10 Best Tax Software

Most of us would rather have a tooth pulled than prepare our tax returns. But with the right tax software, the process can be easier than you might think.

In this guide, we help you find the best tax software for you — whether you run a small business in Missouri, own rental property, or need to file multiple state returns. Plus, many companies have free packages for military members and other eligible customers.

Be aware that tax software prices may have changed since the time of publication. It’s a good idea to check each company’s website for current rates.

Our Top Picks for Best Tax Software

• TurboTax – Best for investors
• H&R Block – Best for Multiple Ways to File
• TaxAct – Best for Small Businesses
• Jackson Hewitt – Best for Unlimited State Returns
• TaxSlayer – Best for Self-Employed Filers
• E-file – Best for Year-Round Discounts
• FreeTaxUSA – Best Low-Cost Tax Software
• Cash App Tax – Best Free Tax Software
• Drake Tax – Best for Tax Preparers
• 1040.com – Best for Simple Tax Returns

Best Tax Software Reviews

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Free	Individuals with simple income tax returns	Federal: $0 State: $0
Deluxe	Homeowners	Federal: $59 State: $49
Premier	Investors and rental property owners	Federal: $89 State: $49
Self-Employed	Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners	Federal: $119 State: $49

TurboTax Intuit is arguably the biggest name in tax software. It’s also the best tax software for investors because it’s one of the only programs that lets you auto-import thousands of investment transactions all at once.

The auto-import tool works like this: TurboTax partners with over 300 financial institutions across the country. If you invest with one of these institutions, you can connect TurboTax to your account and the software will pull in all your data for you.

Not only does this save you time, but it also helps you accurately report gains and losses to the IRS. And if you happen to get stuck along the way, there’s the option to get expert help when you upgrade to TurboTax Live Premier.

While TurboTax advertises a free version for those with “simple tax returns,” you don’t qualify if you have investment income from stocks, dividends, cryptocurrency, rental income, or ESPPs.

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Free	Individuals with simple returns	Federal: $0 State: $0
Deluxe	Individuals with HSA contributions, itemized deductions, and/or dependent care expenses	Federal: $43.99 State: $44.99
Premium	Investors and rental property owners	Federal: $59.99 State: $44.99
Self-Employed	Freelancers, entrepreneurs, gig workers, and small business owners	Federal: $91.99 State: $44.99

H&R Block boasts more tax filing methods than most companies, which is why we named it the best tax filing software for the flexibility it gives people in deciding what kind of interaction they want to have with their tax preparer.

You have four primary options for completing your return:

1. On your own: Use H&R Block’s online software to file your return from your computer, tablet, or mobile phone. On-demand customer support is available when you need it.
2. Virtually with a tax pro: Book a phone call or virtual meeting and a tax professional will do your taxes while you wait on the line — without you ever having to leave home.
3. In-office with a tax-pro: Pop into one of H&R Block’s 9,000 offices to get in-person help. Appointments usually last about an hour, and you can either walk in or book an appointment.
4. Drop-off with a tax pro: If you don’t have time for a full appointment, you can drop your tax documents off at a local H&R Block or upload them online and a tax professional will contact you when they’re ready.

There’s also the added benefit of being able to switch methods at any time. So, if you start filing online and then decide you want a pro to do it for you, you can book an appointment without any issues.

Filing with a tax pro starts at $80 for a federal return, plus extra for state returns. Online returns start at $0 and go up to $91.99 (plus extra for state) depending on the complexity of your situation.

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Free	Dependents and individuals with simple returns	Federal: $0 State: $39.95
Deluxe	Individuals with a mortgage, childcare expenses, and/or student loan payments	Federal: $46.95 State: $54.95
Premiere	Investors, rental property owners, and those who sold a home	Federal: $69.95 State: $54.95
Self Employed	Freelancers, entrepreneurs, gig workers, and small business owners	Federal: $94.95 State: $54.95

We named TaxAct the best online tax software for small business owners for two reasons. First, it’s cheaper than TurboTax’s Self-Employed plan. Second, it does a better job at helping entrepreneurs maximize their deductions.

For instance, TaxAct’s Deduction Maximizer tool scours the internet to help small business owners find every industry-specific deduction they qualify for. For musicians, it will look for ways to deduct expenses such as instrument maintenance and studio rentals. For handymen, it will spot expenses such as union dues and vehicle upkeep.

TaxAct also provides a plethora of tax calculators and tools to help small business owners estimate quarterly tax payments, income tax liability, and more — all without having to buy a package.

Most tax companies use the phrase “small business owner” as a catch-all term. However, TaxAct understands that being an entrepreneur can take on many forms. It’s a great option for anyone who earns income from gig jobs, freelancing (1099-NECs), farming, rental properties, and much more.

