Find the best online tax software for you with this guide. Browse online tax filing software from H&R Block, TurboTax, Credit Karma, Jackson Hewitt and more.
The IRS pushed the tax deadline back for the second year in a row — from April 15 to May 17 — due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. But not everyone has an extra month to file: Self employed workers or those who make estimated payments still need to make their quarterly payment by April 15.
Even if you have some added time to do your taxes, you should still consider filing as soon as possible. For one, the sooner you file, the sooner you may get a refund. The IRS says most refunds are issued within 21 days of filing, but some taxpayers are already reporting delays, which means you should file ASAP if you want your return sooner rather than later. And if you owe taxes, you’ll have more time to create a plan to pay them off. Not to mention the longer you wait to file your taxes, the more time you're potentially giving scammers to file a fraudulent return in your name. Tax scams are surging during the pandemic, so filing as soon as possible can limit the time window thieves have.
Tax filing software online can be an affordable alternative to hiring your own accountant. But where do you start? What are the online tax software options available to you? And how do you find the best tax software for your situation? We consulted financial planners and experts to share some tips on where to get started, as well as the pros and cons of some leading online tax software services like TurboTax, H&R Block and others.
No matter what software you use to file, the IRS encourages taxpayers to choose to receive their refund by direct deposit, or sign up for electronic tax payments before the deadline. Doing so will speed up the process of receiving your refund or processing your payment. Electronic options also support social distancing over mailed checks.
Online tax software is cloud-based and often much faster than desktop versions that are installed on your computer. Once you purchase access to the software, all you need is an internet connection and a browser. It only takes a couple of minutes to set up an account in most cases. “You more or less put your information into a fact-finder, putting in the typical stuff you would into a tax return,” said Wes Brown, a board-certified financial planner at Cogent Blue Wealth Advisors. “They tend to ask you a series of questions and then walk you back through each section so you can review everything. They then file your return automatically to the IRS.”