Best Tax Software of March 2024 for 2023 Returns

The best tax software for March 2024 depends on your forms, state returns, and how much help you need. Start with IRS Free File if you qualify. If you lived in one of the 12 pilot states and had a simple supported return, check IRS Direct File. For commercial software, Cash App Taxes was the strongest genuinely free option for supported returns, FreeTaxUSA offered the best low-cost coverage for complex federal returns, TurboTax delivered the smoothest guided experience, and H&R Block offered the broadest mix of online, downloadable, and in-person help.

This is a historical comparison for the 2024 filing season: the products and prices discussed were for 2023 federal individual tax returns. They were not software for income earned during tax year 2024.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner, (Model: DS640)	$134.99	Buy on Amazon
2		Epson Workforce ES-50 Compact & Lightweight Mobile Document Scanner	$139.99	Buy on Amazon
3		ScanSnap iX2500 Wireless or USB High-Speed Document Scanner, Black	$379.99	Buy on Amazon
4		ScanSnap iX1300 Wireless or USB Double-Sided Color Document Scanner, Black	$279.99	Buy on Amazon

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Quick recommendations

Important: These are scenario-based awards, not a claim that one brand produces a larger refund. If two products receive the same complete and accurate information and apply the law correctly, their calculated federal results should generally agree.

What does “2024 tax software” mean?

Tax terminology is easy to mix up:

• Tax year 2023 was the income period from January 1 through December 31, 2023.
• Filing season 2024 was when most people prepared and filed those 2023 returns.
• Tax year 2024 refers to income earned in 2024 and is a different comparison.

The IRS began accepting 2023 individual returns on January 29, 2024. For most calendar-year taxpayers, the federal filing and payment deadline was April 15, 2024. Maine and Massachusetts taxpayers generally had until April 17 because of state holidays. See the IRS Publication 17 due-date guidance and the IRS tax-year 2023 e-file dates.

#1 Best Overall

Sale

Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner, (Model: DS640)

• FAST SPEEDS - Scans color and black and white documents a blazing speed up to 16ppm (1). Color scanning won’t slow you down as the color scan speed is the same as the black and white scan speed.
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• WORKS YOUR WAY – Use the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app for scanning to multiple “Scan-to” destinations like PC, Network, cloud services, Email and OCR. (2) Supports Windows, Mac and Linux and TWAIN/WIA for PC/ICA for Mac/SANE drivers. (3)
• OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT – Automatic color detection/adjustment, image rotation (PC only), bleed through prevention/background removal, text enhancement, color drop to enhance scans. Software suite includes document management and OCR software. (4)

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The prices below are therefore a March 2024-era snapshot. Online prices could change during the season and could differ by promotion, state, product channel, filing date, and checkout screen.

Check the free government options first

1. IRS Free File

For the 2024 filing season, taxpayers with 2023 adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less could likely find an offer from an IRS Free File provider. That did not mean every provider accepted every taxpayer: participating companies set their own age, income, state, and other eligibility conditions.

The IRS-listed 2024 providers were:

• 1040Now
• Drake / 1040.com
• ezTaxReturn.com
• FileYourTaxes.com
• On-Line Taxes
• TaxAct
• TaxHawk / FreeTaxUSA
• TaxSlayer

TurboTax and H&R Block were not on the IRS’s 2024 Free File provider list. To receive an IRS Free File offer, begin at IRS.gov’s Free File page and follow the designated provider link. Starting at a company’s ordinary website could put you into a paid product instead.

Above the $79,000 AGI limit, taxpayers could still use IRS Free File Fillable Forms. These were free electronic forms, but they did not provide the same interview-style guidance, explanations, or error-checking experience as guided software.

2. IRS Direct File

The IRS opened the Direct File pilot to the public on March 12, 2024. It was available only to eligible taxpayers in:

• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Washington
• Wyoming

The pilot was designed for relatively narrow situations. Supported income included W-2 wages, unemployment compensation, Social Security or railroad retirement benefits, and interest income of $1,500 or less. Supported items included the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Credit for Other Dependents, educator expenses, and student-loan interest. Independent-contractor income, rental income, 1099-K income, many investment situations, and many other forms were outside the pilot’s scope. The IRS Direct File scope guidance lists the applicable limitations.

Direct File was principally a federal filing tool. It connected eligible taxpayers in some states with state filing systems, but it was not a universal federal-and-state replacement for commercial software. The IRS described the pilot’s state connections and limits in its 2024 filing-season overview.

