TurboTax offers various desktop versions of its tax software, and each is tailored to meet specific tax situations. TurboTax Premier and TurboTax Home & Business are two of its most popular options. While both include many of the same desktop tax preparation tools, Premier provides additional guidance for investments and rental properties, while Home & Business adds features for self-employed taxpayers.
- TurboTax Premier is best for individuals with investments and rental property.
- TurboTax Home & Business is ideal for freelancers and self-employed individuals.
My methodology
I compared TurboTax Premier and TurboTax Home & Business based on the tax situations each product is designed to support. Since both are desktop versions of TurboTax, I focused on the features that differentiate them and evaluated which option delivers better value for specific filing needs.
- Tax scenario support: I reviewed how each program handles investments, rental property income, self-employment income, and other common tax situations to determine the best fit for different types of filers.
- Desktop features and tools: I compared built-in tools such as QuickBooks Desktop import, deduction guidance, tax planning resources, and support for common IRS forms.
- Pricing and overall value: I evaluated purchase prices, included state programs, e-file fees, and available support options to determine which product offers the better value for its intended audience.
- Ease of use: I assessed the interview process, navigation, and overall user experience, with particular attention to how easily each program guides users through more complex tax scenarios.
- Support and resources: I reviewed the customer support options, built-in guidance, and educational resources available to help users complete their returns accurately.
This comparison is based on the current desktop versions of TurboTax Premier and TurboTax Home & Business, along with official product information from Intuit.
Comparison of TurboTax Premier vs Home & Business
| TurboTax Premier | TurboTax Home & Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Investors and rental property owners | Self-employed individuals and freelancers |
| Return Pricing |
|
|
| Import Data From QuickBooks Desktop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deduction Finder | ✓ | ✓ |
| Schedule C Business Income & Loss | ✕ | ✓ |
| Prepare W-2s & 1099s | ✕ | ✓ |
| Guidance finding startup tax deductions | ✕ | ✓ |
| Prepare S-corp & Partnership Returns | ✕ | ✕ |
Use cases and pros & cons
Pros
- Has a comprehensive resource for landlords
- Is ideal for reporting cryptocurrency sales
- Is easy to navigate
Cons
- Lacks support for S- and C-corp tax filings
- Limits tax year access to three years
- Has occasional prompts to purchase unavailable services
Use Cases
- Rental property owners: Home & Business wouldn’t be ideal in this situation since it’s intended for independent contractors. Meanwhile, Premier provides extra guidance for rental property income, expenses, and refinancing. You can also access step-by-step guidance on setting up new rental properties and determining the fair market rent value using the median monthly rent calculator.
- Investors: Premier can handle reporting for investments like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and it offers cryptocurrency support. It is well-suited for individuals with more advanced tax scenarios and those wanting guidance on investments and related tax implications. Home & Business also includes investment support, but its main advantage is the additional guidance for self-employed income and business deductions.
- Individuals who don’t need to file Schedule C: Premier is a good fit for individuals who don’t have their own business and, therefore, don’t need to file a Schedule C. Home & Business is the better solution for Schedule C filers.
Pricing Comparison: Tie
| TurboTax Premier | TurboTax Home & Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Returns | $115 for unlimited federal returns, 5 federal e-files, and one state download | $130 for unlimited federal returns, 5 federal e-files, and one state download |
| Additional state e-file | $25 each | $25 each |
| Additional state returns | $40 each | $40 each |
| Expert tax advice | $50 | $50 |
| Audit defense | Audit support included; Audit Defense available as a paid add-on | Audit support included; Audit Defense available as a paid add-on |
| Auto-renewal for price reduction for subsequent tax year | Included | Included |
When assessing TurboTax Premier vs Home & Business in terms of cost, I declared a tie given that they are equally valuable depending on your business needs. For instance, Home & Business provides excellent value for Schedule C filers and those needing guidance with either self-employed or startup tax deductions. However, if you only need support for Form 1040, Schedules 1-3, rental property, investments, and cryptocurrency transactions, then you’ll find Premier enough.
