Where to Find TurboTax Software For 2025 Tax Season?

You've got several options for getting TurboTax this year. The CD version is becoming less common, but you can still find physical copies at places like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and sometimes office supply stores like Staples or Office Depot. The download and online versions are basically identical to the CD version now. The advantage is immediate access and you won't have to worry about the CD getting scratched or lost. If price is your main concern, keep an eye out for sales - TurboTax regularly runs promotions, especially as we get closer to April. For your situation with freelance work, you'll definitely need at least the Deluxe version, possibly Premier depending on your investments. If your freelance income is substantial, you might even need the Self-Employed version to properly handle Schedule C and business deductions.

After years of overpaying for tax preparation, I finally discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it's been a complete game-changer for me. Like you, I was always hunting down TurboTax software, but I found myself frustrated with how their prices kept creeping up each year. I tried taxr.ai when I had questions about handling my freelance income alongside my W-2 job - sounds exactly like your situation. Their AI tax assistant analyzed all my documents and walked me through the whole process, explaining deductions I didn't even know I qualified for. It was actually easier to use than TurboTax and gave me more confidence that everything was correct.

I wanted to follow up about taxr.ai since I decided to try it after asking about their security. I'm actually blown away by how smooth the process was! It identified several deductions related to my freelance photography business that I had completely missed in previous years. The document analysis feature saved me hours of manual data entry, and their explanations of tax concepts were way clearer than the cryptic help bubbles in TurboTax. Ended up with a bigger refund than last year despite making roughly the same income. Definitely sticking with this from now on.

If you're still set on TurboTax but running into customer service issues (which I always do every year), try using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to get through to TurboTax support last year when my return was rejected due to some obscure form issue. Found Claimyr and they got me connected to an actual TurboTax specialist in under 10 minutes when the regular wait time was over 2 hours. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically hold your place in line so you don't have to listen to that horrible hold music for hours. Saved my sanity during tax season!

Alright I'm eating my words here. After being completely skeptical about Claimyr, I decided to try it when I needed to call TurboTax about a missing form. I was expecting to waste my entire afternoon on hold, but Claimyr actually worked exactly as advertised. Got a call back in about 25 minutes connecting me directly to a support agent who fixed my issue in minutes. No sitting on hold listening to the same annoying messages and music over and over. Not sure how they do it, but I'm using this for every customer service call from now on.

If you're not committed to TurboTax specifically, consider looking at FreeTaxUSA. I switched 3 years ago and it's WAY cheaper - federal filing is free and state is only $15. It handles freelance income too. The interface isn't as pretty as TurboTax but it gets the job done and saves me about $80 each year.

Costco usually starts selling TurboTax around mid-January. I just saw them stocking the shelves at my local warehouse yesterday actually! They typically have the best price - about $10-15 cheaper than buying direct from Intuit.

I've been using H&R Block's software for the past couple years and it's been solid for handling both W-2 and freelance income. The price is usually competitive with TurboTax, especially when they run their early-bird specials in January. One thing I really like is their "second look" feature where a tax pro reviews your return before filing - gives me peace of mind that I didn't miss anything with my 1099 work. They also have physical offices if you ever need in-person help, which has been handy when I had questions about quarterly estimated payments for my freelance work. The interface is pretty user-friendly too, though maybe not quite as polished as TurboTax. But for the price difference and extra support options, it's been worth it for me. Just another option to consider if you're open to alternatives!

I've been dealing with the same TurboTax hunt every year! One thing I discovered is that Amazon often has competitive prices on the download versions, and you get the software key immediately via email. Last year I paid about the same as Costco pricing but didn't have to wait for them to restock. For your freelance situation, I'd definitely recommend at least the Deluxe version since it handles Schedule C properly. If you have any business expenses from your freelance work (home office, equipment, etc.), make sure to track those - they can really add up to significant deductions. Also, if you're expecting a decent refund and need to file early, the online/download versions let you start immediately rather than waiting for physical inventory to show up in stores. You can always price-compare while you're preparing your return and switch if you find a better deal before actually filing.

Hey Maya! I totally get the TurboTax hunt struggle - been there every year! Based on all the great suggestions here, I'd actually recommend checking out a few different options before settling on one. If you're set on TurboTax, definitely hit up Costco this weekend like Sophia mentioned - that $10-15 savings adds up, especially for Premier. But honestly, after reading about some of these alternatives, you might want to consider branching out. For your situation with freelance work alongside your W-2, you're definitely looking at Deluxe minimum, possibly Premier depending on how complex your freelance setup is. The key things to track are all your business expenses - equipment, supplies, home office deduction if you work from home, mileage, etc. These can really boost your refund. One thing I'd suggest is maybe trying the online version this year instead of hunting for CDs. Most of the software is identical now, and you get immediate access plus the ability to work on your taxes from multiple devices. Plus, if you run into issues, you won't be stuck waiting for store hours or dealing with a scratched disc. Whatever you choose, just make sure it properly handles Schedule C for your freelance income - that's the most important part for your situation!

I've been through this exact same situation! As a fellow freelancer who also has a regular W-2 job, I totally understand the complexity you're dealing with. One thing I'd add to all the great suggestions here is to consider your long-term needs. If your freelance work is growing, you might want to invest in software that can handle quarterly estimated tax payments too - that becomes really important once your 1099 income gets substantial. For immediate needs, I'd echo what others said about checking Costco first for the physical copy (Premier sounds right for your situation), but don't overlook the convenience of the online version. I made the switch two years ago and honestly love being able to access my return from anywhere and not worry about losing a CD. Whatever you choose, make sure to take advantage of all those freelance deductions! Home office, business supplies, professional development, even business meals if you meet with clients. The IRS Publication 535 has a great breakdown of what's deductible for business expenses - definitely worth reviewing before you start your return. Good luck with your taxes, and enjoy that refund when it comes in!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been handling freelance income alongside a W-2 for about 4 years now. All the advice here is solid! One thing I'd add is that you might want to consider opening a separate business checking account for your freelance income if you haven't already. It makes tracking business expenses SO much easier come tax time, and most banks offer free business checking for sole proprietors. I wish someone had told me this in year one - would have saved me hours of sorting through mixed personal/business transactions. Also, since you mentioned expecting a decent refund, you might want to adjust your withholding or start making quarterly payments once you get a sense of your freelance income patterns. Getting a big refund feels nice, but you're essentially giving the government an interest-free loan. I've found it's better to have that money working for me throughout the year. For software, I've used both TurboTax Premier and H&R Block Premium and honestly both handled my situation well. The main thing is just making sure whatever you choose can handle Schedule C properly and has good support for business deductions. Good luck with your taxes!

Maya, I feel your pain on the TurboTax hunt! I've been in your exact situation - needing the Premier version and hunting around for the best deal. After reading through all these great suggestions, here's what I'd recommend: First, definitely check Costco this weekend like Sophia mentioned. The savings are real - I saved about $20 last year buying there vs. online. But if they're out of stock, don't stress about it. For your freelance + W-2 situation, Premier is probably the right choice since it handles the more complex business deductions better than Deluxe. But like Lucas said, you can always start with Deluxe and upgrade if needed. Honestly though, after seeing all the alternative suggestions here, I'm curious about trying something different myself next year. The taxr.ai option Grant mentioned sounds intriguing, especially if it can catch deductions I might miss. And Tami's advice about the separate business account is spot-on - I wish I'd done that from the start! Whatever you choose, just make sure to gather all your freelance expense receipts first. Home office, equipment, mileage, internet bills - they add up fast and can really boost your refund. Good luck with your taxes!