The Best Online Do-It-Yourself Tax Prep
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When tax season rolls around, do you have a plan for filing? While some prefer to have a professional handle their taxes for them, online DIY tax prep services are often free and easy to handle on your own. The trick is finding the best DIY tax prep service for your taxes. You’re going to want to find a service that is reputable and can take all of your documents into consideration to ensure that you’re either paying the least amount possible or getting the highest tax return possible. Here are a few options to get you started.
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Overview of the best online DIY tax prep
Company | Best for |
Cash App Taxes | 100% free federal and state returns |
FreeTaxUSA | Offering printed copies of tax return |
H&R Block | H&R Block Online Assist |
Jackson Hewitt | Offering customized list of needed tax documents |
TaxAct | Direct comparisons between 100% DIY and Xpert help pricing |
TaxSlayer | Value for all tax situations |
Turbo Tax | Interactive process |
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Best DIY tax prep companies
Cash App Taxes
After Cash App bought Credit Karma’s tax service in 2020, it became Cash App Taxes. The major difference with this service is that you must have a Cash App account to file your taxes. When you have an account, you can use it to help you log into Cash App Taxes on your computer so you can file your federal and state tax return on the computer as opposed to within the mobile app.
Cash App Taxes allows you to file both federal and state tax returns for free. The service supports all of the common forms or schedules, including mortgage interest statements, student loan interest statements, and interest income. You can also use the service if you receive miscellaneous income or non-employee compensation.
Before you file anything, you can use Cash App Taxes to estimate your refund. To do this, you just need to enter a few details about your household, income, and taxes paid. This will only give you an idea of your tax return. When you actually file your tax return with Cash App Taxes, it will come with the maximum refund guarantee. This will come in handy if you have to file an amended 2022 federal income tax return with another service and receive a larger refund or owe less in federal taxes through the other service.
Additionally, Cash App Taxes offers other guarantees to help you feel confident when you submit your tax return. Its accurate calculations guarantee promises that Cash App Taxes will reimburse you for penalties or interest that you paid to a tax authority if the error was due to a Cash App Taxes calculation. If eligible, you may also be able to receive other services, such as document reviews by a Case Resolution Specialist.
Related: How to Borrow Money on Cash App
FreeTaxUSA
FreeTaxUSA offers a few different tiers of its tax prep service, each of which is designed to meet the needs of a variety of common tax situations. If this is your first year using FreeTaxUSA, you can import your previous tax year’s return from H&R Block, TaxAct, or TurboTax for free.
You can file your federal tax return with FreeTaxUSA for free, no matter how complex your tax situation is. This free service supports W-2 forms, 1099-MISC and other 1099 forms, estate and trust income (Schedule K-1), and more. It can also support credits, such as child and dependent care credit, retirement savings contribution credit, home energy credit, and general business credits.
While it’s free to file your federal tax return, FreeTaxUSA does charge $14.99 to file your state tax return. You can also opt into FreeTaxUSA Deluxe for $7.99 if you want additional support. This includes priority support with a live chat feature and unlimited amended returns. If you’re audited, the Deluxe tier also means that FreeTaxUSA offers audit assistance to help you through this situation.
Additionally, you can purchase:
- A separate unlimited amended returns service for $15.98.
- A mailed printed return of your taxes for $7.97.
- A professionally bound copy of your tax return will cost you $15.99.
- State returns for the years 2015 - 2021 for $17.99.
- Prior year amendments for $17.97.
H&R Block
H&R Block is a common name in the world of taxes, and chances are you’ve probably seen a location or two when driving through town. By doing your taxes yourself through H&R Block, you’ll benefit from unlimited on-demand help from a tax professional without ever stepping foot into an office to speak with a tax preparer.
Unfortunately, unlike some of its competitors, H&R Block is only free if your taxes are relatively simple. The good news is that H&R Block Online Assist can help match you with the right level of service so you can see what costs you’re looking at upfront.
