Tax Software: Buying Advice, Tips, and News
If you don't want to shell out to hire a CPA, tax prep software can help you navigate the annual pain of tax filing. But some programs are better than others. We've tested all the major services to help you decide which one is right for you.
Our Current Top Tested Picks
Intuit TurboTax 2026 (Tax Year 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Intuit TurboTax excels in every aspect of personal tax preparation, thanks to its state-of-the-art design, comprehensive coverage of tax topics, and extensive help.
Full Intuit TurboTax 2026 (Tax Year 2025) ReviewPros
- Exceptional user experience
- Uses understandable language
- Deep and plentiful tax topics
- Excellent help resources and virtual support
- Thorough mobile apps
Cons
- Pricey
- Some help responses come from the community, not Intuit
Pros
- Exceptional user experience
- Uses understandable language
- Deep and plentiful tax topics
- Excellent help resources and virtual support
- Thorough mobile apps
Cons
- Pricey
- Some help responses come from the community, not Intuit
FreeTaxUSA 2026 (Tax Year 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
FreeTaxUSA is a robust and easy-to-use personal tax preparation service that supports all major IRS forms for free, with a modest charge for state returns.
Full FreeTaxUSA 2026 (Tax Year 2025) ReviewPros
- Free federal and inexpensive state filing
- Supports all major forms and schedules
- Easy navigation and attractive interface
- Supports more 1099 uploads than before
- Excellent mobile access
Cons
- Could use more help resources
Pros
- Free federal and inexpensive state filing
- Supports all major forms and schedules
- Easy navigation and attractive interface
- Supports more 1099 uploads than before
- Excellent mobile access
Cons
- Could use more help resources
H&R Block 2026 (Tax Year 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
H&R Block offers comprehensive tax prep with excellent guidance for self-employed filers and robust expert support.
Full H&R Block 2026 (Tax Year 2025) ReviewPros
- Supports all major forms and schedules
- Understandable explanations of tax topics
- Covers Schedule C topics thoroughly
- Professional user experience
- Numerous help options, including free assistance from pros
Cons
- Expensive
- Navigation can be confusing
Pros
- Supports all major forms and schedules
- Understandable explanations of tax topics
- Covers Schedule C topics thoroughly
- Professional user experience
- Numerous help options, including free assistance from pros
Cons
- Expensive
- Navigation can be confusing
TaxAct 2026 (Tax Year 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
TaxAct provides extensive coverage of filing topics in an intuitive interface, along with useful help resources and a good final review process.
Full TaxAct 2026 (Tax Year 2025) ReviewPros
- Deep coverage of tax topics
- Good interface and navigation tools
- Focused search results
- Thorough final review process
- Mobile site mirrors desktop
Cons
- Pricey
- Some household and self-employment topics could use more help content
- Error-checking in Q&A could be better
Pros
- Deep coverage of tax topics
- Good interface and navigation tools
- Focused search results
- Thorough final review process
- Mobile site mirrors desktop
Cons
- Pricey
- Some household and self-employment topics could use more help content
- Error-checking in Q&A could be better
Cash App Taxes 2026 (Tax Year 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Cash App Taxes combines free, fairly comprehensive federal and state tax prep and filing with an exceptionally fast and intuitive user experience, but its help lacks depth.
Full Cash App Taxes 2026 (Tax Year 2025) ReviewPros
- Free federal and state filing
- Supports most major IRS forms and schedules
- Attractive, responsive, and understandable interface
- Excellent mobile apps
Cons
- Some support resources lack depth, and no expert tax help is available
- Doesn't cover some forms and tax topics
- Can't import most 1099s
Pros
- Free federal and state filing
- Supports most major IRS forms and schedules
- Attractive, responsive, and understandable interface
- Excellent mobile apps
Cons
- Some support resources lack depth, and no expert tax help is available
- Doesn't cover some forms and tax topics
- Can't import most 1099s
TaxSlayer 2026 (Tax Year 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
TaxSlayer offers affordable, comprehensive coverage of tax topics, but it could benefit from more context-sensitive, easy-to-understand help content.
Full TaxSlayer 2026 (Tax Year 2025) ReviewPros
- Fast, understandable interface
- Supports all major IRS forms and schedules
- Thorough coverage of tax topics
- Generous US-based support options
Cons
- Context-sensitive help could be more plentiful
- Help content quality could be better
Pros
- Fast, understandable interface
- Supports all major IRS forms and schedules
- Thorough coverage of tax topics
- Generous US-based support options
Cons
- Context-sensitive help could be more plentiful
- Help content quality could be better
Jackson Hewitt Online 2026 (Tax Year 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Jackson Hewitt Online has attractive pricing and covers all major tax filing topics, but its user experience and help system fall short of the competition.
