TaxAct
File your taxes online with a maximum refund guarantee
About TaxAct
TaxAct is online tax preparation software for US individual and business filers. It offers a free federal edition for simple returns, paid DIY tiers for homeowners, investors, and the self-employed, plus optional live expert help or full-service filing. Business editions cover partnerships, S-corps, C-corps, and estates and trusts.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Federal prices are noticeably lower than TurboTax for comparable DIY tiers
- Free federal edition covers roughly 40% of filers with simple returns
- Live expert help is a $45 add-on rather than a separate premium product
- Covers business entity returns (1065, 1120-S, 1120, 1041) online, which some consumer competitors don't
- Maximum refund and $100k accuracy guarantees
- Imports W-2s, 1099s, and K-1s to cut manual data entry
Cons
- State returns cost extra on every tier, including Free
- Free edition excludes itemized deductions, investments, HSAs, and self-employment income
- Interface is less polished than TurboTax
- No in-person offices for face-to-face help
- US federal and state returns only
Key Features
Free Federal Edition
File a simple Form 1040 return for $0 federal, covering W-2 and unemployment income, students, and the Child Tax Credit.
Document import
Import W-2s and 1099s automatically, and drag-and-drop forms like Schedule K-1 and consolidated 1099s for automatic mapping.
Step-by-step guidance
Interview-style workflow that walks you through income, deductions, and credits before review and e-file.
Xpert Assist
Add unlimited calls and chats with credentialed, US-based tax experts while you file, with an expert review before submission.
Xpert Full Service
Hand off your documents to a dedicated tax professional who prepares and files the return for you.
Business tax returns
Online DIY filing for Forms 1065, 1120-S, 1120, 1041, and Schedule C/F, with bundles that include a personal 1040.
Maximum refund and accuracy guarantees
Maximum refund guarantee plus a $100k accuracy guarantee on calculations.
Refund Transfer
Pay filing fees out of your refund instead of paying up front.
Prior-year and extension filing
File returns for previous tax years and submit extensions online.
Mobile app
Mobile app for filing and tracking return and refund status.
Pricing
- Simple Form 1040 returns
- W-2 and unemployment income
- Current students
- Child Tax Credit and EITC
- State return additional
- Everything in Free
- Home ownership deductions
- Child and dependent care
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- State return additional
- Everything in Deluxe
- Selling stocks or crypto
- Selling a home
- Rental income
- State return additional
- Everything in Premier
- Contract, freelance, and rideshare income
- Sole proprietor (Schedule C)
- State return additional
- Partnerships from $159.99
- S-corps and C-corps $169.99
- Estates and trusts $149.99
- Issue K-1s
- State return additional
Best For
Simple W-2 returns
Employees and students with straightforward income file federal returns for free.
Homeowners and families
Deluxe covers mortgage interest, dependent care credits, and HSA contributions.
Investors and landlords
Premier handles stock and crypto sales, home sales, and rental property income.
Freelancers and gig workers
Self-Employed covers Schedule C income and expenses like home office and mileage.
Small business entity returns
Partnerships, S-corps, and C-corps file business returns and issue K-1s without hiring a CPA.
Similar Tools
Monarch Money
Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money
CancelMates
Track & Cancel - Built for India
Everlance
Automatic mileage and expense tracking for the self-employed
CoinKeeper
Right financial decisions, every day
MileIQ
Automatic mileage tracking for taxes and reimbursements
Heard
Bookkeeping, taxes, and payroll built for therapy private practices