TaxACT Company Review

Pros

  • Best value tax products
  • Least expensive price for filing federal returns
  • Least expensive price for filing state returns (state add-on included for free with Ultimate product)
  • Least expensive price for live tax support ($7.95 one-time fee for unlimited phone tax support)
  • Deluxe and Ultimate products offer the same capabilities as counterpart products from TurboTax and H&R Block at 66% lower cost
  • Excellent error checking: most thorough double-check function we've reviewed


 

Cons

  • Does not offer a professional tax review, which means a tax advisor manually goes through your entire tax return (This is available through TurboTax and H&R Block.)
  • Costs $12.95 to access your previous tax returns from the last three years (This is free with TurboTax and H&R Block.)


 

TaxACT Pricing
Price Range Free - $17.95
State Add-On $8.00
TaxACT Company Ratings
4
4
4
4
Overall Score: 16 / 20
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TaxACT: Lowest priced tax products and tax support on the market

TaxACT Conclusion

With low prices and great tax support, TaxACT offers the best value tax products on market. TaxAct products offer many of the same features and services as TurboTax and H&R Block and are 66% cheaper than competing products. TaxACT also offers the most thorough error-checking system we’ve reviewed. They offer help with filing your tax return as well as live tax support for a low price of $7.95. TaxACT’s products are best for people filing simple to moderately complicated tax returns, as they don’t offer a CPA to review your tax return, which is usually only important for more complicated returns.

>> Visit TaxACT Website

TaxACT: Ease of Use

4

TaxACT’s tax products offer easy navigation and helpful on-screen guidance. TaxACT has the most thorough error-checking system we’ve reviewed.  They double-check your W-2 for Federal Income Tax, Social Security and Medicare withholdings if they are greater than the appropriate percentage of your income for that given tax, and they force you to revisit your entered information. TaxACT warns you to save your progress before changes are lost and lets you bookmark or flag pages you want to revisit. TaxACT also shows you a refund meter that calculates your refund. You can access past returns for the last three years for an additional fee of $12.95. Unlike TurboTax, TaxACT does not include helper text bubbles that explain jargon and guide you through your tax return.

TaxACT: Tax Support

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TaxACT offers live tax support over the phone for $7.95, which is the least expensive tax support offered by any provider. Tax support is available Monday through Friday from 7a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. TaxACT offers audit support, which helps you find out why the IRS contacted you, determine what it means, and prepare your next steps, but does not offer Audit Defense, which helps you prepare for an upcoming audit (Complete Tax and TurboTax both offer Audit Defense).

TaxACT: Tech Support

4

We found TaxAct’s phone support to be very helpful  and knowledgeable. They don’t offer live chat and wait time for email support was 1-2 business days during our testing period. They answered all of our questions accurately and thoroughly, but wait times were long compared with support from other providers. During tax season, wait times may vary with increased demand. Tech support is available Monday through Friday from 7a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

TaxACT: Reliability

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TaxACT is owned by 2nd Story Software and has been in business for more than 10 years. TaxACT offers an Accuracy Guarantee, which reimburses you in the event you are assessed a penalty based on a miscalculation on the part of this tax company. TaxACT also offers a Maximum Refund Guarantee, which ensures you get the biggest tax refund possible using their system.

TaxACT: Pricing

TaxACT offers the cheapest tax products we have reviewed. The cost of filing your federal tax return ranges from free to $17.95, depending on which product fits your needs. If you need to purchase a state add-on, it will cost you $8-$14.95, which is cheap when compared to competing products from other brands. You pay the total price only after you file your return.