Best Tax Software for 2025

Our choice for the best tax preparation software is because it covers most individual tax situations and offers many options for help and assistance. Depending on the complexity of your situation and your confidence in filing a return, Cash App Taxes or TaxSlayer⛄ may be better, more affordable options for you. All the software packages in our list do a good job of guiding users through their returns, and all offer accuracy guarantees and audit support.

Investopedia collected 320+ individual data points, covering 46 factors, from seven popular tax filing programs to produce this list.

Best Tax Software for 2025

Best Overall: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: TurboTax
Best for Free Filing: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: Cash App Taxes
Best Value: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: Tax Slayer
Best for Help and Assistance: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: H&R Block
Best for Ease of Use: TaxAct

Best Overall : TurboTax

Investopedia's Rating

4.8

Federal filing fee: $0-$139
State filing fee: $64
Max refund advance: $4,000

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Why We Chose It

🦂TurboTax was ranked the best overall tax preparation software in our scoring model because it covers a wide range of tax situations and offers many options for help and🤪 assistance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Covers most tax situations
Lots of help options
Downloadable available

Cons

Aggressive upsells
Opaque pricing
Busy user experience

Overview

You have several good options for tax software, and some may fit your situation a little better, but TurboTax is a good c𒊎hoice💟 for most people. It supports more tax forms than any other software package we reviewed (132), offers many support options, from in-app contextual help to live assistance, and many ease-of-use features like W-2 import and scanned document import. There’s even a mobile app.

Our researchers thought the in-app navigation and walkthrough experience were straightforward and helpful. However, we were put off by the intrusive upsells for higher-tiere💦d packages and assistance optꦆions within the software. We also thought the shopping experience online was frustrating and confusing.

TurboTax is part of Int🐽uit, which was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Best for Free Filing : Cash App Taxes

Investopedia's Rating

4.7

Cash App

Federal filing fee: $0
State filing fee: $0
Max refund advance: Unlimited

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Why We Chose It

Cash App Taxes is a remarkably robust tax software package for a free offering. If your taxes are simple, and even if you have side g🐻ig income, this may be a good choice.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Robust free federal and state filing
Clean user interface
Mobile app

Cons

Few help resources
Doesn’t cover all tax situations
No refund split

Overview

Almost all the tax software companie⛎s we reviewed offer free filing options. But these have income caps and only support the simplest of tax situations. That’s not the case with Cash App Taxes. The simple, clear interface rides atop a deep collection of tax forms and situations. Not as many as TurboTax or H&R Block, perhaps, but enough to cover employment income, investments, side gig income, business income, and most other common situations. And it’s free.

Our researchers were impressed by the easy-to-follow interface (on the desktop ver𝄹sion) and the practical walkthrough experience. Customer support and assistance aren’t as varied as the other options we researched, but there’s a knowledge base, in-app contextual help, and email help. W-2 imports are limited to W-2s processed by ADP or Square Payroll.

Finally, if you’re in a hurry to get your refund, you can have it delivered to your Cash App account up to🀅 five days faster.

Cash App was🔴 founded in 2013 and is headquartered in New York.

Best Value : Tax Slayer

Investopedia's Rating

4.3

Federal filing fee: $42.95/$62.95/$72.95
State filing fee: $47.95
Max refund advance: $0

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Why We Chose It

If you’re a confident tax filer, willing to DIY it with contextual help and some knowledge-base articles, TaxSlayer’s “Class🌼ic” software is a good choice. It’s comprehensive and easy to use.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Clean user experience
“Classic” plan covers most tax situations
Competitive pricing

Cons

No refund advance
Fewer forms than competitors
Limited customer service hours

Overview

Tax software makers often sell their products in tiered packages, with the lower cost options limited to lower-comp🦂lex🥀ity tax returns. As your tax situation grows more complex, you move to a higher-cost package.

TaxSlayer takes a different approach.

