File business taxes with TurboTax, solo

Who this checklist is for

Founders with a straightforward business — typically a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC — who want to file their own taxes and keep more of what they earned. It also tells you when DIY stops fitting.

What it takes

Budget roughly $100–$300 depending on TurboTax version and state filings — typically far less than a preparer. Expect several hours if your records are organized, much longer if they aren't. The hardest part is the gathering, not the software: complete records decide how smooth and accurate filing is.

How the checklist flows

Orientation first: “Know your business tax form” and “Pick the right TurboTax version,” since entity type dictates both. Then the grind — gather your income and expense records before touching the software. The value steps follow: “Claim home office and mileage,” enter the quarterly payments you made, and “Review depreciation choices.” You finish defensively with the red-flag double-check, saving everything, next year's quarterly dates, and “Know when to hand it to a pro.”

Mistakes that sink first-timers

• Using a personal-tax version when your entity needs a separate business return — S-corps and partnerships file separately, on different deadlines.
• Forgetting estimated payments you already made and overpaying at filing time.
• Guessing at deductions without records; a deduction you can't document is a liability, not a saving.

Real-world examples

• Intuit's lineup splits by entity: TurboTax Premium (online) and Home & Business (desktop) handle Schedule C sole proprietors and single-member LLCs, while TurboTax Business handles partnership (1065) and S-corp (1120-S) returns.
• Home-office and vehicle deductions each offer an IRS simplified method versus actual-expense tracking — a choice the software will ask you to make.
• Missed or late quarterly estimated payments can trigger IRS underpayment penalties — why next year's dates are their own step.

From a founder's point of view

DIY taxes are really a bookkeeping test — the software is the easy part. A founder who logs expenses all year files in an afternoon; one with a shoebox loses a weekend. Graduating to a pro isn't failure; it's a sign the business got real.

Your first milestone

Your return is filed and accepted, every document is saved in one place, and next year's four quarterly dates are on your calendar.