It is well known that Turbotax is one of the best applications for filing taxes from the comfort of your home and without any hassle through its simple user interface. Although the TurboTax software is amazing and has a huge customer base, there are some instances where the application does not perform properly. The users have to face various issues like the app crashing and some app options not working, among many others.
Therefore to free the customers who use Turbotax on Mac, we have sorted out some of the best and most beneficial methods using which the users can tackle the problem of Turbotax not working on MacBooks. Go through the instructions explained in the processes below to fix all the problems related to Turbotax not working on Mac.
Solution 1: Install Updated Version of Turbotax app
If you do not have the latest version of any application like the Turbotax tax filer software, which uses real-time data to work properly, you don’t need to think twice about why the app is malfunctioning. With each new update, the developers come with a fix for the bugs, glitches, and other problems that the customers faced in the previous version of the software.
Hence, check for the app updates and install them on your Mac to resolve all the issues related to the Turbotax not functioning properly on your Mac. After updating the TurboTax app, relaunch the application and try using the features and options you had trouble accessing before to check if the problem persists.
You need to give permission to install Third-Party software on your Mac from Privacy settings,
On MacOS Ventura
- Go to the Apple Logo from the top menu > System Settings.
- Next, Click on Privacy & Security > Select “App Store and identified developers.”
- That’s it.
On MacOS Monterey & Earlier
- Go to the Apple Logo from the top Mac menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Unlock the window by clicking on lock icon > Under the General Tab > Select “App Store and identified developers” from Allow apps downloaded from option.
- That’s it. Now, Run Turbotax Downloaded software to install on Mac.
Solution 2: Allow Permission to open identified developers app
The problem of TurboTax being unable to open is one of the most common problems that Turbotax customers face while using it on a Mac. The users might be able to see a Turbotax checkmark icon float in front of their eyes a few times after opening the app once it is installed. The error box reads the message “Turbotax 2021 can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software,” indicating that the MacBook is unable to check Turbotax for malicious software. So to take this problem away from you, we suggest you carefully go through the procedure illustrated below.
Step. 1→ Once the error message appears on the screen, click on the “show in finder” option present on the error box.
Step. 2→ After clicking on the show in finder option, the applications folder with the TurboTax application selected will open. Right-click on that Turbotax product and hit the open button.
Step. 3→ Then, a similar error message saying Turbotax can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software will appear on the screen.
Step. 4→ Finally, select the option to open Turbotax on your Mac from the error box.
This method will install and open the TurboTax software on your Mac by allowing Apple to check it for malicious software. This is a simple yet effective process for dealing with the problems related to the pop-up “TurboTax can’t be opened as Apple cannot check it for malicious software” appearing on the screen after the installation of the software.
Solution 3: Turbotax System Requirements
Every software or application has minimum system requirements for its proper working. If your device does not meet those system requirements, then the software faces trouble in handling its process in the best way possible. Therefore, it is important to check the system requirements of the TurboTax software before installing it on your MacBook. Kindly note the specifications given below to fix the problems related to TurboTax system requirements.
- Operating System
The operating systems that the TurboTax software works best with are listed underneath.
- 2021: macOS Catalina 10.15 or later
- 2020: macOS Mojave 10.14 or later
- 2019: macOS High Sierra 10.13 or later
- 2018: macOS X v.10.12 or later (64-bit required)
- Processor
The TurboTax application supports the “Multi-core Intel processor with 64-bit support” and above processors for its proper working.
- Hard Drive Space
- 2019 – 2021 version of the software: 1 GB
- 2018 version of the software: 650 MB
- RAM
2 GB or more RAM is recommended for the proper working of the software.
- CD/DVD drive
CD/DVD drive is a must if you are installing the software from the CD.
- Internet connection
A minimum internet speed of 1 Mbps modem is required for the product activation, software updates, and optional online features. However, it is recommended to use a Broadband connection for carrying out these processes.
- Monitor resolution
The TurboTax developers recommended a display with 1024×768 or higher resolution to effectively use the software.
- Mac-compatible printer
If you want to print your tax return or any tax forms, a Mac-compatible printer is required for the job.
Solution 4: Get admin permission
Once you have made sure that your device meets all the system requirements of the Turbotax software, ensure that you have the administrative rights of your MacBook. The administrator rights ensure that the user has all the necessary permissions for performing a specified task and having control over the actions of various applications. Having the administrative rights is crucial as it allows the users to make system-wide changes like accessing all files, installing software, and deleting, creating, and modifying the user accounts.
To get the admin permission of your MacBook, go through the simple steps described below.
Step. 1→ First, select the Apple Logo menu at the top left part of the screen and hit the System Settings/system preferences option.
Step. 2→ Then, select the accounts option under Users & Groups a system in the system preferences window.
Step. 3→ Now, choose your user account from all the accounts available and check the panel on the right. If the option of “Allow user to administer this computer” is not enabled or checked, the user does not have admin rights.
