TaxSlayer
Product Identify: TaxSlayer
Product Description: TaxSlayer affords cheap tax prep. It is Basic plan covers all tax conditions for under $22.95 for federal and $39.95 for state returns.
Abstract
TaxSlayer has cheap plans and covers all tax conditions, plus energetic navy can file federal returns totally free. Nevertheless, you gained’t qualify for the free plan in case you have dependents and the tax help doesn’t supply personalised recommendation.
Professionals
- One of many least expensive choices to file complicated tax conditions
- Lively-duty navy can file a federal tax return totally free
- Can file pupil mortgage curiosity and schooling credit totally free
Cons
- Doesn’t sync with banks and brokerage accounts
- Merely Free tier doesn’t help dependent tax credit
- Might be more durable to navigate than pricier providers
- Tax skilled gained’t put together or assessment your return
At a Look
- The Basic plan covers all tax conditions for under $22.95 for federal returns and $39.95 for state returns.
- You have to be underneath 65, earn underneath $100,000, and never have any dependents to qualify for the free plan.
- Lively navy can file a federal return totally free.
- Tax help is e-mail solely and doesn’t present personalised recommendation.
- Audit inquiry help is included in all paid plans.
Who Ought to Use TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer is nice for many who need a straightforward to make use of, premium expertise for a decrease value. Nevertheless, in alternate for this, you’ll surrender some bells and whistles the higher-priced providers supply, similar to personalised tax recommendation.
If you happen to anticipate to want to talk to a tax professional, you’ll wish to select one other service. However if you’re assured you can file with simply basic tax help, then TaxSlayer may prevent cash whereas offering an easy-to-use interface.
TaxSlayer Options
Submitting taxes is an annual ritual that the majority of us hope to complete shortly and cheaply.
TaxSlayer affords low-cost, on-line tax prep. Their free model isn’t as complete as different platforms, for instance it doesn’t help dependents. Nevertheless, their paid plans are cheaper than its opponents.
This TaxSlayer assessment can assist you determine if that is one of the best ways to file your taxes.
🔃 This publish was up to date on 01/04/2025 with the brand new 2025 pricing.
Desk of Contents
Is TaxSlayer Actually Free?
TaxSlayer allows you to file these easy tax returns totally free:
- Submitting single or married submitting collectively
- No dependents
- Taxable earnings underneath $100,000
- Customary deduction
- W-2 earnings
- Each spouses underneath age 65
- Unemployment earnings
- Pupil mortgage curiosity
- Schooling bills
- Taxable curiosity of $1,500 or much less
Principally, in the event you solely have a W-2 or unemployment earnings, earn lower than $100,000, don’t have any dependents,m and are underneath age 65, you’ll be able to file totally free. This contains each federal and one state.
TaxSlayer Pricing
The TaxSlayer submitting charges might be cheaper than most tax software program for federal and state returns.
Merely Free
- Federal value: $0
- State value: $0
The Merely Free plan affords one free federal and one free state tax return. You should use this plan in case your taxable earnings is underneath $100,000, you declare the usual deduction, and also you don’t have any dependents. You could additionally file both single or married submitting collectively.
It covers W-2, unemployment, and curiosity earnings as much as $1,500. When you have another forms of earnings, similar to 1099, enterprise earnings, rental earnings, or funding earnings, you gained’t have the ability to use this plan.
You could take the usual deduction, however you’ll be able to deduct pupil mortgage curiosity funds and declare schooling credit.
You’ll be able to add final yr’s return and get limitless telephone and e-mail technical help, and TaxSlayer will auto-fill your W-2 kind to stop reporting errors.
This free submitting possibility helps fewer tax conditions than many different tax software program. For instance, different platforms allow you to declare widespread tax credit for dependents, just like the Earned Earnings Tax Credit score and Youngster Tax Credit score.
This plan doesn’t embrace IRS audit help just like the paid plans. Nevertheless, these returns are unlikely to trigger an audit crimson flag due to their simplicity.
Get began with the Merely Free Version
Navy
- Federal value: $0
- State value: $39.95
Federal returns are free in the event you’re an active-duty servicemember, however every state return prices the usual $39.95.
All tax conditions are included. No restrictions. You’ll additionally stand up to 1 yr of IRS inquiry help.
Get began with the Navy Version
Basic
- Federal value: $22.95
- State value: $39.95
The TaxSlayer Basic covers all tax conditions with no restrictions. All earnings varieties, deductions, and credit are coated within the Basic plan.
You’ll additionally have the ability to auto-fill your W-2 and 1099 info and e-file. You’ll additionally get a yr of limitless telephone and e-mail help after you file in case you have further questions.