All three versions of the product it sells—Classic, Premium, and Self-Employed—cover the same range of tax situations. The extra cost at each tier gets you more intensive help and assistance. With Classic, you can take a DIY approach (and you can still get help via phone and email), and with the Self-Employed package, you’ll get priority help, including Ask a Pro, focused on your situation. This means that for the price of Classic, you have 🌌all the software you need to handle almost any individual tax situation.

Our🐼 researchers appreciated the application’s clear navigation, sleek design, and the absence of buttons or nudges to purchase add-on services or move to a higher level of service. Another nice touch: contextual help resides in an out-of-the-way box on the left side-rail ꦓrather than in a popup between you and your work. The shopping experience online is clear and direct.

TaxSlayer has been around since 1998 (its parent company has filed returns for people since 1💟965) and is headquartered in Augusta, Georgia.

Best for Help and Assistance : H&R Block

Investopedia's Rating

4.6

H&R Block Media Center

Federal filing fee: $60/$100/$125
State filing fee: $49
Max refund advance: $4,000

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Why We Chose It

Sometimes, tax filers have questions. H&R Block has answers, o🦩ffering help and assistance via telephone, chat, email, video call, and even in person.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Lots of assistance options
Refund advance
Mobile app

Cons

In-app upsells
Busy user experience

Overview

H&R Block has prepared people’s tax returns since 1955 and filed more than 20 million of them in 2024 alone. Its software offers more ways to get help and assistance than any of the other packages we reviewed. Options include contextual help within the app, a searchable knowledge base online, telephone, chat, email, and video call assistance. You can even start🍰 your return on your own and pass it off to an H&R Block preparer for review.

Our researchers thought the software was accessible and easy to navigate. The walkthrough process was easy to follow, too. Like TurboTax (and, to a lesser extent, TaxAct), the application prods and nudges you toward add-ons (like Tax Pro Review) and higher software package tiers, which is irksome. The shopping experience online is cl🦩uttered, but Bloc🦩k provides clear pricing and package details.

H&R Block was founded 🃏by brothers Henry and Richard Bloch in 1955 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.

Best for Ease of Use : TaxAct

Investopedia's Rating

4.4

Federal filing fee: $59.99/$94.99/$109.99
State filing fee: $64.99
Max refund advance: $0

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Why We Chose It

TaxAct ran the table in our ease of use category, earning top scores in software navigation and filer꧂ walkthrough, and offers many ways to import your data.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Clear pricing
Covers most tax situations
Plenty of help options

Cons

No mobile app
In-app upsells
Limited support hours

Overview

All the tax software we reviewed does a good job of walking filers through the process, providing cues about progress, and helping users navigate their returns. Our reviewers thought TaxAct stood out in this area, giving it the highest score in both the navigation and walk🌠through categories.🍌 The software does nudge users toward add-ons or more complex (and more expensive) software, but it’s less intrusive than TurboTax or H&R Block.

The online shopping experience got high marks, tooꦦ. It’s easy to see what each package costs and what you’re paying for. TaxAct offers tax filing advice and news, calculators,𝓡 checklists, and more online to keep things manageable.

TaxAct does not offer a mobile app if that’s how you prefer 💟to do your taxes, but the online experience is compatible with smartphones and tablets.

TaxAct was formed in 1998 and is headquartered in D♒allas, Texas.

Compare the Best Tax Software

Best For	Federal Return Cost	State Return Cost
Best Overall	$0-$139	$64
Best for Free Filing	$0	$0
Best Value	$42.95/$62.95/$72.95	$47.95
Best for Help and Assistance	$60/$100/$125	$49
Best for Ease of Use	$54.99/$94.99/$109.99	$64.99

Why Trust Us

Investopedia researchers collected data on 46 factors from each of seven popular tax preparation software applications. We used this information to evaluate🎃 each application on price, tax-related help and assistance, ease of use, and more as part of our mission to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews and help readers make the right financial decisions. Investopedia launched in 1999 and has been researching and evaluating tax preparation software since 2021.

How Does Tax Software Work?

