On this page
Choosing tax software is mostly a price and fit decision. Every major product asks you questions, fills in IRS forms and e-files your return. What differs is how much it charges, where the free plan stops, how it prices state returns and what help you can call on when you get stuck. This page walks through the main options and links to deeper comparisons.
Quick picks
- Lowest total cost: FreeTaxUSA, or Cash App Taxes if you file in a single state.
- Most guided experience: TurboTax.
- Best if you may want a human or an office visit: H&R Block.
- Compare-the-quote option: TaxAct; check the current tier and state fees at checkout.
- Free through the IRS program: a Free File partner, if your income qualifies.
Price snapshot
Price snapshot checked October 20, 2026 for tax year 2025 returns filed in 2026. FreeTaxUSA currently lists federal returns at $0 and current-year state returns at $15.99; support add-ons and promotional tax-software prices vary. This is not a price quote for tax year 2026 returns, which are generally filed in 2027. Confirm the final amount on the provider’s own checkout page before filing.
| Service | Free tier | Paid federal tier price | State-return price |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax Online | Simple Form 1040 only | Varies by tier; check checkout | Varies by state; check checkout |
| H&R Block Online | Eligible simple returns; verify state eligibility | Varies by tier; check checkout | Varies by state; check checkout |
| FreeTaxUSA | Federal free for supported returns | No paid federal tier; support add-ons are separate | $15.99 |
| TaxAct | Federal free for simple returns | Varies by tier; check checkout | Varies by state; check checkout |
| Cash App Taxes | Federal and state free | $0 | $0 (one state) |
How each option works
TurboTax
TurboTax is the best-known name and the most polished interview. It asks a lot of plain questions, imports documents from many employers and financial companies and offers live expert help for an extra fee. Its Free Edition covers only simple Form 1040 returns, and Intuit has said roughly 37% of filers qualify, so many people start free and are moved to a paid tier partway through. State returns are charged on top of paid plans. See our TurboTax vs H&R Block and TurboTax vs FreeTaxUSA comparisons.
H&R Block
H&R Block’s Free Online plan can include a state return for eligible simple filers; compare the paid federal tier and state fee on both providers’ current checkout pages. Paid plans include access to expert help, and you can pay to have a tax pro review and file your return. Its biggest edge is the option to move from software to an in-person office. See H&R Block vs TaxAct.
FreeTaxUSA
FreeTaxUSA lists federal filing at $0 for supported returns, including many returns with self-employment or investment income, and lists the current-year state return at $15.99 as of October 20, 2026. An optional Deluxe support add-on is available; check its current price and exact inclusions before checkout. The trade-off is a plainer interface and less guided help than some competitors; confirm current platform support before choosing.
TaxAct
TaxAct’s federal prices are lower than TurboTax’s, and it offers paid expert help. Its weak spot is state filing: the state fee is high, and even the free federal plan charges for a state return, so the total can end up close to its bigger rivals.
Cash App Taxes
Cash App Taxes is free for federal and state returns with no income limit, and it covers common schedules such as self-employment and investment income. Limits to check: it supports one state per return and it is a self-serve product with little human help.
Free filing through the IRS
For 2025 returns filed in 2026, the IRS Free File program was open to filers with adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less, through partner software. IRS Direct File is not available for the 2026 filing season; the Taxpayer Advocate Service reports that implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended the program’s operation. People above the income limit can use Free File Fillable Forms, which are electronic versions of paper forms with no guidance. Limits change each year, so check IRS.gov before you rely on them. Our guide to free tax filing options covers each route.
How to choose for your situation
- One W-2, standard deduction: use a free option. Cash App Taxes, FreeTaxUSA, H&R Block Free Online or a Free File partner will do.
- Homeowner or itemizer: check the first paid tier of any product, or FreeTaxUSA, which does not charge more for itemizing.
- Investments or crypto: look for a plan that lists capital gains and imports from your broker, then compare the federal plus state total.
- Freelancer or side hustle: you need Schedule C support. Read best tax software for freelancers.
- Several states: add up every state fee. FreeTaxUSA’s flat state price helps most here, and Cash App Taxes may not fit.
- You want a person: H&R Block or a paid expert tier of TurboTax or TaxAct.
Watch-outs before you pay
First, find out whether you qualify for the free tier before you type in your data, because the upgrade prompt often appears late. Second, add the state fee. Third, read the add-ons carefully: audit support, tax pro review, a printed return and “pay from my refund” options all cost extra. Fourth, compare the final price screen, not the price on the advertisement. Our is free tax software really free page explains the common traps.
When software is not enough
If you own a business with employees, have complicated partnerships or trusts, moved between countries, or got an IRS notice, a CPA or enrolled agent may be worth the cost. Software handles ordinary individual returns well, but it cannot give personal advice.
Documents to gather first
Whatever you choose, filing goes faster and with fewer mistakes if you collect your paperwork before you start. A typical list includes:
- W-2s from every employer, and any 1099 forms for interest, dividends, stock sales, freelance income or unemployment.
- Form 1098 for mortgage interest and 1098-T for tuition.
- Form 1095-A if you had marketplace health insurance.
- Last year’s return, since your prior-year adjusted gross income is often used to verify your identity when you e-file.
- Bank account and routing numbers for a direct deposit refund.
When to file
Employers and clients are generally required to send W-2s and many 1099s by the end of January, and e-filing usually opens in late January. The regular filing deadline is in mid-April. An extension gives you more time to file but not more time to pay what you owe, so estimate your balance if you extend. Filing earlier means a faster refund and less risk of identity theft by someone else filing in your name.
Bottom line
Start with the cheapest tool that supports your forms, then spend more only for something you will actually use, such as a live expert or in-person help. For many people that means FreeTaxUSA or Cash App Taxes; for people who want a guide, TurboTax or H&R Block. Compare the final total, state fee included, before you begin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest tax software?
For many eligible filers, FreeTaxUSA lists federal filing at $0 for supported returns plus $15.99 for a current-year state return (US price checked October 20, 2026), while Cash App Taxes lists federal and state filing at $0 for one state subject to supported forms. IRS Free File partners may also be free if you meet their income and eligibility rules.
Is TurboTax worth the extra money?
It can be if you value its guided interview, wide import options and optional live expert help. If you are comfortable answering tax questions on your own, cheaper tools produce the same IRS forms.
Which tax software is best for beginners?
TurboTax and H&R Block both guide you with plain-language questions, and H&R Block also has physical offices if you want to switch to a pro. Beginners with simple returns can also do well with Cash App Taxes or FreeTaxUSA.
Do I need different software for different states?
No. All the major tools support most states, but state returns are usually priced separately, so add that fee when you compare.
Official sources and references
Use these first-party pages to verify current plans, prices, features and eligibility. Offers and terms can change by country, billing period and date; confirm the details that apply to you before buying. Links below are provider documentation, not independent endorsements.