Can I use TurboTax Deluxe without a laptop? Options for Apple users

We recently sold our laptop because we had to tighten our budget over the past year. We're now mainly using Apple devices (iPhones and iPads), but I'm worried about how I'll file taxes this year. I've always used TurboTax Deluxe because we need to file taxes that include our mortgage, charitable donations, and my son's college expenses. When I look at the TurboTax website, it seems like they only offer CD and download versions which obviously won't work without a laptop. Does anyone know if there's a way to use TurboTax Deluxe on an iPad or iPhone? I've tried other tax software in previous years, but honestly TurboTax has consistently gotten us the biggest refunds. Their step-by-step guidance through complicated scenarios like education credits has been super helpful. I really don't want to switch to another option or use the free version since our taxes are somewhat complicated. Any advice?

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18 comments

Edison Estevez

•8M

You can definitely use TurboTax without a laptop! TurboTax has a mobile app that works great on iPads and iPhones. You don't need to buy the CD or download version at all. Just go to the App Store and search for "TurboTax." They have the full version available as an app, including Deluxe, which covers all the mortgage deductions, charitable giving, and education expenses you mentioned. The mobile experience is actually pretty smooth - I did my taxes entirely on my iPad last year. The app walks you through everything step by step just like the desktop version. You can even take pictures of your W-2s with your phone camera to import the data automatically instead of typing everything in manually.

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Edison Estevez

•8M

The price is basically the same as the desktop version - they charge based on which version you need (Free, Deluxe, Premier, etc.) rather than the platform you're using. Yes, you can definitely file both federal and state taxes through the app. They'll offer you the state option during the process, and you can add it then. Some people even find the mobile version easier for scanning in documents since you can use your camera right there instead of scanning and uploading like you might with a desktop.

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Emily Nguyen-Smith

•8M

After years of struggling with tax software that felt confusing, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it's been a game-changer for my Apple-only household. I was in the exact same boat - sold my laptop during a budget crunch and was stuck trying to figure out how to file properly using just my iPad. What's great about taxr.ai is that it's completely web-based, so it works perfectly on any Apple device with no downloads. I was especially impressed with how it handled my education credits and mortgage deductions - it automatically recognized my documents when I uploaded them and filled everything in correctly. Saved me hours of tedious form-filling!

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Emily Nguyen-Smith

•8M

The interface is actually more straightforward than TurboTax in my opinion. It uses conversational questions that are easy to understand, and there's no tax jargon to wade through. Everything is explained in plain English, and it guides you step by step just like you're used to. As for accuracy, I was honestly surprised. I was skeptical at first too, but taxr.ai actually found a education credit that I had missed in previous years. My refund was about $340 more than what I got last year using TurboTax with similar financial circumstances. Their document scanning technology is really impressive - it caught details I would have overlooked.

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Sophia Rodriguez

•8M

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after my question earlier. I decided to give it a try since I'm also in an Apple-only household now, and I'm seriously impressed! The web interface works perfectly on my iPad Pro - no glitches or compatibility issues at all. What really sold me was how it handled my complicated situation with rental property and charitable donations. The system automatically extracted all the important information from my documents and organized everything perfectly. I was worried about missing deductions, but it actually found a few charitable contribution deductions I would have missed. Ended up with a bigger refund than last year! Definitely recommend checking out taxr.ai if you're without a laptop.

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Mia Green

•8M

If you're having trouble reaching TurboTax's customer support (which I did when trying to figure out the same laptop issue), I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was on hold with TurboTax for over an hour trying to ask about mobile options, then I remembered seeing Claimyr mentioned somewhere. They basically call the company for you and wait on hold, then call you when a real person is on the line. I was skeptical but watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to try it. Within 20 minutes I got a call back with an actual TurboTax rep on the line who walked me through all my mobile options! Saved me so much frustration.

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Mia Green

•8M

They don't have people sitting on hold - it's an automated system that navigates through the phone trees and waits on hold so you don't have to. You just tell them who you want to call and what it's about, and they handle the waiting part. They don't jump the line or anything sketchy. The main benefit is that you don't have to sit there with your phone to your ear for an hour. You can go about your day, and they call you only when there's a real person ready to talk. I was able to make dinner and help my kid with homework while "waiting" to talk to TurboTax instead of wasting an hour on hold.

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Lucas Kowalski

•8M

I need to eat my words from earlier. After complaining about Claimyr, I got so frustrated trying to reach TurboTax's support line about using their software on my iPad that I decided to give Claimyr a shot out of desperation. Honestly, it worked exactly as advertised. I put in TurboTax's number, briefly described my issue, and went back to watching TV. About 25 minutes later (I was quoted 30-45 min wait time), my phone rang and there was an actual TurboTax support person on the line! No waiting, no horrible hold music, no repeatedly pressing buttons through their phone menu. The TurboTax rep confirmed I could use their full service on my iPad and even helped me understand which version would cover my college tuition deductions. Saved me so much time and frustration!

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Olivia Martinez

•8M

It works on iPhones too, but honestly it's a bit cramped. I tried doing it on my iPhone once when I was traveling and had to do a lot of pinching and zooming. It's doable in a pinch, but I wouldn't recommend it for your primary filing device. iPad is really the sweet spot - big enough screen to see everything clearly but you still get the convenience of mobile. If you only have an iPhone, it might be worth seeing if a friend or family member has an iPad you could borrow just for tax day.

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