Full Jackson Hewitt Online 2026 (Tax Year 2025) ReviewPros
- Low price
- Comprehensive coverage of tax topics
- Thorough imports of previous Jackson Hewitt returns
- Proactive error checking and excellent final review
Cons
- Can't import a prior year's return from competitors
- Context-sensitive and searchable help is lacking in amount and quality
- User experience isn't on par with alternatives
- Many pages don’t save automatically
Pros
- Low price
- Comprehensive coverage of tax topics
- Thorough imports of previous Jackson Hewitt returns
- Proactive error checking and excellent final review
Cons
- Can't import a prior year's return from competitors
- Context-sensitive and searchable help is lacking in amount and quality
- User experience isn't on par with alternatives
- Many pages don’t save automatically
Liberty Tax 2026 (Tax Year 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Liberty Tax is a comprehensive online tax preparation service from the well-known brick-and-mortar tax preparer, but its dated interface and gaps in guidance limit its appeal.
Full Liberty Tax 2026 (Tax Year 2025) ReviewPros
- Supports all major IRS forms and schedules
- Imports more prior-year data than rivals
- Covers self-employment topics well
- Great error-checking
- Excellent mobile access
Cons
- Expensive
- Substandard user experience
- Weak support content and little context-sensitive help
- Can’t import 1099s or W-2s
Pros
- Supports all major IRS forms and schedules
- Imports more prior-year data than rivals
- Covers self-employment topics well
- Great error-checking
- Excellent mobile access
Cons
- Expensive
- Substandard user experience
- Weak support content and little context-sensitive help
- Can’t import 1099s or W-2s
Latest Tax Software Stories
Want a chance to win $250? Tell us about the different financial apps and services you use to track, trade, and spend.
You don't have to panic—just file this quick IRS form by midnight to push your deadline to October.
Using tax software ensures you file on time, minimize errors, and get the largest possible refund. The top services we've tested make the preparation process as painless as possible.
If you spent a lot on medical equipment, services, or supplies in 2025, it might make sense to deduct them on your taxes. We walk you through the rules and requirements.
If you've put off filing, now is the time to get your taxes done. Our no-nonsense guide outlines the documents you require, the big deductions you might be able to claim, and everything you need to submit before the deadline.
If you owe more money to the IRS than you can afford to pay before the filing deadline, don't panic. We explain all of your options, so you can plan ahead.
The deadline to file your taxes is coming up, and you still have time. If you're looking to do them, you can grab TurboTax Deluxe for 30% off in today's Amazon Deals of the Day.
Even if you're waiting until the last minute before the April 15 deadline, tax software can help you file accurately and quickly. Here's how our two top picks for pain-free tax prep compare on ease of use, coverage, price, support, and more.
Believe it or not, it's possible to prepare and file your income taxes without spending a dime. We've reviewed the leading online tax services to help you find the top free options.
Want to do your taxes away from your desk? We test and rate the top mobile tax apps that let you prepare and file your return from your phone or tablet.
You've got just two weeks to get your taxes in, so if you haven't started your return, the clock is ticking. Reduce stress and save money with these discounts on top software and services for your returns.
TurboTax and TaxAct are among the best tax prep apps I've tested, but each one excels in a different way. Here's how they compare on price, features, usability, expert help, and more.
Get H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State for just $34.99 before these codes sell out!
Get unlimited tax-filing support for your business with TurboTax Expert Assist for Business, plus an additional 20% off personal federal tax filing. What a deal!
Liberty Tax is a comprehensive online tax preparation service from the well-known brick-and-mortar tax preparer, but its dated interface and gaps in guidance limit its appeal.
Starting at $57.95
Jackson Hewitt Online has attractive pricing and covers all major tax filing topics, but its user experience and help system fall short of the competition.
$25.00
TaxAct provides extensive coverage of filing topics in an intuitive interface, along with useful help resources and a good final review process.
TaxAct Free
TaxSlayer offers affordable, comprehensive coverage of tax topics, but it could benefit from more context-sensitive, easy-to-understand help content.
File your taxes for as low as $30.36 with TaxSlayer! Use Code: RMN20
Cash App Taxes combines free, fairly comprehensive federal and state tax prep and filing with an exceptionally fast and intuitive user experience, but its help lacks depth.
$0.00
H&R Block offers comprehensive tax prep with excellent guidance for self-employed filers and robust expert support.
LIMITED TIME OFFER: 30% savings when you do your own taxes with H&R Block Online