The deadline to submit individual tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is April 15, 2024 (or April 17 if you live in Maine or Massachusetts).
While tax season may not be your favorite time of the year, you can make the process faster by filing your tax return using a tax software program. Services like TurboTax and H&R Block walk users through the process so they can maximize deductions and increase their refund. Many of the best tax filing software companies offer both free and paid plans that allow you to select the option that best suits your needs — whether this is the first time you've needed to file or you've been paying taxes for years.
CNBC Select reviewed over a dozen top tax filing software options, evaluating them on a range of features, including cost, user experience, expert tax assistance and Better Business Bureau rating, to determine which ones are best. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best tax software.)
Best for user experience
TurboTax
Cost
Costs may vary depending on the plan selected - click "Learn More" for details
Free version
TurboTax Free Edition. ~37% of taxpayers qualify. Form 1040 + limited credits only.
Mobile app
Yes
Live support
Available with some pricing and filing options
Click here for TurboTax offer details and disclosures. Terms apply.
Pros
- Step-by-step guidance with a Q&A format that is easy to follow
- TurboTax Live provides on-demand advice and a final review from a tax expert
- Live Full Service has a tax expert prepare, sign, and file your return
- Audit support, which provides free assistance if you get an IRS or other tax notice
Cons
- More costly than other software programs
- Live expert assistance plans have additional costs
Who's this for? TurboTax offers a range of features and tools that can help make filing taxes as simple as it can get. The software guides you through each step with straightforward questions, and you get access to explainers, videos and extra tips. You can also pay to add live assistance — or let a professional handle filing for you altogether.
Standout features: TurboTax guarantees a maximum refund, 100% accuracy and audit support for your tax return. The software allows you to easily upload tax documents, and you can opt to file with the TurboTax app. Additionally, TurboTax offers tax refund advances.
Best for DIY filing
H&R Block
Cost
Costs may vary depending on the plan selected (Free Online, Deluxe, Premium, or Self-Employed) - click "Learn More" for details
Free version
Yes (for simple returns only)
Mobile app
Yes
Live support
Available with some pricing and filing options
Terms apply.
Pros
- Simple step-by-step guidance that's easy to follow
- Unlimited on-demand chat or video support with Online Assist plans
- Ability to speak to a tax expert who has an average of 10 years experience (for paid plans only)
- Over 11,000 physical locations so you can meet with a tax expert in-person
- Maximum refund guarantee, or H&R Block will refund the plan fees you paid
- Audit support guarantee, which provides free assistance if you get an IRS or other tax notice
- 100% accuracy, or H&R Block will reimburse you for any penalties or interest up to $10,000
Cons
- Must have a paid plan to speak with a live tax expert
- One of the more costly software programs
Who's this for? H&R Block makes the filing process relatively simple, especially if you're filing on your own. Its free version offers more free forms than TurboTax and the paid plans are also slightly more affordable. That said, you can also pay for a professional to review your return.
Standout features: H&R Block provides access to AI Tax Assist with all plans. The company also guarantees a maximum refund, 100% accuracy, transparent pricing and process, as well as free audit assistance and mid-year care check-in. You can opt to file taxes online, with tax software or in person. H&R Block also offers tax refund advances.
Best free tax software
Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax)
Cost
$0 federal and state
Free version
Yes
Mobile app
Yes
Tax expert support
No
Terms apply.
Pros
- Completely free to use
- Get access to Cash App Tax services like credit monitoring alerts and credit score updates
- Audit defense, which gives you support from a representative if the IRS audits your tax return
- Maximum refund guarantee, or Cash App will pay you the difference up to $100 ($25 minimum)
- 100% accuracy, or Cash App will reimburse you for any penalties up to $1,000
Cons
- Only available in 40 states and D.C. You can't file with Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) if you lived in a state for only part of the tax year, earned income in more than one state during the tax year or earned income in a state you didn't live in
- No support from tax professionals
Who's this for? Cash App Taxes is worth looking into if your goal is to not spend money on filing your taxes this year. In most tax situations, you can use it to file your state and federal returns for free. Note that unless your return is simple, you need to be fairly comfortable doing your taxes yourself. Since Cash App Taxes is free, you won't have access to professional tax advice. It also doesn't support certain situations, such as multistate returns or foreign income.