Get began with the Basic Version
Premium
- Federal value: $42.95
- State value: $39.95
With Premium, you’ll get every part from Basic, plus:
- Ask a Tax Professional for one-on-one tax steering
- Stay chat technical help
- Precedence buyer help
- As much as three years of IRS audit help
The Ask a Tax Professional characteristic might be one of the best cause to improve in the event you want private tax recommendation whereas making ready your return. Federal submitting charges can simply exceed $100 for on-demand tax skilled entry from different suppliers. Nevertheless, the help is through e-mail solely and is barely basic tax info. If you happen to want private recommendation to your distinctive state of affairs, it’s possible you’ll want to decide on one other software program.
You additionally stand up to 3 years of help if the IRS audits your federal tax return.
Get began with the Premium Version
Self-Employed
- Federal value: $52.95
- State value: $39.95
Freelancers, aspect hustlers, and the full-time self-employed can profit from the Self-Employed plan to file your Schedule C.
The service also can ship quarterly reminders for estimated taxes.
Plan advantages embrace:
- Ask a Tax Professional entry
- Limitless telephone, dwell chat and e-mail technical help
- Estimated quarterly tax fee reminders
- As much as three years of IRS audit protection
- Self-employment earnings and deduction steering
Receiving a 1099 kind for aspect hustle earnings doesn’t essentially imply it’s best to select this plan. When you have minimal work bills, the Basic or Premium possibility might be adequate to your tax state of affairs.
If you happen to aren’t positive in the event you want the Self-Employed plan or if Basic will suffice, begin with Basic and improve to Self-Employed if you must.
Get began with the Self Employed Version
Refund Choices
If you happen to’re eligible to obtain a federal tax refund, there are a number of methods to obtain it. TaxSlayer e-files your return and helps monitor your refund standing.
Direct Deposit
All on-line tax software program affords direct deposit, and a mailed paper test in the event you pay your tax prep charges upfront. These are the 2 default supply choices from the IRS.
Direct deposit might be the quickest and best approach to obtain your tax refund. The IRS sends most refunds inside 21 days utilizing direct deposit.
Paper Verify
The second manner the IRS distributes tax refunds is by paper test. There isn’t an additional payment, however it may possibly take as much as eight weeks (56 days) to obtain your fee.
TaxSlayer Visa Debit Card
You might also select to obtain your refund on a TaxSlayer Visa Debit Card Powered by GreenDot.
This can be a reloadable pay as you go debit card with no month-to-month service charges.
The cardboard additionally contains these options you need to use after getting your tax refund:
- Free ASAP Direct Deposit
- No overdraft charges
- ATM entry
- Cell app
Further charges can apply whenever you reload your card at native shops or for expedited cell test deposits.
File and Go
For an extra payment of $39.99, you’ll be able to deduct your TaxSlayer charges out of your tax refund with the File and Go possibility. The IRS deposits your refund into an escrow account run by Civista Financial institution (FDIC #12982).
TaxSlayer withholds your tax prep charges and the remaining steadiness is deposited into your linked checking account or pay as you go debit card.
You would possibly select this fee possibility in the event you don’t have a bank card to pay the submitting charges or don’t have the upfront money.
Buyer Help
TaxSlayer affords the next help choices:
- On-line data base articles
- Telephone and e-mail technical help
- E mail entry to a tax skilled
These important instruments might be adequate for many tax conditions and assist navigate the tax interview. You gained’t have the ability to obtain private tax steering except you improve your plan, however you’ll be able to analysis your questions on-line.
Upgrading to the Premium or Self-Employed model allows you to ask written inquiries to a tax skilled. This entry is cheaper than different platforms, however the competitors might supply real-time video streaming and display sharing. The solutions may also be basic tax info and shouldn’t be thought of private recommendation.
Another excuse to improve is to get precedence technical help. The TaxSlayer help staff will reply to you first when you’ve gotten issue navigating the platform.
Key Options
Listed here are a number of the finest options TaxSlayer affords to make submitting your return simpler.
Auto-Import
You’ll be able to auto-import final yr’s tax return by importing a PDF doc from any tax software program. The corporate compares your credit and deductions for this yr and final yr to see in the event you forgot something.
TaxSlayer also can autofill your W2 tax varieties, which reduces the chance of overlooking a field or mistyping a quantity.
Sadly, TaxSlayer doesn’t add funding paperwork.
Ask a Tax Professional
The Premium and Self-Employed plans include limitless “Ask a Tax Professional” entry.
You’ll be able to submit questions on-line to an IRS-certified tax skilled and obtain a solution through e-mail or on the TaxSlayer platform.
