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For a smooth and easy process, we recommend doing the research and figuring out which tax service to utilize early on in the tax season. In this review, we lay out what to look for, the best tax services for this year, as well as current promotions, so you can choose the ideal solution for your tax situation.
Read our post on The Pros & Cons Of Paying Taxes With Your Credit Card.
What To Look For In A Tax Service
Tax services – online and in-person – will guide you through the tax filing process, providing all the necessary forms as well as step-by-step instructions. That said, there are plenty of tax services on the market with a wide range of features. Here’s what you should consider before settling on one:
Pricing
This is what most people first look at when deciding on a tax service. In general, tax preparation software ranges from free to over $200 for a complicated return. It’s also important to note that prices fluctuate throughout the year. You’ll find that it’s much more expensive right before the tax deadline, so make sure to file early to take advantage of the best deals.
Relevance
Another important detail is if the tax service works for your particular tax situation. For those with simple returns, a free service might be a good fit. If you have significant investments or you’re self employed, you’ll want to go for a more comprehensive plan that’s designed for your tax situation.
Customer Support
Again, if your tax situation is simple, customer support might not be high on your list. If you have a complicated return, however, you’ll likely need strong support. Some tax software come with assistance by tax professionals. These plans provide all the advantages of a tax software, with expert assistance if you need it.
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Best Tax Services Summary
| Free Version | Other Plans | Customer Support | |
| H&R BLOCK (Best Overall) | Yes | Deluxe – $49.99 Premium – $69.99 Self-Employed – $104.99 | Live Chat Phone |
| TURBOTAX (Best for Complex Returns) | Yes | Deluxe – $59.99 Premier – $79.99 Self-Employed – $119.99 Live – $179.99 | 24/7 Live Support |
| TAXACT (Best for Less Confident Filers) | Yes | Deluxe – $29.95 Premier – $39.95 Self-Employed – $74.95 | Email Phone |
| TAXSLAYER (Best for Confident Filers) | Yes | Classic – $17 Premium – $37 Self-Employed – $47 | Email Phone |
| LIBERTY TAX (Best for Optional In-Person Support) | No | Basic – $44.95 Deluxe – $64.95 Premium – $89.95 | Live Chat In Person |
| FREETAXUSA (Best for Budget Filers) | Yes | Deluxe – $6.99 | Email Live Chat |
| E-FILE (Best for Simple Returns) | Yes | Deluxe – $25.99 Premium – $45.99 | |
| JACKSON HEWITT (Best for In-Person Filers) | Yes | Deluxe – $49.95 Premier – $69.95 | Live Chat Phone In Person |
H&R Block
You might have seen a local H&R Block in your area, but they also have a great online tax filing system as well. The software has a host of features, including import tools for previous tax information, on-demand tech support and much more. You’ll also have access to tax representatives who can review your tax return for an additional fee, ensuring your return is void of errors and that you covered all your tax breaks.
| Promotions | 4% Amazon refund bonus |
| Tax Refund Options | Direct deposit H&R Block Emerald prepaid debit Mastercard Paper check Next year’s taxes U.S. Savings Bonds Amazon gift card (4% bonus) |
| Audit Support | Worry-Free Audit Support ($19.99) includes audit preparation, IRS correspondence management and in-person audit representation. |
*See our H&R Block offers page
TurboTax
If you have a lot of investments, get income from rent or are self-employed, you probably have a lot of additional tax forms to complete and a lot of tax rules to follow. Although TurboTax is pricier than most of its competitors, those with complex tax situations will find that it’s worth the money spent.
TurboTax Premier and Self-Employed integrate with ItsDeductible, a mobile app that quickly finds the deduction value of donated clothes, household items and more. TurboTax Self-Employed even comes with a one-year subscription to QuickBooks Self-Employed with a handy expense-tracking feature that stores photos of your receipts and tracks mileage from your phone.
