Best Tax Apps for 2024

According to our research, TaxAct is the best tax filing app because of its low cost and robust suite of features in the free version. We reviewed 20 different tax apps to determine the best options available. Features and costs were big considerations in our ranking. We also looked at ease of use and real customer reviews.

Best Overall: TaxAct

(with TaxAct)

TaxAct is the best overall tax app because it offers reasonable prices and a robust free package. While it isn't technically an "app," the web interface is responsive and works well on desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

Pros

Easily import last year’s tax data even if you used a different provider
Most robust free option out of all providers
Pay for tax filing with your refund

Cons

No expense tracking
State filing is extra, even for the free package
The user interface isn’t as seamless as other tax apps

Founded in 1998 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, TaxAct provides tax prep software that makes it easy to e-file with its online web interface. While it isn't exactly and app, it's well-designed and performs like a phone or tablet app.

TaxAct stands behind its offering. If the software makes a calculation error on your filing, the company will reimburse you up to $100,000 in IRS penalties and interest. In addition, your filing is free if you receive a higher refund using a different product thanks to its Maximum Refund Guarantee.

Other benefits include importing last year's tax return information by uploading the PDF—even if you didn't use TaxAct. Plus, if you refer a friend, get a $20 Amazon gift card, and they get 20% off.

Do-it-yourself TaxAct Express packages include:

Free $0 + $39.99 per state filed	Deluxe $29.99 + $39.99 per state filed	Premier $69.95 + $39.99 per state filed	Self-Employed $69.99 + $39.99 per state filed
W-2 income for simple filers	Everything in Free	Everything in Deluxe	Everything in Premier
Unemployment income	Itemized deductions	Stocks gains and losses and other investments	Freelance income, including 1099-NEC
Retirement income	Adoption credits	Home sale	Business and farm income
Child tax credits	Child and dependents care	Rental property income	Personalized business deductions
Earned income credits	Student loan interest	Royalty and Schedule K-1 income	Depreciation calculation
Expenses for dependents and current students	Mortgage interest	Foreign bank and financial accounts	Year-round planning resources
Import prior-year tax info	Real estate taxes	1099-K income and expenses
Personalized TaxPlan	Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
Free account and technical support

Best for Business Owners: QuickBooks Self-Employed

(with QuickBooks)

If you’re a business owner, it’s best to use a tax app specifically meant for your tax situation. QuickBooks Self-Employed is a tax app offering business expense tracking and tax filing. You can even make your quarterly estimated tax payments right through the app.

Pros

Track business expenses and mileage on-the-go
Authorize access for your accountant or tax advisor
Estimate what you owe the IRS and pay quarterly through the app

Cons

Easy to accidentally duplicate data between uploading and syncing transactions
Smaller banks and credit unions may not have syncing capability
Doesn’t offer inventory tracking or payroll

QuickBooks is a leader in accounting software, and its Self-Employed app integrates seamlessly with TurboTax. With this app, you can track both personal and business expenses, mileage, and you can even send and track invoices making it the best for business owners.

It has 4.7 stars in the App Store and 3.8 stars in the Google Play store, and you can also access the app using its web interface. Some reviewers complain about glitches using the app, while others enjoy how the app allows tracking of both personal and business expenses.

QuickBooks Self-Employed doesn’t offer inventory tracking, so business owners with larger operations may need QuickBooks Online instead of the self-employed version.

There are three QuickBooks Self-Employed packages available:

Self-Employed $20/month	Self-Employed Tax Bundle $30/month	Self-Employed Live Tax Bundle $40/month
Separate business and personal expenses	Everything in the Self-Employed package	Everything in the Self-Employed Tax Bundle
Maximize your Schedule C deductions	Pay quarterly estimated taxes directly from QuickBooks	Talk to a CPA
Calculate quarterly estimated taxes automatically	Transfer info directly into TurboTax to file taxes	Receive unlimited help and advice year-round
Track mileage automatically	Includes one state and one federal tax return filing	Have a CPA do a final review of your tax return

Note: Save 50% off each package for the first three months.

Best for Live Support: H&R Block Tax Prep and File

(with H&R Block)

H&R Block logo

H&R Block Tax Prep and File is the best tax app for live support because it offers Online Assist, where you can receive unlimited help from tax experts 24/7 during the tax season. You can even upload all your documents into the app and have a tax professional file your taxes for you.

