Tax prep

Tax software walks you through a return with questions in plain language, then fills in the forms from your answers. The products listed here cover US federal and state returns. They differ mostly in which situations their free versions cover, how they price add-ons, and how much help they offer when you get stuck.

Free filing options are more limited than the ads suggest. Most free editions cover simple returns: wages on a W-2, the standard deduction and a few common credits. Self-employment income, rental property, itemized deductions or investment sales often push you into a paid tier. A few services offer free federal returns for more situations and charge for state returns. The IRS Free File program lists partner software that is free for people under an income limit, along with fillable forms anyone can use.

AI now appears inside several of these products as a chat assistant that answers questions while you file, such as whether an expense is deductible or what a form line means. Treat those answers as a starting point. The assistant explains the software's view of the rules, and you remain responsible for what you file. For complex situations, some services let you pay for a review by a tax professional or hand the whole return to one.

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9 budgeting tools in tax prep

TurboTax

by Intuit

Intuit's tax filing software, with a free edition for simple returns, paid tiers, AI help inside the product and options to add a tax expert.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app
  • Uses AI to sort or explain your money

H&R Block

Tax filing online, by software or through an office, with a free online version for simple returns and AI-assisted help in its online product.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app
  • Uses AI to sort or explain your money

TaxAct

Online tax filing software with a free option for simple returns and paid tiers for more forms.

  • Free plan or free version

FreeTaxUSA

by TaxHawk

Online tax filing with free federal returns, including many that other free tiers exclude, and a fee for state returns.

  • Free plan or free version

Cash App Taxes

by Block

Free federal and state tax filing inside Cash App, aimed at people with common return types.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app

TaxSlayer

Online tax filing with a simple free edition and paid tiers for self-employed people and more complex returns.

  • Free plan or free version

Keeper

by Keeper Tax

Tax filing and expense tracking for freelancers that scans your purchases for possible write-offs.

  • Mobile app
  • Uses AI to sort or explain your money

IRS Free File

by Internal Revenue Service

IRS program that lists free guided filing software from partner companies for people under an income limit, plus free fillable forms.

  • Free plan or free version

Jackson Hewitt

Tax preparation through offices and online filing, with in-person preparers available in many US locations.

Before you start, gather your documents: income forms, last year's return, records of deductions, and any letters from the IRS or your state. Watch for upgrade prompts as you go, compare the final price with the starting price, and check whether filing a state return costs extra. Save a PDF of the return you file.

Nothing on this site is tax advice. For questions about your situation, ask a qualified tax professional.

Timing matters as much as the software. Most forms arrive by the end of January or mid-February, and filing early gives you time to fix mistakes and get any refund sooner. If you can't finish by the deadline, you can file for an extension, but an extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay what you owe. Keep copies of everything you file for several years, along with the documents behind it. If you switch software from one year to the next, most products can import last year's return as a PDF or data file, which saves retyping your details.

Questions about tax prep

Can I really file for free?

Many people can, if their return is simple or their income is under the IRS Free File limit. If you have self-employment income, rental property or investment sales, expect to pay for at least one part of the return. Check before you start entering data.

Are the AI assistants in tax software reliable?

They can explain terms and point you to the right section. They can also be wrong or miss your exact situation. Check important answers against IRS guidance or ask a tax professional.

Should I use software or a tax preparer?

Software suits many simple and moderately complex returns. A preparer helps when your situation changed a lot, you run a business, or you received a notice from the IRS. Some products offer both.

What if I need to change a return after filing?

You file an amended return. Most tax software can prepare one, sometimes for a fee. Keep a copy of the original return and the documents that support the change.

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