You can get a great tax service without breaking the bank. We surveyed free online tax software to determine which is best for tax filers.
There are three main ways to maximize your tax return. You can file your taxes on your own to save on tax preparation fees. You can work with a financial advisor to develop a tax strategy for your financial goals. Lastly, you can use online tax preparation software to save costs. While online filing is certainly more affordable than many in-person tax services, in many cases, you don’t even have to pay for the basic level. That means you have several excellent options for free online tax software.
SmartAsset looked at a number of online tax preparation tools. We analyzed features and filing options to rank the best free programs available. Read on as we break down the best options. The table below compares the best free online options for tax software in 2022:
Best Free Online Tax Software – 2022 TaxSlayer TaxAct TurboTax H&R Block Federal $0 State $0 Federal $0 State $34.95 Federal $0 State $0 Federal $0 State $0 Supports basic 1040 returns, includes simple federal tax return and one state return, as well as student loan interest deduction and education credits. Supports filers with dependents, college expenses and retirement income. Supports filers with a simple tax return only. This includes W-2 and unemployment income, as well as Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC) and child tax credits. Supports students, parents and W-2 employees, as well as the Earned Income Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC) student tuition, payments, and loan interest deductions, and retirement income. For filers with other forms as well as additional credits and deductions, Classic starts at $17.95 for federal and $36.95 for state. For homeowners and filers with deduction, credits and adjustments, Deluxe starts at $24.95 for federal and $44.95 for state. For homeowners and filers with W-2 and (1099-NEC) income without expenses, charitable donations, student loan interest and education expenses, health savings accounts (HSA) and retirement savings contributions, Deluxe starts at $39 for federal and $39 for state. For filers with deductions and credits, as well as HSA contributions, Deluxe starts at $29.99 for federal and $36.99 for state. For filers requiring access to a tax professional, Premium starts at $37.95 for federal and $36.95 for state. For filers who own homes, have families with childcare expenses, and those paying off student loans, Premier starts at $34.95 for federal and $44.95 for state. For those with rental income and investments, Premier starts at $69 for federal and $39for state. For those with rental income and investments, Premium starts at $49.99 for federal and $36.99 for state.
You’ll find the best features and overall functionality with TaxSlayer. This is one of the only places where you’ll find free federal and free state filing. Generally, most companies offer free federal but may charge an additional fee for a state return. TaxSlayer offers both for free. The site is easy to navigate and offers a deduction finder and PDF import.
There’s also free phone and online support for technical questions. This means if you’re having trouble with one of the inputs or can’t figure out how to link your account to direct deposit, you can call or email a representative. However, tax questions will cost you. The paid levels offer tax professional support and live chat, but the free version does not.