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Here are the best tax apps we think you should use in 2023 to help you file your tax return. A tax app can make it easier to file your tax return and let you import information straight from your phone. Most tax apps also give you helpful tips, let you upload documents directly, and let you get help from a tax expert as you file.
You can choose to use traditional tax software instead, but you may only need a mobile app to file your taxes and cross that task off your list. Some tax apps let you track your expenses and mileage as well as check for credits and deductions. Using each tax app takes about the same amount of time, but some can automatically fill in some tax forms and offer live support to speed up the process.
Best Tax Apps
TaxAct Express
The best tax app overall is TaxAct Express, because it has reasonable prices and a strong free package. Most apps charge close to $40 to use your tax return to pay for your filing fees, but this one only costs $17.99 if your refund is direct deposited.
TaxAct was started in 1998 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It makes it easy to e-file taxes with its TaxAct Express app. People like that it has packages with prices that are comparable to others, that they can pay for filing fees with their tax refund, which is much cheaper than other tax apps.
Features
Pros
- Most robust free option out of all providers
- Pay for tax filing with your refund
Cons
- No expense tracking
QuickBooks Self-Employed
If you own a business, it’s best to use a tax app that’s made for business owners. QuickBooks Self-Employed is a tax app that lets you keep track of business expenses and file your taxes. You can even use the app to pay your quarterly estimated tax payments.
QuickBooks is one of the most popular accounting programmes, and its Self-Employed app works well with TurboTax. With this app, you can track both personal and business expenses, mileage, and you can even send and track invoices. This makes it the best app for business owners. You can download from Goggle Play Store.
Features
Pros
- Authorize access for your accountant or tax advisor
- Estimate what you owe the IRS and pay quarterly through the app
Cons
- Doesn’t offer inventory tracking or payroll
H&R Block
H&R Block is a well-known brand that has an app for both Android and iPhone. With the H&R Block Tax Prep app, you can make a tax return and send it in. If you have never used H&R Block before, you can also make an account through the app.
The H&R Block app is easy to use, covers a wide range of topics, and offers help that fits the situation. The H&R Block app is perfect for people who want to file their taxes quickly and easily with the best help tools.
Features
Pros
- Great mobile apps
- Optional fee-based expert help
Cons
- Sometimes slow to load
Intuit TurboTax
The mobile app for TurboTax is available for both the iPhone and the Android. It covers the same tax topics as the browser-based version, so you can use your phone to prepare and file even a complicated return. You can talk to TurboTax Assistant and click on links in the Q&A to get answers to your questions.
TurboTax is good for almost everyone. TurboTax has a different version for every type of taxpayer, from Gen Zers and millennials who do everything on their phones to people whose finances are so complicated that they need their own online tax specialist.
Features
Pros
- Outstanding user experience
- Thorough, friendly interview Q&A
- Covers tax topics in exceptional depth
Cons
- Expensive
TaxAct
TaxAct is another programme that has been around for decades and is great at making things easy. This year, TaxAct updated its mobile apps for Android and iOS so that when you first start using them, you see a text chat that shows you how to get started.
TaxAct can do complicated tax returns, but it works best for people who have simpler financial situations. It works well for people with a W-2 who want to itemise to lower their tax bill but don’t need the specific help that TurboTax and H&R Block offer.
Features
Pros
- Good user experience
- Logical organization of tax topics
Cons
- Many help links lead to IRS documents
Cash App Taxes
Cash App Taxes, which used to be called Credit Karma Tax, is the only service we tried that does full preparation and filing for free. It works with all major tax forms and schedules and most minor ones as well.
Cash App Taxes has great mobile apps that are made with mobile in mind. On a mobile device, the best way to get to Cash App Taxes is to open Cash App and click on “Free tax filing” under the Money tab. Everything is very easy.
Features
Pros
- Free
- Pages load quickly
Cons
- Support lacks depth
- Limited W-2 imports
FreeTaxUSA
FreeTaxUSA is the best site to use to do your federal taxes for free, but each state return costs $14.99. Its help system and other tools are very good for a free product, which was a surprise. You can now pay to connect directly with a tax professional through FreeTaxUSA. Even though there are no mobile apps, you can use FreeTaxUSA’s mobile website to prepare and file taxes.
Since the self-employed versions of some competitors’ tax preparation websites can be expensive, FreeTaxUSA is a good choice for gig workers who don’t have a lot of income and expenses to report but still need to file a Schedule C. It’s also good for more complicated returns if you’re on a tight budget because it’s easy to use, covers tax topics in depth, and has options for help.
Features
Pros
- Free federal e-filing
- Inexpensive state filing
- Supports all major forms and schedules
Cons
- Can’t import 1099s
- Uninspired user interface
TaxSlayer
The TaxSlayer app for Android and iOS is very complete. That is, you can do everything you can do in the browser version on the app. All forms and schedules are supported, so you can fill out even a complicated return on your phone. All self-employment topics are also covered. The only problem is that it’s hard to find and use help resources on mobile apps.
At the Self-Employed level, where we focused our testing, TaxSlayer’s price is lower than all of its competitors’, except for the free Cash App Taxes and FreeTaxUSA. TaxSlayer helps people with complicated financial profiles prepare and file their taxes. Its target market is people and very small businesses whose tax returns need a Schedule C and who want help finding all of the deductions and credits they can claim.
Features
Pros
- Affordable
- Fast
Cons
- Little context-sensitive help on Q&A pages
FAQs
What is the best app to fill out taxes?
TurboTax is the best tax app overall because it has a number of features that make filing taxes faster. You can take pictures of your W-2 and 1099-NEC forms, and you can get live help from within the app. You can also use the web-based version of TurboTax to do your taxes instead of the app.
Which tax app gives the biggest refund?
Which tax software company gets the most money back? Most of the time, TurboTax and H&R Block offer the biggest refunds.
Which tax software is most accurate?
After trying out six online tax apps, we are sure that TurboTax Free Edition is the most advanced, accurate, and easy-to-use tool for the job. TurboTax has been one of our top picks since we started testing tax software in 2013. Its step-by-step tax help is the best we’ve seen.
What tax app is free?
Which free tax app is the best? If your finances are simple enough that you only need to file a 1040 and a few other forms and schedules, you can use free versions of TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxSlayer to file your federal and state income taxes.