Where is the Best Site to Do Your Tax Preparation? Let's face it: tax season is nobody's favorite time of the year. Whether you're a W-2 employee or an independent contractor, taxes are a source of stress every spring. But, it doesn't have to be that way. Tax preparation services are there to ease the process (and are particularly helpful if you own your own business).
Best Option
Tax Slayer's slogan is a catchy "File Fearlessly", and with such a fun name, it brings to mind the idea that you're about to be a knight in shining armor slaying the "dragon" that is your taxes. Kinda takes the edge off tax season, doesn't it? In business for over 50 years, TaxSlayer is a cloud-based DIY tax software that promises 100% accurate filings when you complete your tax preparation through this platform. With promises of total transparency and zero hidden fees, Tax Slayer stands out from its competitors.
Full range of services for all tax situations
Tax Slayer's services include all forms, calculations, and resources that are required by the IRS to file your federal and state taxes. There are five different filing tiers. The simple federal filing is free. The Classic service includes "all tax situations", according to Tax Slayer's details. The other options include Premium which offers personalized tax assistance from a pro, and Self-Employed for those who need to file both personal and business income. No matter what tier you choose, you'll get access to help through Tax Slayer's customer service; even if you don't pay for the Premium tier, you'll just have to wait on hold. Premium allows you to skip lines or long phone waits and jump right in with a personalized tax expert whenever you have a question.
Sign up and pick your tier
Signing up with Tax Slayer is free no matter what tier you qualify for. All you need to do to start filling out forms and get your return estimate is to add your email and create a username and password. The process at Tax Slayer is broken into three simple steps. They'll help you choose the best tier for your tax situation; then, you'll fill out the general details of your taxpayer information (and previous returns). Finally, you'll get your return estimate and be ready to file.
Pricing from $0 to $52.95
The pricing breakdown is simple across the four tiers. The base tier is $0 for all simple tax situations. If you're not sure if your taxes qualify, there's a helpful link right on the listing to help you learn more about your situation. The next tier up, Classic, costs $22.95. When you add on help with a tax pro, the cost for Premium is $42.95. Finally, the Self-Employed tier is $52.95. Across the board, this is less costly than at most tax preparation sites. Even the top tier is around $30 less than most competitors.
100% accuracy guarantee
Tax Slayer offers a few promises to help you feel more secure. You'll get the fastest refund possible through your e-filing at Tax Slayer. Plus, you can work on your taxes on the go with Tax Slayer's mobile app. Finally, there are two guarantees: one that states you'll get the maximum refund when you file with Tax Slayer, and the second states that the process includes 100% accuracy on Tax Slayer's end. If there is an error Tax Slayer caused, you'll be reimbursed for any penalties.
One of the top-rated services in our review.
Tax Slayer is a top-rated site for tax preparation with a solid "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it is widely used by taxpayers and has impressive praise for its program. Tax Slayer currently holds a 4.2-star average rating across over 20,000 individual reviews. Customers have glowing praise for the customer service, the user-friendliness of the program, the impressive updates year after year, and helpful prompts to help you complete your taxes correctly and faster than competitors. It's hard to find reviews that complain about Tax Slayer.
Slaying the competition
According to the feedback, Tax Slayer is the top service for tax preparation. It has competitive costs, high ratings, impressive customer service, and options for every kind of tax filing that you could imagine. With options that include DIY processes or getting assistance from a tax expert, you're covered no matter how much help you want with your taxes. For this reason, Tax Slayer earns our top spot and a full 5 stars in our review.
Great
Cash App Taxes is the free tax preparation and filing service offered by the financial company Cash App. The app, currently used as a "digital wallet" where you can keep and pay out money to friends and contacts, has expanded its services to include features like debit cards, investing, and tax filing. The company was launched in 2013 (under the name Square Cash) and is considered to be the preferred payment app for many adults in the US.
Includes return estimates and e-filing
The services on Cash App Taxes include both estimates for your returns (or how much you might owe in taxes for the fiscal year) as well as a complete process for online filing. The online filing software meets or exceeds the requirements as an authorized e-file provider, according to the IRS. You can easily use their online features to sync your tax information with what the IRS already has on file, making the process faster and much simpler. You'll find all major IRS forms and schedules for federal and state filing. However, it does lack access to some forms like 2210 for underpayment of estimated tax, and doesn't currently support importing 1099 forms (which you'll have to enter manually).
