If you’re self employed, your tax return has a second job stacked on top of the personal one: Schedule C income, quarterly estimated payments, business deductions, contractor 1099s, and depreciation all need a home on the same filing. That’s why I focused this roundup on desktop tax software built specifically for sole proprietors, freelancers, and small business owners rather than generic personal filing products. The lineup here spans several editions of TurboTax Home & Business, and the differences between them matter more than you might expect.
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My top pick for most filers is the 2024 edition, which balances a recent tax year with mature deduction-finding, depreciation, and audit-risk tools. The 2025 desktop edition is the better choice if you want the newest tax year and access to one-on-one expert advice, provided your computer runs a current operating system. And the 2023 edition is a solid value play if you’re filing or amending a prior-year return and don’t need the latest interface refinements.
The main tradeoffs run along three lines: tax year currency (older editions can’t handle current filings but cost context differs), state filing costs (every edition here sells state e-filing separately, which surprises first-time buyers), and system requirements (the newest edition drops Windows 10 support entirely). I walk through each of those tradeoffs below so you can match the right edition to your situation instead of overpaying for a year you don’t need.
Key Takeaways
- Every edition here is TurboTax Home & Business, so the real decision is tax year and platform support — not feature philosophy.
- All five editions include five federal e-files, but state e-filing is sold separately in every case; budget for that cost before buying.
- The 2025 desktop edition drops Windows 10 support and requires macOS Sonoma or later, making it the pick only for owners of current machines.
- The 2022 edition uniquely bundles a one-year Quicken Starter subscription, giving it extra value if you also need expense-tracking software.
- The 2015/2016 edition is useful almost exclusively for amending or completing very old returns — it cannot serve current filing needs.
| tax software for self employed | Federal e-files | Tax year | Platform | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax Home & Business 2024 | 5 | 2024 | PC and Mac | Download |
| TurboTax Home & Business Deskt | 5 | — | Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later | Download |
| TurboTax Home & Business 2023 | 5 | 2023 | PC and Mac | Download |
| TurboTax Home & Business 2022 | 5 | 2022 | — | — |
| TurboTax Home & Business 2015/ | — | — | — | — |
More Details on Our Top Picks
TurboTax Home & Business 2024 Tax Software for PC and Mac
This edition earns the top spot because it hits the sweet spot between currency and completeness. It covers the 2024 tax year, which is recent enough for most filing and amending scenarios self-employed people actually face, and its feature set is the most well-rounded in this lineup. The deduction search digs for industry-specific write-offs, the asset depreciation tools handle equipment and vehicle questions that stump freelancers, and the audit risk checks flag aggressive deductions before the IRS does. Compared with the 2023 edition, the import tools feel more capable of pulling in tax and financial data, which saves real time if you have a shoebox of 1099s and bank records.
The tradeoffs are the familiar ones for this family: state e-file costs extra even though a state download is included, and live tax advice sits behind an additional fee — so if you expect hand-holding, this isn’t the fully self-sufficient experience it might appear to be. Mac users should also confirm they’re running macOS Ventura 13 or Sonoma 14 before downloading. Still, for a freelancer or consultant filing a current return with real business income, this pick makes the most sense: it does the widest range of self-employment jobs well without pushing you toward the newest edition’s stricter system requirements.
Pros:- Covers the 2024 tax year with full personal and self-employed return support
- Deduction search, depreciation reporting, and audit risk checks in one package
- Can import tax and financial information to speed up data entry
- Five federal e-files and one state download included
Cons:- State e-file is sold separately
- Live tax advice requires an additional fee
- Mac installation requires macOS Ventura 13 or Sonoma 14
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, and sole proprietors filing or amending a 2024 return who want the most complete deduction and depreciation toolset on a broad range of computers.
Not ideal for: Buyers who need expert guidance included in the purchase, or anyone filing a tax year other than 2024.
- Tax year:2024
- Platform:PC and Mac
- Delivery:Download
- Federal e-files:5
- State download:1
- State e-file:Sold separately
- Mac requirements:macOS Ventura 13 or Sonoma 14
- Additional features:W-2 and 1099 preparation, deduction search, asset depreciation, audit risk checks
Our verdict“The most balanced edition in this lineup for current self-employed filers who want strong deduction tools without the newest edition’s hardware demands.”
TurboTax Home & Business Desktop Edition 2025 for Windows 11 and macOS
If your goal is filing the most recent return, this is the edition to buy, full stop. The 2025 desktop edition carries forward everything that makes Home & Business work for self-employed people — industry-specific deduction discovery, personal-plus-business return support, and five federal e-files — while adding a path to one-on-one tax expert advice for an extra fee. That last point is the real differentiator against the 2024 edition: if you hit a confusing situation like home office depreciation or first-year equipment expensing, upgrading to live advice is at least possible here in a streamlined way.