Support comes in the form of TurboTax Live (one-on-one review with a CPA or enrolled agent), unlimited year-round tax advice and live video chats.
| Promotions | Up to $20 annual discount offer Up to $20 Fidelity discount Military discount |
| Tax Refund Options | Direct deposit Paper check Next year’s taxes U.S. Savings Bonds |
| Audit Support | TurboTax Audit Support Guarantee with free audit guidance from a trained tax professional to help you understand your IRS notice and answer any questions relating to your audit. Max Defend and Restore ($45-$60) will give you access to a professional who will represent you in front of the IRS. |
TaxAct
TaxAct isn’t as robust as H&R Block and TurboTax, but it’s also lower in cost. The software offers standard features, like the ability to import your W-2, 1099s and last year’s returns, a few planning tools and helpful calculators. The TaxTutor Guidance knowledge base is an excellent source to get all the information you need to understand the process and complete your taxes.
Tax support is available via phone and in-app email for paid customers. Premier and Self-Employed users have access to an option that lets you and the support agent see each other’s screens.
| Promotions | 20% off online federal tax filing $20 Amazon gift card referrals |
| Tax Refund Options | Direct deposit American Express Serve prepaid debit card Paper check Next year’s taxes U.S. Savings Bonds |
| Audit Support | Audit defense from a partner company ($49.95) for three years of audit services, such as guidance, handling IRS and state correspondence on your behalf, help with denied tax credits and tax debt, and tax fraud assistance. |
TaxSlayer
Unlike most tax services, TaxSlayer determines its pricing based on level support, rather than what the products can do. That means the cheapest paid package can handle all types of tax forms and situations – itemizing, investments, rental income, self-employment – but comes with little support.
Phone and email tech support are free. Only the Premium and Self-Employed versions include tax help from a tax professional.
| Promotions | Rakuten coupons |
| Tax Refund Options | Direct deposit Debit card Paper check File & Go/Bank refund transfer |
| Audit Support | Audit Assistance for federal returns comes with the Premium and Self-Employed packages ($29 for other users), helping your prepare for and resolve inquiries in case of an audit for up to three years. |
*See our TaxSlayer offers page
Liberty Tax
Like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax gives you the option to file your taxes online or in-person at one of their 4,000+ locations. You can start by purchasing the online tax preparation plan, then complete the process face-to-face if you reach a point where you need expert help.
| Promotions | All plans for the same price 15% off coupon code $50 Send-A-Friend referrals |
| Tax Refund Options | Direct deposit Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard Paper check |
| Audit Support | Professionals will advise you on any potential audits or inquiries coming from the IRS or your state department of revenue. |
*See our Liberty Tax offers page
FreeTaxUSA
As you might guess from its name, FreeTaxUSA lets you file your taxes for free. That is, only on the federal level. You’ll need to pay a low-cost fee to file your state taxes as well. Features include an intuitive interface with simple navigation, a tax calculator, the ability to import last year’s information and the standard accuracy and maximum refund guarantees.
| Promotions | No promotions |
| Tax Refund Options | Direct deposit Prepaid debit card Paper check |
| Audit Support | Audit Assist is included with the Deluxe version ($6.99). This gives you access to audit specialists who can answer any audit-related questions you might have and unlocks the Audit Center knowledge base. |
*See our FreeTaxUSA offers page
E-file.com
E-file.com is an affordable tax preparation service that’s fast and fairly easy to use. However, it’s very much a DIY process, without nearly the level of customer support or features you would experience with H&R Block and TurboTax. That said, it does come with all the standards, including prior-year return importing, a help sidebar and an accuracy guarantee.
| Promotions | Up to 50% off coupon codes |
| Tax Refund Options | Direct deposit Paper check |
| Audit Support | Free audit defense tools, but it doesn’t come with actual representation. Audit assistance is available for an additional fee. |
*See our E-file.com offers page
Jackson Hewitt
Jackson Hewitt has been in the tax business since 1982, so it’s a name you can trust. You can choose to file online or in-person at one of their 6,000+ locations nationwide. We recommend the face-to-face service with a trusted Tax Pro to get every credit and deduction that you qualify for. Plus, their offices are open late and on weekends.
| Promotions | $20 referral bonuses |
| Tax Refund Options | Direct deposit Paper check Next year’s taxes U.S. Savings Bonds |
| Audit Support | No audit assistance included |
*See our Jackson Hewitt offers page
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