Need the app to get started
To get started with your tax returns on Cash App Taxes, you'll need to have Cash App downloaded (or at least have an account with Cash App) to proceed. You'll be asked to give the phone number for your Cash App account and your PIN number. Then, you'll go through a questionnaire similar to the questions you'd answer with the IRS. You'll be asked about your marital status, dependents, income (from various sources), and how much you've paid in taxes throughout the year already. From there, you'll get your estimated return amount. After you've finished the basics, you can start filing your taxes directly from Cash App Taxes for free.
100% free
Cash App Taxes is 100% free of charge. Yep! The company promises there will be no hidden fees, and you won't be asked to provide any payment information throughout the process. Plus, if you decide to accept your tax return via the Cash App service, you can get it up to 5 days sooner than if you had it directly transferred to a bank.
Guaranteed reimbursement for errors
Cash App Taxes offers an Accurate Calculations Guarantee so you can feel sure that the tax return you complete with its e-file system will be exactly what the IRS is looking for. Depending on the time of year that you're checking out this platform, the details of the Cash App Taxes guarantee may only be listed for the previous tax year, but they will be updated during the current tax season. Make sure you check back when you're ready to file your taxes to be sure that the guarantee hasn't changed. At the time of our review, the guarantee stated that if the IRS imposes penalties or interest on your Cash App Taxes submission due to an error in the Cash App Taxes software, they will reimburse you up to $1,000.
Rave reviews from users
Cash App Taxes has a solid "A-" rating from the Better Business Bureau, and is an impressive site according to customer feedback on trusted third-party review sites. On Trustpilot, Cash App has rave reviews with a 4.3-star average rating. Clients love how easy the app is to use (across all its features), and there is an impressive number of reviews for how simple the interface is for the Cash App Taxes part of the app. On review blogs and finance sites, Cash App Taxes receives around 4.5 stars on average, with impressive praise for its comprehensiveness and only a few complaints about a handful of missing forms.
A great choice if you need to save
Cash App Taxes is a top-notch service if you're looking for a free IRS-approved way to estimate and file your taxes online. While you do need to have the mobile app to get started, the entire service will cost you nothing from start to finish, and you can access a variety of other financial features through Cash App as well. While some rival services may be a little simpler to file if you need 1099 forms or have a more complex return, you can't beat the ease of use for a totally free tax preparation service.
Very Good
E-file is an authorized IRS software provider that helps taxpayers simplify the process of filing income tax quickly and accurately. E-file promises that the account is free, though you will need to pay a fee once you complete your tax return and submit it to the IRS. E-file's process includes easy-to-answer questions and step-by-step filing to help you get everything you need in one place. E-file started out in 2012 and is considered a great stop if you want to file your taxes online.
Filing, returns, and extensions all in one place
E-file offers a simple online platform for you to prepare your tax returns, file your taxes, and even get online support from the E-file team to file your taxes quickly and correctly. Unlike some other platforms that expect you to fill out your forms on your own, E-file offers dedicated online support so you can get your tax questions answered in minutes. All you need to do is use the "help" request and the E-file team will get back to you ASAP (which is far different than dealing directly with the IRS). E-file also offers software to help with a filing extension if you need one.
Free to sign up
Signing up is free, and you can fill out most of the forms for your taxes without paying anything. Once you register for an account, you'll be asked to insert your taxpayer information, income, deductions, and any other relevant details. The E-file software will calculate and prepare your return, and then you can choose to file electronically or to print and mail your tax forms. There is support for single and joint filing, filing with dependents, and business tax returns (though this is more costly).
Pricing from $26.39 to $89.99
While signing up is free, there are still costs when you want to submit your taxes to the IRS. The fees change depending on what kind of taxes you need to submit. The Federal Basic Software includes online filing, free federal e-filing, a fast tax return, and assistance with single or joint filing. This is free through E-file for your federal taxes. The next level up is the Deluxe Plus E-file which costs $23.99 and includes all of the features of the Basic tier along with filing with dependents, mortgage deductions, income up to $100,000, retirement income, and phone/online support. The final tier is the Premium Plus E-file which costs $39.99 and includes all the features of Deluxe along with itemized tax deductions, all credit schedules, business and personal income, telephone support, and IRS audit assistance. There is also a separate area of the site that offers assistance with professionally prepared business filing for $89.99 if you need more hands-on support for your business income. All of these costs are for federal filings only. For state taxes, there is a filing fee of $26.39 for each tier.
