For anyone on a Windows 10 computer who also uses TurboTax Desktop software, I have some bad news for you. It looks like the TurboTax Desktop 2025 software will require Windows 11 to run. TurboTax Desktop (for tax year 2025) will refuse to install on a Windows 10 machine.
So Windows 10 / TurboTax software users have a choice to make, before the next Tax Day:
- Buy a new PC (which comes automatically with Windows 11)
- Switch from TurboTax Desktop software to TurboTax Online
- Find a new way to prepare your taxes
I am sorry to bear this bad news. There is no strong technological reason for this. Intuit claims it is because Windows 10 is ending its security updates, but we know that isn’t true. I suspect Intuit is doing this to encourage more people towards their online offering, which brings in higher revenue and allows them to collect more customer data. QuickBooks Desktop users have already encountered this trend. Intuit has been pushing them towards QuickBooks Online and making it extremely difficult to buy QB Desktop software.
Your older versions of TurboTax software should continue to run under Windows 10. Your saved tax data will not be harmed, and can be backed up or moved to another computer. If you buy a Windows 11 PC and use the 2025 software, it should import your last year’s tax data file just fine!
If you do decide to try the TurboTax Online, this site gives the basic steps for transferring last year’s TurboTax data from your computer up to the Intuit website.
Apple users: Turbotax Desktop 2025 will be compatible with the last 3 editions of MacOS. That means MacOS Sonoma (14), Sequoia (15), and Tahoe (26). If you’re running OS 13 or earlier, you may have the same tough choice as Windows 10 users.