Standout features: Cash App Taxes guarantees a maximum refund and 100% accuracy. The company also includes free audit defense with every return.
Best affordable tax software
TaxSlayer
File your taxes for as low as $30.36 with TaxSlayer*
Use Code: CNBC20
Cost
Costs may vary depending on the plan selected.
Free version
Yes
Mobile app
Yes
Tax expert support
Yes, certain plans
Pros
- Cheaper plans, making this a more affordable choice if you don't have a simple return and need to upgrade
- Low state filing fees
- One-on-one support from real tax experts with Ask a Tax Pro (select plans only)
- 100% accuracy, or TaxSlayer will reimburse you for any penalties or interest charges
- Maximum refund guarantee, or TaxSlayer will refund the plan fees you paid
- IRS inquiry and audit support with select plans
Cons
- Experts are only available on Premium and Self-Employed plans
*20% off your federal tax return. Offer is valid on federal tax returns e-filed by April 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Only valid for new or first time TaxSlayer users only. Promotion code must be entered at checkout. Offer is not applicable to state tax returns or additional products. Offer is valid for one-time use only and cannot be combined with any other coupons, promotions, discounts, or offers. Offer is nontransferable, cannot be sold or otherwise bartered, and is not applicable to previous purchases or returns.
Who's this for? TaxSlayer prices its packages based on your tax situation and the level of support you want. That means if you're a confident filer or have a simple tax situation, you can save some money with TaxSlayer by skipping features like chat support.
Standout features: TaxSlayer provides a maximum refund and a 100% accuracy guarantee. You can also file your taxes on the go through the mobile app. Additionally, TaxSlayer offers the option to deduct the cost of its services from your federal refund, which allows you to skip paying when you file.
Best for accuracy guarantee
TaxAct
Cost
Costs may vary depending on the plan selected - click "Learn More" for details
Free version
Yes
Mobile app
No, the mobile app was discontinued
Tax expert support
Yes, costs extra
Terms apply.
Pros
- Up to $100,000 accuracy guarantee, which reimburses you for IRS/state penalty or interest if the TaxAct software causes a calculation error in your return
- More affordable than other paid software
- Free one-on-one support from real tax experts with all plans
- Maximum refund and 100% accuracy guarantee, or TaxAct will refund the plan fees you paid and pay any difference in the refund or tax liability, plus cover any legal or audit costs up to $100,000
Cons
- Free plan charges per state return
Who's this for? TaxAct is a good pick for those who have a complicated tax situation and want to prioritize their return's accuracy. While every provider on our list guarantees 100% accuracy, TaxAct takes it to the next level. If your return isn't accurate, or you don't get your maximum refund, the company will refund your software costs and pay any difference in your lower refund or higher tax liability, as well as cover any legal or audit costs up to $100,000.
Standout features: TaxAct allows you to file online or download tax preparation software to use on your desktop. Plus, you can get help from a tax expert for a flat fee with TaxAct® Xpert Assist — a feature you can add to any of the provider's plans.
More on our top tax software
TurboTax
TurboTax is a leading software package for tax preparation in the U.S., offered by Intuit. It offers a variety of plans and backs its services with several guarantees. Among other Intuit products are an AI financial assistant, Credit Karma, an accounting software Quickbooks and an email marketing service Mailchimp.
Pricing
- TurboTax DIY — $0 to $129
- Live Assisted — $89 to $219
- Live Full Service — starting at $129
The prices are current as of writing and may reflect the promotions advertised on the provider's website.
Free version
Yes — for qualified filers in covered situations, including:
- W-2 income
- IRS standard deduction
- Student loan interest deduction
- Interest or dividends that don't require filing a Schedule B
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
Live support
Yes — additional fees may apply
H&R Block
H&R Block is a tax preparation company operating in the U.S., as well as Canada and Australia. Depending on the plan, customers can get live support online, over the phone or at over 11,000 tax offices nationwide. It also offers financial products, such as a debit card, a savings account and a banking app.
Pricing
- Free online — $0 + $0 per state filed
- Deluxe — $35 + $37 per state filed
- Premium — $65 + $37 per state filed
- Self-employed — $85 + $37 per state filed
- Filing expat taxes — starting at $99 + $49 per FBAR
The prices are current as of writing and may reflect the promotions advertised on H&R Block's website.
