TurboTax review: Major usability issues in TurboTax 2025 — feedback from a 20 year customer

I’ve been a TurboTax customer for about 20 years, and this is the first year I’ve seriously considered switching to another product. The 2025 updates have made the experience dramatically worse, and I want to share specific issues that have cost me hours of unnecessary work.
1. Basic functionality has been removed or restricted
If a bank changes its routing number, I should be able to simply update it. This is a basic need. The fact that TurboTax now complicates this makes no sense and creates avoidable frustration.
2. Removing the Donations Calculator created unnecessary work
This tool saved hours every year. Removing it has caused enormous amounts of extra work for me and my family. There is no equivalent replacement, and it feels like a downgrade rather than an improvement.
3. The new interface is extremely inefficient
Scrolling through page after page and clicking multiple buttons instead of entering data directly has turned a previously efficient process into a time consuming one. It’s not intuitive, not helpful, and absolutely not an improvement.
4. Why remove the drop down box for W 2 Box 14?
Box 14 requires selecting a category from a defined list. You must take an extra step to access the drop-down menu when required. This is another example of the product being less user friendly.
5. Why does TurboTax remove the employer’s state tax ID number?
In some cases, TurboTax removes the state tax ID number that has been the same for 5–10 years. How often does this information actually change? Forcing users to re enter stable data is unnecessary and frustrating. It adds work without adding value.
6. Forced updates for prior year returns make no sense
If I’m not amending a return and simply need to view what I filed, I should not be forced to download massive updates for a product I’m not even using. I forgot to save a PDF of my 2024 return, and it took over 20 minutes of updates just to open the file. This should not be happening.
7. Why am I forced to restart my computer for updates to a prior year return I didn’t even need?
I should not have to restart my computer for updates to a tax year I’m not filing and not modifying. I should have been done with my family’s taxes two hours ago, and instead I’ve been stuck waiting and clicking for no reason. This is a complete waste of time and a terrible user experience.
8. Why does Audit Defense pop up every single time?
I have a simple return: one W 2, standard deduction, no investments, no side income. Yet TurboTax repeatedly pushes Audit Defense and forces me to click “I’ll do it later” instead of simply allowing me to say No once. This feels like an aggressive upsell, not a helpful feature.
9. Higher price, lower usability
TurboTax keeps getting more expensive, yet the product is not improving. This year’s version has required more manual work, more time, and more frustration than any previous year.
10. Why does the website force me through ads before I can even reach my dashboard?
When I log into the TurboTax website, I’m immediately hit with a series of questions and “based on your information, we recommend…” screens. I don’t want any of it. I want to go straight to my dashboard and select what I want — not be pushed through layers of advertising disguised as guidance. This is not helpful, it’s not user‑friendly, and it feels like the product is prioritizing upsells over the customer experience.
After two decades of loyalty, this may be my last year using TurboTax. I hope the product team takes this feedback seriously.