Other no-cost routes

Eligible taxpayers could also investigate IRS-sponsored volunteer assistance programs such as VITA and TCE, while eligible service members could check MilTax. These are alternatives to commercial software, not interchangeable products, and eligibility and availability vary.

2024-era pricing: compare the total, not the headline

A meaningful price comparison separates four things:

1. Federal preparation: the charge to prepare and e-file the federal return.
2. State preparation and filing: these may be included, charged separately, or priced differently for each additional state.
3. Support: technical help, tax-professional questions, review, and full-service preparation are different products.
4. Other charges: refund-transfer payment options, amendments, audit products, and some state or additional-return fees.

Prices were reported or observed in 2024 comparison coverage, principally Money’s 2024 tax-software comparison. They were not guaranteed checkout prices. Confirm the exact cost, state fees, support tier, and any refund-transfer charge before filing.

Best tax software by provider

TurboTax: best for guided filing and investment imports

Best for: Investors and DIY filers who value a polished interview, plain-language explanations, and optional professional assistance.

TurboTax’s principal strength was its guided navigation. It asked questions in sequence, explained why information was needed, and offered assisted and full-service paths for people who wanted more than self-preparation. Its investment-oriented tier supported imports involving stocks, cryptocurrency, bonds, employee stock plans, robo-investments, and rental income, according to 2024 comparison coverage.

The trade-off was price. The reported March-era prices were $69 federal plus $64 state for Deluxe and $129 federal plus $64 state for Premium. The free tier was limited to Form 1040 and certain credits and was not intended for many freelancers, business owners, investment situations, rental income, or farm income.

Choose it when: You have investment documents that can be imported, want a highly guided workflow, or value the option to add professional help.

Look elsewhere when: your return is supported by a cheaper product and you are comfortable entering information yourself. Also check the tier before entering extensive data; a free or low-price start can become a paid tier after you identify investments, rental activity, or self-employment.

H&R Block: best for online, desktop, and office options

Best for: Taxpayers who want the flexibility to move among DIY online filing, downloadable software, mobile access, online assistance, and an in-person office.

H&R Block’s breadth of service channels was its key advantage. It could suit someone who wanted to begin online but might prefer an office or professional help later. It offered free, Deluxe, Premium, and Self-Employed paths, although feature names and prices could differ between online and downloadable editions.

One 2024 comparison listed a $35 Basic price and $59 for Deluxe plus State. Those figures should be treated as comparison prices, not universal checkout totals.

Pricing transparency deserved special attention in this filing season. In February 2024, the FTC announced an administrative complaint against H&R Block, alleging deceptive marketing of free products and that users seeking to downgrade could be required to contact customer service and have entered data deleted. These were allegations in an administrative complaint at that point, not a final adjudicated finding. The practical lesson is to verify the downgrade process, save copies of your work, and avoid assuming that a product can be downgraded without consequences.

Rank #2

Sale

Epson Workforce ES-50 Compact & Lightweight Mobile Document Scanner

• PORTABLE SCANNER FOR USE ON-THE-GO — The fastest and lightest mobile single-sheet-fed compact document scanner in its class¹
• QUICK DOCUMENT SCANNING ― This Epson ultra-fast scanner scans a single page as quickly as 5.5 seconds²; Windows and Mac compatible
• VERSATILE PAPER HANDLING ― Portable scanner scans documents up to 8.5 x 72 in; Also easily digitizes receipts and ID cards to make accounting, bookkeeping, and organizing simpler
• INTUITIVE, HIGH-SPEED SOFTWARE — Epson ScanSmart Software³ is a smart tool allowing you to easily scan, review, and save; Stay organized easily with the help of this Epson scanner
• EASY SETUP — USB-powered connect to your computer for quick and simple scanning; No batteries or external power supply required to operate portable document scanner; Standard Connectivity: USB 2.0

$139.99

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FreeTaxUSA: best value for broad federal coverage

Best for: Cost-conscious taxpayers whose returns are more complicated than a basic W-2 return but who do not need extensive hand-holding.

FreeTaxUSA stood out because its federal product covered many situations without a federal preparation fee, including homeowners, dependents, joint filers, freelancers, and investors. The reported state charge was $14.99 per state. Its federal coverage made it particularly compelling for taxpayers who would otherwise be pushed into a premium tier merely because they had self-employment or investment forms.

Its weaknesses were mostly about convenience and support. It offered prior-year imports but not the same level of document and brokerage import convenience as larger providers. The interface and explanations were less polished, and higher levels of support required an additional fee.