No satisfaction guarantee
At this time, E-file doesn't offer any guarantees. The site specifically states that E-file does not guarantee e-filed returns will result in an accepted filing. However, E-file will allow you to correct any issues free of charge if the IRS rejects your taxes. You can request a refund for the software, but not if you choose to make a correction to your tax filing and resubmit.
Solid choice for simple filing
Despite having no guarantee, E-file has an excellent reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Currently, E-file holds an "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB. As for third-party reviews, the feedback is a little more mixed, but still positive overall. E-file holds a 4.1-star average from Trustpilot, with praise for how fast the experience was. One user who completed their recent tax return noted that they saved more money than by using other similar platforms. However, there is a range of complaints from users with more complicated taxes who paid for the higher tier services that noted some fields were populated (automatically by the software) incorrectly. However, users who called customer support only had praise for E-file for their quick answers and simple process.
Lower cost for simple filing
E-file is a solid choice if you're looking for a service that isn't quite as expensive as some of the industry standard options. If you can get away with a more simple filing (like the Basic or Deluxe packages), you're in for a great deal. While there are still filing fees to consider, the overall experience at E-file is praised by most customers. Although we wish E-file offered a satisfaction guarantee, it remains competitive with a solid rating in our review.
Good
Those who are familiar with Intuit will likely already know about Turbotax. This tax preparation service is one of many sites and apps under the Intuit family (including Credit Karma and Quickbooks). And, there are tons of tools at Turbotax available to help you, like checklists, tips and tricks, and a tax refund calculator. Turbotax got started in 1997 and offers IRS-certified e-filing for your taxes.
Be as hands-on as you want
There are three ways to complete your tax preparation with Turbotax: Do it myself, Help me do it (Live Assisted), and Do it for me (Live Full Service). As with most tax preparation services, any taxes you could file yourself under a simple filing (mainly for W-2 employees) are free with Turbotax. However, if you're going to need more complicated forms and schedules, the DIY approach includes in-software guidance for filing, product support, upload and transfer of your tax documents (and IRS forms), and audit support. If you want a little extra help, you can choose the Live Assisted package which includes unlimited help from tax experts, review before you file, support year-round, and an approval guarantee on top of the features of the Do it yourself plan. The third option is the Live Full Service which includes all the features of the previous tier along with a tax expert assigned to you based on your unique situation, who does your taxes for you in real time as well as filing for you too.
Transparent pricing before you sign up
No matter what your tax situation, you can get started by signing up for Turbotax for free. You do need to choose which tier you want before you can join (between the DIY or two assisted tiers), but you won't pay anything until you finally file. To help you choose the right option (and see a preview for the total cost), Turbotax will ask you about how you received income. For example, we were quoted $89 for taxpayers who are self-employed or independent contractors.
Pricing from $0 to $309
Turbotax offers its prices in ranges. The DIY filing ranges from $0 to $89 depending on what forms and schedules you'll need, and the Live Assisted filing ranges from $49 to $169, again depending on how difficult the filing will be. Finally, the top tier (where Turbotax does all the work for you) starts at $89 and can go up as high as $309 for filings that include forms for business owners or contractors like 1099-NEC or Schedule C. Like with most tax prep companies, this does not include the cost of state filing (only federal). The cost per state filing is $49.
Highest returns and guaranteed accuracy
Like many of its competitors, Turbotax offers a guarantee that you'll get the highest return amount when you use their platform. However, there are some other guarantees to consider. Turbotax offers a guarantee that your tax returns are backed for life. You'll never have to worry about your taxes not being accurate. Turbotax promises to pay any IRS penalties incurred if there is any error in calculation on Turbotax's end.
Mixed reviews
Turbotax holds a "B-" rating from the BBB as well as dismal reviews on third-party review sites. For example, on Trustpilot, Turbotax has a 1.2-star average. Customers generally complain about the high costs at Turbotax. However, there is good news too. Turbotax shows a 4.8-star average rating from app sites like the Apple Store and Google Play, where thousands of users praise the ease of use of Turbotax on the whole. While most customers complain about the lack of customer service on Trustpilot, this only makes up around 500 total reviews, and reviews on app stores show a more balanced (and accurate) view of the total number of users who choose Turbotax.
Good, but too costly to be great
With its reputation yo-yo-ing between positive and fairly negative, Turbotax is a bit of an enigma in terms of quality. While it is popular and used by many people to complete their taxes, you may find better deals and support on other platforms. However, for basic filing, it remains a competitive choice. For these reasons, Turbotax earns a slightly above-average rating in our review.
