One calculator and 2 readiness checks
Three tools built for one job each: comparing cost, sorting your situation, and checking readiness.
Tax software cost comparison
Answers whether the cheaper-looking software option actually costs less once state filing and add-ons are included.
Assumptions this uses
- Assumes both figures are the full price you'd actually pay at checkout, including state filing
- Assumes tax software is a once-a-year purchase, not a subscription — the 'annual' framing in the result is just what a full tax season costs you
- Assumes no promotional first-year pricing that changes in future years
- Assumes you have the actual prices from each provider's site, not an estimate
Limitations: This tool shares a calculator engine built for monthly subscriptions, so its output is labeled in annual terms — for a one-time tax-prep purchase, treat that annual figure as simply what you pay per tax season, not a real recurring subscription cost. It does not account for differences in features, support quality, or accuracy between the two options, only the price you enter.
Runs entirely in your browser.
Free filing isn't always the cheapest — or the right — call
Every major provider advertises a free tier, but they qualify for it differently. Self-employment income, rental income and most investment activity usually push you out of the free tier regardless of which software you pick, so budget for a paid tier before you get attached to a 'free' promise.
What does your tax situation actually need?
Answers what type of software — free filer, simple W-2, self-employed, or complex — people in your situation typically use, based on your income type, complexity, and budget.
Assumptions this uses
- Assumes your answers reflect this tax year's actual situation, not a typical year
- Assumes 'complexity' is judged by number and type of income sources and forms, not by how confident you feel
- Sorts toward a general category of software, not a specific product recommendation
Limitations: This sorts you toward a general reading of your situation, not a specific product recommendation or a guarantee of what any one piece of software will actually cost you.
Runs entirely in your browser.
The Tax Filing Readiness Kit
A checklist and worksheet to get your documents and decisions in order before you open any tax software.
Get the free guide →Filing readiness checklist
Answers whether you actually have what you need before you open any tax software at all.
Assumptions this uses
- Assumes you're checking readiness before starting a return, not partway through one
- Assumes each item reflects your honest current status
- Assumes this covers common readiness gaps, not every possible document you might need
Limitations: This is a self-check, not a guarantee that your return will be complete or accurate once you start filing.
Runs entirely in your browser.
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Compare your real options
Once you know your situation, seeing the actual current pricing side by side is the next step.
Compare tax software →