Choose it when: you understand your tax situation, want to minimize cost, and need broad federal form coverage.

Look elsewhere when: you want in-person service, a highly conversational interview, extensive investment-document importing, or a professional to prepare the return.

Cash App Taxes: best truly free commercial option for supported returns

Best for: DIY filers who want federal and state preparation at no charge and whose income, forms, and state situation fit the service.

Cash App Taxes offered $0 federal and $0 state filing for supported returns, making it one of the clearest commercial alternatives to a paid product. It supported many major forms and schedules and could be used on a computer or mobile device.

Free did not mean universal. Contemporaneous reviews identified limitations involving complicated multi-state situations, foreign income, professional help, and investment-transaction importing. Some users could need to enter investment information manually. The service was self-preparation rather than tax-provided advice. Its terms of service said Cash App Taxes was not an accountant, financial adviser, tax adviser, or legal adviser and that the taxpayer remained responsible for the return.

Choose it when: your return uses supported forms, you are comfortable reviewing the result, and free federal-and-state filing matters more than human assistance.

Look elsewhere when: you have foreign income, numerous or unusual investment transactions, multiple states, or a need for a professional to review or prepare the return. Confirm support for the exact state and form before committing.

TaxAct: best for a straightforward lower-cost path to self-employment and rental forms

Best for: Users who want a relatively direct workflow and need more than the basic tier, without automatically paying the highest major-brand price.

TaxAct offered Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed tiers. Higher levels covered situations involving self-employment, farm and business income, depreciation, capital gains, and rental property. The reported prices were $49.99 for Deluxe, $79.99 for Premier, and $99.99 for Self-Employed, plus $59.99 per state; its free tier had eligibility and form restrictions.

TaxAct also had a military-specific pathway during the 2024 season. Check whether a military offer covers only federal filing or also the state return. State charges can erase much of the apparent federal savings.

Choose it when: you need business, rental, or investment features and prefer a lower-cost alternative to the largest guided platforms.

Look elsewhere when: the state fee makes the total higher than a flat-price or low-state-cost competitor, or you need extensive audit assistance and service channels.

TaxSlayer: best self-employed value with lower-cost professional access

Best for: Freelancers and other self-employed taxpayers who want guidance and tax-professional access without starting at the highest price tier.

TaxSlayer’s reported Self-Employed price was $67.95 federal plus $44.95 per state. That tier included self-employed guidance, tax-pro chat, and estimated-tax-payment reminders. Classic was listed at $37.95 federal and Premium at $57.95, with the same $44.95 state price in the comparison.

TaxSlayer’s trade-offs included less extensive audit assistance and support than some larger competitors and the fact that it did not support every type of business return. It also offered a military pathway, but the exact federal and state coverage should be checked.

Rank #3

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ScanSnap iX2500 Wireless or USB High-Speed Document Scanner, Black

• OUR MOST ADVANCED SCANSNAP. Large touchscreen, fast 45ppm double-sided scanning, 100-sheet document feeder, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, automatic optimizations, and support for cloud services. Upgraded replacement for the discontinued iX1600
• CUSTOMIZABLE. SHARABLE. Select personalized profiles from the touchscreen. Send to PC, Mac, mobile devices, and clouds. QUICK MENU lets you quickly scan-drag-drop to your favorite computer apps
• STABLE WIRELESS OR USB CONNECTION. Built-in Wi-Fi 6 for the fastest and most secure scanning. Connect to smart devices or cloud services without a computer. USB-C connection also available
• PHOTO AND DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION MADE EFFORTLESS. Easily manage, edit, and use scanned data from documents, receipts, photos, and business cards. Automatically optimize, name, and sort files
• AVOIDS PAPER JAMS AND DAMAGE. Features a brake roller system to feed paper smoothly, a multi-feed sensor that detects pages stuck together, and skew detection to prevent paper damage and data loss

$379.99

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Choose it when: you have a relatively straightforward Schedule C-type business and value low-cost professional questions or estimated-payment reminders.

Look elsewhere when: your business has complex entity structures, unusual accounting, multiple partners, or needs full-service preparation.

Jackson Hewitt Online: best flat-price option for multiple states

Best for: Taxpayers who may need several state returns and want to avoid a separate large fee for each state.

Contemporaneous 2024 coverage listed Jackson Hewitt Online at $25 for federal and state filing, including unlimited state returns. That made it unusually attractive for a person who moved during the year, had nonresident filing obligations, or otherwise needed multiple state returns.

