The Best Deals on Tax-Filing Services and Software for 2025

Hopefully, your employers have given you all the paperwork you need to file your 2024 tax return, because it’s time to get that return going before the April 14 deadline. It’s well-known that the United States has one of the world’s most complex income tax systems. So why not save money and get some peace of mind by using one of our picks for tax software? These well-reviewed companies provide filing assistance, tax calculators, return reviews, and more for one low price.

There are a multitude of ways to get your return prepared and your refund in your bank account lightning-fast. Some of these tax prep platforms work with other financial apps to help you monitor your year-round finances, others offer live advisors to assist when necessary, and many have a free or nearly-free filing tier for those who don’t have a ton of paperwork or deductions to manage. 

Even if you’re happy using the same system every year to get this annual obligation off your plate, it never hurts to know what your options are. You might be surprised at how inexpensive some of these top services can be.

TurboTax Deals

Intuit TurboTax has been one of the most trusted names in tax prep for over thirty years. While their software tends to be pricey, they back up that higher cost with plenty of new add-ons every year. 2025 sees integrations with CreditKarma and QuickBooks Online for easier calculation, as well as a revamped wrap-up step. We gave it an Editors’ Choice award for the year.

In our extensive review of Intuit TurboTax 2025 (for the tax year 2024), we said its “state-of-the-art design, exceedingly thorough coverage of tax topics, and next-level help content make Intuit TurboTax the personal tax preparation site to beat.” It should be noted that we did find “some help responses come from community members, not Intuit,” so take a little extra care if something seems weird.

Other Upsides:

• Amazon Exclusive TurboTax software for saving money on filing both federal and state returns.

• Outstanding mobile apps for Android, iPad, and iPhone.

• If your employer also partners with TurboTax, your W-2 info might already be available.

• A “Lifetime Guarantee” that covers your tax return with 100% accurate calculations and audit support for seven years as well as a Maximum Refund guarantee.

• TurboTax’s products are now available in Spanish as well.

H&R Block Deals

With somewhat lower prices than Intuit TurboTax, H&R Block offers more options for personal tax preparation than any of its competitors and even more than some in-person services.

When we reviewed H&R Block’s 2025 edition, we praised its “friendly interface, extensive coverage of tax issues, and ubiquitous help,” saying that it did the job for both simple and complex returns. There are plenty of bells and whistles that cost extra, including virtual help from CPAs, EAs, and agents, the latter of which will review, sign, and e-file your return. You can even bring your return to an H&R Block office to have it prepared in person. These add-on services range from an additional $89 to nearly $500.

Other Upsides:

• Thorough and understandable explanations of tax topics.

• Lengthy but conversational wizard-like tool to “interview” you.

• You never see an IRS form or schedule.

• Federal Accuracy Reviews spot errors and omissions in your return and let you fix them.

• Excellent Android and iOS mobile apps.

TaxSlayer Deals

TaxSlayer (such a metal name) has been slaying federal and state taxes in one form or another for over 50 years now. Their flagship service is a speedy and thorough system that guides you through the various charges and deductions to prepare your federal return with ease. As expected, state income tax filing is also available for an additional charge.

If you’re looking for a more cost-effective tax-filing option than Intuit TurboTax or H&R Block, then we say, “Slay!” In our review of Tax Slayer 2025 (2024 tax year), we were impressed by its “comprehensive coverage of even obscure tax topics,” but did note that some of their help topics were tough to understand and wanted more context-sensitive writing. Use code RMN20 for a special PCMag discount.

Other Upsides

TaxAct Deals

Featuring tax filing for individuals and businesses, TaxAct is a well-developed service that has been around since the late ‘90s. TaxAct offers both Web-based and desktop options, plus a Maximum Refund guarantee and an additional $100,000 accuracy guarantee that covers your liability against an IRS or state penalty based on a TaxAct error. That’s the kind of confidence that engenders trust.

TaxAct’s pricing starts with a free tier for very basic returns, followed by Deluxe, Premiere and Self-Employed tiers for individuals–all of which are more affordable than competitors like TurboTax, especially if you file early in the year. If you’re filing for both your business and a personal return, you can also bundle multiple services for partnerships, corporations, and other business structures. In our full review, we loved TaxAct’s extensive coverage of filing topics and robust resources. 

Other Upsides 

• Improved mobile browser access and flexible filing structures

• Can handle complex filings with investment income, rental property income and cryptocurrency sales

• Filing help includes online support like calculators, guides and checklists

• The Xpert Assist feature offers live tax expert advice by phone plus a quick pre-filing return review (for an additional fee)

Liberty Tax Deals

Liberty Tax has thousands of in-person tax prep centers, as well as an online filing option for those who prefer the DIY route. They offer three tiers: Basic, Deluxe and Premium, all of which are currently discounted by $10 each. (State filings are a flat $36.95 on each tier.) There is no completely free option, unlike some of their online competitors. 