Pros

Starts at $55 to receive unlimited help from tax experts, enrolled agents, and CPAs 24/7 during the tax season
Upload your documents and a tax professional will do your taxes for you using Tax Pro Go
Digitally store receipts, returns, donations, and other tax documents

Cons

One of the more expensive apps available because you must pay for Online Assist
No expense tracking
Peace of Mind audit support only matters if H&R Block made the mistake

H&R Block Tax Prep and File is a tax app by H&R Block, which is a tax preparation company founded in 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri. Use the app to file your taxes yourself and receive assistance from tax experts starting at $55, or have a tax professional file your taxes for you starting at $85, making H&R Block Tax Prep and File our choice for best online support.

Find the app in the App Store (4.8 stars) and on Google Play (4.5 stars). Otherwise, use its web interface to file your taxes. Pay for your tax filing fees by using your tax refund for a $39 fee.

Guarantees include the following:

No Surprise Guarantee: Receive 20% off next year’s tax filing if the app fails to provide upfront transparent pricing, transparent process, free audit assistance, and free mid-year check-in review.
Maximum Refund Guarantee: If you have a higher refund through another app, your H&R Block filing is free.
Audit Support Guarantee: Should you receive an audit notice from the IRS, H&R Block will let you know how to respond to the notice—for free. Or purchase Worry-Free Audit Support for help if you have an in-person audit.
100% Accuracy Guarantee: H&R Block will reimburse up to $10,000 in penalties and interest in the event the software makes an error.

There are several packages to choose from:

Free Online $0	Deluxe $35+ $37 per state filed	Premium $65 +$37 per state filed	Self-Employed $85 + $37 per state filed
Earned Income Credit (EITC)	Everything in Free Online	Everything in Deluxe	Everything in Premium
Deduct student tuition, payments, and loan interest	Digitally organize all of your tax docs for up to six years	Report stocks, bonds, and other investment income (Schedule D)	Claim small business expenses
Report retirement income	Access live phone or chat tech support	Claim rental income & deductions (Schedule E)	Report all business deductions and asset depreciation
	Have a Health Savings Account (HSA)
	Deduct real estate taxes and home mortgage interest
	Organize contract, freelancing, gig work, and other self-employed income
	Live expert help and "AI Tax Assist"

Best for Fast Filing: TurboTax Tax Return App

(with TurboTax)

With TurboTax, you can receive up to $4,000 as a refund advance within three hours of IRS acceptance of your tax return. You can also auto-import and auto-fill data by taking a picture with your phone, so it’s perfect if you need to file fast.

Pros

Take a photo of your W2, and the app inputs the info in the right forms
Access up to $4,000 of your tax refund after one minute of IRS acceptance of your return using Refund Advance
With an Employer Identification Number, the app may be able to auto-import your W2 information without taking a photo

Cons

More expensive than most tax apps if your taxes aren’t simple
Constant upsell offers

TurboTax is owned by Intuit, a leader in tax prep software. Using the TurboTax Tax Return App, you can file quickly thanks to the auto-fill and auto-import options in the app, making it the best for fast filing.

You can find the app on the Google Play store (4.6 stars) and App Store (4.8 stars). You can also use the web interface, but to auto-fill information from your W2, you’ll need to upload the image. Many reviewers complain about upsells and paying far more than advertised, so pay careful attention to the pricing to know which package your tax filing will require.

Even if you use the Free Edition of TurboTax (for simple tax returns only, not all taxpayers qualify), you’re entitled to the maximum refund guarantee. If you receive a larger refund with another app or a smaller tax burden, you will get your federal and state filing fee back. If you used the Free Edition, you’ll get $30 under the guarantee.

TurboTax offers an option to pay for your tax filing software using your tax refund, so you don’t pay anything up-front to file your taxes through them. However, there’s a $40 fee to do this. Otherwise, you can pay your filing fees with a credit card or checking account.

With Refund Advance, filers can access up to $4,000 of their refund as an advance as one minute after the IRS accepts the return. There are no loan fees, and it’s 0% APR (although you will need to open a checking account with CreditKarma).

There are three TurboTax packages available on both the mobile and web interface if you’re doing the taxes yourself:

Free Edition $0*	Deluxe $39 + $39 per state filed	Premium $89 + $49 per state filed
Prep, print, and e-file your taxes	Everything in the Free edition	Everything in the Deluxe edition
Take a photo of your W2 for auto-input	Search over 350 deductions and tax credits	Covers stocks, bonds, and other investments
	Receive mortgage and property tax deductions	Auto-import investment income
	Deduct donations	Covers rental property income and deductions
		Tips and guidance for freelancers, small business owners, and contractors

*For simple tax returns only, not all taxpayers qualify

Live tax preparation help is available at two levels: Live Assistance ($0–$169) and Full Service ($89–$389 and up).

