In recent years, it’s taken me much longer than I’d like to complete my tax return. That’s because I’ve taken it upon myself to evaluate firsthand the most popular online tax preparation options available to U.S. filers.
Get H&R Block 2013 Back Editions tax software, federal or state editions for 2013. Start tax preparation and filing taxes for 2013 with H&R Block 2013 Back Editions. Download Tax Software Updates. Past Year Tax Software Updates; Offer Details and Disclosures. Full Site Disclaimers. TaxAct is an American tax preparation software package. It is a member of the Free File Alliance, a free federal tax preparation and electronic filing program for eligible individual taxpayers developed through a partnership between the IRS and a group of private sector tax software companies.
My tax prep marathon always includes TurboTax, TaxAct, and H&R Block. There are plenty of less popular options (such as TaxSlayer, eSmart Tax, and FreeTaxUSA, among others), but these three are by far the most popular.
Reviews Of Tax Act Software
Here’s how TurboTax, TaxAct, and H&R Block stack up – and what’s new for the 2018 tax year.
My Tax Situation
I’ve run this comparison for several years in a row. As my tax situation has changed, so have my experiences. For instance, during the 2014 tax year, I moved across state lines and therefore filed two state tax returns. In the this post, I’ll note how each platform handled or reacted to specific aspects of my present tax situation.
For the most recent run, in 2018, I used a modified version of my actual tax situation for all three programs to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison. The highlights:
TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct all have a maximum refund/minimum tax liability guarantee. In other words, each service waives your prep fees if you can prove that another program produces a higher tax liability or lower refund on an identical tax situation.
Luckily for these three programs, my federal and state tax liabilities have always been identical across the board. However, the time and expense of preparing with each service does vary considerably.
H&R BlockPlans & Pricing
My Bottom Line
H&R Block is one of the most popular online tax preparation programs. Plus, it’s backed by a network of more than 10,000 brick-and-mortar tax prep locations. But filing online may be more convenient than schlepping down to the local office, and it’s almost certain to be cheaper. The software uses an interview-style process that takes you through your taxes step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any important forms or schedules.
The first time I used H&R Block, I was happy to learn about the company’s refund bonus, which boosted your federal refund’s size by up to 10% (5% for Free and Basic plans, and 10% for Deluxe and Premium plans) when you accepted it as one or more gift cards to well-known retailers such as Target, Kohl’s, and Best Buy.
That changed sometime before the start of the 2017 tax year, when H&R Block capped the refund bonus at 5% of the refund – no matter what plan filers select, per H&R Block’s refund bonus terms. That’s $50 for every $1,000 refunded. And you have to take your refund on an Amazon gift card, which is a drag for people who prefer straight-up debit cards. You can still also your federal refund on a reloadable prepaid debit card, just without any extra cash.
Federal Filing
My experience with H&R Block has been mostly positive over the years. That said, I’ve found some of the platform’s questions and instructions to be confusing, at least relative to the clear, simplified explanations offered by TurboTax. For instance, in 2015, when I indicated that I had gotten married during the tax year, I was shown a filing options chart with these explanations:
For kicks, I tried the same maneuver in 2018 and got a similar screen – some of the bullets were different, but the gist was the same. The issue here is that instead of auto-selecting your filing status based on your answers to a series of questions (like TurboTax), H&R Block requires you to interpret this information and make your own decision. While some filers won’t have a problem doing so, that extra step could make many novices uncomfortable.
On the bright side, the last page of each section includes a succinct, clear summary of the information you enter. If anything looks amiss, you can go back to the appropriate page and edit the erroneous information with one click.
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One thing I’ve always appreciated about H&R Block: you can start preparing your H&R Block return as a guest, without actually creating an account (though you do have to enter quite a bit of personal information in the course of setting up your return). This is nice for first-time users who aren’t completely sold on the platform. Just be aware that whenever you finish a section, you’ll be prompted to create an account.
Though I’ve never hit a major snag during the H&R Block preparation process, I’m nevertheless impressed by the “Help” button on the left sidebar. When clicked, it produces a popup window that lists popular help topics in question form and featured a search bar for less common items. This makes it easy to get clarification without having to exit the return or open a new window. I’ve played around with this feature quite a bit in the past, and never failed to learn something new each time.
