The Best Deals on Tax-Filing Services: There’s Still Time to File and Save

If you’re like most people, you probably use the same tax software each year to find out how much you owe Uncle Sam. And that makes sense; for this dreariest of adult-life tasks, it’s easiest to rely on what works and power through. But what if we told you how to save money and add some financial protection while doing your taxes this year?

If you’ve been living with the same tax prep and filing platform for the past few years, you might be surprised to find that there are now quite a few ways to get your refund ASAP. Some of these platforms work with other financial programs to help you keep an eye on your year-round finances, others offer live advisors to assist when necessary, and most have a free or almost-free tier for those who don’t have a ton of paperwork or deductions to worry about. 

Even if you’re perfectly happy jumping through the same familiar online hoops to get this annual obligation off your plate, it never hurts to know the landscape. Here are the most popular platforms to get your taxes done online (and hopefully on time).

TurboTax

The biggest player in the online tax filing game is TurboTax, which, as part of Intuit, may already be where you track your daily financials through its CreditKarma, Mint, and QuickBooks platforms. If that’s the case, the existing integration of your financial data makes it easy to get your taxes done quickly while finding hidden deductions. In fact, if your employer also partners with TurboTax, your W-2 info might already be available.

TurboTax offers a Tax Return Lifetime Guarantee, which covers your tax return with 100% accurate calculations for seven years, which is longer than other services and nice to have if an audit ever enters your life. Its free tier is only an option if you’re just using Form 1040 (no added forms and no schedules), but if you have a mortgage, any 1099 forms for freelance income, or any other deductions (including crypto!) to report, you’ll have to spend a few bucks to access those services. 

The Deluxe tier starts at $59 for federal filings (if you have a state income tax to pay, that filing is extra), with higher tiers available for those with investments or rental properties and for those who own and operate their own business. If you want someone looking over your shoulder making sure you’re doing everything right, the Live Assisted program could be for you, though that will also likely cost you more: Regular price for the Deluxe tier starts at $129, though Basic filers can also access this for free through the end of March. 

Finally, when the whole process is over, there are a wide variety of options for you to get your refund (assuming you get one). The Maximum Refund guarantee promises to find every deduction and credit it can along the way; if you find a bigger refund or smaller tax amount due through another preparer, they’ll refund your money.

H&R Block

If you’ve been doing your own taxes for a while and don’t need the hand-holding from providers like TurboTax, pivoting to the online H&R Block service could be worth looking into. The basic service gives you more for free than TurboTax (if you only have unemployment income, tuition statements, or retirement income to report, this is where you should start) and the Deluxe tier starts at $39 if you have a mortgage or freelance income to deal with. 

H&R Block also offers live assistance from one of its tax professionals, and if you’re more comfortable doing that in person, you can start the process yourself and then go to one of its brick-and-mortar locations to complete the process with the help of an expert (chat, phone and virtual help is also available). 

If you step up to the paid tier, you also get six years of guaranteed digital document organization, with audit help available for an extra fee. Users also have a variety of guarantees including a Maximum Refund, 100% Accuracy, and 100% Satisfaction guarantee. Most refunds will be delivered via direct deposit or on a prepaid Mastercard, but some users can get their refund five days earlier by having it credited to one of H&R Block’s proprietary Spruce savings and spending accounts. We have the federal tax filing listed, but if you’d also like to file State taxes, add $37 per State filed.

TaxSlayer

If you’re motivated primarily by price but don’t want to try working your way through the IRS Free File process, TaxSlayer might be for you—especially if you’re a student. Its Simply Free tier includes student loan interest and education credits (which is an upsell for TurboTax, for example). Homeowners and investors can also save a few bucks compared to H&R Block using the basic TaxSlayer tier (“Classic”) to report mortgage interest, property taxes, investments and rental property income, all for under $20. (If you need a state return filed, those fees are roughly on par with other major services).

TaxSlayer also makes some similar promises as other platforms. It’ll refund your money if another platform or professional finds you a bigger refund, while its 100% Accuracy guarantee will reimburse you if any calculation error it makes results in a penalty or additional interest being paid. If you run into a question with your filing, step up to the Premium Tier ($39.95) to receive priority phone and email support from a tax professional. This tier also includes IRS audit assistance, but just three years’ worth. If you’d feel more comfortable with a longer audit assist window, bigger players like TurboTax and H&R Block may be better choices. We have the federal tax filing listed, but if you’d also like to file State taxes, add $39.95 per State filed.

IRS Free File

Finally, the IRS has its own system where you can file your taxes for free(Opens in a new window) using its system or through a trusted partner website. Taxpayers whose AGI (annual gross income) in 2022 is less than $73,000 can use a guided tax prep system, while those whose AGI is higher can access Free File Fillable Forms for you to complete on your own. This is mainly for federal taxes, though free state tax filing services may also be available. 

If you need extra help, those who qualify can participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs, which use certified volunteers to help you prepare and submit your tax return. These services may be a little more time-intensive and can be tough to navigate, but they’re worth knowing about if you’re comfortable working within the IRS’s online platform or manually filling out forms yourself.