Mar
15
2023

Popular Tax Software of All Time: Ranked

Popular Tax Software

Right now, filing your tax return is probably the last thing you want to do. But, quality tax preparation software available online can lighten the load. Yet, the best online tax software can make things simpler. You can’t go wrong with these well-regarded tax preparation programs: TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxSlayer, Jackson Hewitt, or Cash App Taxes. It is essential to compare the top tax preparation services in terms of price, free filing alternatives, usability, and quality of customer care to select the most suitable one.

Turbo Tax

DIY tax preparation? Need some guidance on which forms to use and which deductions to claim? If you don’t mind being bombarded by suggestions that you upgrade or purchase additional capabilities, TurboTax could be your tax preparation software.

TurboTax simplifies tax preparation for users of all levels of expertise by leading them through the filing process with interview-style questions, access to Employee Retention Credit calculation tools, to know how much they owe or how much they will get back, and providing access to live, on-screen support when necessary. Intuit, which makes software for managing finances and paying taxes, has made a name for itself in the market with its tax preparation program known as TurboTax. Its brand familiarity undoubtedly helps, but the company’s dedication has also helped the product’s success to excellent design and comprehensive feature sets.

H&R Block

Tax preparation is just one of several services H&R Block, Inc offers. It distributes H&R block-branded financial goods and services, including those of its financial partners. It provides aided and do-it-yourself tax return preparation solutions through various distribution channels. With its interview-style questions, clear instructions, and in-depth explanations for different income kinds, deductions, and tax credits, H&R Block simplifies tax preparation for do-it-yourselfers.

Clients can do their own taxes, have an expert look over their work, or hand the whole thing over to a virtual tax pro. Because of its flexible features, H&R Block is an excellent choice for those who wish to file their taxes independently but can still access expert assistance if they run into difficulties or get stuck.

TaxSlayer

If you don’t want to be micromanaged when filing your taxes, TaxSlayer is for you. You can save time by skipping through the unneeded interview screens and going straight to the sections you need if you already know the categories of finances you need to declare and the deductions and credits you are eligible for. You can utilize the software’s questions to help you navigate the areas of the tax return that are relevant to your circumstances. If you still need assistance, you can pay for a more expensive package and speak with an actual human.

TaxSlayer users can answer questions that will send the program to the appropriate forms, or they can skip the questions and go straight to the portions they need to fill out. TaxSlayer is the most used taxing software.

Jackson Hewitt

Those who have reasonably simple tax returns and don’t require a lot of assistance determining which forms of income, deductions, and tax credits they need to put on their return can consider using Jackson Hewitt’s online tax filing program. What, however, constitutes complexity? That depends on how comfortable each individual is. One person may be at ease itemizing deductions and declaring company income on Schedule C, while another may be anxious about accurately expressing stock sales or taking IRA withdrawals.

All of these situations are covered by Jackson Hewitt’s tax software, but there isn’t much help available if you need it for filing them on your tax return. Because consumers may submit federal and state forms for $25, regardless of how simple or complex their tax situation is, Jackson Hewitt’s pricing structure is among the easiest to comprehend in the DIY tax preparation market.

CashApp Taxes

Those who just have to file a federal and one-state return will find Cash App Taxes the most useful. Cash App Taxation does not have any premium paid features or tiers. There isn’t one other than encouraging Square’s target demographic to buy more of the company’s products. If you want a genuinely free option for filing your taxes, Cash App Taxes is a great option.

Most taxpayers prioritize an intuitive interface. In this section, each software is compared to the available options based on how straightforward they made it for customers to file their taxes. Compared to employees, self-employed people have more complicated income tax returns to file. At tax time, online tax software must accommodate the unique requirements of freelancers and self-employed people.