Overall, H&R Block has grown smarter over the years. I’m particularly pleased with the evolution of the Tax Pro Review feature, which is a big peace-of-mind boost for nervous filers.
State Filing
The state preparation process unfolds in similar fashion to the federal return, except with state-specific questions. Once you check your federal return for accuracy, the program immediately whisks you into the state section and automatically imports all relevant information from your federal return.
During the 2014 tax year, when I lived in two states, I found it simple to fill out my second state return. H&R Block remembered that I’d moved during the year, and the software automatically brought me back to the beginning of the state return process after completing the first. I haven’t moved since and can’t claim income in any other states, so this hasn’t come up since, but the process appears much the same today.
Every year, before filing, H&R Block has checked my entire return for accuracy again. I’m able to view my federal and state returns, print my estimated tax vouchers for the coming year, and specify how I want to pay the tax I owed. (When I’m eligible for a refund, which doesn’t happen every year, I’m asked how I’d like to receive it as well.) All in all, the process ends smoothly, and always in less time than the other two options here.
Advantages of H&R Block
Disadvantages of H&R Block
Verdict
4.3 out of 5 stars: I like H&R Block’s relative ease of use, moderate pricing, and robust customer support. My experience was straightforward, with none of the bugs that plagued my TurboTax return and without the overwhelming detail inherent in TaxAct’s interview process.
However, H&R Block could be a bit more friendly – and a bit more cost-competitive for filers who need some extra help. In general, H&R Block is suitable for people who have some tax filing experience and comfort with the basic contours of the process, including choosing the appropriate filing status and selecting the right forms.
See our full H&R Block Review for a complete analysis.
TurboTaxPlans & Pricing
My Bottom Line
TurboTax is another extremely popular online tax filing program. Though it doesn’t have a dense network of physical branches to back it up, TurboTax is owned by Intuit, one of the country’s best-known financial software firms. Despite a free version that’s appropriate for relatively simple tax situations, TurboTax’s plans are a bit more expensive than H&R Block’s – though Block has obligingly closed the price gap in recent years.
My situation is too complex for any plan but Self-Employed, the priciest DIY option, though I’ve been fortunate to get an early-filer discount on the $119.99 list price most years. Bear in mind that prices tend to rise as tax day approaches. Expect to pay full price if you wait until late March or early April to file.
TurboTax’s interview-style preparation process is extremely intuitive, demystifying tax issues for novice filers. TurboTax also has a clean, mobile-friendly layout and a great mobile app, not to mention excellent customer support and a dynamic, user-supported knowledge base called the AnswerXchange.
I’ve been using TurboTax on and off to prepare my taxes for years. My experience hasn’t always been pleasant.
The low point was the 2014 tax year, when a slew of glitches significantly lengthened my prep time. Had 2014 been my first year on the TurboTax bandwagon, I would have struggled far more than I did – and may well have chosen to go with a different program. I won’t go into great detail about the issues I encountered, but the two most serious could plausibly have caused data loss (though they didn’t): HTML errors when attempting to upgrade and random sign-outs while actively working on my return.
Federal Filing
Back to the good stuff. One of my favorite things about TurboTax is the ability to import prior-year returns from any tax prep service, as long as the return is in PDF format. TurboTax has long been a leader in this respect, with competitors – namely H&R Block – struggling to keep up. Needless to say, robust PDF importing capability is hugely helpful for first-time users who can’t simply upload a prior TurboTax return.
I also like how TurboTax eases you into the interface with helpful pop-up windows that explain key features of the platform, such as the help bar and internal navigation tools. TurboTax has consistently been (and continues to be) among the most user-friendly tax prep programs I’ve used.
When the system is operating smoothly, TurboTax’s prep interface is blissfully easy to navigate. Its questions are more pointed and easy to understand than H&R Block’s, and the platform rarely presents confusing or vague information. At the beginning of each section, TurboTax takes care to call out “less common” situations and forms, subtly directing you towards items that are more likely to apply.
The platform also places “Learn More” buttons next to items that may require explanations, such as schedules and types of income. Clicking on the button creates a pop-up window that explains the topic in detail – a somewhat less confusing solution than H&R Block’s searchable popup help windows. For filers in a rush, this is a time-saving alternative to searching the AnswerXchange.