Each program is available as an annual subscription for the same price as the one-time purchase. Your subscription will automatically renew in November at the early season price. A subscription comes with
- Free audit defense
- Dedicated phone support
- The option to upgrade live expert tax advice
Customer service and ease of use: TurboTax Premier wins
| TurboTax Premier | TurboTax Home & Business | |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface (UI) | Intuitive and clean | Somewhat user-friendly |
| Support Channels | Phone and live chat | Phone and live chat |
| Expert support available | ✓ | ✓ |
Phone and live chat support are available for both versions, but users report a more positive experience with Premier. As a result, it takes the lead in this category.
Both, however, provide a clean interface that is easy to navigate. Premier is just slightly more user-friendly, likely due to Home & Business’s additional information required for filing a Schedule C.
Helpful tools: Tie
| TurboTax Premier | TurboTax Home & Business | |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Desktop import | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deduction maximizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audit support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cryptocurrency support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tax calculator | ✓ | ✓ |
| File amended returns | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prior year return filing | With purchase of prior year program | With purchase of prior year program |
When it comes to helpful tools, there are a few differences between TurboTax Premier vs Home & Business. These include Premier’s inability to handle anything related to small businesses, such as creating and filing W-2 and 1099 tax forms. Because of the nature of TurboTax’s desktop platform, neither version allows for cloud-based features such as automatic updates and real-time collaboration.
User reviews: Tie
| TurboTax Premier | TurboTax Home & Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Users like |
|
|
| Users dislike |
|
|
| Average rating on third-party sites | 3.8 (based on over 6,000 reviews on Intuit) | 3.8 (based on over 3,300 reviews on Intuit) |
Both TurboTax Premier and TurboTax Home & Business receive mixed but generally positive feedback from users. Reviewers commonly like TurboTax’s guided interview format, familiar interface, and ability to handle more detailed tax situations than basic tax software. Premier is often favored by users with investments or rental property, while Home & Business is more relevant for users with self-employment income or business deductions.
Some users report frustration with installation, downloads, missing forms early in the filing season, and the cost of add-on services. Because both desktop products receive similar feedback, user reviews do not create a clear winner in this comparison.
How I evaluated TurboTax Home & Business vs Premier
I compared TurboTax Premier with TurboTax Home & Business based on these criteria:
- Features: I considered product characteristics such as data import, navigation, and in-product support.
- Pricing: I confirmed pricing for both versions and presented details on the features provided under each.
- Technical support: Getting help when needed is a primary concern for users, so I assessed the ease of access to product experts via phone, email, or chat.
- Ease of use: Particularly with DIY software, software must be easy to navigate. I reviewed how easy it is to move around the product from inception to completion of the tax return.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The difference between TurboTax Home & Business vs Premier is that Premier focuses on investment-related tax scenarios, while Home & Business includes support for that, plus self-employed business income and expenses.
Yes, TurboTax Home & Business can handle multiple businesses. If you have more than one business, the software will guide you through the process of entering income and expenses for each business separately.
TurboTax Premier supports a wide range of investment types, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, rental properties, and other investment income and expenses. It provides guidance for reporting and optimizing taxes related to those investments.
Yes, both Premier and Home & Business allow you to import your previous year’s tax return, as long as it was prepared using TurboTax. This can save you time and ensure consistency in your tax filing.
Each TurboTax software license is typically valid for installation on one computer. If you need to use TurboTax on multiple devices, you may need to purchase additional licenses or consider TurboTax Online, which allows you to access your tax return from any device connected to the internet.
Bottom Line
TurboTax Premier is focused on helping users with investments and related tax matters, such as stocks, bonds, rental properties, and investment income. Cryptocurrency transactions are also included. Meanwhile, TurboTax Home & Business is geared toward individuals needing to handle personal tax matters along with business-related income and expenses that are filed on a Schedule C.