This process will help users verify their accounts for the administrator rights on their MacBook. If you want the admin permissions and cannot check the box as it is greyed out, try logging in as an administrator or contact a user with the admin permission to help you out.
Solution 5: Contact Turbotax support
Suppose you have tried and tested all the solutions mentioned earlier in this article but are still facing difficulties in using the TurboTax software properly. In that case, it is best to contact or reach out to the TurboTax support center to get the exact reason for the problem followed by solving it. There are three ways by which the users can contact the TurboTax support staff- TurboTax Online, TurboTax mobile application, and TurboTax CD/DVD download software. This section will discuss only the solutions related to the TurboTax MacBook software.
- TurboTax Online Software
For the TurboTax customers who have bought the software through an online medium, the best way to get in touch with the support staff is very simple.
Step. 1→ Log in to your TurboTax online account.
Step. 2→ Now open the TurboTax assistant by selecting the Help option on the menu bar.
Step. 3→ In the message box, type in your problem or write Talk to a specialist if you want to talk directly with the support staff.
Step. 4→ follow the prompts to set up a call with the TurboTax support staff.
(Note that users with the free edition without the plus subscription will have to add the plus benefits to their account before talking to a specialist.)
The method explained above is the most effective and simple way for getting in touch with the right person in TurboTax support. If you need any further assistance, you can reach out to the TurboTax specialists by calling at (800) 446-8848.
- TurboTax Mobile Application
Step. 1→ Visit the official TurboTax contact us page.
Step. 2→ Then, select your TurboTax product and edition on the “contact us” page.
Step. 3→ Now, type in your query and hit the continue button.
Step. 4→ After that, fill in your contact information and click on the Get the Phone Number option.
After you have completed all the steps illustrated in this process, you will get the phone number of the TurboTax support center, where you can call and discuss the problem with the specialists to get a solution.
Solution 6: Turbotax won’t download on Mac
It is possible that the users might face some difficulty downloading and installing the TurboTax for Mac for different purposes like filing taxes, federal programs, etc. Hence, pay close attention to the method described in this section to download and install the TurboTax software on your MacBooks properly. You can try both these methods and see what works for you.
- If you are connected to a wireless internet network, try switching to a wired connection.
If this does work, then follow the steps given below.
Step. 1→ Launch a web browser and try visiting the sites you haven’t surfed for a while.
Step. 2→ If you are unable to visit those sites, restart the wireless router and try again.
Step. 3→ If the problem persists, shut down your MacBook, router, and modem in the specified order.
Step. 4→ Wait for 2 minutes and restart all the devices you had turned off earlier.
This method should fix all the problems of the TurboTax related to the network connection. Now open the TurboTax app again to check if the issue is resolved or not.
Solution 7: Turn off VPN if it is enabled
Although VPN is an important tool for keeping your privacy safe and secure, sometimes the VPN might be the reason for some applications and processes not working properly. Hence, turning the VPN off might fix the issue of TurboTax not working on Mac. Once you have disabled the VPN, open the TurboTax application again and see if the problem still exists.
Solution 8: Update MacOS
Suppose, even after trying out all the above solutions, you still face difficulty using the TurboTax app and other software and applications. In that case, the best thing that one can do is check for the macOS updates and download them. To update the macOS, go through the following steps.
On MacOS Ventura
- 1→ Go to the Apple Logo > System Settings.
- 2→ Next, General > Software Update.
- 3→ Download and install the latest macOS Version.
On MacOS Monterey & Earlier
- Step. 1→ Press the Apple logo at the top of the screen and select system preferences.
- Step. 2→ Now click on the software update option in the system preferences window.
- Step. 3→ Finally, click on update now or upgrade now to download and install the update.
By completing this process, the users will be able to download and install the new macOS updates for their Macs very easily. Once you have updated the macOS, try opening the TurboTax application to check if the problem is solved.
We have come to an end of all the best and most effective solutions for the TurboTax application not working properly on Mac. We wish that all the problems related to the TurboTax malfunctioning or randomly crashing were resolved through this article. Thus, try all the solutions listed in this post and let us know which one worked for you.
Q & A→
- Why won’t TurboTax install on my Mac computer?
→ For the TurboTax software to work properly on your MacBook, go through all the app’s system requirements and have the administrator rights enabled on your account. For more details, go through the solutions discussed in this post.
- Does TurboTax work on Mac?
→ Yes, the TurboTax application works perfectly on Mac. The users need to take note of all the key points discussed in this post to fix any problem related to the software not working.
- Why is my Turbo Tax not opening?
→ Suppose you see an error message of “TurboTax cannot be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software” while opening the app on your Mac. In that case, the Apple Gatekeeper security protocol introduced in OS X 10.15 might be the sole reason for TurboTax not opening on your Mac. To fix this issue, refer to solution number 2.
- What version of macOS do you need for Turbo Tax 2020?
→ The TurboTax 2020 works fine on the macOS Mojave 10.14 and later operating system versions.
