Best Tax Apps

Learn More

TaxAct Express is the best overall tax app because it offers reasonable prices and a robust free package. Most apps charge close to $40 to pay for your filing fees using your tax return, but this app is just $17.99 if your refund is direct deposited.

Founded in 1998 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, TaxAct provides tax prep software that makes it easy to e-file with its TaxAct Express app. It's available via its web interface, as well as in the App Store (4.4 stars) and the Google Play store (3.7 stars). People enjoy its competitively priced packages and the ability to pay for filing fees using their tax refund for far cheaper than other tax apps earning our top spot.

If TaxAct software makes a calculation error, it will reimburse you up to $100,000 in IRS penalties and interest. Your filing is free if you receive a higher refund using a different product thanks to its Maximum Refund Guarantee. 

Other benefits include importing last year's tax return information by uploading the PDF—even if you didn't use TaxAct. Plus, if you refer a friend, get a $20 Amazon gift card, and they get 20% off.

Do-it-yourself TaxAct Express packages include:

Learn More

If you’re a business owner, it’s best to use a tax app specifically meant for your tax situation. QuickBooks Self-Employed is a tax app offering business expense tracking and tax filing. You can even make your quarterly estimated tax payments right through the app.

QuickBooks is a leader in accounting software, and its Self-Employed app integrates seamlessly with TurboTax. With this app, you can track both personal and business expenses, mileage, and you can even send and track invoices making it the best for business owners. 

It has 4.7 stars in the App Store and 3.7 stars in the Google Play store, and you can also access the app using its web interface. Some reviewers complain about glitches using the app, while others enjoy how the app allows tracking of both personal and business expenses.

QuickBooks Self-Employed doesn’t offer inventory tracking, so business owners with larger operations may need QuickBooks Online instead of the self-employed version.

There are three QuickBooks Self-Employed packages available:

Learn More

H&R Block Tax Prep and File is the best tax app for live support because it offers Online Assist, where you can receive unlimited help from tax experts 24/7 during the tax season. You can even upload all your documents into the app and have a tax professional file your taxes for you.

H&R Block Tax Prep and File is a tax app by H&R Block, which is a tax preparation company founded in 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri. Use the app to file your taxes yourself and receive assistance from tax experts starting at $39.99, or have a tax professional file your taxes for you starting at $49, making H&R Block Tax Prep and File our choice for best online support.

Find the app in the App Store (4.8 stars) and on Google Play (4.5 stars). Otherwise, use its web interface to file your taxes. Pay for your tax filing fees by using your tax refund for a $39 fee. 

Guarantees include the following:

• No Surprise Guarantee: Receive 20% off next year’s tax filing if the app fails to provide upfront transparent pricing, transparent process, free audit assistance, and free mid-year check-in review. 
• Maximum Refund Guarantee: If you have a higher refund through another app, your H&R Block filing is free.
• Audit Support Guarantee: Should you receive an audit notice from the IRS, H&R Block will let you know how to respond to the notice—for free. Or for $19.99, purchase Worry-Free Audit Support for help if you have an in-person audit.
• 100% Accuracy Guarantee: H&R Block will reimburse up to $10,000 in penalties and interest in the event the software makes an error.

There are several packages to choose from:

Learn More

With TurboTax, you can receive up to $4,000 as a refund advance within three hours of IRS acceptance of your tax return. You can also auto-import and auto-fill data by taking a picture with your phone, so it’s perfect if you need to file fast.

TurboTax is owned by Intuit, a leader in tax prep software. Using the TurboTax Tax Return App, you can file quickly thanks to the auto-fill and auto-import options in the app, making it the best for fast filing. 

You can find the app on the Google Play store (4.7 stars) and App Store (4.8 stars). You can also use the web interface, but to auto-fill information from your W2, you’ll need to upload the image. Many reviewers complain about upsells and paying far more than advertised, so pay careful attention to the pricing to know which package your tax filing will require. 

Even if you use the Free Edition of TurboTax (for simple tax returns only, not all taxpayers qualify), you’re entitled to the maximum refund guarantee. If you receive a larger refund with another app or a smaller tax burden, you will get your federal and state filing fee back. If you used the Free Edition, (for simple tax returns only, not all taxpayers qualify), you’ll get $30 under the guarantee.

TurboTax offers an option to pay for your taxes using your tax refund, so you don’t pay anything up-front to file your taxes through them. However, there’s a $39.99 fee to do this. Otherwise, you can pay your filing fees with a credit card or checking account. 

With Refund Advance, filers can access up to $4,000 of their refund as an advance as soon as three hours after the IRS accepts the return. There are no loan fees, and it’s 0% APR. 

There are four TurboTax packages available on both the mobile and web interface if you’re doing the taxes yourself:

*for simple tax returns only, not all taxpayers qualify

There are four packages for live support:

If you want your taxes done for you, there are also four levels of Live Full Service packages:

Learn More

Traditionally thought of as a budgeting app, You Need a Budget (YNAB) is a great tool to track your ongoing expenses. When it’s time to file taxes, simply download a comma-separated values (CSV) file to share your spreadsheet of income and expenses with your tax preparer, or you can do it yourself.

The best way to prepare to file taxes is to be organized throughout the year. Spend a little time upfront to get your accounts set up on YNAB, and then maintain it every time you’re paid. Then, when you’re ready to file taxes, each category of income and expenses is labeled—making filing a breeze and your tax advisor happy to not have to wade through a shoebox full of receipts earning our spot for best expense reporting.

YNAB is available in both an app and web interface. Pay $14.99 per month or $98.99 per year, and try it out free for 34 days. If you’re a college student, it’s free for a year. At the end of your free year, YNAB offers a 10% discount on the annual plan. 

On the App Store, it has 4.8 stars, and 3.1 stars on the Google Play store. Most reviews discuss the learning curve but praise its ability to help budget and track expenses. You can take a live class seven days a week to learn how to budget with the YNAB app or access any of its tutorials anytime.