The cost of staying current is compatibility. This edition does not support Windows 10, and on the Mac side you’ll need Sonoma or later. Compared with the 2023 edition, which installs across a wider range of machines, this one effectively assumes you’ve updated your computer recently. State e-filing is again an add-on purchase, which is frustrating in an era when most people e-file everything. This option stands out for filers on modern hardware who want the newest forms and deduction limits — anyone on an older machine should step down to the 2024 or 2023 edition instead of upgrading their operating system just to file taxes.
Pros:- Covers the most recent tax year for current filings
- Identifies industry-specific small business deductions
- Access to one-on-one tax expert advice for an additional fee
- Five federal e-files plus one state download included
Cons:- Windows 10 is not supported
- State e-filing costs extra
- Most useful features beyond the base product carry added fees
Best for: Self-employed filers on Windows 11 or current macOS preparing their latest return who want the option of paid expert help.
Not ideal for: Anyone still running Windows 10 or an older Mac, and buyers who expect state e-filing to be included.
- Platform:Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later
- Delivery:Download
- Federal e-files:5
- State download:1
- State e-filing:Sold separately
- Live tax advice:Available for an additional fee
- Business forms:W-2 and 1099 preparation support
Our verdict“The right choice for a current-year return on modern hardware, provided you accept its strict system requirements and a-la-carte extras.”
TurboTax Home & Business 2023 Federal and State Tax Return Software for PC and Mac (Download)
Filing or amending a 2023 return? This edition handles that job at what is typically a lower commitment than the newer releases, and it retains the core self-employment machinery: industry-specific deduction discovery, combined personal and business return support, and Quick Employer Forms for creating and e-filing W-2s and 1099s — a genuinely useful tool if you hired contractors and haven’t filed those forms yet. Compared with the 2024 edition, you give up some import polish and the newer depreciation workflow, but the fundamentals are intact.
What you’re really choosing here is tax year fit over feature freshness. The 2023 edition won’t know about later rule changes, so it’s the wrong tool for a current return — but for a late-filed or amended 2023 return it’s exactly right, and using a newer edition for that job is impossible since tax software is year-locked. The state e-file is sold separately, and U.S.-based product support runs limited hours, so plan to file during the day if you expect to call. This pick makes the most sense for the surprisingly common situation of a freelancer catching up on a missed filing year.
Pros:- Full support for personal and self-employed 2023 returns
- Finds industry-specific small business tax deductions
- Quick Employer Forms for creating and e-filing W-2s and 1099s
- Five federal e-files with U.S.-based product support
Cons:- State e-file is sold separately
- Support hours may vary and can be limited
- Limited to the 2023 tax year
Best for: Self-employed filers completing or amending a 2023 federal and state return, especially those who need to issue W-2s or 1099s.
Not ideal for: Anyone filing a more recent tax year, or filers who expect state e-filing included.
- Tax year:2023
- Platform:PC and Mac
- Delivery:Download
- Federal e-files:5
- State returns:1 included
- State e-file:Sold separately
- Employer forms:Create and e-file W-2s and 1099s using Quick Employer Forms
Our verdict“The smart pick for prior-year filing work, offering nearly the full Home & Business feature set at a gentler commitment than the newest editions.”
TurboTax Home & Business 2022 Tax Software for PC and Mac
The 2022 edition occupies a niche: it’s a capable prior-year filing tool that throws in something none of the other editions here offer — a one-year Quicken Starter subscription. For a freelancer who needs to get organized after the fact, that pairing is more coherent than it first sounds. You file (or amend) the 2022 return in TurboTax, then use Quicken to track expenses going forward so the next filing season isn’t a reconstruction project. No other product in this lineup bundles expense-tracking software, and that’s its whole reason for ranking where it does.
As a tax program, it mirrors the 2023 edition closely: five federal e-files, one state download, deduction tools geared to your industry, and W-2/1099 creation. The differences are generational — it’s a year older, so it’s strictly for 2022 returns, and it ships as a download like its siblings with state e-file sold separately. Compared with the 2023 edition, this model is better suited to the buyer whose gap year is 2022 and who would genuinely use Quicken; if you already have bookkeeping software, the 2023 edition is the stronger catch-up choice. Support hours vary here too, so don’t count on late-night help sessions.
Pros:- Full 2022 personal and self-employed return support
- Includes a one-year Quicken Starter Edition subscription
- Creates W-2 and 1099 forms for employees and contractors
- Five federal e-files and one state download included
Cons:- State e-file is sold separately
- Product support hours may vary
- The Quicken bundle adds no value if you already track expenses elsewhere
Best for: Self-employed filers catching up on a 2022 return who also want a year of Quicken Starter to get their expense tracking in order.