Average
In business for 40+ years, Jackson Hewitt is a financial institution focused on making tax season more simple. Jackson Hewitt offers both online and in-person tax filing, but for tax preparation services specifically, you'll need to reserve an in-person spot at your local Jackson Hewitt retail location. Many of the locations are inside of other local retailers (such as Walmart), making them easy to get to and simple to find. We found 30 offices near our local area that all had appointments available.
In-person and online filing
Jackson Hewitt offers a range of services, including tax filing online, tax filing in person, tax filing for amendments, and individual income tax preparation services. You can also find assistance for simple tax returns, self-employment tax filing, and help if you have taxable income from cryptocurrency. If you need detailed help, you'll want to use in-person assistance. But the online portal is simple and easy to use (you just might need to do a little scrolling to find the link to do online tax preparation).
Join for guided tax prep
To sign up, you can either just schedule an appointment with your local Jackson Hewitt or make an online account for the JH Online portal. If you choose the second option, you'll fill out some details about yourself - like how you plan to file, your status as a dependent, your taxpayer details, and whether or not you would like your federal tax data to be transferred for a state return as well. The program will also ask if you want to be guided through the entire process. If you're comfortable filling out your taxes, you can easily complete each section yourself. You can also go back and edit different portions of your taxes as needed.
Pricing at $25 if you prepare your own taxes
The pricing at Jackson Hewitt isn't the most transparent. If you decide to prepare your own taxes with the online portal, there will be a flat fee of $25. However, if you wish to prepare your taxes with one of the Jackson Hewitt experts in person, the website simply says that costs vary by location - so you'll have to get the details from particular locations. There are no pricing details on the Jackson Hewitt location finder, and when we searched for individual locations online, they redirected us to the same Jackson Hewitt scheduler. In other words, there is no transparency on the total cost for your appointment and ultimately on the preparation of your tax return.
Two satisfaction guarantees with refunds
Jackson Hewitt offers a "biggest refund" guarantee which promises that you'll get a bigger refund than with other companies. If this isn't the case, Jackson Hewitt will give you your money back (plus an additional $100). Jackson Hewitt also guarantees that your tax returns are always accurate and they will reimburse you for penalties and interest owed if your tax returns are filed incorrectly due to Jackson Hewitt's error.
Solid BBB score, but mixed reviews
Jackson Hewitt stands out with an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it has an above-average score from third-party review sites. For example, on Trustpilot, Jackson Hewitt holds a 3.5-star average with more than half the total reviews earning a full 5 stars. Customers noted that their experience with Jackson Hewitt included polite and professional meetings with their staff. Many of the reviews name specific representatives from Jackson Hewitt with high praise for their work. However, there are some concerning reviews about costs. Some customers paid over $400 to file their returns with Jackson Hewitt. There were a few other reviews with similar costs listed, and since there aren't prices for the in-person assistance available on the website, we're a little concerned about those high costs mentioned in negative reviews.
Balanced option for in-person tax preparation
Despite some poor reviews and the lack of price transparency, most taxpayers feel that Jackson Hewitt is a decent place to get their tax returns completed. The flat rate fees for online filing are helpful and make e-filing simple. However, there are reports of high fees from some customers that keep Jackson Hewitt from being a top pick in our review. Given the mix of positives and negatives, Jackson Hewitt earns a "just okay" rating overall.
Fair
Ever wanted the option to get expert help, but you're too busy (or too tired) to go in person and get your taxes done by a pro? Liberty Tax offers an impressive compromise. You can take photos of your major tax documents and send everything relevant to one of the Liberty Tax CPAs who will remotely handle everything for you. It's all the benefits of self-filing from home without the stress. If you're more of a hands-on person, you can also do your own tax preparation through Liberty Tax. This financial assistance company has been open since 1997 and there are now over 2,200 retail locations for those who don't like remote filing and prefer an in-person consultation.
Three ways to prepare your taxes
Whether you're a confident taxpayer who is used to the process each year, a newbie, or someone just looking for some moral support, Liberty Tax offers an option to help you get your taxes squared away for the season. You can choose between doing your own tax preparation through the Liberty Tax online portal, sending in all the details to one of their tax representatives to get remote assistance, or you can find one of Liberty Tax's many brick-and-mortar locations and go grab some advice in person. The different tiers of online filing include Basic, which covers Forms 1050 and 8853 as well as Schedules A and B. The Deluxe option is for those who have a more complicated tax situation and includes support for forms 1040, 4562, 8829, 4136, 8839, and 8853. You'll also be able to file Schedules A, B, and C. Finally, the Premium tier is best for self-employed individuals and those who are freelance or contractors. This includes all of the forms of Deluxe as well as forms 4684 and 4853, and you can file Schedules A, B, C, E, F, and K-1.
