Online Tax Preparation Reviews
| Services: | Our Ratings: | Bottom Line: |
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Easiest to use service with best online deduction finder tools |
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Best full service provider due to superior support and audit protection |
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The best overall value for online tax preparation and filing |
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Reputable service provider but not highly differentiated |
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Low cost for federal returns, bare minimum of service |
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Very limited support and spotty service availability; not recommended |
NextAdvisor Online Tax Preparation Blog Headlines
Who can I count as a dependent?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: The answer [in the FAQ] confuses me as it seems to say that the dependent cannot be over 24 years of age [...]
Identity theft phishing tops IRS ?Dirty Dozen?
In 2008, the Internal Revenue Service designated ?phishing? as one of its annual ?Dirty Dozen? tax scams. Phishing is a form of identity theft that consists of sending fraudulent e-mails claiming to represent legitimate businesses and government entities, including the IRS, in order to steal information such as Social Security numbers, online user names and [...]
Is TaxAct simple to use?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I have never prepared my taxes online before. Is [TaxAct] pretty simple to use? I have a basic return, the only thing [...]
Can you stop, save, and return later with TaxAct?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Can you save information on the tax returns you are submitting [with TaxAct] and go back and finish later if necessary, such [...]
I don't know if my tax return was complete.
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I don't know if my tax return was complete. [E-File Tax Returns] never asked me for payment. I gave it my [...]
Doing my own taxes for the first time, with TaxAct
Last month, I blogged about choosing a tax preparation service. I ended up deciding to use TaxAct to help me file my own taxes for the first time in my life. And, for the most part, it turned out to be surprisingly easy!
First, I gather all the W-2s and other tax documents that I have [...]
Is there a charge for each W-2?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I have several W-2's. Is there a charge for each one or not [with TaxAct]?
A: TaxAct and other online tax preparation services [...]
Can I file multiple state returns online?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: We live in one state that I work in but my husband works in a different state. Can I still file the [...]
Is a free, online tax preparation service a good choice?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Is a free tax service online (TaxAct) just as good as buying a program like TurboTax?
A: TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxAct all [...]
Choosing the right tax preparation service
I have never done my own taxes. And unfortunately, it's not because I have so much money and so many investments that I require the assistance of a professional. No, it's because up until now, my parents have always filed for me.
This year, though, is going to be different. This year I am doing my [...]
Did you know?
Did you know that over 60 million American consumers file their taxes online every year? In fact, the IRS e-file program was launched back in 1986 to make the process of filing taxes easier and cheaper for consumers. Preparing your taxes online is secure, easy and much cheaper than using an accountant. You can e-file both your state and federal taxes with many online providers, but we have found a great deal of variance in the quality of service and features that different online tax preparation and e-file services provide.
Read our reviews to learn more about the best online tax preparation and filing services
How Does It Work?
Preparing your taxes online, also known as e-file, couldn't be easier. All of the providers we have reviewed have web based tax preparation tools that will walk you through each step of the tax preparation process. Most will help you identify deductions you are eligible for to help increase your tax return or decrease the size of your tax bill. No one likes paying taxes, but an online tax preparation and filing service will make the task much easier.
Audit Protection
While nobody ever expects to get audited by the IRS, many people do each year. These tax audits can be stressful and costly. Several of the tax preparation and filing services we reviewed offer audit protection, which means they will provide guidance and support in the case that your tax return is audited. We strongly suggest that you consider audit protection when filing your taxes online.
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