The best tax software of 2026

The 2026 tax season is well underway, with less than a month until the April 15 deadline. Close to 90% of filers expect a refund, according to a new LendingTree survey, and a third of them plan to use it for everyday expenses like rent, groceries, or bills. Close to another third (32%) plan to put it into savings or an emergency fund. 

Whether you're expecting money back or owe Uncle Sam more, using the right tax software can ensure the process is painless and mistake-free. CNBC Select has run more than a dozen tax software programs through their paces to find the best in a variety of categories. For more on how we made our selections, see our methodology.

Who's this for? TurboTax from Intuit guides you through each step of the filing process with straightforward questions and access to explainers, videos and bonus tips. Pricier tiers include more live support or the option to have a professional file for you.

Standout features: TurboTax guarantees 100% accuracy and the maximum refund possible, audit support for your tax return, plus tax refund advance loans. For a $40 processing fee, you can pay for your program with your refund.

Who's this for? Concerned about accuracy? If you're penalized because of a mistake TaxAct made, the company will refund the cost of your software and pay the difference in your tax bill. TaxAct will also reimburse any penalties or interest and cover legal or audit fees up to $100,000.

Standout features: TaxAct's Deduction Maximizer tool can suggest deduction options based on your situation. It's a member of the Free File Alliance, a partnership with the IRS that makes free returns available to eligible taxpayers. If you don't qualify for free filing, you can pay for the service with your tax refund for a $54 processing fee.

Who's this for? TaxSlayer's rates are already lower than many competitors', but its packages are priced based on your tax situation and the level of support you want. If you're a confident filer, you can save by skipping features like chat support.

Standout features: TaxSlayer offers self-employed workers reminders about quarterly tax payments and access to a specialty tax pro. It is a member of the Free File Alliance, which offers free tax services to people who meet income requirements. You can have the cost of your plan deducted from your refund for $39.99.

Who's this for? Cash App Taxes lets you file state and federal returns at no cost with access to nearly every IRS form and schedule. There is no real professional support, so it's best suited for filers who know what they're doing.

Standout features: Free audit defense included with every return. Filers can get their returns six days earlier if they set up direct deposit with a Cash App account.

Who's this for? Jackson Hewitt charges a flat $25 fee for DIY federal and state returns — no matter how many states you need to file. Other operations can charge upwards of $40 for each state filing.

In addition to its low-cost online version, you can get assistance from Jackson Hewitt tax pros at one of its 5,200 offices nationwide or stop by a participating Walmart location. (Prices start at $49 for federal returns but may vary depending on the state and your filing situation.)

Standout benefits: Like pricier operations, Jackson Hewitt offers free informational audit assistance and accuracy and maximum refund guarantees. 

Who's this for? Need help when you file? Real-time support from H&R Block's AI Tax Assist feature, online chat with a tax professional and Worry-Free Audit Support are available with all paid tiers. H&R Block also has thousands of offices nationwide for in-person support.

Standout benefits: H&R Block's free tier lets you file both federal and state simple returns for free with no income restrictions. It covers situations many competitors don't, including unemployment insurance and deductions for education costs.

There are three main ways to file a tax return: A paper return sent through the mail, working with a tax professional or using tax-prep software.

Commercial tax-prep software programs are the preferred method for 44% of tax filers. They allow you to go at your own pace anywhere you can go online, with step-by-step guidance and access to professional support. 

Since most tax software companies offer a variety of packages, you'll need to decide which tier is right for you. That will determine both the forms you need to fill out and the price you'll pay.

Once you make your selection, you'll be prompted to answer questions about your finances for the year and upload relevant tax forms. Most companies will offer to file your return to the IRS or state revenue department on your behalf. If you got an early start, the system may have to wait until tax filing season officially begins

You should also be able to arrange your tax refund through the software company and, in some cases, deduct the cost of their services for a fee.

Simple tax returns are the most basic type of return you can file. Software companies vary in their criteria, but a simple return is generally prepared using IRS Form 1040 and is limited to:

• W-2 income
• Limited interest and dividend income
• Standard deduction
• Unemployment income

Some tax filing programs will include limited credits as part of a simple return, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, child tax credits and student loan/education deductions.

You have a lot of tax-prep options, both cloud-based and desktop. When deciding on the right package, here's what to look for.  

Ease of use

Affordability is important, but if the platform is confusing or frustrating, it's not worth saving a few bucks. Is the interface intuitive? Can you upload the previous years' tax documents? Are you guided through the process with straightforward questions?

See if there's a walkthrough or a free trial to give it a test drive. Read customer reviews both on the website and on third-party sites like Trustpilot.

Supported tax forms

The best tax-prep software isn't much use if it can't process the kind of return you need to file or puts it on a pricey tier. If you have a simple return with a Form 1040 and standard deductions, almost any program can do the trick with its most basic offering. But if you're a gig worker, collect income in several states or have investment properties, you'll probably need a more advanced plan.

Price

Cost is always a concern, but don't be fooled: Less-than-scrupulous companies may try to lure you with the promise of a no-cost return only to reveal you don't qualify when you're deep in the process.

Even if you have a simple return, you may have to pay extra to have both your state and federal returns processed.  Before shopping for tax software, assess your needs:

• Will you be itemizing or taking the standard deduction?
• Are you self-employed or have income from a lot of different sources?
• Will you need to file state returns in more than one state?
• Will you need live assistance from a tax expert? 

Your answers should guide you to the right tier and give you a more accurate price comparison.
Keep in mind that the price listed on a website might not include all the charges you'll pay. In addition, rates often rise as Tax Day gets closer.  

User support 

A good tax software platform should have calculators, explainers and video tutorials to help DIYers. You should also see what kind of live support is offered and what the charges are. Options could range from phone access to a final review by a representative to step-by-step guidance by a tax professional.

Some tax-prep software companies also have audit support from tax  professionals

Guarantees

All of our picks offer an accuracy guarantee, so if an error they make results in IRS fines or penalties, they'll foot the cost. They also guarantee that you're paying the least amount or getting the biggest return possible. If you get a larger refund or owe less after filing an amended return from another tax-prep method, they'll refund the cost of their program.

Using tax software, whether paid or free, is worth it for nearly half of American taxpayers.

If you have a fairly simple tax situation — you're only reporting income from  Form W-2 and taking the standard deduction, for example — using tax software probably makes sense. If you own a business, itemize your deductions, have lots of investments or earn income from side gigs, working with a CPA could be a better way to ensure your return is accurate and that you're receiving all the deductions you're eligible for. 

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to help them make informed financial decisions. Every tax software review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of tax software products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

To determine the best tax software, CNBC Select analyzed more than a dozen top offerings, examining cost, ease of use, live support, accuracy, maximum-refund guarantee and other features.

• Cost was one of the most important factors in our process. All the companies on this list offer free tiers, but we also evaluated the cost of paid tiers and weighed their features, such as the ability to maximize deductions and credits.
  
• Ease of use is crucial to completing a tax return quickly and with little frustration. The services we chose have intuitive interfaces with simple question-and-answer prompts.
  
• The ability to talk with a tax expert is a big plus. All but one of the companies we chose offer live support.
  
• All of our picks guarantee both accuracy and the maximum refund possible for customers.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

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