TaxAct also backs all of its packages up with an accuracy guarantee, up to $100,000, which just might be the icing on the cake.

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Online	Individuals with any tax situation	Federal and state: $25
Online With A Tax Pro	Individuals with any tax situation but who want online help from a tax pro	Federal and state: $99

Unlike most tax software companies that make you pay for each individual state return, Jackson Hewitt lets you file unlimited state returns for one flat price — hence why it landed on our best list.

Not having to pay extra for multiple returns can put a lot of money back in your pocket — especially when they cost around $40 a pop with other companies.

Come tax season, Jackson Hewitt can be found in almost every Walmart and strip mall. And although in-person filing is its primary service mode, you can also use Jackson Hewitt to file your taxes online — from the comfort of your couch.

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Free Federal Basic Software	Individuals with simple returns	Federal: $0 State: $22.49 with code 25OFF
Deluxe Plus E-File	Individuals with dependents, mortgage interest, and/or retirement income	Federal: $27.99 or $20.99 with code 25OFF State: $22.49
Premium Plus E-File	Individuals with itemized deductions and/or business income	Federal: $49.99 or $37.49 with code 25OFF State: $22.49

With E-File’s ample promotions and discounts, every tax season feels like an opportunity to save. The company is constantly showering its customers with great deals, making it a top pick for budget-conscious tax filers.

You get what you pay for, though, and some “basic” features are missing from E-File’s basic package.

For example, you have to upgrade to the Deluxe Plus or Premium tier if you want phone support. And its user interface isn’t quite as intuitive as that of other tax software packages. Still, it’s a solid option if you want to file a basic return fast.

FreeTaxUSA – Best Low-Cost Tax Software

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Free Edition	All major tax situations, basic support	Federal: $0 State: $14.99
Deluxe Edition	All major tax situations, plus access to live support, unlimited amended returns, audit assist	Federal: $6.99 State: $14.99

Because FreeTaxUSA is one of the only companies that lets you file your federal return for free — no matter how complex your situation is — it gets our approval as the Best low-cost tax software.

That said, we didn’t name it the best “free tax software” because state returns still cost $14.99. And if you want added features like live support and unlimited amended returns, you’ll need to upgrade to the Deluxe Edition.

Still, it’s quite a bargain if you feel comfortable filing your return on your own.

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Free Military	Military members of all tax situations	Federal: $0 State: $39.95
Simply Free	Individuals with simple returns	Federal: $0 State: $0
Classic	Individuals with almost any tax situation (outside of business income)	Federal: $29.95 State: $39.95
Premium	Individuals wanting on-demand support from a tax pro	Federal: $49.95 State: $39.95
Self-Employed	Contractors, freelancers, business owners, and those with self-employment income	Federal: $59.95 State: $39.95

TaxSlayer is the best tax software for self-employed filers for one simple reason: it costs a fraction of the price charged by the big guys like TurboTax and H&R Block.

TaxSlayer also includes a few “extras” that seal the deal for anyone with 1099 income (think contractors, freelancers, and side-hustlers). For instance, you get quarterly estimated tax reminders throughout the year. Plus, you can chat with a tax pro who specializes in self-employment income if you get bogged down during the filing process.

That said, you can’t create business returns in TaxSlayer. So it won’t work if you’re set up as an S corporation or C corporation.

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Free	Most major tax situations, including those with student loan interest and rental income	Federal: $0 State: $0

Most tax software companies advertise some free packages for eligible customers, but they’ll charge extra for complex situations or special add-ons. However, Cash App Tax, previously known as Credit Karma Tax, is the only company that doesn’t have any paid packages at all. In other words, the service is 100% free — all the time.

Cash App Tax supports most major tax situations. So even if you have student loan interest, 1099 income, itemized deductions, and so on, you can file your return with them.

That said, Cash App Tax doesn’t support all tax situations. You’ll need to look for an alternative if you need to file multiple state returns or a nonresident state return. And its interface isn’t as smooth or intuitive as some of the more sophisticated tax applications.

Still, Cash App Tax is a great option if you want to file taxes for free and don’t need one-on-one assistance. According to Cash App, most customers file in just a few minutes using the mobile app.

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
Power Bundle	Unlimited tax returns and Drake Accounting Pro software	$1,745
Unlimited	Unlimited tax returns	$1,625
Pay-Per-Return	10 returns or less	$345 ($29.99 for each additional return over 10)

Drake Tax is the best tax software for professional tax preparers. For solo CPAs to large accounting firms, its multi-tier plans make it easy to customize a package that matches a tax pro’s needs.

For instance, independent tax preparers who only create a handful of returns a year can keep business expenses low with the pay-per-return package. Plus, you can connect the software to e-pay, accounting, and document exchange tools to help make sure your customers have a smooth and secure tax filing experience.

One downside to keep in mind is that Drake Tax isn’t a one-and-done purchase — you have to renew the software each year.

Plan Name	Best For	Cost
File Taxes	Most major tax situations	Federal: $25 State: $0

1040.com’s price tag says it all. For just $25, it’s the best tax software for simple tax returns. Its no-frills system features an easy navigation menu and a “tell me more” button that walks you through the filing process.

As with other tax software options, you can speed up the tax prep process by importing tax documents (such as W-2s and 1099s) and your previous year’s returns. There’s also a service team you can talk to via email or chat if you need help.

Other tax software companies we considered

The following tax software services made our research list, but they didn’t land in our top picks because they lack certain features to make them truly stand out.

LibertyTax

LibertyTax’s easy-to-use interface allows you to quickly import documents to speed up the filing process. But you get little to no access to tax professionals.

ATX Tax

ATX is designed for tax professionals, but it doesn’t have as many options for small-sized firms as Drake Tax does. For this reason, it didn’t make the main list.

EZTax Return

EZTax Return is a great option if you have a simple return. However, it’s only available in 21 states and email is the only way to chat with customer support.

Community Tax

Community Tax is one of the best tax relief companies. It employs licensed tax practitioners and CPAs to help you complete your return or file back taxes. However, you have to create an account (and thus hand over personal information) to view pricing.

Tax Software Guide

As the number of tax software options grows each year, it becomes more difficult to choose one. Understanding what tax software is and how it works can help you slim down your options.

What is tax software?

Tax software is a computer program that helps individuals and businesses prepare their tax returns. It typically guides you through the process of entering information and calculating how much you may owe or get back as a tax refund.

For individuals wanting to file taxes on their own, tax software can be a valuable way to ensure accuracy and maximize tax deductions.

Some tax prep software presents customers with additional features for purchase, such as the ability to chat with a tax expert or get audit support.

How does tax software work?

Tax software is designed to make filing your taxes as easy and painless as possible.

The first step is to input some basic information about yourself, such as your name, address, and Social Security number.

Then you enter information about your income and any deductions or credits you’re eligible for. The software then calculates your tax liability and prepares the necessary forms.

You can then submit your forms electronically, or print them out and mail them in.

How do you choose the right tax software?

If you’re not sure which tax software is right for you, use these five factors as a guide:

Tax forms available

First, make sure the program you use supports the tax forms you need to file. For example, Cash App Taxes doesn’t support foreign earned income, non-resident state filing, or multiple state filings. So, if any of these situations apply to you, don’t even consider them.

The good news is that most companies have packages that cover most major tax situations (i.e. unemployment income, mortgage interest, student loan interest, child tax credits, standard deductions, itemized deductions, investments, small business income, and more).

Be aware that if you have a complex tax situation and don’t qualify for free tax filing, you may end up paying for a premium package.

Cost

Tax software can range in price from free to over $100. If you have a simple tax return or make less than $73,000 a year, you most likely qualify for a free option. However, if you have a more complex return, you’ll likely need to pay a fee when you go to file.

User experience

You’ll spend a lot of time with the tax software you choose, so make sure it offers a good user experience. If you’re not sure about a company, read online reviews to get an idea of what users think.

And if possible, try out the software yourself before buying it. (Most companies don’t make you pay until you file, so you can easily test it out for free.)

Customer support

Think about how comfortable you are filing your own personal taxes. If you need more assistance, choose a company that provides live chat or on-demand help from an expert.

For example, major players like TurboTax, H&R Block, and Jackson Hewitt let you meet with a tax pro either online or in person. Other companies, such as Cash App Tax and E-File, are limited to phone or email support – if they offer anything at all.

Free options

IRS Free File is available to anyone with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $73,000 or less. This means if your taxable income is $73,000 or less after subtracting deductions, you can most likely file your own taxes for free.

If you’re not sure what your AGI is, use the TaxAct AGI calculator to find out.

Important: AGI above $73,000? No problem. You may still qualify for a free return if you have a simple tax situation and only need to file Form 1040.

How We Chose The Best Tax Software

When curating our best list, we dug through dozens of popular tax software companies to identify the top one in each “best for” category — from best free returns to best for self-employed. We also evaluated each tax prep software based on these factors:

• Reputation — We prioritized companies that have a strong reputation for producing accurate returns and maximum refund guarantees.
• Customer support options — We considered which companies have the best live chat, online assist, and phone support options, as well as those with tax pros on standby.
• Availability — We made sure all of our tax software packages were available to residents nationwide, including those in Missouri.