Best tax tools

Skipping around to specific spots can be a little tricky, but a banner across the top keeps track of where you stand in the filing process. Read full review. With its intuitive design and experience and variety of support options, TurboTax is in many ways the standard for the do-it-yourself tax-prep industry.

What makes it easy to use? You can skip around if you need to, and a banner running along the side keeps track of where you stand in the process and flags areas you still need to complete. Embedded links throughout the process offer tips, explainers and other resources.

And help buttons can connect you to the searchable knowledge base, on-screen help and more. Notable handy features include import capabilities that let you switch to TurboTax from another provider, auto-import certain tax documents, a donation calculator and the ability to access and work on your return across devices. All of this comes at a price, and similar offerings from competitors this year may provide a better value.

If you don't know what you need — or how much you need to pay for — it might help to examine the providers individually and what sort of experience each one offers. Here are a few areas to dig into:. User experience: Software that feels like an interview — asking questions about your income and any live events that might allow for deductions — offers more guidance than a basic fill-in-the-blank process. The ability to import forms like a W-2 is better than having to manually type in numbers.

Support options: Most tax software offers a searchable FAQ section or knowledge base, and some offer video tutorials or user forums to help answer questions. One recent differentiator has been one-on-one help from a human tax pro, live on your screen.

Depending on the provider, these pros might be able to give you tax advice or review your whole tax return before you file. This sort of help comes with an extra charge. Availability of tax forms: If you find a provider that excels in the areas above, you then want to choose their package that covers all the tax forms and schedules you need. Quick facts. New human-support options available at an extra cost. Free version has a fee for state returns.

It may not be as fancy in some ways, but you can get on-demand, on-screen access to a tax pro like the other guys offer, and the data-entry process is similar to most of the competition. Live, on-screen support option offers human help at extra cost. Some of the most expensive software on the market. TurboTax is generally pricier than everything else out there, but even though confident filers may not need all the bells and whistles that most TurboTax online products offer, many people will find the experience and the availability of human help worth the extra cost.

Free version is an option for more people than competing free versions. Access to tax pros on demand at an added cost. Still, its free version is one of the best on the market, the interface is straightforward and easy to use and on-screen help from a human is available for an extra cost. Prices are based on level of support rather than level of functionality.

A bargain compared with bigger-name competitors. Fewer real-time support options — especially face-to-face ones — than some competitors offer. In other words, the cheapest paid package handles all the same tax situations and forms that the most expensive package handles — what changes is how much help you can get. Many tax software programs have a free version, but you'll be charged a fee if you upgrade to a paid plan.

Don't miss: Free vs. A simple tax return is the most basic type of tax return you can file, and many tax software programs let you file this return for free. A simple return generally includes W-2 income, limited interest and dividend income, standard deductions and unemployment income. If your finances are more complicated and you don't qualify for a simple tax return, you'll need to file a complex tax return, and most tax software programs will charge you fees to file.

Complex tax situations typically include anyone with freelance income tax forms , small business owners and landlords, as well as anyone with earnings from investments and stock sales. The tax program you use will notify you if you can't file a free simple tax return and instead need to upgrade and pay to file a more complex return.

And even if you can file a simple tax return, you may want to pay for the next-tier plan to benefit from more deductions. To determine which tax software offers the best way to file your taxes online, Select analyzed 12 programs.

We compared each program on a range of features, including:. Cost was one of the most important factors. While many of these services offer free versions, many people have complicated finances that require them to pay to file their taxes.

We evaluated the price per plan and weighed the features you receive, like the ability to maximize deductions and credits. The more bang for your buck, the higher a service ranked. Whether you're new to filing taxes or a seasoned pro, user experience is crucial to filling out and submitting your return quickly and with little frustration.

The services we chose had to be relatively user friendly. The ability to speak with a tax expert or support representative was a big plus. Four out of five of the best tax software offered some form of support. And if a service supported consumers with a generous accuracy and maximum refund guarantee, it was ranked higher.

Ready to buy tax preparation software? Our top recommendations are in the product list above. For general tips on how to choose tax preparation software and other important information about filing your taxes, continue reading this article. For example, you must file and pay your taxes on April 15, If April 15th falls on a weekend or civil holiday, taxes are due on the next working day. When you file taxes, you must declare two types of taxable income: earned income and unearned income.

It includes:. For most individuals who are paid a salary or wage, the amount of money you earn before taxes are deducted is known as your gross income. The amount of money that you actually take home each week is known as your net income. Married filing jointly: This status is for married couples who file a single tax return, usually to receive certain tax breaks.

Married filing separately: This status is for married couples who choose to file separate returns due to higher earnings or extensive itemized deductions. Head of household: This status is for unmarried people who pay half or more of the housing and support costs of other people. There are ways to reduce the amount of money that you owe in taxes, so you can lower your tax payment or increase the amount of your refund.

Tax deductions are expenses that you can subtract from your gross income. TurboTax outlines some of the most common tax credits that can help save you money. On the other hand, virtually everyone who files taxes is eligible for some type of deduction.

Itemized deductions typically offer greater benefits, but not everyone is eligible for them. Some common itemized deductions are mortgage interest and insurance premiums, state and local taxes, property taxes, and charitable gifts.

In addition, only unmarried individuals and married couples without dependents can file it, and you must claim the standard deduction. Itemized deductions are allowed. However, be sure to check that the software works with the operating system that your computer is running Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.

Tax preparation software is typically available at several different service levels. Each level usually covers increasingly complex tax situations:. Deluxe: Covers slightly more complex returns, including common tax credits and deductions, and often includes a state filing option with some customer support.

Premium: Covers more complex returns for self-employed individuals, independent contractors, investors, and landlords and offers significant customer support and a state filing option. To ensure that your tax preparation software is as user-friendly as possible, choose an option with a simple, easy-to-ready display. Nearly all tax preparation software can support the three main types of tax forms: EZ, A, and