Using non-Apple platforms for taxes

TidBITS Talk
1

What about using a DIFFERENT laptop part time during TAX season.
I’m fully Mac/ iOS for most of the time but kinda HAVE to use a Chromebook during AARP tax season…

2

Why’s that?

3

I’m also in this dilemma since business and trust tax preparation software runs only on Windows™, e.g., Intuit’s TurboTax Business.

4

That sounds like a requirement for running Windows. But not a requirement for running a Windows computer. Because, you can run Windows on a Mac via a virtual machine.

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5

How to run Windows 11 on a Mac in 6 easy steps:

  1. Create a Broadcom account
  2. Download VMware Fusion (free)
  3. Install
  4. In Fusion, choose to create a new Windows 11 virtual machine. Fusion will download Windows 11 from Microsoft.
  5. Buy a Windows 11 license. I got an offer today for Windows 11 Pro for $15.
  6. Apply license
  7. There is no step 7.
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6

Or don’t. Windows 11 is fully functional without a license. Certain cosmetic features are not configurable and it nags you about buying a license, but it otherwise works normally. (This is very different from earlier versions of Windows from XP through 10, which would cripple themselves in the absence of a valid license).

Of course, operating in this unlicensed mode is meant for evaluation and testing, not a system you’re using for real work, so you should buy a license (and at $15, there’s no good reason not to), but if you are strapped for cash or only need it for a short time, you’re not violating any terms by operating this way.

See also: Windows 11 doesn’t require a product key to install and use - Digital Citizen

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