TaxSlayer vs TaxAct Comparison

Preparing tax returns is the bane of every U.S. citizen’s existence, so it’s not surprising that more and more people are turning to tax prep solutions. These services certainly can help you deal with taxes in no time, but nowadays this just isn’t enough. In fact, it’s actually the little features and extras with which companies try to convince newcomers that are the most important things to consider. This is exactly what these two services, TaxSlayer – one of the oldest tax companies around – and TaxAct manage to do. However, whereas the former focuses more on a traditional approach with smaller extras, the latter tries to impress its clientele with convenience.

But when it comes to paying for TaxSlayer, it doesn’t offer much since its prices are pretty average, whether we’re talking about the product itself or any of the extra services – which also include third-party services. However, there is one major advantage of TaxSlayer that virtually no other tax prep solution provider offers: its free product, Simply Free, allows users to file their 1040EZs alongside one state return entirely for free. And as a nice addition, there is the option participate in the company’s referral program, although it’s worth noting that these perks only include eGift cards and not discounts or deductions on any of the available products or services.

TaxAct

Unfortunately, TaxAct’s free version is a bit limited and the company only provides one extra service, Audit Defense. However, its other products are quite cost-friendly, allowing users to enjoy many TaxAct features for as low as $14.95. And to make the deal even sweeter, if you receive a referral from another user, then there is the option to reduce those base prices by another 20%.

Conclusion

It’s quite a challenge to choose between these two tax preparation solutions because they have many things in common, especially where the less integral features are concerned. So, it’s best to ask the question: would you prefer the more traditional program with a better free version or the software that has mastered convenience. TaxSlayer is the more down-to-earth solution, though it still provides many little extras with which taxes can be dealt with in a jiffy. Plus, it’s quite rare that such a service lets users of its free program file a state tax return without paying, too. TaxAct, on the other hand, cannot pull off this trick, but instead it provides neat bonuses like a joint account for multiple tax returns and a straightforward program with so many features of convenience that it could easily turn the nightmarish process of tax return preparation into a simple and pleasant experience.