Which tax preparer is best

We may receive a commission from affiliate partner links. Click here to read more about Select. Click here to read our full advertiser disclosure. We may receive a commission when you click on links for products from our affiliate partners. Tax season is upon us, and for many Americans that means signing up for an online tax software. What happens if I miss the tax deadline?

How much does it cost to file taxes? Simple tax return vs. Learn More. On TurboTax's secure site. Terms apply, see below for our methodology.

View More. On Credit Karma's secure site. Cons Only available in 40 states and D. You can't file with Credit Karma if you lived in a state for only part of the tax year, earned income in more than one state during the tax year or earned income in a state you didn't live in No support from tax professionals.

Need help deciding how to get your taxes done? See our guidance on whether to use software or hire a tax preparer.

Look for friends in high places. Compare fees. Reconsider tax advisors who don't e-file. Confirm they'll sign on the dotted line. Check if they'd have your back.

You should visit a local CPA firm early during tax season if you want a relatively quick turnaround time. CPA firms often get busier as the tax deadline nears and it may take a few weeks to prepare your return.

Each firm sets its pricing, but this option is often the most expensive. You can search for a local CPA firm using Google or this directory. Tax preparation services mainly focus on preparing your tax return. Some may also offer tax planning services to help you lower your taxes due in the current and future tax years. They may provide other services such as bookkeeping, auditing, or consulting. Instead, they should only prepare your tax return based on the factual information you provide.

After completing your return, your preparer should sign the return as a paid preparer. They may also e-file your return for you. You may bring your tax paperwork and sit with the preparer as they work on your tax return. Other offices may allow you to drop off your paperwork and prepare your return for you at a later date.

At that time, they call you to go over the return before filing it. Everyone has a different level of knowledge regarding tax laws, but tax software can help bridge the gap. People with more complex situations, including businesses, rental properties, and many tax credits or deductions, may enjoy the expertise of someone that thoroughly understands tax laws. Busy people that are willing to pay to save time may prefer a tax preparation service, too.

In general, tax preparation software will be cheaper than paying a tax preparation service. Both options can handle basic and complex tax situations. If your tax situation is extremely basic and only involves a W-2 and a form, chances are you could file your tax return on your own with tax software and save money.

The cost of a tax preparation service can vary from one company to the next. The VITA program offers free tax preparation help to those that qualify. On the other end of the scale, CPAs likely charge the most for their services, which could run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Some tax preparation services may allow you to pay for their fee out of your refund, but this technically becomes a loan and has other charges included. It is almost always cheapest to pay for services provided in other ways. A tax preparation service prepares your tax return on your behalf.

They sign the tax return as a paid preparer. When you approve the return, they can even file the tax return on your behalf. So we did the research to help you choose the ideal option to file taxes online. Free version? Yes, with more restrictions.

There are many software providers out there, and each one offers different packages for different taxpayers. When choosing, it's likely most helpful to start with your individual needs. If that sounds like you, you may not need tax software built for crazy-complicated tax situations. You may need to upgrade if you don't know how much to claim for those things and want the software to calculate it for you.

Skipping around to specific spots can be a little tricky, but a banner across the top keeps track of where you stand in the filing process. Read full review. With its intuitive design and experience and variety of support options, TurboTax is in many ways the standard for the do-it-yourself tax-prep industry. What makes it easy to use? You can skip around if you need to, and a banner running along the side keeps track of where you stand in the process and flags areas you still need to complete.

Embedded links throughout the process offer tips, explainers and other resources. And help buttons can connect you to the searchable knowledge base, on-screen help and more.

Notable handy features include import capabilities that let you switch to TurboTax from another provider, auto-import certain tax documents, a donation calculator and the ability to access and work on your return across devices. All of this comes at a price, and similar offerings from competitors this year may provide a better value.

If you don't know what you need — or how much you need to pay for — it might help to examine the providers individually and what sort of experience each one offers.

Here are a few areas to dig into:. User experience: Software that feels like an interview — asking questions about your income and any live events that might allow for deductions — offers more guidance than a basic fill-in-the-blank process.

The ability to import forms like a W-2 is better than having to manually type in numbers. Support options: Most tax software offers a searchable FAQ section or knowledge base, and some offer video tutorials or user forums to help answer questions.

One recent differentiator has been one-on-one help from a human tax pro, live on your screen. Depending on the provider, these pros might be able to give you tax advice or review your whole tax return before you file.

This sort of help comes with an extra charge.