Tax software are computer applications that allow taxpayers to import or manually enter the information needed for filing an electronic or paper tax return with the IRS. Some tax software programs are free, but others may cost more than $100, depending on the complexity of your taxes, whether you want add-ons👍, or if you 🥂pay state tax filing fees.

With a tax software program, taxpayers upload forms, like their W-2s and 1099s, and answer questions about their finances. The program then completes the necessary calculations for them and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:electronically files their taxes.

When you electronically file, you’ll also receive your refund quicker than if you file through the mail. It will typically t▨ake less than three weeks to receive your refund and even less time if you opt for direct deposit.

Who Should Use Tax Software?

U𝓀ltimately, how you choose to file your taxes comes down to your needs, preferences, and budget.

Tax software is best for 🐠taxpayers who don’t have a complicated tax return and seek a cost-effective, straightforward way to file their federal and state taxes.

For example, if you’re a salaried worker with a W-2 and just a 401(k), you might 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:opt for a tax software, especially if you’re ineligible for free 🐼programs like Free File. Plus, if you’re willing to pay extra, tax software also offers various features–like the ab🌸ility to chat with a tax expert—that some taxpayers may find useful.

Alternatives to Tax Software

Taxpayers generally have a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:few opt🔜ions when filing their taxes, but some may not be available to everyone.

Free File

Some taxpayers may be eligible for Free File, which is free online tax software that’s available to taxpayers who have an 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:annual gross income (AGI) of less than $84,000. Free File is a public-private partner🍸ship between the IRS and eight ta🍎x preparation companies.

With Free File, taxpayers can file their federal tax returns for free, but may pay an additional fee for state tax returns, depending on the company.

Direct File

In 2025, some taxpayers may be eligible for Direct File, a program that allows people to file their federal taxes online directly with the IRS. However, the program is only available to select taxpayers ꦇin 25 states.

Taxpayers with more complex returns—like those w﷽ho itemize their deductions or earn income through the gig economy—are not eligible for Direct File. There’s also an income cap for Direct File eligibility.

This program does not prepare state ta🙈x returns.

Tax Professional

If you need additional help filing your taxes, want to save some time, and can pay more, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:hiring a tax professional can be a good option.

There are tax software options for ta🍃xpayers with more complex returns, but some may find that a tax professional can provide better guidance or advice, especially if you itemize your deductions, are self-employed, or have multiple sources of investment income.

When you’re looking for a tax professional, make sure they’re qualified. The IRS has an of professionals with 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:prepar༒er taxꦛ identification numbers (PTINs),✅ a credential designated bღy the IRS for tax preparers.

Hiring a tax professional, like an accountant, can 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:come at a cost, too, so be prepared to pay extra for their expertise.

Paper Return

Taxpayers can file a pa🐷per tax return, but this may be time-consuming and complicated. Unlike tax software, which enables taxpayers to upload docume⛎nts and completes calculations for you, people may be more prone to errors when filing a paper return.

Plus, it can take up to six weeks to process a paper return.

“The IRS encourages people to file their tax returns electronically and choose direct deposit for more secure and faster refunds… Filing electronically 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:reduces tax return errors as the tax software does the calculations, flags common errors and prompts taxpayers for missing information,” the IRS states.

How We Choose the Best Tax Software

Investopedia is ded🍒icated to providing readers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of financial products and services. To evaluate and rank tax preparation software, Investopedia researchers collected data on 46 factors from seven tax software providers—322 data points in all. Next, we generated star ratings for each software package using a robust scoring model, with weighted attributes reflecting the features most important to users. We grouped those criteria into five broad categories:

Cost (Federal and state filing cost): 17.00%
Ease of Use (User experience, data import, calculators, and tools): 23.00%
Tax Assistance and Customer Support (Help channels, support hours): 26.00%
Accuracy and Audit Assistance (Forms coverage, accuracy guarantee): 12.00%
Additional Features (Mobile app, refund options, shopping experience): 22.00%