Flat pricing does not guarantee that every state or tax situation is supported, nor does it mean unlimited professional advice. Before starting, verify support for part-year resident returns, nonresident returns, reciprocal agreements, withholding allocation, local taxes, and the specific forms you need.

1040.com and other smaller options

1040.com was listed at $25 for a federal-and-state package and was positioned as a simple-return option. It could be worth comparing when a flat price is more important than a large set of premium features. E-file and other smaller providers also appeared in 2024 comparison coverage, often with promotional pricing, but they had narrower positioning or fewer support channels than the major brands. Check the provider’s current form list and total at checkout.

Which forms and situations matter most?

Do not choose a tier based only on labels such as Deluxe, Premier, or Premium. First make an inventory of the return. Common items include:

• W-2 wages and unemployment compensation.
• Social Security, railroad retirement, pension, and annuity income.
• Interest, dividends, and student-loan interest.
• Education credits, the Child Tax Credit, Credit for Other Dependents, and dependent-care expenses.
• Health savings account contributions and distributions.
• Mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable contributions, and other itemized deductions.
• Schedule C self-employment income, Schedule SE, 1099-NEC, and 1099-K income.
• Rental income and Schedule E.
• Stock, mutual-fund, bond, employee stock purchase plan, and cryptocurrency sales.
• Foreign income or foreign financial accounts.
• Multiple, part-year, or nonresident state returns.
• Amended returns and extensions.
• Military pay, combat-zone issues, and military-specific filing offers.
• Nonresident-alien or dual-status returns.

A free tier that handles W-2 wages may not handle Schedule C, Schedule E, Schedule D, Form 8949, or a nonresident state return. Conversely, owning a home does not automatically mean you need a paid tier: the relevant question is whether you will itemize and whether Schedule A and related forms are included.

Best choice by tax situation

Simple W-2 return with the standard deduction

Check IRS Free File first, then Direct File if you are in a participating state and meet the pilot’s narrow requirements. Cash App Taxes may provide free federal and state filing, and several commercial providers offered qualified free tiers. Do not pay for Deluxe, Premier, Premium, or live assistance unless you need a feature in that tier.

W-2 income plus student-loan interest

Check the exact free-tier form list. Student-loan interest was among the deductions supported by the Direct File pilot, but commercial free tiers varied. If the software requires an upgrade, compare the full federal-and-state price with Free File and other options.

Homeowner or itemized deductions

Possible choices included TurboTax Deluxe, H&R Block Deluxe, FreeTaxUSA, and Cash App Taxes if the necessary federal and state forms were supported. Calculate whether itemizing actually benefits you before paying for a tier merely because you own a home.

Freelancer or gig worker

A freelancer may need Schedule C and Schedule SE, business-expense tracking, estimated-tax information, and possibly health-insurance or retirement deductions. FreeTaxUSA was the lowest-cost federal option in the comparison for many such situations. TaxSlayer Self-Employed and TaxAct Self-Employed offered more targeted guidance, while TurboTax and H&R Block generally offered a more polished but more expensive experience.

Investor or crypto user

Compare the actual import and transaction capabilities, not just the word Premium. Ask:

• Can the service import your brokerage’s consolidated tax document?
• Will it import basis and handle missing-basis transactions?
• Does it address wash sales, stock options, ESPPs, and mutual funds?
• Can it handle numerous cryptocurrency transactions across multiple wallets or exchanges?
• Did you have staking, mining, liquidity provision, NFTs, or foreign transactions?

TurboTax’s investment tier was a strong convenience choice because of its import capabilities. FreeTaxUSA could be a better value for users comfortable entering transactions or importing prior data. Cash App Taxes could be appropriate for supported investment situations, but verify the specific import and transaction limits first.

Digital-asset reporting was not optional simply because an amount was small. Taxpayers had to answer the digital-asset question and report taxable transactions as required. See the IRS digital-asset guidance.

Multiple states or a midyear move

Check for part-year resident and nonresident returns, reciprocal agreements, state withholding allocation, local income taxes, and additional-state fees. A free federal product can become expensive once state returns are added. Jackson Hewitt’s reported flat-price structure was especially relevant here, but the needed state forms still had to be supported.

Active-duty military

Compare IRS Free File eligibility, MilTax, and the military offers associated with TaxAct and TaxSlayer. Confirm whether the offer includes the state return and whether it handles your specific residency, combat-zone, or other military circumstances.