Not ideal for: Anyone filing a different tax year, or buyers who already use bookkeeping software and would let the Quicken bundle go to waste.
- Tax year:2022
- Platforms:PC and Mac
- Federal e-files:5
- State returns:1 state download
- State e-file:Sold separately
- Included software:Quicken Starter Edition, 1-year subscription
- Business forms:W-2 and 1099 creation tools
Our verdict“A sensible catch-up filing tool whose Quicken bundle makes it the value standout — but only for the 2022 tax year and only if you’ll use the bonus software.”
TurboTax Home & Business 2015/2016 Federal and State Tax Software with Federal E-File
I’m including this edition for one reason: back-taxes situations happen, and if you’re resolving a return from the mid-2010s — whether triggered by an IRS notice or your own catch-up effort — modern software simply can’t do the job. The 2015/2016 edition still offers the core Home & Business experience of its era: step-by-step guidance through business taxes, deduction and credit searches, return checks before filing, and the ability to import business data directly from QuickBooks and Quicken. That import capability was the standout feature of its generation and remains useful if your old books live in those programs.
Let me be direct about the limitations, because they’re severe. This edition cannot be used for any current filing; tax forms, deduction limits, and tax law have all changed repeatedly since. The product information also leaves operating system support and delivery format unspecified, so you may need to confirm compatibility with an older computer before committing. Compared with every other edition here, its role is narrow by design — it’s the tool of last resort, not a daily driver. This pick makes sense only for a specific amending project, and anyone shopping for this year’s return should choose the 2025 or 2024 edition instead.
Pros:- Guidance tailored to business taxes, deductions, and credits
- Imports business data and expenses from QuickBooks and Quicken
- Step-by-step guidance with return checks before filing
- Federal e-file included for its tax years
Cons:- Far too old for any current tax filing need
- Supported operating systems and delivery format are unspecified
- Lacks a decade of tax law and form changes
Best for: Filers resolving or amending a 2015 or 2016 tax return, especially those with records stored in QuickBooks or Quicken from that era.
Not ideal for: Virtually everyone filing a current return, or buyers who can’t confirm the software will run on their machine.
- Brand:TurboTax
- Manufacturer:TurboTax
- Tax years:2015/2016
- Coverage:Federal and state taxes
- E-file:Federal
- Data import:QuickBooks and Quicken
- Guidance:Step-by-step with return checks
Our verdict“A niche tool for mid-2010s amendments only — genuinely useful in that one scenario, and the wrong purchase in every other one.”
How We Picked
Because all five products are variations of the same TurboTax Home & Business lineage, I judged them on the axes where they actually diverge rather than pretending they’re different programs. The first criterion was tax year coverage: self-employed filers need software matching the year they’re filing or amending, and mismatched editions create real problems with forms and deduction limits. The second was self-employment feature depth — deduction search, industry-specific write-off guidance, W-2 and 1099 creation, and asset depreciation handling, since these are the tools that separate Home & Business from cheaper personal editions.
I also weighed platform compatibility, because a great tax program you can’t install is worthless, and the editions here range from broad PC and Mac support to a Windows 11-only floor. Finally, I looked at included extras and hidden costs: how many federal e-files ship with each edition, whether a state download is bundled, what e-filing costs on top of the purchase, and whether bonus software like Quicken adds genuine value for a freelancer tracking expenses. Where an edition clearly serves a narrower audience — like the 2015/2016 release — I assigned it a role that reflects that limitation honestly rather than ranking it against editions built for current filings.
| tax software for self employed | Platform |
|---|---|
| TurboTax Home & Business 2024 | PC and Mac |
| TurboTax Home & Business Deskt | Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later |
| TurboTax Home & Business 2023 | PC and Mac |
| TurboTax Home & Business 2022 | — |
| TurboTax Home & Business 2015/ | — |
Factors to Consider When Choosing Tax Software For Self Employed
Choosing among these five editions comes down to a handful of decisions you can make before you click buy. Since every product here is TurboTax Home & Business, the program’s philosophy is constant — what varies is the tax year, the platform requirements, and the extras. Here’s how I’d work through the choice.Match the Edition to the Tax Year You’re Filing
Tax software is year-locked: a 2024 edition cannot file a 2025 return, and a 2022 edition cannot file a 2023 return. Before anything else, identify the exact year you need to file or amend. If it’s the current year, the 2025 desktop edition is your answer. If you’re catching up, choose the edition matching that year — 2024, 2023, 2022, or the 2015/2016 release for very old obligations. Buying the wrong year is the single most common and most expensive mistake in this category, because none of these editions can be updated to a different year.