Best for Ongoing Expense Tracking: YNAB

(with YNAB)

Traditionally thought of as a budgeting app, You Need a Budget (YNAB) is a great tool to track your ongoing expenses. When it’s time to file taxes, simply download a comma-separated values (CSV) file to share your spreadsheet of income and expenses with your tax preparer, or you can do it yourself.

Pros

Offers video tutorials, articles, and free online courses
Available via an app and through your browser
Can sync transactions with your bank and investment accounts

Cons

Steep learning curve
No built-in tax filing—you must export a CSV file into outside tax filing software
Must manually upload transactions if your bank isn’t supported

The best way to prepare to file taxes is to be organized throughout the year. Spend a little time upfront to get your accounts set up on YNAB, and then maintain it every time you’re paid. Then, when you’re ready to file taxes, each category of income and expenses is labeled—making filing a breeze and your tax advisor happy to not have to wade through a shoebox full of receipts earning our spot for best expense reporting.

YNAB is available in both an app and web interface. Pay $14.99 per month or $99 per year, and try it out free for 34 days. If you’re a college student, it’s free for a year. At the end of your free year, YNAB offers a 10% discount on the annual plan.

On the App Store, it has 4.8 stars, and 4.6 stars on the Google Play store. Most reviews discuss the learning curve but praise its ability to help budget and track expenses. You can take a live class seven days a week to learn how to budget with the YNAB app or access any of its tutorials anytime.

The Bottom Line

While most tax apps don’t offer expense tracking, many make it easy to file your taxes right from your mobile phone. If you have a complex tax situation, you’ll need to pay for advanced packages. However, if you’re a simple filer, almost every tax app available offers a free option that can help you.

According to the IRS, the average tax refund in 2023 was $3,167. To ensure the biggest refund possible, it’s important to check for every tax deduction and credit available to you. Online and mobile tax apps make this easy.

We recommend TaxAct as the best tax app because it offers reasonable filing fees, a robust free package, and the ability to pay for your filing fees from your tax return. Plus, you can import last year’s tax data even if you used a different provider.

Compare Providers

Tax App	Why We Chose It	Key Benefit
TaxAct	Best Overall	Reasonable prices and a comprehensive free package
QuickBooks Self-Employed	Best for Business Owners	Track expenses and send invoices
H&R Block Tax Prep and File	Best for Live Support	Access tax pros 24/7 during the filing season
TurboTax Tax Return App	Best for Fast Filing	Auto-fill and import data using your phone, then receive a refund advance within three hours of IRS acceptance
YNAB	Best for Ongoing Expense Tracking	Track income and expenses by syncing or uploading transactions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Tax Software Gets You The Biggest Refund?

Most tax software has a maximum refund guarantee, where your filing is free if your refund is higher using other software. However, to maximize your tax refund, take advantage of every possible deduction and tax credit offered by your software. Examples include the earned income credit (EIC), child tax credit, and home mortgage interest deduction (HMID).

What Happens After You File With a Tax App?

After filing your taxes using a tax app, the app electronically sends your return to the IRS. It takes the IRS anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days to match your personal information with the return.

You can check the status of your return using the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool. Expect to receive your refund within 21 days provided there are no errors or issues. To receive your refund quicker, set up direct deposit. If you owe money, you have until the tax filing deadline to pay unless you file for an extension.

Do You Need a Mobile Tax App?

You do not need a mobile tax app to file your taxes. However, using a mobile app can help make filing your taxes easier. Many of these tax apps allow you to upload receipts and categorize expenses year-round, so the act of filing taxes doesn’t take as long during the tax season.

How Does a Mobile Tax App Work?

Some mobile tax apps help track your expenses, receipts, and mileage year-round, while most only offer the ability to file your taxes. Input or upload your W2 information, check for credits and deductions, and e-file your taxes right on your mobile phone.

How We Chose the Best Tax Apps

We looked at 20 of the best tax apps available and narrowed it down to the best six options based on several features and considerations. We considered features, costs, reviews, and ease of use. It was important to find providers that offered a free version for simple taxes but then could evolve with solutions for those who have more complex tax needs.