Best Tax Prep Software for 2024: Which Should You Choose?
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Wondering which tax prep software is the best one for you? The struggle to decide is real when there are multiple options with great benefits for people with both complex and basic tax returns. We’ll show you a few important things to watch for in a tax preparation software to ensure you pick the best choice for you, as well as give a detailed overview of the 6 most popular and well-respected tax preparation software. Consider this your one-stop shop to helping you decide which tax prep software you should use!
Which Tax Preparation Software Should You Use?
To make sure you pick the right tax preparation software for you and your family, there are a few things you might want to consider. Believe it or not, a self-employed individual may need to use a different tax prep software than a w-2 full-time employee with a family. Some services cater more to different people with different tax filing statuses. Consider the following questions when picking which tax software is right for you:
The answers to these questions will get you started in the right direction. The rest is bells and whistles! Here’s an overview of the six most reputable tax preparation software services…
TurboTax
TurboTax is the best tax preparation software for those who have complex returns.
TurboTax is perhaps one of the most popular tax solutions today. It’s owned by Intuit, who created the popular small – medium-sized business accounting software, QuickBooks. Furthermore, it’s also very popular due to its ease of use and simple instructions. They lay out all the steps for you in an easy to understand layout.
TurboTax Features
TurboTax is a great option for those who have complex tax returns, those who want total access even via mobile devices, and those who may need on-demand help.
Turbotax Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
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TurboTax Pricing
Plan | Fee |
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Free Edition | $0 |
Deluxe | $60 |
Premier | $90 |
Self-employed | $120 |
TaxAct
TaxAct is the best tax software for those on a budget.
TaxAct is a newer option that began in 2000. They’ve got a very user-friendly interface that is about as simple as you can get. Whether you’re a W-2 employee, a college student, homeowner, have kids, have investments, do contract work, own a business or planning for retirement, TaxAct has built-in tools to help each scenario, and for a few bucks cheaper.
Taxact features
TaxAct poses a great solution for those looking to pay a low price with access to similar tools offered by the competition.
TaxAct Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
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TaxAct Pricing
Plan | Fee |
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Free Edition | $0 |
Deluxe | $54.95 |
Premier | $79.95 |
Self-employed | $109.95 |
H&R Block
H&R Block is the best tax service for those who need in-person support.
H&R Block is known for offering both a premium “do-it-yourself” tax software for online filing as well as thousands of in-person offices. The pricing above is the pricing for filing your taxes online with their easy to use tax software, however, should you choose to have a professional do it for you it may cost more depending on how complicated your taxes are. Furthermore, you can even choose to file online with their “Online Assist” option which is a DIY option with the ability to request additional help as needed.
H&R Block Features
H&R Block is a great solution for anyone who wishes to have in-person assistance through the convenience of a close-by office, as well as those who may believe an audit is coming and wish to have additional assistance during an audit.
H&R Block Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
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H&R Block Pricing
Plan | Fee |
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Free Edition | $0 |
Deluxe | $49.99 |
Premier | $69.99 |
Self-employed | $104.99 |
Esmart Tax
Esmart Tax is the best tax software for those who want a simple interface.
Esmart Tax is backed by Liberty Tax Services and serves as an alternative solution for filing your taxes online. Their software makes things plain and simple, just take a look at their website and you’ll see what we mean! With that said, there will be little differences between Esmart Tax and Liberty Tax (discussed further below). In short, Esmart Tax is simple, cheap, and user friendly for a quick online filing solution.
Esmart Tax Features
Esmart Tax is best for those looking for a quick solution geared towards making things simple, cheap, and easy to understand. In fact, their mission is “…to make online tax preparation as easy as possible for you.”
Esmart Tax Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
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Esmart Tax Pricing
Plan | Fee |
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Basic | $44.95 |
Deluxe | $44.95 |
Premier | $44.95 |
Liberty Tax
Liberty Tax is the best tax return solution for those who only need in-person support.
Liberty Tax provides tax preparation software, in-person tax guidance, and even helps with your car insurance. Their platform promotes being able to file your taxes in as little as just 15 minutes while still being 100% accurate. You can file a simple individual tax return all the way up to a complex business tax return. What’s more is they cater to Spanish-speaking individuals, families, and businesses making them a clear solution for the Hispanic market.
Liberty Tax Features
Liberty Tax is great for those looking for well-rounded tax software at a fair price. They are also great for individuals, families & businesses who speak Spanish, and those who wish to have the benefit of filing online and/or in-person as needed.
Liberty Tax Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
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Liberty Tax Pricing
Plan | Fee |
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Basic | $44.95 |
Deluxe | $44.95 |
Premier | $44.95 |
Final Thoughts
The answer to this question lies in going back to the original questions we asked in the beginning, aligning which online tax software meets all your needs, and finally finding the one that has the most affordable price that matches your needs. Rest assured, all six options listed above are well respected, professional and ultimately make filing your taxes online much easier.
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