Best Tax Software of 2026
Quick answer
Our top pick is Cash App Taxes, which charges $0 for federal and state returns, including returns with self-employment or investment income, though it needs a Cash App account and offers no live expert help (as of 2026-10-02). IRS Free File Fillable Forms is free at any income level but is federal only and closes Oct. 15, 2026. TaxAct posts fixed prices from $0 to $109.99 plus state, and TurboTax is free only for simple Form 1040 returns, with Deluxe shown at $79 plus state. If your adjusted gross income is $89,000 or less, check IRS Free File guided software at IRS.gov/freefile first. Prices change, so confirm before you file.
Tax software walks you through your federal and state income tax return and e-files it with the IRS. Prices vary widely: some products are free for everyone, some are free only for simple returns, and paid tiers can add a separate state fee. The IRS also runs free options. IRS Free File gives taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less access to guided software from partner companies (eight partners for 2026, each with its own eligibility rules), but only if you start at IRS.gov/freefile. Free File Fillable Forms is available at any income level. IRS Direct File was not listed among the free options in the IRS's 2026 filing season announcement, and its former IRS.gov page returned a not found error when we checked (as of 2026-10-02). Every price here is (as of 2026-10-02); tax software prices change during the season, so confirm before you file. We score each product on Fees 25%, Value & Returns 25%, Transparency 20%, Security & Trust 15%, and Support 15%. This is information, not tax advice.
How we scored: every product below was rated 0–10 on five weighted criteria — Fees (25%), Value & Returns (25%), Transparency (20%), Security & Trust (15%), and Support (15%). Advertiser compensation never affects scores or rank order; rates and fees are cited to each provider's official disclosures with an as-of date. Read our full methodology.
2026 rankings at a glance
| # | Product | Rating | Best for | Price | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cash App TaxesNot an affiliate — no commission earned | 8.1/10 | Filers who are comfortable doing their own return and want to pay nothing for federal and state filing | $0 for federal and state returns, including returns with 1099 income, self-employment, and stock or bitcoin sales (as of 2026-10-02) | |
| 2 | IRS Free File Fillable FormsNot an affiliate — no commission earned | 7.9/10 | Filers who know the IRS forms, do not need a state return, and want a free federal option with no income limit | $0 federal e-filing at any income level; no state return; closes Oct. 15, 2026 for this season (as of 2026-10-02) | |
| 3 | TaxAct OnlineNot an affiliate — no commission earned | 7.2/10 | Filers who want posted, fixed prices and lower paid tiers than the best known brand | Free $0, Deluxe $59.99, Premier $99.99, Self-Employed $109.99, each plus state; Xpert Assist $60 (as of 2026-10-02) | |
| 4 | TurboTax OnlineNot an affiliate — no commission earned | 6.7/10 | Filers who want a guided interface and the option of live expert help, and who accept higher prices for it | Free Edition $0 for simple Form 1040 returns; Do It Yourself Deluxe shown at $79 federal plus state; other tiers priced at filing (as of 2026-10-02) |
Cash App Taxes
8.1/10Cash App Taxes charges $0 for both federal and state returns, and says that holds even with 1099 income, self-employment, or stock and bitcoin sales (as of 2026-10-02). You need a Cash App account to use it. Check its help center for unsupported situations before you start.
- Federal and state filing are both free, per Cash App Taxes' own page (as of 2026-10-02)
- You must download Cash App and create an account to use it (as of 2026-10-02)
IRS Free File Fillable Forms
7.9/10IRS Free File Fillable Forms lets anyone e-file a federal return free, at any income level, by filling in electronic IRS forms (as of 2026-10-02). It has only basic calculations, no state return, and requires a US cell number. The program closes Oct. 15, 2026 for this season.
- Free federal e-filing for any income level, offered through IRS.gov (as of 2026-10-02)
- Federal return only; it does not prepare a state return (as of 2026-10-02)
TaxAct Online
7.2/10TaxAct lists Free at $0, Deluxe at $59.99, Premier at $99.99 and Self-Employed at $109.99, each plus state, with Xpert Assist expert help for $60 (as of 2026-10-02). About 40% of TaxAct filers qualified for Free last year, per TaxAct. Prices change; check TaxAct's site.
- Published flat prices for each tier on the homepage: Deluxe $59.99, Premier $99.99, Self-Employed $109.99 (as of 2026-10-02)
- State returns cost extra on every tier, including Free (as of 2026-10-02)
TurboTax Online
6.7/10TurboTax Free Edition is $0 for simple Form 1040 returns, which TurboTax says about 37% of filers qualify for (as of 2026-10-02). Do It Yourself Deluxe was shown at $79 federal plus state; most other prices appear only after you build a tax profile. Prices change; check TurboTax's site.
- Free Edition is $0 federal, $0 state and $0 to file for simple Form 1040 returns; TurboTax says about 37% of filers qualify (as of 2026-10-02)
- Free Edition covers simple Form 1040 returns only, with no schedules beyond those needed for EITC, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest and Schedule 1-A (as of 2026-10-02)
Frequently asked questions
What is IRS Free File?
A program that gives eligible taxpayers free access to guided software from IRS partner tax software companies. For the 2026 season, taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less in 2025 could use guided software from eight partners at no cost, with each partner setting its own rules. You must start at IRS.gov/freefile; going straight to a partner's site will not get you the Free File version (as of 2026-10-02).
Is IRS Direct File still available?
We could not find it. The IRS's 2026 filing season announcement listed IRS Free File, Free File Fillable Forms and other free options but not Direct File, and the former Direct File page on IRS.gov returned a not found error (as of 2026-10-02). Check IRS.gov for the latest before next season.
Why are H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA and TaxSlayer not on this list?
They are real, currently offered products, but we could not confirm their current prices from their official sites (as of 2026-10-02). We only rank products whose prices we could verify.
How do we rank tax software?
We use a fixed methodology weighting Fees (25%), Value & Returns (25%), Transparency (20%), Security & Trust (15%), and Support (15%). Prices come only from each provider's own pages and IRS.gov. We have no affiliate relationship with these providers on this page.
Get evidence-based money picks in your inbox — no hype.
Join The Firsthand Money Brief for a weekly, research-first read.
We never sell your email. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy.