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TaxAct Review 2024

Danielle Greving author image

In a Nutshell

Founded in 1998, TaxAct provides high-quality tax preparation products at affordable prices. Since its inception, the company has helped over 80 million Americans file tax returns. In addition to helping individual tax preparers, TaxAct offers specialized software for owners of small- and medium-sized businesses. With online tools, step-by-step guidance, and a maximum return guarantee, TaxAct helps you get the most out of your tax returns.

pros

  • Offers step-by-step structure that makes filing taxes easy
  • Free expert tax help
  • More affordable than similar products

cons

  • Fewer tools and features than other tax software
  • Doesn’t offer an advance on your refund

TaxAct at a Glance

8.6
Editorial Score

Pricing

$0-$64.99
8.0

Expert Help

Expert assistance over the phone for an additional cost
9.0

Mobile app

Mobile app supports Touch ID/Face ID for secure log-in, W-2 photo capture, IRS return tracking, and live chat support
10.0

Customer Support

Support only available via phone
8.0

Filing Fees

$39.95-$150
8.0

TaxAct TaxAct Visit Site

TaxAct: Plans and Pricing

TaxAct offers 4 options for filing your tax returns: Free, Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed. The option you choose will depend on a variety of factors. The Free option allows you to file your federal taxes at no cost. However, you’ll need to pay an additional $34.95 for each state you file in. This plan is well-suited for those who have a simple tax situation.

The Deluxe Plan is the most popular as it covers the forms, credits, and deductions that most Americans will need. It gives you access to everything the free version offers, and also lets you file a Schedule A and Schedule 1-6.

The Premier Plan is best for investors or those who earn rental property income. This plan makes it easy to calculate stocks, gains, and losses, as well as rental property income, royalty, and Schedule K-1.

The Self-Employed Plan is the most expensive and advanced option offered by TaxAct. This option includes Schedule-C, as well as all of the features of the 3 previous options. If you own a sole proprietorship, S-Corp, or LLC, this is the best plan for you. 

Plan

Free 

Best for simple filers, dependents, and those who need help with retirement income, unemployment, or college expenses. 

Deluxe

Best for homeowners who need to consider student loan payments, childcare expenses, credits, deductions, and adjustments. 

Premier

Best for investors who need to report capital gains and losses and for those who have sold a home or own rental property. 

Self-Employed

Best for contractors, freelancers, and small business owners. 

Federal Pricing
$0.00
$24.95
$34.95

$64.95

State Pricing
$34.95 per state
$44.95 per state
$44.95 per state
$44.95 per state
Free Expert Help
Stimulus Credit
Student Loan Interest

Unemployment Income

Import Last Year’s Taxes
Child Tax Credit
Earned Income Tax Credit
HSAs

Retirement Income
Retirement Contributions
Snap Pic of W2
Dependent Care Deductions

Multiple W2s
Interest Income

Dividend Income

Itemize

Rental Income


Capital Gains


Foreign Financial Accounts


1099 Income



Small Business Deductions



Small Business Asset Depreciation



How much does TaxAct cost? 

As discussed above, TaxAct’s price depends on the plan you choose, whether or not you opt for the Xpert Full Service plan, and how many states you file in. Here’s an overview of the pricing:


Free Plan
Deluxe Plan
Premier Plan
Self-Employed Plan
Standard Price
$0.00
$24.95
$34.95
$64.95
Xpert Assist Add-On
Free
Free
Free
Free
Xpert Full Service Add-On
$99.95
$169.95
$249.95
$279.95
Additional State Fee
$34.95 if opting for the standard plan. Free with Xpert Full Service.
$44.95 per state
$44.95 per state
$44.95 per state

Optional Add-Ons

While TaxAct used to charge for extra help, on January 5th, 2022, the company announced that it was making its Xpert Assist service free for all filers. With most other leading tax software companies, access to a tax professional comes at an additional cost. 

Xpert Assist provides customers with access to tax experts via live chat. They can help you while you’re doing your taxes or review them for you before you file. The Xpert team consists of CPAs, EAs, attorneys, and tax specialists. 

