Federal income taxes are due on April 15th, and if you’ve put it off for logistical or emotional reasons, you need to act fast. It can be a lot of work to track down the documentation, do the math and fill out the forms, even with the aid of tax software. It’s well-known that the United States has one of the most needlessly complex income tax systems in the world. So why not save money and add some peace of mind while completing your taxes this year? Numerous well-reviewed companies provide filing assistance, tax calculators, return reviews and more.There are now quite a few ways to get your return prepared and your refund in your bank account lightning-fast. Some of these tax prep platforms work with other financial apps to help you monitor your year-round finances, others offer live advisors to assist when necessary, and many have a free or nearly-free filing tier for those who don’t have a ton of paperwork or deductions. Even if you’re happy using the same online system every year to get this annual obligation off your plate, it never hurts to know what your choices are. You only have a few days to make a decision, so stop putting it off and sign on to one of these services right now.
Intuit TurboTax has been in this game for 30+ years (reminder: not all games are fun). And while their software tends to be comparatively expensive, they back up that higher price point with plenty of new add-ons every year. This year’s version debuts Intuit Assist, an AI-powered tool used to improve the preparation process.In our extensive review of Intuit TurboTax 2024 (for the tax year 2023), we declared that its user experience, “feels like one long conversation, not just a collection of pages. It uses clear, understandable, and lively language.” But if you have any questions and want to have a final review of your return, for an additional price you can virtually speak to a human tax expert from Intuit via TurboTax Live Assisted. It should be noted that we did find “some help responses come from community members, not Intuit,” so double-check there. Other Upsides:Amazon Exclusive TurboTax software for saving money on filing both federal and state returns.Outstanding mobile apps for Android, iPad, and iPhone.If your employer also partners with TurboTax, your W-2 info might already be available.A “Lifetime Guarantee” that covers your tax return with 100% accurate calculations and audit support for seven years as well as a Maximum Refund guarantee if you TurboTax’s products are now available in Spanish as well.
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With somewhat lower prices than Intuit TurboTax, H&R Block offers more options for personal tax preparation than any of its competitors and even more than some in-person services. For this year’s version they’ve made one big addition in the form of an AI-driven help assistant, and no longer charge for chat help from tax professionals. There’s also a 50% price drop for the last-minute filers.When we reviewed H&R Block’s 2024 edition, we noted its “friendly interface, extensive coverage of tax issues, and context-sensitive help that make it an excellent online service for simple and complex tax returns.” There are plenty of bells and whistles that cost extra, but are extremely cool. We’re talking about virtual help from CPAs, EAs, and agents, the latter of which will review, sign, and e-file your return. You can even bring your return to an H&R Block office to have it prepared in person. These add-on services range from an additional $89 to nearly $500. Other Upsides:Thorough and understandable explanations of tax topics.Lengthy but conversational wizard-like tool to “interview” you.You never see an IRS form or schedule.Federal Accuracy Reviews spot errors and omissions in your return and let you fix them.Excellent Android and iOS mobile apps.
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TaxSlayer (such a metal name) has actually been slaying taxes in one form or another for over 50 years now. Last year’s tax law changes allowed TaxSlayer to overhaul their digital product to offer faster response time and to improve their “always-on error check”, among other upgrades. The benefits of that are present again in this year’s version. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective tax-filing option than Intuit TurboTax or H&R Block, then we say, “Slay!” In our review of Tax Slayer 2024 (2023 tax year), we called it an “affordable online tax preparation service that gets better each year, though it still has some room for improvement.” In regards to the latter, we found some minor issues such as too much reliance on IRS documents and the Q&A pages, and their help content needed more polish. Other Upsides
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Featuring tax filing for individuals and businesses, TaxAct is another service that has been around since the late ‘90s. TaxAct offers both Web-based and desktop options, plus a Maximum Refund guarantee and a $100,000 accuracy guarantee that covers your liability against an IRS or state penalty based on a TaxAct error. They’re just that confident in what they do.TaxAct’s pricing starts with a free tier for very basic returns, followed by a Deluxe, Premiere and Self-Employed tier for individuals–all of which are more affordable than competitors like TurboTax, especially if you file early in the year. If you’re filing for both your business and a personal return, you can also bundle multiple services for partnerships, corporations, and other business structures. In our full review, we loved TaxAct’s simple user navigation and thorough, in-depth final review. Other Upsides New enhancements include improved mobile browser access and flexible filing structuresCan handle filings with investment income, rental property income and cryptocurrency salesFiling help includes online support like calculators, guides and checklistsThe Xpert Assist feature offers live tax expert advice by phone plus a quick pre-filing return review (for an additional fee)
