The Best Tax-Filing Services and Software Deals for 2026 Tax Season

A new year means it’s time to start thinking about your income tax return. Sure, you have until April to file, but getting it out of the way early is always a good choice. If you don’t want to grind through all of the IRS forms yourself, why not use one of our thoroughly reviewed picks for tax software? These established and trusted companies provide numerous services including filing assistance, tax calculators, return reviews, and more for one low price. We compare and rate them to give you the best value, and many of the leading brands have early bird discounts for as much as 50% off right now.

There are plenty of ways to get your return prepared and your refund safely in your bank account. Many of these tax prep platforms work with other financial apps like QuickBooks to help you monitor your year-round finances, others offer live advisors to assist with tough questions, and a few have a free or nearly-free filing tier for those who don’t have a lot of paperwork or deductions to manage. 

Get your 2025 taxes done before the last minute. Scroll down, read our in-depth evaluations of each of the leading services and programs, get that refund, and spend it on something cool!

TurboTax Deals

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

We have a preliminary review for 2026’s update, where we observed that the always dependable user experience is even easier, with some clever time-saving ideas especially around deductions and investment imports. The wizard-based system walks you through every step of tax prep in a thorough and clear way, and lots of help resources, including professionals at 600 offices around the country, are available to you.

Other Upsides:

• Amazon Exclusive TurboTax price 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 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. They’ve been in the business since 1955 and have around 12,000 physical offices worldwide.

We’ve had some pre-release time with H&R Block’s 2026 program, and we praised its “welcoming user experience, extensive coverage of tax issues, and ubiquitous help” saying that it was more than capable for both simple and complex returns. Additional paid services include virtual help from CPAs, EAs, and agents, the latter of which will review, sign, and e-file your return. You can also 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 clear explanations of tax topics.

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

• You never need to see an IRS form or schedule.

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

• Great Android and iOS mobile apps.

TaxSlayer Deals

TaxSlayer (such a metal name) has been slaying federal and state taxes for over 50 years now. Their flagship service is a frictionless 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 that still has useful features and help, then we say, “Slay!” In our preview of Tax Slayer 2026 (2025 tax year), we were impressed by its “snappy, straightforward design” and easy-to-understand adaptations to tax code changes from the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Five different pricing options are available, from free basic federal for W-2 filers with no dependents, all the way up to complex self-employment returns.

Other Upsides

• Affordable price points.

• Clean interface with easy-to-understand navigation.

• Supports all major IRS forms and schedules.

• Robust data import option

TaxAct Deals

Featuring tax filing for individuals and businesses, TaxAct is a trustworthy 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 will cover your liability against an IRS or state penalty based on any error that TaxAct makes. That’s the kind of confidence that we like.

TaxAct’s pricing starts with a free tier for very basic returns, followed by Deluxe, Premiere and Self-Employed tiers for individuals–most of which are more affordable than competitors like TurboTax, especially if you file early in the year and snag the discount. 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 2026 preview, we loved TaxAct’s extensive coverage of filing topics and robust resources. 

Other Upsides 

• Updated mobile browser access and flexible filing structures

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

• Filing help includes extensive 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. 

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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 for you. At a $25 filing fee for both federal and state taxes, Jackson Hewitt is one of the most budget-friendly 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 seamlessly. 

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 so you don’t invite an audit.

Other upsides: 

• Technical Support representatives are available via email and chat

• Available on desktop or via a mobile website

• Two-step identity verification optional

Free Tax Software for 2025 Filing Year

Looking for a free option that offers more than the minimal tools most other “free” services offer? CashApp Taxes delivers a surprisingly full-featured service that, unlike all of their competitors, is free for both federal and state retins. 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 use 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, but there’s not a lot of hand-holding or live support. 

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. If you need to do a state filing, it will cost you a very affordable $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 pay Uncle Sam, you can at least get some reward points in the process. 

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 many Federal programs like this have been cut, you can still file your taxes for free using the IRS’s Free File system or through a trusted partner website. Taxpayers whose AGI (annual gross income) in 2025 was less than $89,000 can use a guided tax prep system, while those whose AGI is higher have access to 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 so you don’t have to stress out about it later.

About Our Experts

K. Thor Jensen

Contributing Writer

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Experience

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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John Mihaly

Managing Editor, Shopping & Deals

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Experience

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.

Typing this from a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Chip, but at home, I’m using a MacBook Air with an M2.

When I’m on the go, I’ve got my some 2nd generation AirPods in my ears (which I got on sale for $69 this past Black Friday, I just like the way they fit better). When I’m listening to music around the my apartment, I’m either wearing some Sony WH1000XM4 headphones or via various Sonos One SL or Roam speakers.

As much as I try to detach, my iPhone 13 is always by my side and I use an Amazon Fire HD tablet for reading digital comics, books, and newspapers. Like many, I’m the type of person who uses their tech until it breaks and then updates to whatever the newest thing is at the moment (then repeat).

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