Which tax prep software is easiest and best to use?

[LogDog75]

I'm getting ready to do my taxes and I'm trying to figure out if H&R Block, TurboTax, or another one is best to use. I've used H&R Block for years and this year I started doing my federal taxes on it. In the past, the software would take me step-by-step on my income, investments, deductions, etc. This year, it didn't have investments so I did it under income. I'm not fully trusting their program because it's saying I will owe over 2.5 times more than last year.

So, any suggestions?

[dem4decades]

1. I use H&R Block. I can't believe it lacks an investment area.

[mikewv]

2. OLT easy and it is cheap if not free depending on situation

olt.com

[demosincebirth]

3. I used, this year, e-file.com. It guided me through every step.

[Mosby]

4. There is a glitch this year.

I've been using h&r block for about five years. Been pretty happy with the software. This year I was not able to e-file because I turned 62 in 2025 and there is some form that has to be filled out about whether I took any SS money. I put in 0 and that didnt work, I tried to delete the form and that didnt work, so now I have to print out my return and mail it in. I put in a bad review. I paid $80 bucks for nothing, my return is super simple, I use the software just so I can e-file.

[LuckyCharms]

5. I use Turbotax with a caveat:

I maintain an Excel spreadsheet over the year which mimics a 1040 form, as well as its supplemental schedules (including the taxable Social Security calculation). It took me almost a full day to set this up in Excel, but once it is set-up, you can use it year after year, with some minor tweaks as the tax laws change.

Then, when I actually do my taxes via Turbotax, I compare the Turbotax result to my spreadsheet result (line by line, by comparing "forms" in Turbotax vs. my spreadsheet).

I reconcile or explain any differences to myself before submitting my taxes.

Usually, you can find Turbotax on Amazon with a $10 discount applied to the normal price.

[kacekwl]

6. EZ tax . Been using for about 10 years now with

no issues.

[retread]

7. H&R Block did the same thing to me! We are retired and on a fairly fixed income. I ran the information through

TurboTax online and got much different results.

I would suggest you try that. You don't have to pay up front and can see a completed form without paying.

[catbyte]

8. I've used FreeTaxUSA for a few years now and I really like it.

Federal is free, state tax runs about $15 and there are add ons for audit defense, etc, but nothing is much over $25 extra. It's really easy to use and MUCH cheaper than TurboTax. They'll file everything electronically and last year I got my federal refund in less than 10 days and my state in 12. It'll be interesting to see how long it's gonna take the feds to give me back my money this year after all the DOGE fuckery that went on.

[retread]

9. Does the free part include all forms needed to file?