Free version
Yes — for covered tax situations and forms. Examples include:
- Simple returns
- W-2 employees
- Students
- Unemployment income
- CTC
Live support
Yes — additional fees may apply
Cash App Taxes
Cash App Taxes, formerly Credit Karma Tax, is a free online tax preparation service. Cash App also offers a mobile payment service that allows users to send, receive and invest money, among many other features.
Pricing
Cash App Taxes is 100% free.
Free version
Yes — for all covered situations. Note that certain scenarios aren't covered, and state returns are only available for 40 states and the District of Columbia.
Live support
You can contact Cash App support, but tax pro advice isn't available.
TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer is a privately owned tech company headquartered in Augusta, Georgia. It offers cloud-based tax preparation software, including a mobile app. It is IRS-approved and backs its services with several guarantees. TaxSlayer is a member of the Free File Alliance, offering free tax services to eligible taxpayers in partnership with the IRS.
Pricing
- Simply Free — $0 (state included)
- Classic — $37.95 (additional fees for state returns)
- Premium — $57.95 (additional fees for state returns)
- Self-employed – $67.95 (additional fees for state returns)
Free version
Yes — for W-2 income, student loan interest and education expenses
Live support
- Simply Free — free phone and email support
- Classic — free phone and email support
- Premium — priority phone and email support, live chat for technical support
- Self-employed — access to a tax pro with self-employed expertise
TaxAct
TaxAct is a tax preparation software company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, offering services to individual filers and businesses. TaxAct is a member of the Free File Alliance and claims to be the first online software provider to offer free tax filing.
Pricing
- Free — $0 (additional fees for state returns)
- Deluxe — $49.99 (additional fees for state returns)
- Premier — $69.99 (additional fees for state returns)
- Self-Employed — $99.99 (additional fees for state returns)
Free version
Yes — for the following tax situations:
- W-2 income
- Unemployment income
- Retirement income
- EITC
- CTC
- Stimulus credit
- Dependents
- Current students
- Student loan interest
Live support
Available to add for a flat fee of $59.99.
How much does it cost to file taxes?
Different tax filing options have different costs.
Most tax preparation software comes with a free version, along with the option to upgrade to a paid plan. The tax prep services we reviewed either have no cost for free tax filing or charge as low as $11.05 for federal filing plus $4.95 per state. However, the costs can add up fast with the more complex deluxe, premium and self-employed plans — the most expensive is $170 for federal returns, plus $50 per state. If you want to add live tax support, the surcharge can be $35 to $100, plus state fees.
There's also a DIY service provided by the IRS called IRS Free File where you can file your taxes at no cost. IRS Free File partners with online tax prep companies to help filers do free federal returns. Once you have your tax documents ready, go to IRS.gov and click on "IRS Free File." From there, you can prepare and file your federal income tax online using either guided tax preparation (which redirects you to an IRS partner site) or Free File Fillable Forms.
If your tax return is more complicated and you don't want to DIY using online software, you may want to think about hiring an expert like a CPA to file your taxes for you (which of course comes at its own cost). Keep in mind that some tax prep software offers an add-on benefit of live customer support with phone support and even full tax preparation, available for both individual tax filers and business owners. Costs generally range anywhere from $59 to upwards of $230.
Simple tax return vs. complex tax return
A simple tax return is the most basic type of tax return you can file, and many tax software programs let you file this return for free. A simple return generally includes W-2 income, limited interest and dividend income (i.e. investment income), standard deductions and unemployment income.
Some free plans also include the earned income tax credit (TurboTax Free Edition*, H&R Block, Cash App Taxes, and TaxAct), child tax credits (TurboTax Free Edition, H&R Block, Cash App and TaxAct) and student loan interest tax deductions (H&R Block, Cash App, TaxAct and TaxSlayer).
* (according to TurboTax, about 37% of taxpayers qualify for this edition and it's available for Form 1040 + limited credits only)
If your finances are more complicated and you don't qualify for a simple tax return, you'll need to file a complex one and most tax software programs will charge you fees to file. Complex tax situations typically include anyone with freelance income (1099 tax forms or Schedule C forms for self-employed filers), small business owners (who would want to deduct business expenses) and landlords (who would want to deduct rental property expenses from their rental income), as well as anyone with investment income, or earnings from investments and stock sales.
The tax program you use will notify you if you can't file a free simple tax return and instead need to upgrade and pay to file a more complex return. And even if you can file a simple tax return, you may want to pay for the next-tier plan to benefit from more tax deductions.