If you have kids or other dependents, investment or retirement income, itemized deductions or other tax breaks, you’ll probably need to shell out for the Deluxe option. Want a more hands-off approach? Liberty Tax offers the ability to handle every aspect of the filing for you—just send them your relevant documents and they’ll take care of the rest. They also offer a free document import service if you’ve filed with a competitor previously, and if you hit a snag in the process and need some help, you can stop where you’re at and send it to an advisor who can help you finish the process face-to-face. 

Other upsides: 

• Offers services in both English and en Español

• Support options include chat, email, and even via social channels, in addition to in-person services

• Their mobile app allows you to file by phone, scan documents, make in-person appointments and more

Jackson Hewitt Deals

If you are looking for a brand-name tax filing service with competitive pricing Jackson Hewitt might be right in the zone for you. At a $25 filing fee for both federal and state taxes, Jackson Hewitt is one of the most affordable options around. If you’ve done your taxes in person at one of their many Walmart-based or standalone outlets in the past and want to handle things yourself this year with their online platform, you’ll be able to import your historical info with ease. 

Jackson Hewitt also offers tools for self-employment income and investment income, though online support is minimal – if you want the help of a professional, you’ll have to get that in person. The Schedule C forms for self-employed people include both income and expenses, and there’s a comprehensive final review that goes through your filing, finds fields you started but didn’t finish and flags errors and omissions.

Other upsides: 

• Support representatives are available for technical questions via email and chat

• Available on desktop or via a mobile website

• Two-step identity verification is available

Free Tax Software for 2025

Looking for a free option that offers more than the minimal tools most other “free” services offer? CashApp Taxes delivers a robust service that, unlike all of their competitors, is free for both federal and state taxes. All major and many minor tax forms and schedules are supported on free filings, and they’re very clear on the IRS forms and schedules that they can’t help with. For example, if you have interest or investment income to report, you’ll have to spend a little more with another service. 

Many self-employment forms are also included, which often incur a much higher expense on paid tax filing sites. If you have a basic filing this year and you feel like you don’t need the online help and professional support that most other preparers will make available, CashApp Taxes could be your most economical choice. 

Other Upsides

• Good user interface and simple navigation

• Has an iOS and Android app available

• Imports returns from competitors

• Again, it’s free for most users!

FreeTaxUSA is another Editors’ Choice-winning service for simpler filings or the budget-focused tax filer. The “free” part of FreeTaxUSA refers to the many options available for federal taxes; a state filing will still cost you $14.99. That being said, if you need a little more help and guidance than the bare-bones support than CashApp Taxes provides, you’ll probably find yourself opening up your wallet just a little for the advanced filing service. 

Of note for workers with a few side hustles: FreeTaxUSA is one of the few services that lets you file a Schedule C (the form for sole-proprietor businesses or single-member LLCs) for free–usually that’s a big upsell on other filing sites. Finally, we also love that you can pay your taxes with a credit card – if you have to pony up to Uncle Sam, you can at least get some reward points while you do it. 

Other upsides: 

• Features a Refund Maximizer tool at the end of your filing

• The “Deluxe” tier with expert advisors available by live chat is just $7.99

• Add Pro Support for tax advice from a CPA via phone or screen share for $49.99

• Website is mobile-optimized; no need to download another app

Although the Federal government is a little messy these days, you can still file your taxes for free for now using the IRS’s Free File system or through a trusted partner website. Taxpayers whose AGI (annual gross income) in 2024 was less than $84,000 can use a guided tax prep system, while those whose AGI is higher can access online fillable forms for you to complete on your own. This is exclusively for federal taxes, although free state tax filing services may also be available through your individual state’s website.

If you need extra help, those who qualify can also 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. Whatever solution you choose, get on that tax return now, because there’s no worse feeling than waiting until the last minute to get it done.

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About K. Thor Jensen

Contributing Writer

K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.

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About John Mihaly

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John Mihaly has been an editor at BuzzFeed, Thrillist, WWE, and FHM and has written for various publications like Fatherly, TIME, Men’s Journal, SPIN, Blender, and others over the course of his 20-year career in media. When he’s not trying to find the best deals on consumer electronics, John is in the process of building a new house with his wife for their two young children, writing about and testing children’s toys and gear for parents, and playing with his dog Rocket, a five-pound, black and tan Pomeranian. John is generally into baseball, Big East basketball, comic books (never call them graphic novels), movies from the 80s, music from the 90s, reading biographies, and staying out of the sun.

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