[pwg]

The desktop editions are supposed to run locally, and save data locally [1].

But, one quirk many may not be aware of, even with 'desktop' versions, is if one e-files, the data follows this path:

Desktop -> Intuit (or other software) servers -> IRS

So to avoid a copy of one's tax data being stored on the servers of the software prep. company, one has to print and file via. paper forms.

[1] I realize this does not mean it is not silently uploading the data in the background somewhere to their servers anyway, but the 'web' version is guaranteed to be storing the data on their servers. But I do hope with the number of users using these packages that if this were to happen, someone would notice and sound the alarm.