TaxAct Review 2026

Name: TaxAct
Brand: TaxAct Holdings, Inc.

Middle-tier option — cheaper than TurboTax/H&R Block, more polished than budget tools.

Get started at TaxAct Holdings, Inc. → Pre-qualify (where available) with a soft credit pull — no score impact.

ClearValue Rating: 3.9 / 5 — our editorial assessment (how we rate)

Editorial4.0

Cost4.0

Value3.9

Access3.8

Editorial confidence (30%), cost (25%), value (25%), accessibility (20%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation.

At a glance

Federal: $0–$94 (Free for simple, up to $94 Self-Employed)
State: $39–$59 (Per state, paid tiers)
Accuracy guarantee: $100K (Maximum guarantee if their math errors cost you)
Prior-year import: Yes (From TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct PDF)

Who TaxAct is best for

Filers who want a paid tier between FreeTaxUSA and TurboTax in both price and polish.

Pros

Pricing 30-40% below TurboTax for equivalent tiers
$100K accuracy guarantee — meaningful if their software errors cost you
Better UX than FreeTaxUSA without the TurboTax markup
Strong handling of self-employed and rental property

Cons

State filing is paid even with Free federal tier (unlike H&R Block)
Free tier supports fewer filer types than H&R Block or Cash App Taxes
Customer support not as deep as TurboTax / H&R Block

TaxAct requirements

Any US taxpayer
All filer types supported across tiers

TaxAct alternatives

FreeTaxUSA (TaxHawk, Inc.) — Anyone with a federal return who wants professional-grade software at near-zero cost.
Read review Get started at TaxHawk, Inc. →

Cash App Taxes (Block, Inc.) — Cash App users with relatively straightforward returns who want zero-cost filing.
Read review Get started at Block, Inc. →

IRS Direct File (U.S. Internal Revenue Service) — W-2 employees with straightforward returns who live in one of 25 participating states.
Read review Get started at U.S. Internal Revenue Service →

Bottom line

TaxAct — Middle-tier option — cheaper than TurboTax/H&R Block, more polished than budget tools. Best for: Filers who want a paid tier between FreeTaxUSA and TurboTax in both price and polish.. Compare it against alternatives before applying; the right fit depends on your situation, credit, and goals.

Questions about TaxAct

Who is TaxAct best for?

TaxAct suits filers who want a paid option between FreeTaxUSA and TurboTax in both price and polish — a mid-tier choice that's cheaper than premium tools but more refined than budget ones.

How much does TaxAct cost?

Per the listed data, federal filing runs $0 to $94 (free for simple returns, up to $94 for Self-Employed) and state filing runs $39 to $59 per state on paid tiers. Note that state filing is paid even with the free federal tier. Confirm current pricing at TaxAct.

Does TaxAct have an accuracy guarantee?

Yes. The data lists a $100K maximum accuracy guarantee, meaning TaxAct will cover up to that amount if their software's math errors cost you. Review the full terms at TaxAct.

Can I import my prior-year return into TaxAct?

Yes. TaxAct supports prior-year import from TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct PDFs, per the listed data.

How do I file with TaxAct?

You begin your return directly at taxact.com. ClearValue Lending is a neutral third-party information platform and does not prepare or file tax returns — filing is handled by TaxAct.

How we rate

Every pick gets a 1–5 ClearValue Rating computed from four weighted factors: Editorial confidence (30%), Cost (25%), Value (25%), and Accessibility (20%).

Scored consistently across every product and independent of any compensation. Full methodology →

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Editorial disclaimer & disclosure

Not financial advice. ClearValue Lending is a financial education and comparison platform — not a bank, card issuer, lender, or financial advisor. This review is independent editorial content presenting publicly available information about TaxAct. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to apply for, purchase, or open this product, nor is it individualized financial or credit advice.

How we rate. Every factual claim in this review is attributed to a named source: J.D. Power satisfaction studies, CFPB consumer data, FDIC deposit insurance data, Federal Reserve / FRED rate benchmarks, or official issuer disclosures. Ratings reflect editorial opinion grounded in that data — applied consistently and independent of compensation. Full review methodology →

Affiliate disclosure. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you apply for or open an account through them, the issuer may pay ClearValue Lending a commission at no cost to you. This does not affect our editorial ratings or rankings.

Advertiser disclosure: some links are from our partners — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Rankings and editorial assessments are independent of compensation.