Taxpayer who wants professional assistance

Decide what assistance means before paying for it. H&R Block’s advantage was its combination of DIY, downloadable, online-assistance, and office paths. TurboTax offered guided, assisted, and full-service options, generally at a higher price. TaxSlayer’s Self-Employed tier offered lower-cost tax-pro access for some users.

Rank #4

Sale

ScanSnap iX1300 Wireless or USB Double-Sided Color Document Scanner, Black

• FITS SMALL SPACES AND STAYS OUT OF THE WAY. Innovative space-saving design to free up desk space, even when it's being used
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• SCAN WHERE YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT. Connect with USB or Wi-Fi. Send to Mac, PC, mobile devices, and cloud services. Scan to Chromebook using the mobile app. Can be used without a computer
• PHOTO AND DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION MADE EFFORTLESS. ScanSnap Home all-in-one software brings together all your favorite functions. Easily manage, edit, and use scanned data from documents, receipts, business cards, photos, and more

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Support: technical help is not tax representation

Also check whether assistance covers federal returns, state returns, correspondence audits, penalties and interest, or only the software itself. A refund-calculation guarantee does not guarantee that a tax position was legally correct, and audit assistance does not necessarily mean representation.

Can tax software find a bigger refund?

Not merely because it has a more familiar brand. If two products receive identical and complete information and apply the same tax law correctly, their federal calculations should generally match.

Different results can occur when:

• A form or schedule is unsupported by one product.
• The user stops before completing every interview section.
• Income, basis, depreciation, withholding, or expenses are entered differently.
• The user misunderstands a question or skips an eligible credit.
• A state rule differs from the federal treatment.
• The software has a bug or interprets an unusual fact pattern differently.

Marketing language such as “maximum refund” should not be treated as independent evidence. The taxpayer remains responsible for complete and accurate information. Review the final federal and state forms—not only the refund number—before submitting.

When software is not enough

Consider a CPA, enrolled agent, tax attorney, or experienced preparer if you have:

• A partnership, S corporation, C corporation, estate, or trust.
• A complex business structure or multiple rental properties.
• Significant depreciation, passive-activity, or loss-allocation issues.
• Foreign income, foreign accounts, expatriate matters, or international reporting.
• A nonresident-alien or dual-status return.
• A complicated divorce, custody, or dependent dispute.
• A prior-year audit, IRS notice, unfiled return, or tax controversy.
• A business sale or complicated real-estate transaction.
• Several state moves, nonresident filings, or unusual state sourcing.
• A need for tax planning rather than simple return preparation.

Software can be reasonable for a straightforward sole-proprietor Schedule C, but a low price does not make a complicated return low-risk. A professional may also be appropriate when the value of avoiding an error exceeds the preparation fee.

Common failure modes

Starting through the wrong link

Eligible Free File users should begin at IRS.gov and follow the provider’s Free File link. Starting at the provider’s normal website may route you to a paid product. The IRS explains the process in its guidance for taxpayers with complicated returns using Free File.

Discovering the upgrade after entering everything

Before starting, list every expected form and state. Check the provider’s form list, record the advertised federal and state price, and identify whether support is included. Do not assume that similarly named tiers include the same forms across companies.

Assuming free federal means free filing

State preparation, state e-file, additional states, part-year returns, nonresident returns, amended returns, and professional help can all add charges. Calculate the total before submitting.

Believing audit protection covers everything

Read whether the product provides audit assistance, audit defense, representation, or reimbursement of penalties and interest. Check whether you had to purchase the service before filing and whether it covers both federal and state matters.

Relying on incomplete investment data

Review brokerage basis, wash sales, employee stock plans, cryptocurrency transactions, and any missing forms. An import is a convenience, not proof that every transaction was imported correctly.

Assuming a downgrade is effortless

Save a copy of entered information and the final forms. During the 2024 season, the FTC’s complaint regarding H&R Block specifically raised allegations about data deletion during downgrades. The complaint was not a final adjudicated finding, but it illustrates why readers should check the downgrade process before committing to a workflow.

Privacy and data checklist

• Use a unique password and two-factor authentication where available.
• Review the provider’s privacy and data-retention terms.
• Disconnect financial-account connections when they are no longer needed.
• Upload only documents necessary to prepare the return.
• Never send Social Security numbers through ordinary email or informal support channels.
• Download and securely store the completed federal and state returns.
• Save e-file acceptance confirmations and payment records.

No provider should be described as universally safest without a specific, current comparison of its security and privacy practices. Taxpayers should review the provider’s own policies before connecting financial accounts or uploading documents.