Pricier providers might allow you to share your display with a tax skilled and schedule a session. Different platforms can also supply the skilled to assessment your return or full it for you.
TaxSlayer doesn’t supply full-service help, however its decrease value might be adequate in the event you solely have to ask questions. Remember that this service is e-mail solely, and will not give personalised solutions. Tax professionals give basic tax recommendation. If you happen to assume you’ll want particular recommendation to your state of affairs, it’s possible you’ll wish to contemplate a unique service.
IRS Audit Help
The TaxSlayer Basic and Navy plans supply one yr of IRS inquiry help. Protection begins when the IRS accepts your e-file return.
You get three years of IRS audit help whenever you improve to Premium or Self-Employed. If the IRS audits your return, TaxSlayer offers audit preparation help.
Nevertheless, a TaxSlayer agent gained’t present in-person illustration through the audit course of.
Self-Employed Assist
Much like different on-line applications, selecting the Self-Employed tier offers particular instruments that cheaper ranges don’t.
For instance, the TaxSlayer tax interview wizard can assist you discover industry-specific deductions it’s possible you’ll overlook by selecting a less expensive plan.
You may also print off varieties for estimated taxes and obtain quarterly reminders you don’t miss a submitting deadline.
TaxSlayer additionally sends tax ideas through the yr that may aid you maximize your self-employment earnings.
Ensures
Two accuracy ensures can present peace of thoughts. These ensures are much like different on-line tax prep providers.
100% Accuracy Assure: TaxSlayer reimburses any federal or state penalties and curiosity because of a calculation error.
Most Refund Assure: You will get a refund of your TaxSlayer charges if one other tax software program calculates the next refund or smaller tax legal responsibility utilizing the identical info.
Is TaxSlayer Straightforward to Use?
The TaxSlayer platform might be straightforward to make use of, however you have to to manually enter extra tax paperwork than pricier platforms like TurboTax or H&R Block.
One other platform might be definitely worth the greater payment in case you have a number of brokerage statements to enter or have a number of funding gross sales to report. The auto-import comfort can prevent time and cut back the likelihood of knowledge enter errors.
TaxSlayer Cell App
The TaxSlayer app is obtainable for Android and Apple gadgets.
App options embrace:
- W-2 import
- Tax assist articles
- Telephone technical help
- Tax refund estimator
As a result of TaxSlayer doesn’t import tax paperwork from banks and low cost brokers, the app could also be finest for easy returns that require minimal knowledge entry. You may also begin your return utilizing the app and full the return on a pc that may be simpler to make use of.
Is TaxSlayer Legit?
TaxSlayer is a reputable app to file your taxes at a low worth. The service has a 4.2 out of 5 Trustpilot rating, which is greater than most opponents.
One recurring constructive TaxSlayer assessment is the clear pricing and the step-by-step walkthroughs for easy or complicated conditions.
Frequent destructive complaints embrace not being the best app to navigate or being one of the best service in case you have investments as it’s essential to manually enter all the funding earnings. This could be a time-consuming job in the event you offered a number of shares or use a number of brokers.
TaxSlayer Options
TaxAct
TaxAct is probably going TaxSlayer’s closest competitor. Its paid plans are barely dearer, however the free model contains dependants and doesn’t have a most earnings restrict like TaxSlayer’s does.
You’ll be able to add life tax help to any plan for $60 and communicate to a tax professional over the telephone and obtain personalised recommendation, which you’ll be able to’t do with TaxSlayer.
Right here’s our full assessment of TaxAct for extra info.
Free Tax USA
Free Tax USA affords free federal returns for all tax conditions, and state returns are solely $14.99 every. You’ll be able to improve and add on tax help for $39.99 to obtain help from tax specialists who present personalised recommendation. You’ll be able to contact the tax professionals through video name, telephone, or chat.
You may also add on audit protection for $19.99.
Right here’s our full Free Tax USA assessment for extra info
Money App Taxes
Money App Taxes has free tax prep for all conditions, together with free state returns. Its largest limitation is you can’t file in a number of states. So in the event you earned earnings exterior the state you presently dwell in, you gained’t have the ability to use Money App.
It additionally doesn’t present any tax help, so in the event you assume you’ll have questions, you gained’t have the ability to use Money App.
Right here’s our full Money App Taxes assessment for extra info.
Abstract
TaxSlayer is likely one of the finest low cost software program due to its aggressive costs for complicated tax conditions. The Ask a Tax Professional is an inexpensive possibility too.
One other platform might make it simpler to file your taxes totally free in case you have dependents. Buyers with many tax paperwork might want spending the additional cash and utilizing TurboTax that syncs with most monetary establishments to avoid wasting time.