Costco TurboTax vs. Online: If you’re a Costco member you are probably used to getting fabulous deals in bulk on just about everything.
Come tax season you also undoubtedly see the aisles of the store lined with boxes of tax software on CD including TurboTax Deluxe, Premium, and Self-Employed (aka Home & Business) So, is it better to buy TurboTax at Costco, or download it online for the 2024 and 2025 tax season? (with a promo code)
To answer that question, let’s look at the differences between Costco and online download pricing plus the Costco TurboTax discount.
Costco TurboTax In-Store $10 Discount:
Select TurboTax Desktop products (CD/DVD) including Deluxe, Premier, Business, and Home & Business purchased from Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s Wholesale Club come with a one-time $10 credit. This discount can be applied to the following product add-ons:
- State e-file fees: (Excludes TurboTax Business)
- State product: Purchase of any additional state products from TurboTax
- Audit Defense: Guidance from a tax pro in the event of an audit
You can learn more about the TurboTax Costco discount at turbotax.com
Can I buy TurboTax at Costco and use it online? No, Costco warehouses only sell TurboTax products on CD/DVD, and the Costco.com website sells the products for download only. The only way to buy TurboTax online products is directly from their website at turbotax.intuit.com where they offer a $10-15 discount.
TurboTax Pricing: Costco vs. Online
Before getting into differences in features and functionality, let’s look at the cost. In this case, we compared the price of TurboTax at Costco with the discounted online price (after applying this coupon).
Is it cheaper to buy TurboTax online or in-store at Costco?
That depends as both the Costco and online prices change during the tax season with the best prices being early in the season. However, TurboTax software on a CD / DVD is usually a little cheaper to buy in-store while the Online products cost less when you buy them directly from TurboTax and use a coupon.
*State efile costs an extra $50 for both TurboTax online and at Costco. However, if you file your taxes before March 15th, you may be able to avoid this state fee by filing online.
Cheapest place to buy TurboTax? Usually, Costco is the lowest price on just about everything and their discount price on TurboTax usually rivals or beats the online price. Note that the pricing for TurboTax Costco and online changes during the tax season. The best prices are early in the season, and prices go up as the April tax deadline approaches.
OK, should you buy TurboTax at Costco, or use the online version?
Is There a Costco Turbotax Promo Code?
You won’t need a promo code to get the best deal on TurboTax. That’s because Costco offers the best price for their TurboTax software downloads in-store which often comes with a $10 credit towards state efile if you buy early in the tax season.
While there are currently no active Costco TurboTax promo codes, here are former codes from previous tax seasons that you can try:
- Save up to $5 on TurboTax with code COSTCO5
- Extra 15% discount with code COSTCO15
- Up to a 20% discount at Costco with code TURBOTAX20 (exp.)
Why Buy TurboTax Online Instead of at Costco?
- Convenience: The main difference in my opinion is that TurboTax online offers more flexibility and convenience. Specifically, by being online-based, you have the ability to access your tax return from various computers and devices, or even your phone
- Peace of Mind: Online saves your work in the cloud. No need to worry about technical failure that might result in the loss of your progress or documents
- “Free Edition” Option – If you have simple taxes (1040EZ) you can file with their free edition online
- Online Coupon? There’s always a coupon or discount available online, and the best deals are early in the tax season. when you may be able to file State for free. You also might be eligible for a discount on TurboTax if you buy it through groups or financial institutions like AAA, AARP, Bank of America, or Chase bank.
OK, those are the best reasons to download TurboTax online. Now, let’s look at the advantages of buying TurboTax software at Costco.
*Related: Did you know that TurboTax offers special discount editions for students and the military?
Why Buy TurboTax at Costco Instead of Online?
- Multiple tax returns – The desktop version / CD allows you to file up to 5 federal efiles from one program. That is significant if you need to file multiple tax returns, and would make buying TurboTax at Costco cheaper if you have 2+ tax returns to file (Like parents filing returns for their kids)
- Forms Mode – The Costco / desktop version of TurboTax allows you to view the forms associated with your tax return as you are working on your taxes. This is more flexible compared to online, which is more of a linear process.
- Work offline – If you’re in an area without a secure internet connection, then you won’t be able to use the online version of TurboTax.
- TurboTax Costco coupon? You’ll have to check your local Costco store flyer or warehouse savings for potential discounts on individual products
In conclusion
Think of the two platforms of TurboTax online and desktop as being entirely separate. In other words, while you can decide to use online one year and desktop the next, the two don’t work together in a single tax year. (Using the desktop version this year? Here’s how to access data from web version)
The price difference seems to be negligible between the two, with both Costco TurboTax and online offering a better price and coupons early in the tax season.
I’ll sum up the differences by saying that the online version offers convenience, while the desktop version has some more functionality, and might be preferable to those filing multiple tax returns.
Personally, I like the convenience of filing online as my laptop has a lot of miles on it. It would make me nervous to depend on it for something as important as my tax return.
Tip: Not sold on buying TurboTax at Costco? We also have coupons for H&R Block, Quickbooks, and TaxAct!
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