Quick sign-up with high security
To get started at Liberty Tax, you can either sign up for an account online or book your appointment with an in-person location. If you want to use the remote assistance approach, you'll need to download the Liberty Tax mobile app to get started (and also create an account). During registration, you'll be asked for the usual email and phone number as well as asked to create security questions to protect your Liberty Tax account. Depending on your filing needs, the final price will update automatically among the three packages (Basic, Deluxe, and Premium).
Pricing from $45.95 to $85.95
Like a few other platforms that offer online and in-person tax preparation, Liberty Tax doesn't list prices for in-person sessions on the website. The only information is that the cost will vary by location. For online self-filing, the prices start at $45.95 for the Basic package (which most other sites offer for free). The Deluxe will cost $65.95, and the Premium costs $85.95. So, while it is comparable to other companies, Liberty Tax does lump self-employed in with contractors at the highest tier, which can make 1099 filings much more expensive than with other tax preparation services.
Guaranteed support with a free consultation
Liberty Tax offers a free consultation at participating locations, so your first visit will be free of charge. They also promise an accuracy guarantee that includes reimbursement for any penalties or interest incurred due to Liberty Tax's error. Finally, Liberty Tax offers Audit Assistance where someone from your local office will accompany you if you get summoned for an IRS audit.
Dissatisfaction with cost and staff
Liberty Tax holds an "A" rating from the Better Business Bureau, but unfortunately it's not terribly popular with third-party reviewers. On Trustpilot, Liberty Tax holds an average of just 2.9 stars out of 5, and more than half of the listed reviews gave the company 1 star. Customers claim that the final cost for their in-person assistance was "way overpriced", and many of the reviews include complaints about staff members at specific branches. Taxpayers who used Liberty Tax reported the final total for their filings to be between $300 to $400 for simple returns (not even complex options for self-employed individuals).
Too many complaints to compete
With rampant dissatisfaction across reviews, Liberty Tax doesn't stand out from the pack as well as it could. One of the main complaints is that this tax preparation service is very costly (with prices rising year after year), and many customers would advise you to stay away from Liberty Tax altogether. While it may be a better experience for online filing, that too is more costly than many competitors. While remote filing is a unique idea, it isn't quite enough to make Liberty Tax more competitive.
Fair
FreeTaxUSA is a tax preparation service that does exactly what it says in its name: provides tax preparation and filing 100% free of charge. Founded in 2001 by a CPA, FreeTaxUSA is currently owned by TaxHawk, Inc. and is an original member of the IRS Free File Alliance. FreeTaxUSA holds authorization from the IRS as a provider for tax e-filing.
Full suite of forms and services
You can expect all of the important forms to be available through FreeTaxUSA. The site offers support for filings that include W-2, IRA, interest in dividend income, unemployment compensation, social security benefits, capital gains, sales of stocks and mutual funds, self-employment income, Partnership of S Corporation income, self-employment taxes, and more. FreeTaxUSA also offers other income options like gambling, royalty, unreported tips, child investment, alimony, taxable scholarships and grants, and more. There are only a handful of forms not supported through FreeTaxUSA, and these include:
Quick sign up
To begin your federal tax preparation at FreeTaxUSA, you just need to click the "Start Return" button. You'll be asked to create a new account with a new email and password. Then, FreeTaxUSA will ask you some basic questions like how you filed your taxes in the previous year, whether you want to import your taxes from the previous year, and details on your taxpayer information. Once you've filled out the basics, FreeTaxUSA will ask if you want to add the Deluxe package to your tax preparation plan. This includes live chat assistance and unlimited amendments. In general, you should be filling out your tax preparation forms and return filings within 5 minutes of sign-up.
Pricing from $0 to $14.99 for filing
Filing at FreeTaxUSA is free for everything including single filing, joint filing, and business filing. The only fee will be a $14.99 cost if you file your taxes with the state (not just federally). There are some add-ons you can pay for, such as the Deluxe Edition of FreeTaxUSA which costs $7.99 or Pro Support for $39.99. But for the basic federal filing, you won't pay a dime.
