Cash App Taxes vs TaxAct (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cash App Taxes grades higher than TaxAct: 3.2 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cash App Taxes grades higher on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms. They get the same grade on ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
TaxAct
Online and downloadable tax filing for individuals and businesses
Which one is for you
Pick Cash App Taxes if
- Fits if you file a US individual return, even with 1099 income or stock sales
- Works for people who already hold a Cash App account
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you do not want a Cash App account, as you must create one to log in
- Skip it if you file for a business or outside the US, as the pages do not describe either
- Watch out: the 5-day-early refund needs the refund paid into Cash App and is an estimate, not a promise
- Watch out: it states it is not a tax advisor
Pick TaxAct if
- Fits if you have a simple return and want to file federal for free
- Works for self-employed filers who file once a year and want to pay by the return
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you have investment, rental or self-employment income and want to stay free, as the free edition excludes all three
- Tight if you file in a state, since returns cost $54.99 on Free and $64.99 on Self-Employed
- Watch out: Xpert Assist is $45 on the pricing cards but $60 in the FAQ
- Not for you if you want bookkeeping or invoicing, as it only prepares and e-files taxes
How we grade them
| 3.2GPACash App TaxesVery good | 2.4GPATaxActFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree for federal and state, including sales of stock and bitcoin, so it is free and substantial. | BBasic download is $44.99 a tax year and online starts at $59.99, with Self-Employed at $109.99. State returns add $54.99 to $64.99 each. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright with no tier above it, so nobody hits a cap. | BFree federal filing for simple Form 1040 returns, with the vendor saying about 40% of filers qualified. Investment income, itemised deductions, rental income and self-employment income are excluded. |
| Features | BFederal and state filing, many income types, accuracy and max-refund guarantees do the whole job for an individual US return. | CIt prepares and files taxes, with business returns and expert help on top. A smaller job than bookkeeping, and it is not bookkeeping or invoicing software. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and you must download Cash App and create an account first. | CNo store rating on record. A guided interview, but you still have to collect your own tax documents. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iOS and Android, but no integrations are listed. | CWeb only on the listing, with no integrations on record. |
| Best for | free US federal and state filing | filing a simple US federal return for free |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Cash App Taxes and TaxAct. How we grade
Price against what you get
Cash App Taxes has no paid plan and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. TaxAct starts at $3.75 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0.
Cash App Taxes scores higher and starts $3.75 a month lower. Of the other accounting and invoicing tools on the chart, none scores higher than Cash App Taxes for less, and 9 score higher than TaxAct for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Cash App Taxes also covers forms.
- TaxAct also covers documents.
At a glance
| Cash App Taxes | TaxAct | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $44.99 per tax year (download); online from $59.99, states extra |
| Free plan | None | Free edition: $0 federal filing for simple Form 1040 returns (W-2, unemployment and retirement income, common credits, dependents). The vendor says about 40% of filers qualified. State returns extra. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Cash App Taxes, Inc. | TaxAct |
| Price read from | cash.app | taxact.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Cash App Taxes
- A Cash App account is required: you must download the app and create an account to log in.
- It files US federal and state returns only; the pages do not describe business or non-US filing.
- The 5-day-early refund applies only if the refund is deposited into Cash App, and is an estimate, not a promise.
- Cash App Taxes is not a tax advisor, as the vendor states on its page.
TaxAct
- State returns are charged separately: $54.99 each on the Free edition and $64.99 each on Self-Employed.
- Free federal filing excludes investment income, itemized deductions, rental income and self-employment income.
- Xpert Assist is shown at $45 on the pricing cards but $60 in the page's FAQ.
- It prepares and e-files taxes only; it is not bookkeeping or invoicing software.
Key features
Cash App Taxes
- Federal and state e-filing
- Prepares and files both federal and state returns, with the vendor stating there is no charge for either, even with deductions or credits.
- Wide range of income types
- The site says W-2s, 1099s, self-employment income, stock sales and bitcoin sales are covered without extra fees.
- Accuracy and max refund guarantees
- The vendor offers an Accurate Calculations Guarantee and a Max Refund Guarantee, both with eligibility terms and exclusions on its help pages.
- Refund into Cash App
- A refund deposited into Cash App can arrive up to 5 days early, based on the vendor's estimate from tax year 2024 filing data.
- Account security
- Requires a phone number and verification, supports authenticator-app two-factor sign-in and encrypts data in transit.
TaxAct
- Guided federal and state filing
- The online editions walk through a return step by step, import W-2 or 1099 data, and e-file with direct deposit.
- Free federal edition
- Simple Form 1040 returns with no attached forms or schedules can be filed federally at no cost; investment, rental and self-employed income need a paid edition.
- Business returns
- Editions exist for partnerships, S-corporations, C-corporations, sole proprietors, and estates and trusts, with uploaded forms such as Schedule K-1 sorted into the return.
- Xpert Assist
- An add-on that gives unlimited calls or chats with credentialed tax experts while you file, available on the consumer 1040 editions.
- Xpert Full Service
- Experts prepare and file the return for you, from $99 plus $69 for all states. The page said the service was at full capacity when read.
- Tax calculators
- The tax resources section offers an income tax calculator and other estimators for working out a refund or credits.
Plans
Cash App Taxes
Free$0
Federal and state filing at no cost, including 1099 income, stock and bitcoin sales.
TaxAct
Free (online)$0
Federal filing for simple returns with no forms or schedules attached. A state return is $54.99 each.
Basic (download)$44.99
per tax year, includes 5 federal e-files
Downloadable software; state returns are an additional charge. The download page does not state which operating systems it supports.
Deluxe (online)$59.99
per federal return
Adds home ownership, child and dependent care, and HSA contributions. State returns are extra.
Premier (online)$99.99
per federal return
Adds selling stocks or crypto, selling a home and rental income. State returns are extra.
Self-Employed (online)$109.99
per federal return
Adds contract, freelance, rideshare and sole-proprietor income. A state return is $64.99 each.
Business (online)$159.99
per return, Partnerships (Form 1065)
S-corporations (1120-S) and C-corporations (1120) are $169.99 each. State returns are extra.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cash App Taxes or TaxAct?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cash App Taxes is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $3.75 a month when paid by the year for TaxAct. Cash App Taxes is free, and TaxAct starts at $44.99 per tax year (download); online from $59.99, states extra.
Which has a free plan, Cash App Taxes or TaxAct?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cash App Taxes and TaxAct have a free plan.
Which platforms do Cash App Taxes and TaxAct run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Cash App Taxes lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.