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                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.01



December 11, 2000


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20549

Subject:   Intuit Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion is provided in connection with a Form S-8 Registration Statement
(the "Registration Statement") being filed by Intuit Inc. (the "Company") on or
about December 11, 2000. The Registration Statement relates to the registration
of 400,000 of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Shares"). The Shares have been reserved for issuance under the Company's 1996
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended through December 8, 2000 (the "Plan").

For purposes of this opinion, I have examined copies of (i) the Registration
Statement, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to
date, (iii) the Bylaws of the Company, as amended to date, (iv) the Plan and (v)
resolutions of the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company relating
to adoption and amendment of the Plan. In rendering the opinion expressed
herein, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of
all documents, instruments and certificates purporting to be originals, the
conformity with the original documents, instruments and certificates of all
documents, instruments and certificates purporting to be copies, and the legal
capacity to sign of all individuals executing documents, instruments and
certificates. I have also assumed that all Shares will be issued pursuant to the
Plan for a purchase price of not less than $0.01 per share.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, I am of the opinion that the Shares that may be issued
by the Company pursuant to the Plan, when issued and paid for in accordance with
the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, I do not admit thereby that I come within the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ VIRGINIA R. COLES

Virginia R. Coles
Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
Intuit Inc.