another user can log into their account to file their return.