Best Tax Software

H&R Block Online does a good job of covering nearly all tax situations U.S. filers are likely to come across—and it does it for a reasonable price. Approximately 20.5 million people used H&R Block to file their taxes in 2022.

H&R Block offers four versions of its online tax filing software. Those include a free online version for basic taxes as well as versions that cost $55, $75, or $115, though they may be available with a discount. These higher-priced versions are for added tax filing needs such as itemized deductions, investments, freelance earnings, or self-employment. State filings cost up to $49 extra per state. You don’t pay until you file, so you can try it out and see your actual results before buying.

H&R Block offers the ability to reach a human for help at any time during your tax preparation process. This does require an added fee, but that could be worth it for some filers with complex taxes or those who just want a little extra help from a tax professional during the online tax prep process. If you want to get in-person support, you can upgrade and take your taxes to an H&R Block location.

This online tax software comes with a 100% accuracy and maximum refund guarantee. The software makes this simple by allowing you to upload your W-2 using a picture from your phone without even downloading the mobile app. You can also import or upload other forms such as 1099s. You can use one H&R Block login while working on your return among different devices. Every step of filing your taxes is an overall positive experience with H&R Block.

TurboTax is the largest tax prep software provider in the United States. TurboTax is made by Intuit, a large financial software company that also makes Mint, the personal finance app, as well as the accounting software platform QuickBooks.

TurboTax Online has four versions available. Costs for the service run from $0, $69, $99, or $129 depending on the complexities of your tax return (with discounts frequently available). Filing a state return costs $59 per state. Depending on when you buy, you may get a discounted price.

TurboTax Live gives you the added help of a certified tax expert. Of course, these packages cost more. When you sign up for TurboTax Live, you get on-demand access to a tax expert. This could be worth the added cost for those with more complicated situations or questions.

The standout features of TurboTax, when compared to the competition, come down to the refined interfaces and tax form upload options. For example, you can import W-2 and 1099 information from many employers and financial institutions without entering the forms manually.

TurboTax includes a 100% accuracy and maximum refund guarantee. It includes free audit guidance and a 60-day money-back satisfaction guarantee.

TaxSlayer is a smaller tax preparation software that’s managed by a family-owned company in Augusta, Georgia. Though TaxSlayer is lesser known than some of its larger competitors, it comes with a similar accuracy guarantee.

There are four online versions of TaxSlayer available, which you can access through the web or the TaxSlayer mobile app. Keep in mind that there is no downloadable desktop version. The free version is for the most basic returns and includes one free state filing. Paid versions are available for $34.95, $54.95, or $64.95 depending on your needs. Each state return is an additional $39.95. TaxSlayer offers all versions to active military families for free.

One place where TaxSlayer falls short is support. In fact, there is no option to upgrade for help from a tax professional during your tax preparation unless you pick the most expensive version. All versions do, however, include free phone and email technical support, though this isn't likely to be of help if you have a question about a form or the return itself. It does offer Ask a TaxPro and Audit Defense features as well, but it doesn't go as far as the live assistance packages offered by other companies.

Though support options are a bit light, the software is highly rated by users. With a lower price than those of its larger competitors, it's a great option for those on a budget.

TaxAct is another popular tax preparation software that offers the ability to prepare your personal or small business taxes online or with a downloadable app. The TaxAct Express mobile app acts as a companion to the desktop version, which allows you to manage your tax preparation or add forms and documents to more complex tax returns. TaxAct is owned by Texas-based company Blucora. Over 90 million returns have been completed using TaxAct since 1998.

TaxAct offers four consumer versions, but small business owners will want to explore the Self-Employed version, which costs $99.95 for personal taxes. States are an additional $54.95 each. If your business has to file its own taxes, business versions cost $124.95 plus $54.95 per state.

TaxAct does a good job of handling most business and personal tax prep needs. One unique feature is the option to file taxes for your S corporation with Form 1120-S completely online. Top competitors like TurboTax only offer this as a more expensive download and only for Windows users, leaving Mac users out of luck. TaxAct also allows you to file C-corp taxes with Form 1120, making it suitable for any business situation.

TaxAct doesn’t offer an option to upgrade to get added support from a tax professional. So if you run into something so complex that you don’t know how to handle it yourself, you may ultimately have to move your filing to a professional preparer. But after looking at the accuracy and satisfaction guarantees, most businesses should feel confident that TaxAct can handle their needs.