A practical decision tree

1. Do you qualify for IRS Free File? If yes, compare the eligible offers before using ordinary commercial links.
2. Are you in a Direct File pilot state with only supported income and deductions? If yes, compare Direct File with commercial products, remembering that the pilot had narrow limits.
3. Do you need free federal and state filing? Check Cash App Taxes and any applicable state, military, or other offer, then confirm the exact forms.
4. Do you have self-employment, rental, investment, or crypto income? Eliminate free tiers that do not support the required schedules. Compare FreeTaxUSA, TaxSlayer, TaxAct, TurboTax, and H&R Block based on total cost and guidance.
5. Do you need multiple states? Add every state fee and compare the result with flat-price options such as the 2024-era Jackson Hewitt Online offer.
6. Do you need a human to prepare or review the return? Compare tax-professional questions, review, full-service preparation, office filing, and an independent CPA or enrolled agent.

Final checklist before filing

• Confirm that you are preparing a 2023 return.
• Gather every W-2, 1099, brokerage statement, mortgage statement, HSA statement, and education form.
• Check names, Social Security numbers, dependents, and filing status.
• Compare the standard deduction with itemizing.
• Review Schedule C expenses and Schedule SE if self-employed.
• Review stock, crypto, and other investment basis.
• Check state residency, withholding, and additional state returns.
• Confirm the final federal, state, support, and payment-method fees.
• Review the actual completed federal and state forms.
• Download the returns and save e-file acceptance confirmations.
• Pay any balance due or arrange payment.
• If you need more time, request an extension—but remember that an extension generally extends the filing deadline, not the time to pay.

The product comparisons and March 2024 pricing in this article are based primarily on Money’s 2024 comparison, supplemented by the Cash App Taxes review, provider information, IRS guidance, and the FTC’s consumer-protection actions. Product features and prices were time-sensitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does “best tax software of 2024” mean software for 2024 tax returns?

Not in this March 2024 comparison. It means software used during the 2024 filing season to prepare tax-year 2023 returns. Tax year 2023 covered income earned from January 1 through December 31, 2023.

What was the best free tax software in March 2024?

There was no universal winner. Eligible taxpayers should have checked IRS Free File first. Eligible residents of 12 pilot states with narrow, supported returns could also check IRS Direct File. Among commercial products, Cash App Taxes offered free federal and state filing for supported situations, while FreeTaxUSA offered free federal filing but charged $14.99 per state in the reported 2024-era pricing.

Does free tax software include state filing?

Sometimes. Cash App Taxes and the reported Jackson Hewitt Online and 1040.com packages included state filing for supported situations. FreeTaxUSA charged $14.99 per state, TaxAct and TaxSlayer generally charged separate state fees, and other products varied by tier and promotion. Always check preparation, e-file, and additional-state charges separately.

Can tax software give me a larger refund than another product?

Not when both products receive the same complete information and apply the law correctly. Different results usually reflect missing forms, different entries, unsupported situations, basis or depreciation issues, skipped questions, state rules, or software errors. Review the completed forms rather than relying only on marketing claims or the refund amount.

When should I hire a tax professional instead of using software?

Consider professional help for complex business entities, multiple rental properties, foreign income or accounts, nonresident or dual-status returns, major real-estate or business sales, complicated state filings, IRS notices or audits, unfiled prior returns, or situations requiring tax planning and representation.

The Bottom Line

Bottom line: Check IRS Free File first, and check Direct File if your state and tax situation qualified for the 2024 pilot. For commercial software, Cash App Taxes was the best no-cost option for supported federal-and-state returns; FreeTaxUSA was the standout value for broad federal coverage; TurboTax was the strongest guided and investment-import experience if its premium price was acceptable; H&R Block was the most flexible for online, desktop, and office help; TaxSlayer and TaxAct deserved consideration for budget-conscious self-employed filers; and Jackson Hewitt Online was worth calculating for multiple states. If your return involves international issues, complex entities, major transactions, or an IRS dispute, use a qualified tax professional rather than assuming consumer software covers everything.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1

Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner, (Model: DS640)

$134.99

SaleBestseller No. 2

Epson Workforce ES-50 Compact & Lightweight Mobile Document Scanner

$139.99

SaleBestseller No. 3

ScanSnap iX2500 Wireless or USB High-Speed Document Scanner, Black

$379.99

SaleBestseller No. 4

ScanSnap iX1300 Wireless or USB Double-Sided Color Document Scanner, Black

$279.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.