Tax season is here.
And while you are likely not too excited about that, you should definitely start gearing up for it now, gathering your documents together, and taking note of upcoming deadlines (remember: Tax Day is on April 15). You also might want to start figuring out where you’re going to file this year.
How you choose to file will depend on your particular tax situation. For instance, if you are a full-time employee and only have one W-2 to deal with, the process will likely be more straightforward and you can probably save a lot of money by filing yourself online.
If you are a freelancer, juggle a full-time job and a freelance hustle, or own your own business, filing online could also be a good option, though again, it will depend on your specific circumstances.
This said, many online tax sites offer tiered services with low-cost options for any situation. Which is great news. After all, the more money you save on your taxes, the more you’ll be able to put toward your other financial goals for the year.
Thankfully, given it’s the 21st century, there are plenty of different online services to choose from. From TurboTax to Credit Karma, ahead are six great, free, or cheap options. And it’s easy to get started, so why wait? Get the ball rolling so you can secure your refund and, you know, get on with your life.
TurboTax
File your federal and state income-tax returns online at TurboTax for free if you are filing with a W-2, claiming a standard deduction, or more.
Check online to see specific requirements and find out whether you qualify, and read reviews from past users here.
illustrated by Tristan Offit.
CreditKarma
File for free — no matter what — using Credit Karma. They also offer free Audit Defense in case you get audited, and have an easy-to-use, intuitive platform.
They’re rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars across more than 400,000 reviews.
illustrated by Tristan Offit.
TaxAct
TaxAct lets you file your federal and state taxes online, with tiered pricing ranging from $0 to $39.95, depending on your situation.
They also offer free account support and a $100,000 accuracy guarantee — meaning if they make a mistake, you’re covered.
illustrated by Tristan Offit.
IRS Free File
Using Free File on the IRS website, you can prepare and file your federal and state individual income-tax return for free.
Note that there is easy-to-use software for incomes below $66,000, but above this threshold, you must know how to do your taxes yourself and state tax prep is not available.
illustrated by Tristan Offit.
TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer helps you file both federal and state taxes online, with tiered prices depending on your unique tax situation.
Check out the reviews from previous customers.
illustrated by Tristan Offit.
H&R Block
H&R Block offers a few options for online filing, in addition to their in-office drop-off services.
From free filing — which is best for those with W-2s — to deluxe online, which is great for homeowners, there are free or cheap options for anyone, with services for state taxes, as well.
illustrated by Tristan Offit.
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Source: Refinery29