We’ve made it through the start of 2024, so it’s time to shift our focus from New Year’s resolutions to taxes. While you probably don’t rank doing your taxes among your favorite things, it doesn’t have to be unbearable. In fact, most of us can complete them from the comfort of home by that April 15 deadline. How do you ask? With a little help from the best tax sites and free tax services that maximize your deductions and minimize your stress.
If you’re not sure what the best option is to do taxes online, you’ve come to the right place. For our blog, we’ve created a list of the best tax sites and free tax services that will make the process stress-free and seamless. Get ready to make 2024 the year that you get your taxes done without breaking a sweat or the bank.
The Best Free Tax Sites for Maximizing Deductions
1. TaxAct
The Basics: Since its founding, TaxAct has used its super-efficient tax filing platform to help people file more than 94 million returns since 2000. The price tag is often much less than competitors (up to 35% less than similar services). It also offers helpful extras at no additional charge like a $100k Accuracy Guarantee and free customer support.
Things to Consider: TaxAct has a maximum refund guarantee, so you can use that money for something fun like travel. It can also help you maximize your deductions and credits. Taxpayers appreciate that they can prepare both simple and complex tax forms and gain access to audit support.
The Cost: There are four different versions of TaxAct. Aside from the free version for simple federal returns, there’s the deluxe version for $24.99, the premier version for $34.99 and the self-employed version for $64.99. Deluxe is a great choice for parents and homeowners, while the premier option can help you report investments.
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2. TurboTax
The Basics: TurboTax is one of America’s favorite tax software programs because it helps you enjoy maximum deductions (more than 350 of them). As one of the best tax sites to do taxes online, TurboTax is current on the latest tax laws, features options like the ability to capture your W-2 with your smartphone and offers expert support over the phone and live chat.
Things to Consider: The free edition is only for simple tax returns. If you want to maximize deductions and credits or if you’re a homeowner, you’ll want to consider TurboTax Deluxe. TurboTax Premium is the best option if you’re self-employed or need to report investments and rental properties.
The Cost: The free edition allows you to file your state and federal taxes for $0. The paid options include Deluxe for $39 and Premium for $89, not including the cost to file state taxes.
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3. H&R Block
The Basics: H&R Block is a nice option because it allows you to either do taxes online or visit one of its in-person locations for a fee. Like TurboTax, H&R Block has a maximum refund guarantee. It also has a 100% accuracy guarantee. Many people like knowing that in person and virtual audit support is available.
Things to Consider: Like many other free tax services, the free version cannot help with more complicated returns. Some examples include deductions and expenses from freelance or self-employed work.
The Cost: The free edition is $0, which includes federal and state taxes as well as filing. Deluxe is $35 to file, Premium is $65 and Self-Employed is $85. For these three options, you’ll pay an extra $37 per state filing.
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The Best Free (or Very Affordable) Tax Prep Sites
4. Cash App Taxes
The Basics: Once known as Credit Karma Tax, Cash App Taxes allows users to file their state and federal taxes for free. People praise this way of filing taxes online as being incredibly simple and fast to use. Many can finish their taxes on their computer, tablet or phone in just a few minutes. Users of Cash App Taxes also love the program’s accuracy and the ability to get their refunds up to five days early.
Things to Consider: This is an online-only, free tax service, so there aren’t any brick-and-mortar locations to visit for support. It all occurs online.
The Cost: When Cash App Taxes says it’s completely free to prepare and file state and federal taxes, it means it. There are no extra charges for schedules and associated forms. It also handles everything from student loan interest to rental income reporting.
5. TaxSlayer
The Basics: TaxSlayer has a high ranking on Trustpilot in the tax prep software category. It’s likely because this tax service comes with comforting accuracy and maximum refund guarantees. People who use this free tax service find that it’s user friendly, thanks to the self-employed and tax law change guides as well as the phone, email and live chat support to help you do taxes online.
Things to Consider: You’ll have to go with a paid version of TaxSlayer if you have more than a basic tax refund or need to file a return for multiple states.
The Cost: Simply Free comes with one basic federal and state tax return. There are also paid options, including Classic ($22.95), Premium ($42.95) and Self-Employed ($52.95).
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6. eFile.com
The Basics: If you’re looking for a safe and reliable way to fill out more complex tax returns for a fraction of the price of many other tax prep sites and programs, eFile.com is a great option. Millions of taxpayers have trusted eFile.com because it offers a maximum refund and accuracy guarantee. People also enjoy the service’s helpful reference library, handy tax calculators and up to seven years of tax return storage. Not only that, but users also love that eFile.com makes it fast (often less than half an hour) to file.
Things to Consider: Because this is a more affordable option among the best tax sites, you don’t get the same modern interface and “nice-to-have” features that you’ll find with options like TurboTax.
The Cost: eFile.com has three levels of service, including free basic, Deluxe for $24 and Premier for $34. Deluxe is a good option for people with dependents, while Premier can help out those who are self-employed or have investment income to report.
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Once you’ve completed this year’s taxes, it’s time to take a look through the filing cabinet. You’ll want to shred any documents that the IRS doesn’t recommend you keep. Don’t have a shredder? Here are some affordable shredding services.
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