Three customer-focused guarantees
FreeTaxUSA offers three separate guarantees. First, they promise a maximum tax refund when you use the FreeTaxUSA platform. Second, you're guaranteed to have totally free federal tax filing (as long as you don't opt into the Deluxe upgrade). Finally, FreeTaxUSA promises that all of the calculations are guaranteed to be accurate at all times. If you pay any penalties or interest to the IRS due to a calculation error, they'll pay you back for the penalties and interest.
Mixed reviews and issues with logging in
While the guarantees and costs (or lack thereof) sound great, there are some concerning reviews to consider. Let's start with the good news first: FreeTaxUSA holds an "A-" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. However, across other third-party review sites, the news isn't so good. On Trustpilot and Sitejabber, FreeTaxUSA has way more negative reviews than we like to see. Trustpilot shows an average of 2.7 stars out of 5 while Sitejabber shows an even lower 2.2-star average. Customers claim issues with logging in after completing nearly the entire return process, as well as problems with using the site if they move to a new location while they're working on their return. While there are some compliments from repeat customers, the negative feedback for FreeTaxUSA outweighs the positive overall.
Not really worth looking at, even for free features
Despite the impressive guarantees and an "A-" rating from the BBB, we're a little cautious about FreeTaxUSA due to the feedback from customers. While you might be curious to check it out for its free filing options for federal taxes, it may have some technological issues. And, you may find a more satisfying or helpful tax preparation with our higher-rated services instead.
Subpar
EZ Tax Return is a tax preparation site that's been around since 2000 and promises fast, stress-free tax filing. Authorized by the IRS, EZ Tax Return promises that "you'll never file alone" with their help throughout the process. While some of the filing options are free if your tax returns are simple, keep in mind you'll have fees for state filing that are separate from the EZ Tax Return federal filing tiers.
Tax preparation tiers need transparency
EZ Tax Return offers basic services like refund estimates, e-filing your completed returns, and free customer service if you have any questions about the filing process. You can also pay for add-ons for audit defense protection, amended tax return insurance, and a refund transfer. The only complaint we had with EZ Tax Return is that there is a lack of transparency on the individual tiers. There are no details on the main page for the EZ Tax Return tiers of service, and when you click on the button to start the filing process, you'll be asked to fill out all your taxpayer information before you're allowed to see what's included. You'll have to click a link (that's easy to miss) for "transparent price" on the main page to find the breakdowns for each tier.
Quick sign-up process
You'll begin your process at EZ Tax Return by creating an account and choosing a tax return tier. Before you can proceed, you'll need to fill out your profile, including your taxpayer information (name, social security number, birthday, and occupation). You won't be allowed to proceed until you complete these details. From there, EZ Tax Return will allow you to begin your tax preparation to see the numbers for your return. If your return is simple (doesn't require extra forms, joint filing, or business filing), EZ Tax Return won't charge you for federal filing.
Pricing from $0 to $54.98
The prices at EZ Tax Return range from $0 for a simple federal return, which includes preparation and e-filing, unlimited re-files for rejected filings, and free download of your tax forms through May 15. This is only for those who qualify (taxes that are primarily prepared on a Form 1040). If your taxes are more complex, you'll have to pick one of the other tiers:
If you want extras, you can add on Audit Defense Protection for $39.99, Amended Return Insurance for $9.99, and Current-Year Amended Return for $19.99.
Guaranteed accurate tax refund
The only guarantee offered by EZ Tax Return is that the refund calculations offered by EZ Tax Returns' tax preparation software will be accurate and offer you the proper details for a refund that you can count on. If you want help with audits and defense, you'll need to pay extra for that service. Otherwise, there's no satisfaction guarantee from EZ Tax Return at this time.
Terrible reviews for accuracy
The reviews are drastically mixed for EZ Tax Return. According to the Better Business Bureau, the company holds an "A+" rating and accreditation. However, on other third-party review sites, EZ Tax Return doesn't get a lot of praise from taxpayers. On Trustpilot, for example, EZ Tax Return holds a 2.1-star average. Customers complained that the numbers for the taxes owed were incorrect on EZ Tax Return. Reviewers confirmed that the numbers were wrong by using several other platforms to check EZ Tax Return's results. Other customers couldn't amend their taxes after the fact, and there are a range of complaints for the horrible customer service received when calling in.
Not even trustworthy on free simple returns
While the low costs are enticing, EZ Tax Return doesn't have a good reputation for excellence or even accurate numbers. Given the concerns from customers about overpaying the IRS, issues with amending returns, and the terrible customer service at EZ Tax Return, this tax preparation platform earns a low rating overall.