The free version is free for both federal and state taxes and allows you to deduct student tuition and loan interest, as well as report your retirement income. If you have anything more complex than that, you may need to pay for the Deluxe, Premium, or Self-Employed versions. The higher levels of H&R Block’s online tax service all charge an additional state tax prep fee of $37.
This is on top of the starting costs:
- Deluxe: starts at $35
- Premium: starts at $55
- Self-employed: starts at $85
You can also receive tax expert support for an additional fee.
H&R Block does offer additional features. Its maximum refund guarantee means that if you find a bigger refund somewhere else, your tax prep with H&R Block is free. The company also offers free consultations to help you navigate dealing with the (Internal Revenue Service) IRS if they audit your tax return.
Jackson Hewitt
Jackson Hewitt offers a simple online filing process for those that would rather not pay to have one of its Tax Pros file for them. In addition to its ease of use, one of the best features is that there is a single price for all filers.
Unfortunately, Jackson Hewitt does not offer a free tax filing option. However, Jackson Hewitt guarantees that you will pay no more than $25 total in tax prep fees, even if you file both federal and state taxes using the service. This price comes with features that can help make your process simpler, even if it might cost a little more. You’ll have step-by-step guidance throughout the filing process, as well as access to customer care support.
One of the most daunting things about filing taxes on your own is figuring out what documents you have or need. Jackson Hewitt makes it easy by giving you a few common options to select based on your situation, including “own a home,” “have student loans,” and “own a small business.” You’ll then get a customized checklist of the documents that you need to file your taxes based on your answers.
Jackson Hewitt’s guarantees are what make the service stand out the most. In addition to its pricing guarantee, the company also offers a maximum refund guarantee. If you are entitled to a federal refund larger than what was determined by Jackson Hewitt, you’ll receive a refund on your tax prep fees as well as an additional $100. There is also a Lifetime Accuracy Guarantee, which entitles you to the reimbursement of penalties and interest charged by tax authorities if there is an error made during your tax preparation.
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TaxAct
TaxAct offers a quality product for most tax situations. In addition to offering multiple products suitable for any tax situation, the company offers TaxAct Xpert Assist. This is a free service offered with all of TaxAct’s products and allows you to call and speak with a tax expert if you need help while filing your taxes or would like a quick review of your return.
TaxAct’s free file option is designed for simple tax returns. It can support W-2s, retirement income, unemployment income, dependents, and child tax credits. When it says free, you should know that it only means free federal tax returns. For each state tax return that you file, you’ll be charged $39.95.
According to TaxAct, Deluxe is its most popular product. This includes everything in the Free product and expenses such as itemized deductions, adoption credits, student loan interest, Health Savings Account (HSA), and real estate taxes. It’s $24.95 to file your federal tax return with this product and $44.95 for each state tax return you file. TaxAct also offers Premier and Self-Employed tax products, which cost $34.95 and $64.95, respectively, for federal tax returns. State tax returns filed with these products cost $44.95 per state.
TaxAct does not charge you anything until you actually file, so if you want to try it out, you can do so without investing upfront. You can import past tax returns from TurboTax and H&R Block into your TaxAct account to make filing easier. TaxAct also offers step-by-step guidance and will inspect your returns to find tax-saving opportunities and any errors that might increase your risk of an audit. Like many of its competitors, TaxAct also offers a 100% accuracy and maximum refund guarantee.
TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer offers some low-cost filing options for a wide range of tax situations. Whether you’re looking for the best value or help from a Tax Pro, you’ll be able to find the right product for your needs.
The Classic product is what really makes TaxSlayer shine. It covers all tax situations, including all income types and all credits and deductions. If the IRS has an inquiry regarding your federal return that was filed through TaxSlayer, TaxSlayer will work with you to resolve the inquiry for up to one year after the IRS accepts your return. This product is of great value at just $19.95 for the federal tax return and $39.95 for each state tax return.
If you have a simple tax situation, you can use TaxSlayer’s Simply Free product and get one free federal and one free state return. This product includes the ability to upload a previous tax return to import your data as well as unlimited email and phone support. You can also purchase the Premium product ($39.95 for federal) to get quick access to customer support, including live chat and Ask a Tax Pro features. Or, if you’re self-employed, you can opt for the Self-Employed product at $49.95 for federal tax returns. For active-duty military members, TaxSlayer offers free federal returns with no restrictions, though state returns are still $39.95 for military members.
