Is TurboTax worth paying for?

TurboTax is worth it for people with complex returns — self-employment income, investments, rental properties, or life changes — who value step-by-step guidance and audit support. For simple W-2 returns with standard deductions, TurboTax Free Edition or a competitor's free tier handles the job without cost. The main downsides are aggressive upselling and higher pricing compared to alternatives like H&R Block or FreeTaxUSA.