Weak
If you're looking for a service that offers face-to-face help rather than strictly completing the filing process online yourself, H&R Block may be worth checking out. H&R Block offers you the flexibility to work with a tax pro or file taxes totally on your own, so you can get as much (or as little) assistance as you need. This financial institution has been around since 1955, when H&R Block was founded specifically to help people simplify their taxes.
DIY and pro help for your taxes
There are three ways to complete your taxes with H&R Block. You can prepare your taxes yourself online without any help. The approach is self-paced, but ideal only for simple returns (those based on Form 1040). This option is the only free approach at H&R Block. The next tier is a filing option where you do most of the work, but you get more expert help. This is ideal for most complex tax situations with options for deductions, investments, and self-employed filings. The final option is to pay for a tax pro at H&R Block to do the entire thing for you. You can choose from meeting online or in person. If you've worked with H&R Block before, you can ask for the same tax professional over and over (or request someone new if you weren't happy with your service previously).
Some issues with registration
Getting started at H&R Block is simple. You just need to choose one of the three tiers. You'll be asked to create an account; however, there are some issues if you have a browser with extensions or use a VPN. You may not be allowed to continue with your account creation, which can be frustrating. Try changing browsers or using a new email if you have issues. During our research, we were unable to register for H&R Block on Firefox or Microsoft Edge (even though we were using no VPN and only had browser extensions on Firefox). Resolution to this issue may require calling H&R Block's customer service. Once you get past the problems with registration, you'll be asked to confirm your email and your phone number before selecting one of the pricing tiers.
Pricing from $0 to $150 for filing
When you go through the process of filing out questions, H&R Block will tell you how much your taxes are going to cost. The official prices are $0 if you have a simple tax filing, starting at $35 for self-filing, and starting at $89 for filings prepared by a professional. During our research, we found that these prices can jump quickly. For example, when we selected "self-employed", the price immediately jumped to $85 for the self-filing tier. If you were just a freelance worker or contractor, this cost is $35. If you want a pro to do the work, H&R Block offered us that service at $65 more than the quoted price for DIY. So, expect to pay between $90 to $150 for pro assistance on a freelance filing.
Two guarantees for satisfaction
H&R Block offers a guarantee that you'll receive 20% off next year's tax preparation if the company fails to provide any of its included benefits in the No Surprise Guarantee. These include upfront and transparent prices, a transparent preparation process, free audit assistance, and free mid-year check-in. H&R Block also offers a refund guarantee that states if you find an error in the H&R Block tax prep software, they will refund the software fees to you and you'll be allowed a free return to amend the errors.
Big business with zero customer service
H&R Block holds a solid "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, the news isn't great on third-party review sites. H&R Block currently holds a dismal 1.3-star average on Trustpilot. Most recent reviews complain about the customer service. Some customers claim that H&R Block submitted tax returns without the signature of the taxpayer, and tons of reviewers complained that they were overcharged for the pro service. Some reviews quoted tax preparation costs over $300. In general, you can expect to get no replies to questions if you decide to try and do your taxes yourself. Trustpilot reviewers frequently use the word "horrible" to summarize their experiences with H&R Block.
Not worth the high costs
Despite H&R Block being one of the bigger companies out there for tax preparation, it isn't a favorite with customers. So, even with an "A+" from the BBB, we're deeply concerned about the reviews that show poor or no customer service as well as steep charges for assistance with your taxes. For these reasons, along with the limitations of the free filing, H&R Block earns one of the lowest ratings in our review. It seems safer to file with a site that cares more about its customers and provides more assistance for the price. There's really no need to overpay for preparing your tax return; it's stressful enough as it is.
Poor
TaxAct is a tax preparation service that's been around since 1998, and claims to have helped more than 90 million tax filers to date. On top of being able to file taxes for business and individual needs, you also get access to TaxAct's on-staff CPAs who will review your work before you file. Their approach is 100% DIY, but TaxAct's in-house experts promise to maximize your credits and deductions.
DIY filing unless you pay extra
TaxAct's free tax prep service covers situations that include W-2 filing, unemployment, retirement, child tax credits, dependents, filing for current students, and student loan interest. However, if you need to report things like investment income, home/real estate-related taxes, royalties, trusts, foreign accounts, business income, or freelance, contractor, or self-employed income, you will need to select one of TaxAct's paid tax filing options. You don't have to do everything alone, though, because TaxAct offers its Xpert Assist service (at an added cost) which gives you unlimited live tax advice from their on-staff experts.
