Best Tax Services in 2024
Filing your taxes does not need to be as complicated or confusing as you are used to – by using a tax service you can simplify the process and make it a more streamlined experience.
H&R Block: Best Free Option
Pros
- In-person or online tax preparation services available.
- Over 9,000 locations in-person.
- Pricing starts at $89 for a federal tax return.
- Free version available for simple tax returns only.
Cons
- Not all preparers are CPAs.
- Complex taxes can result in additional costs.
- State tax returns can cost extra, depending on your state.
H&R Block is one of the most popular and well-known accounting software and tax services out there, with over 20 million people using their service in 2023 alone. They are the best free tax service option in 2024 based on a few reasons, including large networks of branches, reasonable pricing and both in-person and online availability.
Jackson Hewitt: Easiest to Use
Pros
- Over 5,200 locations in-person, with many being inside of Walmart.
- Appointments or walk-in tax services offered.
- Forms can be uploaded or dropped off in person, offering flexibility.
Cons
- Minimum tax preparation fee of $150 for federal tax returns.
- Pricing isn’t always clear on the website, as it changes based on circumstances.
- Not all preparers are CPAs.
Jackson Hewitt is ranked “easiest to use" in terms of tax services, with over 5,200 in-person locations offering a ton of accessibility. Offering both appointments or walk-in services, Jackson Hewitt is easy to use if you are considering using a tax service this year. Unfortunately, this service can be on the pricier side, with a minimum tax preparation fee of $150 for all federal tax returns. Depending on your circumstances, it might not be in your best interest to pay for the tax service.
TurboTax: Best Overall Service
Pros
- Fully accessible online.
- Walks you completely through the tax filing process.
- Option to start your taxes on your own and upgrade to a preparer if necessary.
- Three pricing tiers are based on the complexity of your return.
Cons
- No option for in-person support or submission.
- Not all preparers are CPAs.
- Self-employed tax submissions can become more expensive.
- Free versions have limits, meaning you will probably have to pay for more options.
Of the three services mentioned above, I have regularly used TurboTax throughout the past couple of years and have found it to be the best overall service. Offering full online access to their services, TurboTax offers a variety of tax filing tiers with the lowest level being free – if you have a simple tax filing, you can use their free option. If your filing is more intricate, you can opt to upgrade to one of their multiple paid tiers. In terms of overall tax filing service, TurboTax offers the most flexibility and is the easiest to use!
Tax Software and Preparation
When it comes to preparing your taxes every year, the intricacy of your personal filing is likely going to be completely different than that of someone else. Put simply, using a tax preparation service might not be in your best interest, depending on your circumstances.
How do you know when it is appropriate to use a tax service to simplify your process and maximize your return?
The most important thing to understand is that many of these software and preparation platforms are free, meaning there isn’t really a disadvantage to signing up and using them. If you have any unique circumstances in your filing or find that it takes you a relatively long time to do it manually, these software and services are certainly in your best interest.
If you know what you are doing personally, it might be fastest and easiest to prepare your taxes yourself without the assistance of a service – this assumes you have straightforward filings.
File Your Taxes With Ease
When it comes to filing your taxes, the services that you can use are pretty much unlimited. Each service will offer pretty similar experiences and accessibility, with some variance in their pricing and membership tiers. I recommend analyzing your personal position and figuring out the service that suits your needs the best!