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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 86,973 of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Shares"). The Shares have been reserved for issuance under three nonqualified
Stock Option Agreements granted by the Company on March 7, 2000, March 14, 2000
and June 14, 2000 (the "Non-Plan Grants").

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 Non-Plan
Grants and (v) the Employment Agreement between Michael D. Hollerbach and Rock
Financial Corporation pursuant to which the Non-Plan Grants were made. 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. All Shares will be issued
pursuant to the Non-Plan Grants 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 Non-Plan Grants, when issued and paid for in
accordance with the Non-Plan Grants, 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.