I also like that TurboTax waits until you’re done with state taxes to review everything. This is a marginal time-saver relative to H&R Block’s federal-only and state-only reviews. However, I’ve noticed at times that when I attempt to move backward in my federal return to check something manually, I’m stymied by an HTML error. This has happened sporadically for several years, even after the 2014 nadir.
Finally, I’ll note that TurboTax Live – first introduced in the 2017 tax year – is far more cost-competitive than H&R Block’s Tax Pro Go program, which has similar features. Expect TurboTax Live to add $50 to $80 to your federal tax prep costs, a substantial discount to the cost of filing with a CPA.
State Filing
As with H&R Block, TurboTax automatically transfers all the information from your federal return to your state return. The process for adding a second state, if necessary, is slightly more cumbersome as you have to navigate an additional drop-down menu. But that’s a pretty minor issue that most taxpayers (being single-state filers) won’t have to worry about.
I do like that TurboTax follows your state return(s) by reviewing the entire package and assessing your audit risk with a handy thermometer graphic. This part of the process does come with a pitch for the MAX Benefits package, an optional add-on that costs about $50 and includes audit defense, among other perks.
TurboTax is nothing if not thorough. The first time I ran this comparison, I was impressed that TurboTax affirmatively asked how I preferred to pay my taxes and file my returns, and that I was given a choice of which returns to file. Though this thoroughness does lengthen the filing process, it’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make.
Advantages of TurboTax
Disadvantages of TurboTax
Act Software Free DownloadVerdict
4.1 out of 5 stars: As my go-to tax filing program for years, TurboTax has built up a lot of goodwill with me. Unfortunately, the program has performed unevenly since 2014, presenting occasional bugs and functionality issues that tested my patience – though I’ve noticed a definite improvement since the 2016 tax year. Nevertheless, TurboTax is significantly more expensive than H&R Block or TaxAct. Though its free plan has grown more robust in the past couple years, it’s still lacking.
That said, you do get what you pay for: an intuitive interview process, a great (and mobile-friendly) layout, and lots of support. It’s nice to be able to import from so many sources too. TurboTax is therefore ideal for novice tax filers as well as more experienced filers for whom affordability isn’t a top concern.
Tax Act Software Professional
See our full TurboTax Review for a complete analysis.
TaxActPlans & Pricing
My Bottom Line
I hadn’t used TaxAct before the 2014 tax year, so I didn’t know what to expect when I first started running these comparisons. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised my first time through, and my appreciation for TaxAct has grown in subsequent years.
That said, TaxAct has changed more than TurboTax or H&R Block since I became acquainted with it, so returning each year has been something of an adventure. The most noticeable change is the platform’s fee structure. TaxAct’s prep fees have risen dramatically since the early 2010s. In 2014, I was able to prepare my federal taxes for free with TaxAct, despite a complex situation that included substantial self-employment income. Those days are long over, though TaxAct remains relatively cheap compared with TurboTax and Block.
TaxAct uses interview-style questions, but the interface is more exhaustive and less responsive to user answers than TurboTax’s or Block’s. (The system may ask you questions about specific situations that don’t apply to you, based on previous answers, whereas TurboTax and H&R Block seem to learn better from earlier responses.)
By covering just about every topic that could apply to you, TaxAct can be tedious and time-consuming. However, the program has gotten better since I’ve been using it. My TaxAct time investment for the 2016, 2017, and 2018 tax years wasn’t too much greater than with TurboTax or Block.
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It’s worth reiterating just how much stingier TaxAct’s free version has grown, even as TurboTax and H&R Block have upped their free tax prep games. TaxAct’s free version once supported the vast majority of available tax forms and schedules, meaning it was appropriate for virtually any non-business situation. Today, it’s only appropriate for simple situations. This probably isn’t a dealbreaker, as TaxAct’s most expensive consumer version is cheap relative to the competition, but it’s still frustrating for those accustomed to ultra-low-cost tax prep.
Federal Filing
Beginning in the 2017 tax year, I’ve had to use TaxAct’s most expensive plan – I haven’t even bothered starting with the Free version.