In addition to the low costs, TaxSlayer offers guarantees and other benefits. You can choose to deduct the cost of your TaxSlayer products and services from your federal tax refund. You’ll also be guaranteed the maximum refund or a refund of the price you paid for your chosen TaxSlayer product. If you receive state penalties or interest charges due to a return filed with TaxSlayer’s interview guidance, it will reimburse you for those fees.
TurboTax
TurboTax makes it easy to find the tax solution that is meant for you. All you need to do is visit its website and select the situations or statements that apply to you. TurboTax will then rearrange its product listings to show you the product it recommends based on your answers.
Like most DIY tax prep companies, TurboTax offers a Free Edition. This allows you to file both your federal and state taxes for $0, but it only covers simple returns. TurboTax’s most popular product, though, is Deluxe, which is meant to maximize your deductions and credits. Deluxe covers all W-2 and 1099-NEC income without expenses. It also covers mortgage and property tax deductions, charitable donations, student loan interest, and more. To file with TurboTax Deluxe, you’ll be charged $39 for federal and $39 for state tax returns.
For more complex tax returns, there are two other products to choose from. TurboTax Premier is designed for investments and rental properties, allowing you to auto-import investment and tax data. TurboTax Premier charges $69 for federal tax returns and $39 for state tax returns. TurboTax Self-Employed takes your line of work into consideration as it searches for unique deductions that are personalized to you. The Self-Employed product charges $89 for federal tax returns and $39 for state tax returns.
TurboTax makes it easy and almost fun to file your tax returns. You start by giving TurboTax information about yourself and your past year so that TurboTax can assess your tax situation. Then you can upload photos of your documents and let TurboTax import the data as it walks you through the process. No matter which product you choose, TurboTax guarantees that you’ll get the maximum refund.
Companies at a glance
Company | Cost |
Cash App Taxes | $0 for federal and state |
FreeTaxUSA | $0 for federal; $14.99 for state |
H&R Block | Starts at $0 for free, $35 for Deluxe, $55 for premium, and $85 for self-employed |
Jackson Hewitt | $25 for federal and state |
TaxAct | $0 - $64.95 for federal; $39.95-$44.95 for state |
TaxSlayer | $19.95 - $49.95 for federal; $0 - $39.95 for state |
TurboTax | $0 - $89 for federal; $0 - $39 for state |
FAQs
What do I need to file my taxes?
The documents that you need will depend on your tax situation, but you’ll generally need income information such as your gross income, business income, or capital gains.
What is a standard deduction?
This is the portion of your income that is not subject to tax. It’s based on factors such as your filing status, age, and whether someone else has claimed you as a dependent.
Can I trust online tax filing services?
Yes, it’s totally safe to e-file your taxes with any of these services. They’re all in compliance with tax laws and can help you make sure that you are, too!
Why should I file my taxes online?
The simple answer is: to save money. Tax preparation services can be expensive, and fortunately, there are software programs out there that can help do that for you. E-filing your taxes can also help you save time because you can fit it into an evening or any free chunk of time rather than scheduling an appointment to meet with an enrolled agent, CPA, or other tax professional.
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The bottom line
Taxpayers can greatly benefit from using an online DIY tax prep service. While letting someone else do the work for you can be tempting, this low-cost alternative makes it almost as easy while saving you time in other ways.
The most important thing to remember is that like with any product, you need to find what works best for you. You might want to compare companies to see which one can support your tax situation at the lowest cost. If you want more hands-on support while you’re filing, you can take that into consideration as well.
No matter what your situation is, it’s worth looking into whether a DIY tax prep service is worth it for you. If you find that it’s not, you can always go back to letting a tax professional handle it all for you instead.
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Ashley Hart is a lead copywriter and digital marketing expert covering finance, law, real estate, music, entertainment, health and wellness.
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