The Best Deals on Tax-Filing Services for 2024 (2024)

It's Tax Day, everybody's least-favorite holiday, and if you waited until the last minute to file you need to act fast. Nobody's judging you — there are so many forms, instructions and schedules to keep track of, even with the aid of tax software. It's well-known that the United States has one of the most complex income tax systems in the world. So why not save money and add some peace of mind when you get your taxes done? These well-reviewed companies provide filing assistance, tax calculators, return reviews and more.

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.

• 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.

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.
  

• Fast and affordable.

• Clean interface with intuitive navigation.

• Supports all major IRS forms and schedules.

• Solid data import option

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 structures

• Can handle filings with investment income, rental property income and cryptocurrency sales

• Filing help includes online support like calculators, guides and checklists

• The 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 Español

• Support options include chat, email, and even via social channels, in addition to in-person services

• Their 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 chat

• Available on desktop or via a mobile website

• Two-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.

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 Upsides

• Good user interface and simple navigation

• Has an iOS and Android app available

• Imports returns from competitors

• Again, 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 filing

• The “Deluxe” tier with expert advisors available by live chat is just $7.99

• Add Pro Support for tax advice from a CPA via phone or screen share for $49.99

• Website 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. We believe in you!