Liberty Tax has thousands of in-person tax prep centers, as well as an online filing option for those who prefer the DIY route. They offer three tiers: Basic, Deluxe and Premium, all of which are currently discounted by $10 each. (State filings are a flat $36.95 on each tier.) There is no completely free option, however. If you have kids or other dependents, investment or retirement income, itemized deductions or other tax breaks, you’ll probably fall into the Deluxe tier. Want a more hands-off approach? Liberty Tax can handle every aspect of the filing for you—just send them your documents and they’ll take care of the rest. They also offer a free document import service if you’ve filed with a competitor previously, and if you hit a snag and need some help, you can stop where you’re at and send it to an advisor who can help you finish the process face-to-face. Other upsides: Offers services in both English and en EspañolSupport options include chat, email, and even via social channels, in addition to in-person servicesTheir mobile app allows you to file by phone, scan documents, make in-person appointments and more
If you are looking for a brand-name tax filing service that offers a decent interface at a competitive price, Jackson Hewitt might be right in the zone for you. At a $25 filing fee for both federal and state taxes, Jackson Hewitt is one of the most affordable options around. If you’ve done your taxes in person at one of their many Walmart-based or standalone outlets in the past and want to handle things yourself this year with their online platform, you’ll be able to import your past info with ease. Jackson Hewitt also covers self-employment income and investment income this year, though online support is minimal – if you want the help of a professional, you’ll have to get that in person. The Schedule C forms for self-employed people include both income and expenses, and there’s a comprehensive final review that goes through your forms, finds fields you started but didn’t finish and flags errors and anything you might have omitted.Other upsides: Support representatives are available for technical questions via email and chatAvailable on desktop or via a mobile websiteTwo-step identity verification is available
Looking for a free option that offers more than the bare-bones fillings most other “free” services offer? CashApp Taxes delivers a robust service that’s free for both federal and state taxes. All major and many minor tax forms and schedules are supported on free filings, and they’re very clear on the IRS forms and schedules that they can’t help with. For example, if you have interest or investment income to report, you’ll have to spend a few bucks with another service.
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Many self-employment forms are also included, which often incur a much higher expense on paid tax filing sites. If you have a basic or even somewhat complex filing this year and you feel like you don’t need the online help and professional support that most other preparers will make available, CashApp Taxes could be your most economical choice. Other UpsidesGood user interface and simple navigationHas an iOS and Android app availableImports returns from competitorsAgain, it’s free for most users!
Another solid choice for simpler filings or the budget-focused tax filer. The “free” part of FreeTaxUSA refers to the many options available for federal taxes; a state filing still costs $14.99. That being said, if you need a little more help and guidance than the bare-bones support than the totally-free CashApp Taxes provides, you’ll probably find yourself opening up your wallet just a little for the advanced filing service. Of note for workers with a few side gigs: FreeTaxUSA is one of the few services that lets you file a Schedule C (the form for sole-proprietor businesses or single-member LLCs) for free–usually that’s a big upsell on other filing sites. Finally, we also love that you can now pay your taxes with a credit card – if you gotta pony up to Uncle Sam, you can at least get some reward points along with your filing. Other upsides: Features a Refund Maximizer tool at the end of your filingThe “Deluxe” tier with expert advisors available by live chat is just $7.99Add Pro Support for tax advice from a CPA via phone or screen share for $49.99Website is mobile-optimized; no need to download another app
Of course, the IRS has its own system where you can file your taxes for free using its system or through a trusted partner website. Taxpayers whose AGI (annual gross income) in 2023 was less than $79,000 can use a guided tax prep system, while those whose AGI is higher can access Free File Fillable Forms for you to complete on your own. This is exclusively for federal taxes, although free state tax filing services may also be available through the individual state’s websites.If you need extra help, those who qualify can participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs, which use certified volunteers to help you prepare and submit your tax return. These services may be a little more time-intensive and can be tough to navigate, but they’re worth knowing about if you’re comfortable working within the IRS’s online platform or manually filling out forms yourself.
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