Quick sign-up with text authentication
No matter how much help you require or what forms you need to file, you can get started at TaxAct for free. You just need to make an account with TaxAct which needs a quick text authentication to jump right in. Then, TaxAct will go through the basic questions about your financial situation and your taxpayer details. From there, it will take you through the steps to get your federal refund estimate, and the total cost for your filing will be shown based on the forms you need to submit to the IRS. Simple filing is free of charge.
Pricing from $0 to $69.99
Like most places, TaxAct's prices for filing are listed for federal taxes. There will be additional fees for state taxes, which are $39.99 per state. If you have a simple filing, there is no cost to file your taxes at TaxAct. The next tier up is the Deluxe package for $29.99, which includes homeowner deductions, childcare expenses, and health savings. The Premier option is $49.99 for filings that include investment, home sales, and rental property income. Finally, the highest tier is the Self-Employed option for $69.99 which includes filings for freelance workers, gig income, or those with a sole proprietorship or LLC. If you want to get professional advice, you'll have to pay $60 extra for the Xpert Assist feature.
Best refund and zero error guarantees
There are a couple of helpful guarantees at TaxAct, including the Max Refund Guarantee which promises that you won't get a better refund from any other tax preparation service. You'll also get access to a $100,000 Accuracy Guarantee which promises that your tax filing will be 100% correct from errors on TaxAct's end which is backed by a $100,000 potential reimbursement.
Customers don't trust TaxAct
TaxAct holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, but beyond that, the news is fairly concerning. Across multiple third-party review sites, including Trustpilot and Sitejabber, the average rating for TaxAct is 1.3 stars out of 5. Customers complain about high costs (higher than in previous years) at TaxAct. Further, previous taxpayers who used the service noted that the guarantee isn't worth much. When the program made errors, TaxAct did not offer any help or resolution. One review noted that while their filing should have been under the free option, a paywall popped up requiring the customer to pay for the top tier of TaxAct's filing packages. Overall, taxpayers feel this service is untrustworthy, expensive, and doesn't stand behind its promises.
Not worth the hassle
TaxAct comes in as our least favorite tax preparation service among the options on our list. With complaints across the board for high costs, unreliable software, and issues with getting the help promised in its guarantees, there isn't a lot to recommend for this service. It doesn't offer any standout features that you can't find with a rival tax preparation service, and their low customer satisfaction across the board is deeply concerning. Even if you want a free filing option, there are plenty of other tax preparation services to check out instead. Just look higher on our list.
Continued from above...
Let's face it: tax season is nobody's favorite time of the year. Whether you're a W-2 employee or an independent contractor, taxes are a source of stress every spring. But, it doesn't have to be that way. Tax preparation services are there to ease the process (and are particularly helpful if you own your own business).
So, what do tax preparation services actually do? Most services offer planning to understand your tax situation and filing. You may receive preparation of your actual return, or advice on different aspects of your taxes like individual tax returns, estate tax planning, personal financial planning, deductions, property tax assessments, tax credit reviews, and more. The tax advisor (individual or website) can make taxes make sense and help you avoid many of the pitfalls.
A few years ago, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) estimated that there were around 1.2 million paid tax preparers available in the US. Tax preparation can be completed by a range of licensed agents, accountants, or businesses who can take the weight of tax season off your shoulders.
The most important thing about finding a tax preparation service is to make sure you work with one you trust. The three best professional credentials to look for include Enrolled Agents (or entities), who are licensed directly by the IRS and must pass an examination to demonstrate their understanding of federal tax planning, individual and business taxes, and representing you properly; Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) who have studied finance at a university and passed charter exams and requirements for accounting; and, Attorneys who are licensed by state courts and have passed a bar exam in financial law.
Now, keep in mind, there will be fees for using most tax preparation services, but these will be minimal compared to the high fines and charges from the IRS if you make a mistake on your return. For even small errors on your taxes, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in fines. A one-time fee for a tax preparation service is no sweat in comparison. Most tax preparation and filing costs between $30 to $500 (though some really comprehensive services cost more), so you'll want to make sure you know what you need before you start.
If you're ready to simplify tax season, but don't know which service to choose, we've put together some factors that can help you find the best tax preparation service for your financial situation:
To help you find the best service to get your return filed this tax season, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top tax preparation services out there today. Take the stress out of tax season and hand the nitty-gritty details over to an expert (or enjoy a guided DIY approach that is as simple as a step-by-step guide). After that, you just need to sit back, relax, and wait for those lovely tax returns!
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