The best programme for e-filing taxes

Even though preparing your tax return is never anyone's favorite activity, employing tax preparation software can speed up the process. Tax preparation software and services like Intuit and H&''R Block help users optimize their refunds by claiming all of their eligible deductions. Whether this is your first filing or you've been paying taxes for years, many of the best providers offer gratis and paid plans, so you may choose the one that works best for you.

We looked at 12 different tax preparation tools based on price, ease of use, quality of customer service, and accreditations like the Better Business Bureaus.

When is the tax deadline?

Due to the Washington, D.C. holiday on April 15, the regular filing date for individual income tax returns has been pushed up to Tuesday, April 18, 2022. The tax deadline in Maine and Boston has been moved to May 19 from April 19 in 2022 because of the Patriots' Day holiday.

Unlike in 2020 and 2021, the IRS did not issue an astute statement regarding an automatic extension for 2022. An extension request must be sent no later than Monday, October 17, 2022.

If I don't file my taxes on time, what happens then?

You should file your tax return as soon as possible if you didn't do so before April 18. If you owe money in taxes and don't send them in on time, you'll be hit with a penalty that grows for each passing day. You won't be fined for filing early if you don't owe any taxes and instead expect a refund.

To what extent does the process of submitting tax returns cost?

Some tax software is free, while others demand a monthly fee. The tax preparation program we researched either offer free versions or has low starting prices (as low as $11.05 for federal and $4.95 for each state) when it comes time to file. The federal plan is the priciest at $170 plus $50 for each state, but the costs can add up when you select the more included deluxe, premium, or self-employed tiers. Live tax support is available for an extra $35 to $100, on top of any state fees that may apply.

Two Extremes Filing Taxes

There are two extremes when it comes to filing taxes: simplicity and complexity. If your tax return is straightforward, you can file it for free using several different tax preparation software. A basic tax return consists mostly of W-2 salaries, a small amount of interest and dividend income, statutory deductions, and unemployment benefits.

Most tax preparation software will charge you extra to prepare a complex tax return if your financial circumstances exceed those of a standard return. People who earn money as freelancers, small business owners, landlords, or via the sale of stocks and other assets are more likely to have complicated tax situations than the average taxpayer.

Software That Makes Filing Your Taxes Online

The best tax software is the one that makes filing your taxes online a breeze. For many users, ease of use is the most important aspect. Here, we examined many possibilities to identify the service that simplified tax preparation for its customers the most. We considered how many questions were asked during the interview if W-2s could be uploaded to speed up data entry, how user-friendly the interface was, how long it took to complete the return, and so on when assessing tax preparation software.

Service for Freelancers

Best Online Tax Preparation Service for Freelancers that Doesn't Cost a Fortune There may be added hurdles for freelancers and independent contractors when filing their taxes. Online tax software must be developed with independent contractors and sole proprietors. We analyzed each service's total price, state filing fee, deduction tools, and pricing to determine your best option.

Service Team of Any Online Tax Software

The Best Customer Service Team of Any Online Tax Software In our investigation, we compared the various support channels offered by each platform. We investigated the communication channels between customers and the online tax software developers, including phone, live chat, email, and a knowledge base. We also checked in with the customer service lines to hear how long the wait was and how helpful the agents were.

The relative importance of each attribute was determined by classifying them. The author, a CPA with over 20 years of experience in taxation, tested all tax software by signing up for an account with each provider and conducting hands-on reviews.