A professional service is more expensive, but it will save you time and stress and potentially uncover hidden tax breaks that even the best tax software might not surface.
If you have a very complicated return-for example, you’re self-employed or you have rental income or bought and sold stocks-we suggest skipping tax software altogether and finding a tax professional.
But there are two cases where we think you should take a different route: File for free with the IRS Free File by TurboTax version if you meet the requirements, or start with TurboTax Free Edition if you don’t.īecause of its superior step-by-step tax guidance, TurboTax has been one of our top picks since we started testing tax software in 2013. After testing six online tax apps updated for the 2020 tax year, we can say with confidence that TurboTax is the most sophisticated, accurate, and straightforward tool for the job. The best tax software makes sure you get all the credits and deductions you deserve without dragging you through forms hell. Doing your taxes might never be fun, but the right tool can turn the worst annual chore into a manageable-and dare we say, rewarding-afternoon.
