Both sit below TurboTax and H&R Block on price. TaxAct ($0–$94 federal) is the more polished mid-tier — guided enough for most filers, with a $100K accuracy guarantee. TaxSlayer ($0–$67 federal) is the stronger value play, especially its $67 Self-Employed tier for 1099 and Schedule C filers. Pick TaxAct for a more guided mid-tier experience, TaxSlayer for the lowest-cost self-employed filing.
TaxAct Holdings, Inc.
Middle-tier option — cheaper than TurboTax/H&R Block, more polished than budget tools.
Pros
TaxSlayer LLC
Strong value tier with specialty focus on self-employed filers.
Pros
Pick TaxAct if: Filers who want a paid tier between FreeTaxUSA and TurboTax in both price and polish.
Pick TaxSlayer if: Self-employed filers who want strong Schedule C support without TurboTax pricing.
Apply at TaxAct Holdings, Inc. →Apply at TaxSlayer LLC →
TaxAct offers: Free (simple returns), Deluxe (~$47 federal), Premier (~$70 federal, investments), and Self-Employed (~$94 federal, Schedule C/Schedule F). TaxSlayer offers: Simply Free (basic W-2), Classic (~$37 federal, all tax situations), Premium (~$57 federal, added support), and Self-Employed (~$67 federal, freelancers/gig workers). Prices shown are approximate 2025 season rates — verify current prices at taxact.com and taxslayer.com, as both change pricing annually and offer seasonal discounts.
Both offer free federal filing for qualifying simple returns. TaxAct Free handles Form 1040 with basic deductions. TaxSlayer Simply Free covers W-2 income, standard deduction, and limited credits — though it excludes more complex situations than TaxAct's free tier. Both participate in IRS Free File for filers with AGI at or below the IRS threshold (verify the current AGI cap at irs.gov/freefile). For free state filing, both may charge a state fee even on free tiers — confirm at each provider.
Both handle Schedule C and Schedule SE for self-employed filers, but their self-employed tiers differ in price and guidance. TaxSlayer Self-Employed (~$67 federal) is typically the lower-cost option and includes IRS guidance for freelancers and 1099 contractors. TaxAct Self-Employed (~$94 federal) costs more but offers a more step-by-step guided experience and a $100,000 accuracy guarantee (TaxAct's published guarantee covers penalties and interest caused by a TaxAct calculation error). For the lowest-cost self-employed filing, TaxSlayer; for more hand-holding with a stronger accuracy guarantee, TaxAct.
Both support prior-year return imports. TaxAct can import .tax files from TurboTax and H&R Block, carrying over personal data and some financial information. TaxSlayer similarly accepts prior-year data from most competing software via PDF or .tax upload. Neither is as seamless as staying within the same platform year to year, but both eliminate the hardest parts of switching. If you're moving from a premium platform to save money, both TaxAct and TaxSlayer make the transition manageable for most filers. Verify current import capability at each provider before starting your return.
TaxAct offers a $100,000 Maximum Refund and Accuracy Guarantee — if a TaxAct calculation error causes a penalty or interest charge, TaxAct covers it up to $100,000. TaxSlayer offers a Maximum Refund Guarantee and covers penalties and interest directly caused by a TaxSlayer software error. In practice, both guarantees protect against platform-caused errors, not user input mistakes. They are largely equivalent backstops — the real protection is accurate data entry on your part. Verify current guarantee terms at taxact.com and taxslayer.com before relying on either for complex returns.
TaxAct includes free IRS Audit Assistance on all paid plans — it provides guidance on responding to IRS notices and help navigating the audit process. TaxSlayer includes audit guidance on its Premium and Self-Employed tiers. Neither TaxAct nor TaxSlayer includes full professional representation (a CPA or Enrolled Agent appearing before the IRS on your behalf) as a standard feature — that requires a paid add-on or a separate tax professional. For built-in professional representation coverage, H&R Block's Worry-Free Audit Support has a broader offering. Verify current audit support scope at each provider. Source: IRS audit process guidance at irs.gov.
Both handle Schedule D (capital gains and losses) and 1099-B (brokerage sales), but the pricing tier where they unlock differs. TaxAct Premier (~$70 federal) is the designated investment tier and includes crypto gain/loss reporting and 1099-B import from major brokerages. TaxSlayer Classic (~$37 federal) covers all tax situations including Schedule D — investors don't need to upgrade to a higher tier. For filers with significant investment income who want the lowest cost, TaxSlayer Classic's flat pricing gives it a structural cost advantage. Verify current tier coverage at each provider. Source: IRS Schedule D instructions at irs.gov.
Both support crypto income reporting. TaxAct Premier and Self-Employed tiers include crypto gain/loss calculations and accept 1099-DA or 1099-B forms from exchanges. TaxSlayer Classic and above support crypto via Schedule D and Form 8949. Neither provides native integration with crypto tax aggregator platforms like CoinTracker or Koinly — for high-volume traders with complex DeFi activity, a dedicated crypto tool that exports Form 8949 is often the better starting point. For simple buy-hold-sell activity reported on a 1099-B from a major exchange, both TaxAct and TaxSlayer handle it adequately. Source: IRS Virtual Currency FAQ at irs.gov.
Both charge per state return (approximately $35–$45 per state depending on tier and season). Neither includes free multi-state filing. This is a relevant cost factor for filers who lived in, worked in, or earned rental income across multiple states — per-state fees add up quickly. Compare total cost (federal + all state fees) across platforms rather than just the federal tier price. If you have multi-state needs and want to minimize total cost, FreeTaxUSA charges $14.99 per state — a lower per-state rate than either TaxAct or TaxSlayer. Verify current state return pricing at taxact.com and taxslayer.com before selecting a platform.
For students with only W-2 income, standard deduction, and no investments or self-employment, both TaxAct Free and TaxSlayer Simply Free cover the basic scenario. However, for student-specific situations — student loan interest deduction (Form 1098-E) and education credits (American Opportunity Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit) — both platforms require a paid tier. FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes include education credits on their free tiers, making them stronger choices for most students. If you're comparing specifically between TaxAct and TaxSlayer for a simple student return and education credits apply, the free-tier limitations are equivalent — you'll pay at either. Source: IRS Publication 970 (tax benefits for education) at irs.gov.
Independent editorial comparison. ClearValue Lending is not the issuer of any product compared here; affiliate links may pay a referral commission at no cost to you — selection is independent of compensation.