Those who don’t feel like doing their taxes can also opt for Xpert Full Service. After securely uploading your tax documents, you’ll be assigned a tax expert who will prepare your return from start to finish. Before filing, the expert will review the return with you to answer any questions you may have. The price for this additional service depends on the plan you choose:

  • Basic: $99.95 with state taxes included
  • Deluxe: $169.95 plus $44.95 for each state filed 
  • Premier: $249.95 plus $44.95 for each state filed 
  • Self-Employed: $279.95 plus $44.95 for each state filed 

How does TaxAct work?

TaxAct offers a convenient and easy-to-use tax preparation and filing software. To get started, you need to choose which online product you want to use, then create an account. Next, you must enter your email address and verify your account by entering a code sent by TaxAct. 

From there, you can set up a username and password and choose 3 security questions. Finally, you’ll need to agree to TaxAct’s terms and conditions. Once you have your online account set up, you’ll automatically be taken to your My Taxes screen, where you can add your tax return info.

Under the Basic info tab, you’ll need to enter your:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Social security number
  • Filing status
  • Dependent information
  • Occupation
  • Life events that could affect your filing 

You’ll then need to add information under the Federal and State tab. Once you complete these tabs, you’ll be taken to a Review tab, where you can review any issues related to your returns. Here’s how TaxAct ranks potential issues:

  • Red Alert: Inconsistent or incomplete information
  • Yellow Alert: Possible inaccuracies 
  • Green Alert: Possible tax savings 

After reviewing your information, you’ll sign and date your return. TaxAct then generates a personalized financial savings report that shows you future tax-saving opportunities. You can also see how your tax filings compare to national averages, and you can compare your returns year over year. 

Is TaxAct reliable and safe? 

While TaxAct is secure software, it has some mixed reviews online. ConsumerAffairs rates it 3.5/5, TrustPilot rates it 1.9/5, and customer reviews on BBB give it 1.04/5. However, it has an A+ rating from the BBB, although it is not BBB accredited. Additionally, TaxAct lists 3 safety credentials on its homepage. These include the DigiCert EV SSL Certificate, the TRUSTe Certified Privacy seal, and the SecureTrust Trusted Commerce certificate. 

It’s committed to never selling your personal information, and users need to undergo multi-factor authentication the first time they log in each year. Password requirements are also complex. 

Help and Support

In addition to live chat help via Xpert Assist, TaxAct offers support by phone and email. Here’s how to get in touch with TaxAct:

Support Type
Via Email
Via Phone
Phone Availability
Tax Help
taxquestion@taxact.com
(319) 373-3600
Mid-April to Mid-Jan: M–F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST; Extended Hours Mid-Jan to Mid-April for Tax season M–F 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST, Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST
General Customer Support
assistance@taxact.com
(319) 373-3600
Mid-April to Mid-Jan: M–F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST; Mid-January to April for tax season: M–F 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST, Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST

What about the TaxAct app?

TaxAct comes with a recently upgraded mobile app that’s now much easier to use. The app is free for iPhone and Android users. Key app features include:

  • Touch ID/Face ID support for a secure log-in
  • W-2 photo capture
  • IRS return tracking
  • Live chat support

All of TaxAct’s online products are supported by the app, and you can easily switch from the app to the desktop version without losing any of your progress. 

TaxAct TaxAct Visit Site

Bottom Line

If you want to take the hassle and guesswork out of filing your tax returns, TaxAct may be the solution for you. With competitive rates and 4 plan options, the software offers a tax solution for everyone. Free access to tax experts definitely makes this software worth your money. 

FAQs

Q: Is TaxAct completely free?

A: Customers who opt for the basic plan will have access to free federal tax filing without any restrictions. 

Q: Is TaxAct a good service?

A: TaxAct is high-quality software that generally costs less than its competitors. 

Q: Who can use TaxAct Free?

A: Anyone who signs up for the basic plan can use TaxAct for free. However, the free plan may not be suitable for all filers. It’s best for those who have simple tax situations. 

Danielle is a tech and finance writer with experience in personal finance, cryptocurrency and numerous SaaS companies. Aside from writing for Top10.com, her bylines can be found on MoneyTips, CoinMarketCap, and GraniteShares. An avid traveler and former ESL teacher, Danielle's writing blends a wealth of technical and financial knowledge with simple and straightforward explanations for everyday readers.

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