Tax Software Comparison Chart

If there is one thing people can’t stand it’s doing their taxes. Going through all those different documents that seem like they have been worded by aliens is pure torture for anyone. So it’s not surprising that once taxpayers find a solution that prepares their taxes and explains the process in plain English, they stick to that solution no matter what. This is the secret behind TurboTax‘s success, a company that has been helping people deal with those pesky tax returns since the 80s. TurboTax Online, the company’s online tax prep solution, provides everything that a taxpayer needs to create accurate returns. The user-friendly interface of the software is particularly important, but so too are the thorough interview questions. There are a number of additional extras, too, all of which will help you receive the biggest possible refund in the end. And this, believe it or not, is just the surface, since not only is TurboTax fully supported on mobile platforms but it’s also very safe to use thanks to the outstanding built-in and optional security settings.

Getting taxes ready in time for the IRS’s deadline can be quite a challenge even for those who are lucky enough to only need to file a simple tax return, so it’s not surprising that more and more taxpayers decide to turn to tax prep software. Sadly, these solutions either provide exceptional service for outrageous prices or are cheap but only provide the basics. Because of this, users are forced to make compromises, which is the very thing to avoid when it comes to tax returns. TaxAct, however, is the perfect solution for those looking for a tax preparation service that is not only cost-friendly, but also has plenty of features to help make the tax season a little less hassle. In fact, it doesn’t matter whether you join TaxAct as an entity or an individual taxpayer, the company ensures the same smooth experience for everyone thanks in part to the straightforward, mobile-friendly software. This program is improved by top-notch security and is filled with clever extras with which your tax refunds can be maximized.

If there’s only one thing that frustrates the most with tax preparation software, then perhaps it has to be the prices. The technology is certainly getting better and better with each passing year – especially since the introduction of cloud technology – but the base prices still make the eyes of millions roll in frustration. It’s not even like the free tax programs are worth using because once this method has been chosen, upgrading to a better package to prepare different forms can be quite the challenge. E-file, a company founded in 2013, is nothing like that. While it is a basic service devoid of many of the fancy extras that its competition provides, it’s definitely capable of doing exactly what it is supposed to do: creating tax return forms and filing them via a secure, user-friendly account. This doesn’t sound all that compelling at first, but add in the company’s aces in the deck – namely the unlimited nature of the program and its unbeatable prices – then E-file is indeed a service that’s worthy of your attention.

Nowadays there are two easily distinguishable segments of the tax prep software market: those companies that are considered newcomers to the industry and those that have been around for many decades. belongs to the latter category as it’s been on the market for more than half a century now. And although the company’s first software was released in 1991, there are no signs that TaxSlayer is slowing down – and its online solutions are the perfect proof of that. In fact, by becoming a TaxSlayer user not only will you have access to a straightforward program with which preparing federal and state tax returns is a breeze, but it’s also possible to make use of many additional benefits like virtually seamless data importing, thorough and versatile assistance, and a wide variety of extras. And even if the prices of the paid versions of the program aren’t the most inspiring, TaxSlayer is one of the few companies to provide its free version with the option to file a state refund for free, allowing users to take care of their taxes without paying a dime.

The tax prep software market is full of great solutions even if many of them are advertised as being free, a fact that taxpayers know has to be taken with a pinch of salt. In most cases, users can only make use of such tax preparation services by either only filing federal 1040EZs or by unlocking the forms they are looking for by upgrading to a paid higher-tier product. However, such hard choices have to be made with FreeTaxUSA, since the software can handle all tax forms and even allows taxpayers to file their federal tax returns without paying a single dime. But this unlimited and free nature isn’t the only reason to opt for this company. The unbeatable pricing policy is just the beginning, as FreeTaxUSA has also made sure that the tax prep process is as smooth as possible. It is a simple and logical program with an insane amount of built-in help tools and outstanding account security to boot.