Check Your Operating System Before Buying
System requirements tighten as editions get newer. The 2022 and 2023 editions install across a wide range of PCs and Macs; the 2024 edition requires macOS Ventura 13 or Sonoma 14 on the Mac side; and the 2025 edition drops Windows 10 entirely, requiring Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later. If your computer runs an older operating system, stepping down one edition year is usually easier and cheaper than upgrading your machine just to file taxes. The 2015/2016 edition’s requirements are unspecified, so verify compatibility first if you go that route.
Budget for State Filing Separately
Every edition in this lineup includes five federal e-files and a state download or return, but state e-filing is sold separately across the board. If you plan to e-file your state return rather than print and mail it, factor that additional cost into your total. It’s a recurring criticism of desktop tax software generally, and it’s the line item that most often surprises first-time self-employed buyers who assumed “includes state” meant the whole job.
Weigh Whether You Need Expert Help
Self-employment taxes generate questions personal filers never face: home office methods, vehicle depreciation, quarterly estimates, hiring contractors. The 2024 and 2025 editions both offer live tax advice for an additional fee, which gives you an escape hatch if you get stuck mid-return. The older editions rely on built-in guidance alone. If your situation is complicated — mixed W-2 and 1099 income, first-year business, significant equipment purchases — leaning toward a newer edition with that expert option available is usually the safer call.
Consider the Bundles and Employer Forms
Two editions carry extras worth noting. The 2023 edition includes Quick Employer Forms for creating and e-filing W-2s and 1099s, which matters if you paid contractors and still owe those filings. The 2022 edition bundles a year of Quicken Starter, useful for getting expense tracking in place before your next filing season. Neither extra justifies choosing the wrong tax year, but when you’re choosing between two editions that both fit your year, these bundles can break the tie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an older edition of TurboTax Home & Business to file this year’s taxes?
No. Tax software is built for one specific tax year, and each edition’s forms, deduction limits, and calculations reflect that year’s rules. A 2022 edition cannot produce a valid 2024 or 2025 return, and the IRS will reject forms filed on the wrong year’s templates. Older editions exist for a legitimate reason — amending or catching up on late returns from their year — but for current filing you need the matching current-year edition, which in this lineup means the 2025 desktop edition.
Why does state e-filing cost extra when a state return is included?
This is a pricing structure common to desktop tax software: the purchase includes the state return preparation itself — the forms and the walkthrough for filling them out — but transmitting your state return electronically is billed as a separate add-on. You can avoid that cost by printing your state return and mailing it, though paper filing is slower and gives up confirmation conveniences. If e-filing your state return matters to you, plan for that additional cost no matter which edition in this lineup you choose, because all five handle it the same way.
What does TurboTax Home & Business do that cheaper personal editions don’t?
The Home & Business editions are built around Schedule C and self-employment income. They guide you through business deductions specific to your industry, handle asset depreciation, calculate self-employment tax, and — in the 2022 and 2023 editions — let you create W-2 and 1099 forms for people you’ve paid. Personal editions stop at W-2 income and simple deductions. If you earned money as a freelancer, contractor, or sole proprietor, the personal editions will strand you mid-return, which is why every product in this roundup is a Home & Business release.
Is the 2025 edition worth it if I’m still running Windows 10?
No — and in fact it isn’t an option at all. The 2025 desktop edition requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later, and Windows 10 is explicitly unsupported. Your practical choices are to update your operating system or step down to the 2024 edition, which installs on a broader range of machines including older Macs running Ventura or Sonoma. Given that filing taxes rarely justifies an operating system upgrade on its own, the 2024 edition is usually the smarter move for owners of older hardware.
Do I really need five federal e-files?
Probably not for yourself — most self-employed filers use one. The five e-files exist because desktop editions are commonly used to prepare returns for family members, and a single purchase can cover a household: your Schedule C return plus, say, a spouse’s, a parent’s, and a dependent’s. If you’re only filing for yourself, treat the extra e-files as harmless headroom. But if you do prepare returns for multiple people, the five-e-file allowance makes these editions considerably more economical than buying separate copies.
Conclusion
After comparing all five editions, the decision really does reduce to one question: which tax year are you filing? For most self-employed readers preparing a current return on an up-to-date computer, the 2025 desktop edition is the clear choice, with its modern platform support and optional expert advice. If your machine runs an older operating system — or you’re filing a 2024 return — the 2024 edition is my best overall pick, combining the fullest feature set with the widest practical compatibility.
Filiers catching up on a 2023 return should grab the 2023 edition, which also brings the best employer-forms tooling for outstanding W-2s and 1099s. Anyone resolving a 2022 return who wants to fix their bookkeeping habits gets the best bundle value from the 2022 edition and its Quicken Starter year. And the 2015/2016 edition belongs to exactly one buyer: the person amending a mid-2010s return, ideally with old QuickBooks records to import. Whichever edition fits, remember that state e-filing costs extra across the board — the one gotcha shared by every product in this roundup.
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