TaxAct review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Online and downloadable tax filing for individuals and businesses
Black Friday: is there a TaxAct sale?
TaxAct report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for filing a simple US federal return for free
TaxAct files US federal and state returns online or by download, with a free edition for simple returns. State returns are charged separately, and the free edition leaves out investment, rental and self-employment income.
Who TaxAct is for
- 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
Who TaxAct is not for
- 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
Why TaxAct gets a 2.4
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for moneyBasic 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.
- BFree plan and trialFree 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.
- CFeaturesIt 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.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record. A guided interview, but you still have to collect your own tax documents.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb only on the listing, with no integrations on record.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from TaxAct's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/taxact#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/taxact.svg" alt="TaxAct: 2.4 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where TaxAct stands among accounting and invoicing tools
TaxAct's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 38 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 50 of 65) and worst on ease of use (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $3.75 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $18.09 for the category: 2 of the 54 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. TaxAct’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 48 of 65, level with 9
- BFree plan and trialAbove 50 of 65, level with 10
- CFeaturesAbove 4 of 65, level with 46
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 65, level with 56
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 65, level with 11
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 58 accounting and invoicing tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep TaxAct, or make your own?
Keep it
The plain part of TaxAct you could make: calculator and documents. What surrounds it you could not. The 0 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $44.99 a year.
What you could make
- Calculator and documents: an app builder makes these well.
What this rests on. TaxAct’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is TaxAct?
TaxAct is tax filing software for individuals, self-employed people and small businesses. Federal returns are sold per edition (Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed), with each state return priced separately, and there are separate business editions plus an optional expert-help add-on. A downloadable version and a professional product for tax preparers are sold alongside the online editions.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
TaxAct pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, TaxAct has a free plan, and paid plans start at $44.99 per tax year (download); online from $59.99, states extra.
- Starts at
- $44.99 per tax year (download); online from $59.99, states extra
- Free plan
- 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
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free (online) | $0 | Federal filing for simple returns with no forms or schedules attached. A state return is $54.99 each. |
| Basic (download) | $44.99per 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) | $59.99per federal return | Adds home ownership, child and dependent care, and HSA contributions. State returns are extra. |
| Premier (online) | $99.99per federal return | Adds selling stocks or crypto, selling a home and rental income. State returns are extra. |
| Self-Employed (online) | $109.99per federal return | Adds contract, freelance, rideshare and sole-proprietor income. A state return is $64.99 each. |
| Business (online) | $159.99per return, Partnerships (Form 1065) | S-corporations (1120-S) and C-corporations (1120) are $169.99 each. State returns are extra. |
Read from taxact.com on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with TaxAct before you buy.
TaxAct alternatives
- TaxAct vs Drake Tax
Free trial · from $299.99/yr
- TaxAct vs Keeper
Free trial · from $199/yr
- TaxAct vs Hurdlr
Free plan · from $8.34/mo
- TaxAct vs QuickBooks Online
Free plan · from $38/mo
Common questions
Does TaxAct have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. TaxAct is listed for Web.
Does TaxAct have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. TaxAct is listed for Web.
Is TaxAct open source?
TaxAct is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.
- taxact.com/taxes-online/file-your-own-taxes
- taxact.com/taxes-online/file-your-own-taxes/free-federal-tax-filing
- taxact.com/taxes-online/file-your-own-taxes/self-employed-tax-filing
- taxact.com/business-returns
- taxact.com/download-tax-software
- taxact.com/tax-xpert-assist/xpert-full-service
- taxact.com/company/about-us
- taxact.com/tax-resources