9 Best Tax Software of 2026

FreeTaxUSA is the simplest way to keep tax prep cheap without being pushed into a higher tier. Its four product levels, from Basic to Self-Employed, all list a $0 federal price, so a return with rental property, stock sales or a Schedule C business costs the same as a W-2 only return. The charge comes on the state side at $15.99 per state. You can upload or photograph W-2s and 1099s, pull in a prior year return from another provider, and file an extension at no cost. Free help runs through email and the account message center; live chat costs $7.99 through Deluxe Support, and a call with a tax pro plus a final ProCheck review costs $44.99. The interface is plainer than the big brands and gives less hand holding on unusual topics, but the price list is short and clear. For a typical single state filer the total is $15.99, far below what the major brands charge for itemized or self-employed returns.

Cash App Taxes is the only service here that charges nothing for both the federal and the state return regardless of how the return is built. Its page says that no matter your tax situation, you can file federal and state for free, and that over 12 million returns have been filed this way. You can file on a phone or computer with step-by-step questions, and Cash App offers accurate calculations and maximum refund guarantees. If you deposit your refund into Cash App, it says the money can arrive up to 5 days early, an estimate based on tax year 2024 filing data that Cash App says it does not guarantee. The catch is coverage. Cash App's own help center keeps an article titled Forms and situations Cash App Taxes does not support, so read it before you start if you have more than one state or an unusual form. There is no paid tier with an expert review, so it fits people who are comfortable finishing a return alone.

TaxSlayer's pitch is that upgrades buy extra support rather than extra forms, and its product pages back that up. Classic, at $19.99 for the federal return, includes all major IRS forms, credits and deductions, from Schedule C self-employment to capital gains, rental income, HSA contributions and itemized deductions. It also compares the standard and itemized deduction for you. Simply Free files a federal and one state return at no charge, but only for simple situations. Premium, at $39.99, adds priority phone and email support, live chat for technical questions and access to IRS-certified professionals through Ask a Tax Pro. You can upload last year's return to start faster and import eligible W-2s and 1099s. State returns cost extra on the paid tiers, so check the state fee at checkout. TaxSlayer suits people with a moderately complex return who want a real person on the phone without paying the major brands' prices.

H&R Block Online is the closest rival to TurboTax for people who want a household name. Its Free Online tier files federal and state returns for simple situations, Deluxe adds itemized deductions, and the Self-Employed tier is the one H&R Block points to when you have business expenses such as a home office, vehicle costs or supplies. A Tax Pro Review service lets an H&R Block professional look over a return you prepared yourself, and the company's retail offices give you an in person fallback if your situation changes. We could not load the H&R Block pricing page from our location for a verified USD check, so this entry shows prices as pending and the value score is conservative. Before choosing, compare the paid tier you would need against TaxSlayer Classic and FreeTaxUSA, which include self-employment and investment forms for much less.

TurboTax is the most polished tax interview we compared, and it costs the most to match that polish. Free Edition files a federal and state return for $0, but only for simple Form 1040 returns: W-2 income, the standard deduction, the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest and Schedule 1-A items. TurboTax says roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify. Itemizing, 1099-NEC income, unemployment on a 1099-G or stock sales move you to a paid edition. Deluxe, at $79 plus state, searches 350+ deductions and credits and guides homeowners. Premium, at $139 plus state, adds investments, crypto imports, rental property and self-employment deductions. You can snap or import documents, ask the AI-powered Intuit Assist questions, and upgrade to Expert Assist or a full service preparer without leaving the product. The value score is low because a self-employed or investor return here costs several times what FreeTaxUSA or TaxSlayer charge for the same forms.

Jackson Hewitt Online keeps pricing simple: one $25 flat fee to file federal and state returns, and the company says that applies even to complicated taxes. That makes it unusually good value for multi-state filers, since its page says you can file for all the states where you received tax documents. Gig workers can report rideshare, delivery or freelance income with guided questions, families can claim the Child Tax Credit, and students can enter a Form 1098-T for education credits. You can download W-2 information, rely on built-in error checking and use free live chat. Jackson Hewitt backs online returns with a maximum refund guarantee and a 100% accuracy guarantee that covers IRS interest and penalties caused by its mistakes. You do not pay until you file. There is no free tier, so a simple W-2 filer can do better with Cash App Taxes or TurboTax Free Edition, but for a two state return with 1099 income, $25 is hard to beat.

1040.com sells a single product at a single price: $34.99 covers federal and state returns, with every feature included regardless of who you are, how much you earn or how you earn it. That removes the upgrade prompts common at the bigger brands. The service supports all filing statuses and most income sources, and includes email and chat support. You can work through the whole return and preview the completed version without paying, then pay only when you are ready to send it. Optional extras are clearly priced: paying from your refund through E-collect costs $29.95, and Audit Assistance from Protection Plus costs $34.95. The tradeoff is that there is no free tier for simple returns, so a W-2 only filer can spend less with Cash App Taxes or TurboTax Free Edition. For a return with itemized deductions or side income, though, the all-in price is modest and easy to predict.

TaxAct offers a familiar tiered lineup: a free online edition for simple returns, then Deluxe, Premier for investments and rental property, and Self-Employed for business income. It is one of the few providers here that still sells downloadable software, which suits people who prefer to keep their return on their own computer, and it runs a free federal and state filing offer for active duty military. TaxAct's site blocked our location, so we could not complete a verified USD price check, and this entry shows pricing as pending. The tier structure means filers with self-employment or rental income must step up to the higher editions, and state returns can be charged separately, which is where TaxSlayer, FreeTaxUSA and Jackson Hewitt Online tend to come out cheaper. Compare the edition you would actually need on TaxAct's own page before you commit.

ezTaxReturn has been filing returns for over 25 years, and its pricing is easy to read. A simple federal return is free. Anything beyond that costs $44.99 for federal, while a state return costs $45.99, so a combined federal and state return comes to $90.98. Support is free and U.S.-based, with callback and email options seven days a week, and automated reviews check the return for mistakes before you submit. Optional add-ons include audit defense protection at $42.99, amended return insurance at $12.99 and a Refund Transfer at $39.95 that takes the fees out of your refund. The service is fine for a simple federal filer who wants a free return and phone help, but its state fee is the highest on this list. Anyone with a state return or a more complex federal return will usually pay less with FreeTaxUSA, TaxSlayer, Jackson Hewitt Online or 1040.com.