Though I’m still miffed that a prep program that cost next to nothing in 2014 now costs just slightly less than “full-service” competitors like H&R Block and TurboTax, it’s heartening to see how much more user-friendly TaxAct has become.
For instance, prior to the 2016 tax year, TaxAct underwent a cosmetic overhaul that improved overall readability, especially on small screens. Though I’m not quite ready to use TaxAct on my smartphone, I’d certainly consider using it on a tablet.
TaxAct has long had some free or low-cost features designed to simplify and streamline the tax prep process. For instance, early-bird filers can lock in their pricing at the beginning of tax season, even if TaxAct raises its prices in the interim. The at-a-glance help feature gives you real-time advice and commentary as you work through your tax return. The bookmark feature lets you flag interview questions for review at a later time. And it’s easier than ever to call up prior-year tax returns – a service that previously cost $13 per filing year.
State Filing
TaxAct’s state return section is similar to the other two services’, with automatically imported information and thorough, state-specific questions. (As with the federal return, sometimes it’s sometimes too thorough.) It starts immediately after you finish your federal return, though you’re free to leave it for later.
Like TurboTax, TaxAct waits until all your returns have been completed to review them for accuracy, saving some time. However, the review process is more complicated than TurboTax’s and H&R Block’s, with different alert levels (red, yellow, and green) that identify issues of varying severity. TaxAct uses these alerts to assess your overall audit risk, though it doesn’t display this risk in a handy graphic like TurboTax.
You can also skip the alerts altogether if you’re confident you’ve kept everything aboveboard – a nice perk for seasoned filers who know what they’re doing. One drawback here is that there’s no easy way to run your completed return by a professional tax preparer. Both H&R Block and TurboTax now offer that option.
Once you pay for TaxAct’s prep services, the platform takes care of your refund or tax payments, walking you through how to prepare for next year’s taxes (including introducing its Donation Assistant app, which can help you track and quantify non-cash charitable donations throughout the year). Donation Assistant is a genuinely helpful tool when used properly, but my personal feeling is that this part of the process drags on too much. That’s not ideal when the end is in sight.
Advantages of TaxAct
Disadvantages of TaxActFree Taxact Software
VerdictTax Act Software 2013 Download
4.1 out of 5 stars: I was pleasantly surprised by my first experience with TaxAct, and that sentiment has largely held up since. It has always been my cheapest option, and its functionality has improved significantly over the years, such that it’s nearly (but not quite) on par with TurboTax and H&R Block.
That said, my TaxAct return has consistently taken longer than my TurboTax and H&R Block returns. I’m still not super impressed with the support infrastructure, though I’m grateful that tax audit defense no longer costs an arm and a leg – just $10 when you upgrade to the Premium plan. I did lower TaxAct’s score a couple ticks for the 2017 tax year due to the price increase, and the rating remains the same for 2018. Simply put, TaxAct is no longer the best game in town for ultra-frugal filers.
In general, TaxAct is ideal for somewhat more experienced filers who don’t mind exchanging time for money. Though its interface has gotten more user-friendly since I started using it regularly, I still wouldn’t recommend TaxAct to first-timers.
See our full TaxAct Review for more a complete analysis.
Final Word
TurboTax, TaxAct, and H&R Block might be three of the most popular online tax prep options, but they’re not the only ones out there. A bevy of other options exist, from relatively well-known providers like TaxSlayer and eSmart Tax, to lesser-known options like FreeTaxUSA.
And the federal government can help as well with free tax preparation options, thanks to the Free File Alliance (a consortium of about a dozen tax prep companies that offer free filing services to filers who meet certain income and residency criteria) and Free Fillable Forms, which are available to filers regardless of income or residency.
The point is, there are plenty of tax preparation options besides these three. Depending on your tax situation, you might find one that’s easier, faster, or simply less stressful to use.
One last plug: If you don’t want to face a potentially hefty processing charge to pay your tax prep fees with your refund, but don’t want to pay out of pocket right then and there, consider using a rewards credit card to pick up the tab. As long as you stay within your card’s spending limit and pay your balance in full by the statement due date, you’ll avoid processing fees and earn a small return on your outlay. Check out our roundups of the best cash back credit cards and best travel rewards credit cards for ideas.
What’s your favorite online tax preparation software? Let us know in the comments below.
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