Should I itemize or take the standard deduction?
When you file your taxes, you can choose to lower your taxable income by either taking the standard deduction or by itemizing deductions.
The standard deduction is a preset amount that depends on your filing status, while itemized deductions are expenses you paid in the prior year that can reduce your taxable income. Itemized deductions may include mortgage interest, real estate taxes, property taxes, disaster losses, state and local income or sales taxes, charitable donations and partial medical and dental expenses, according to the IRS website.
In most cases, higher-income earners who have large, deductible expenses in the year prior will get a lower tax bill from itemizing versus taking the standard deduction. For example, owning rental property comes with tax-deductible perks that may exceed what a filer would otherwise receive through the standard deduction.
2023-2024 tax brackets and federal income tax rates
2023 tax brackets
| Tax rate | Single | Head of household | Married filing jointly or qualifying widow | Married filing separately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $11,000 | $0 to $15,700 | $0 to $22,000 | $0 to $11,000 |
| 12% | $11,001 to $44,725 | $15,701 to $59,850 | $22,001 to $89,450 | $11,001 to $44,725 |
| 22% | $44,726 to $95,375 | $59,851 to $95,350 | $89,451 to $190,750 | $44,726 to $95,375 |
| 24% | $95,376 to $182,100 | $95,351 to $182,100 | $190,751 to $364,200 | $95,376 to $182,100 |
| 32% | $182,101 to $231,250 | $182,101 to $231,250 | $364,201 to $462,500 | $182,101 to $231,250 |
| 35% | $231,251 to $578,125 | $231,251 to $578,100 | $462,501 to $693,750 | $231,251 to $346,875 |
| 37% | $578,126 or more | $578,101 or more | $693,751 or more | $346,876 or more |
FAQs
When are taxes due?
The tax deadline this year is April 15, 2024. Due to state holidays, the deadline is slightly later for residents of Massachusetts and Maine — April 17.
What happens if I miss the tax deadline?
If you miss the April 15 deadline, you still need to file your taxes and should do so as soon as possible. You'll incur a penalty if you file late and owe taxes, which only gets pricier the longer you wait. You won't incur a penalty if you don't owe and instead have a tax refund coming.
Can I pay taxes with a credit card?
You can pay taxes with a credit card, but providers typically charge a processing fee associated with doing so that may outweigh any benefits.
Besides the convenience factor, paying with a credit card allows you to earn cash back or other rewards, meet spending requirements for welcome bonus offers and potentially buy some extra time on tax payments by taking advantage of a 0% APR period. However, the processing fees and potential interest charges for late credit card payments can end up being greater than the value of the rewards.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every tax software review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of tax software products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best tax software options.
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Our methodology
To determine which tax software offers the best way to file your taxes online, CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen filing programs. We compared each program on a range of features, including:
- Cost
- User experience
- Expert tax assistance
- Accuracy and maximum refund guarantee
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating
- Customer reviews, when available
Cost was one of the most important factors. While many of these services offer free versions, many people have complicated finances that require them to pay to file their taxes. We evaluated the price per plan and weighed the features you receive, like the ability to maximize deductions and credits. The more bang for your buck, the higher a service ranked.
Whether you're new to filing taxes or a seasoned pro, user experience is crucial to filling out and submitting your return quickly and with little frustration. The services we chose had to be relatively user-friendly.
The ability to speak with a tax expert or support representative was a big plus. Four out of five of the best tax software offered some form of support.
And if a service supported consumers with a generous accuracy and maximum refund guarantee, it was ranked higher.
We also considered the Better Business Bureau rating associated with the software. BBB ratings help determine whether a business is operating responsibly and if it helps to resolve customer complaints promptly. Customer reviews were also taken into consideration.
After reviewing the above features, we sorted our recommendations by best for user experience, DIY filing, free tax software, most affordable and best accuracy guarantee.
The federal and state filing fees for the software programs mentioned above are subject to change without notice. Many programs don't charge you until you file, so there's a chance the fees can change from the time you start your return until you submit it.
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* Cash App Taxes - TurboTax Free Edition: $0 Federal + $0 State + $0 To File offer is available for simple tax returns only with TurboTax Free Edition. A simple tax return is Form 1040 only (without any additional schedules).
